DOMESTIC    FOWLS 


BINGLEY'S 


ISTATUKAL  HISTORY; 


EXHIBITING,  IN  A  SERIES  OF  DELIGHTFUL  ANECDOTES  AND  DESCRIPTIONS, 
THE  CHARACTERISTIC  HABITS  AND  MODES  OF  LIFE  OF  THE  VARIOUS 


Beasts,  Birds,  Fishes,  Insects,  Reptiles,  Mollusca, 
and  Animalcule  of  the  Globe. 

BY  KEY.  W.  BINGLEY,  A.  M. 


WITH  LABGE  ADDITIONS  FKOBI   CUVIER,  BUFFON,  WOOD,  DALLAS,  WILSON,  AUDUBON,  BONAPABTE, 
NUTTALL,  AQASSIZ,  JABDINE,  BEEWEB,  AND   MANY  OTHEBS. 


THE    WHOLE    FORMING    A    CLEAR    AND    FULL    ACCOUNT    OF    NEARLY 
EVERY    KNOWN    SPECIES    IN    THE   WORLD. 


Embellished  and  Illustrated  with  1000  Spirited  and  Accurate  Engravings, 


CINCINNATI  AND  NEW  YORK : 

C.    F.    VENT. 

CHICAGO:    J.    S.    GOODMAN    &    CO. 
PHILADELPHIA:    A.  H.  HUBBARD. 

SAN  FRANCISCO:   A.  L.  BANCROFT  &  CO. 
1870. 


BIOLOGY 


Qlso 


870 

CONTENTS. 


BIOLOGY 
11BRARY 


ON  THE  STUD?   OF  NATURE 11 

THE     STRUCTURE    AND     FUNCTION     OF    ANIMALS    IN 

GENERAL 16 

MAMMIFEROUS  ANIMALS .,. 31 

CLIRES 266-315 

PECORA 316-400 

BELLU^E 401-434 

CETACEOUS  ANIMALS 435-450 

BIRDS 451 

PIES  495-553 

PASSERINE  BIRDS 554-656 

GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS , 657-709 

WADERS..' 710-758 

SWIMMERS 759-810 

AMPHIBIOUS  ANIMALS 811 

REPTILES 811-844 

SERPENTS 845-859 

FISHES 860 

APODAL  FISH 860-867 

JUGULAR  FISH 8£8-870 

THORACIC        "   871-882 

ABDOMINAL      " 883-903 

CHONDROPTERYGEOUS  FISH 904-918 

INSECTS *..  919 

COLEOPTEROUS  INSECTS 91 9-938 

HEMIPTEROUS        "       939-949 

LEPIDOPTEROUS     "       950-958 

NEUROPTEKOUS      "      959-961 

HYMENOPTEROUS    "       962-976 

DIPTEROUS             " 977-981 

APTEROUS              "      982-1001 

WORMS 1002 

INTESTINAL  WORMS 1002-1007 

MOLLUSCOUS  WORMS 1008-1015 

SHELL  FISH 1016 

TESTACEOUS  WORMS 1016-1018 

BIVALVES 1019-1026 

UNIVALVES 1027-1032 

ZOOPHITES 1033-1037 

ANIMALCULES 1038 

(5) 

028 


CONTENTS. 


Adder 854 

Adjutant 721 

Agouti 268 

Albatross. 791 

Alligator 833 

Alpaca 328 

Amazon  Ant 961 

Amphisbcena 859 

Amphitrites  Worms 1009 

Anaconda 852 

Anchovy 898 

Anemones 1009 

Angler 915 

Ant-Eater 85,  961 

Antelopes 356 

Scythian 360 

Ants 975,982 

Apes 31 

Barbary »     43 

Pigmy 44 

Aphides 947 

Aphysia  Worms 1009 

Apteryx 707 

Argali 37!) 

Argonauts 1027 

Armadillo 88 

Six  banded 89 

Peciciago ,    90 

Arnee 387 

Ascarides 1002 

Ass 410 

Auks 782 

Avocet 748 

Axis 347 

Baboons 46 

Babyroussa 431 

Badger 245 

Barbel 916 

Bate 73 

Bear 226 

Beaver 271 

Bed-Bug 946 

Bees 969 

Beetles 91!),  934,  935 

Bernacles 1016 

Bird  of  Paradise 530 

Bison 389 

Bittern 723 

Black-bird 564 

Black-cap 562 

Blauwbuck 368 

Blennies 917 

Blesbock 369 

Blue-bird 610 

Boa 847 

Boat-bill 720 

Bobac 290 

Bob-o-link 566 

Booby 799 

Borers 926 

Buffalo ,.  395 


Bugs 946 

Bullfinch 578 

Bunting 580 

Bustards 695 

Butterfly 951 

Buzzard 475 

Cachalot 444 

Cadew-fly 960 

Camel 317 

Canary-finch 586 

Capromys 291 

Capybara,  or  Chiguira 2G9 

Caracal 208 

Cariama 709 

Carp 899 

Carrion  Crow 515 

Cassowary 705 

Cat-bird 609 

Cats 173-205 

Cavy 270 

Cedar,  or  Cherry-bird 622 

Centipedes 1000 

Cerambyx,  or  Capricorn 932 

Cerastes  Snake 858 

Cereopsis. 765 

Chaetodou 875 

Chaffinch 607 

Chaja 714 

Chameleon 838 

Chamois 35G 

Chatterer 624 

Cheese-mite 986 

Chick-a-dee 621 

Chickens 668-681 

Chigoe 985 

Chimpanzee 33 

Chinchilla 314 

Chub 900 

Chuck-well's- widow 493 

Civet 213 

Coati-moudi 247 

Cochineal 948 

Coccinella 930 

Cock,  domestic 668 

Cockatoos 507 

Cock-chafer 920 

Cockle 1020 

Cock-roach 939 

Codfish 868* 

Condor 452 

Coot 755 

Coral 103  L 

Corallines 1036 

Corvorant 800 

Cowrie 1028 

Crab. 993 

Crane 710-72^ 

Crane-fly 977 

Craw-fish 1000 

Creeper '. 548 

Cricket 941 


CONTENTS. 


Crocodile 829 

Cross-bill 572 

Crow-Blackbird 568 

Crows 512,  524,  525,  526 

Cuckoo 534 

Curculio 931 

Curlew 725 

Cuttle-fish 1011 

Dabchick 756 

Dace 901 

Darter 802 

Dasyurus 255 

Day-fly 959 

Deer 330-348 

Dermestes 926 

Devil-fish 918 

Divers 804 

Dodo 708 

Dogs 133-153 

Dog-fish 911 

Dolphin 446 

Dormouse 302 

Doree....- 872 

Dotterel 738 

Dragon-fly 059 

Dragon,  flying 838 

Ducks 759-769 

Dunlin 734 

Eagle . 463-475 

Earth-worm 1 005 

Earwig 937 

Echidna 256 

Eel 860 

Eft,  or  Newt 843 

Eider  Duck '. . . .  766 

Eland 363 

Elephant 100 

Elk - 331 

Emu 706 

Ermine 222 

Esculent  Swallow 632 

Falcon 460-483 

Ferret 218 

Fieldfare 563 

Finch 582 

Flamingo 745 

Flatfish 873 

Flea 984 

Flounder 875 

Fluke-worms 1003 

Fly 978 

Flying-fish 890 

Fly-catcher 590 

Fowls 668 

Fox 167 

Frogs 818 

Fury-worms 1004 


Gad-fly. 


977 


Gadwall  or  Grey 

Gall-insect 

Gallinule 

Gannet 7 

Garganey 

Gazelle 

,  Dorcas 

Genet 

Gentil  Falcon 

Giraffe 

Glow-worm 

Glutton 

Gnat 

Gnoo 

Goat 

,  Syrian 

Goat-sucker 

Godwit 

Goldfinch 

Goldfish 

Goosander 

Goose 

Goshawk 

Grampus 

Grayling 

Grebe,  or  Gaunt 

Greenfinch 

Grouse 

Grosbeaks 572, 

Guana 

Guanaco 

Gudgeon 

Guinea  Fowl 

Pig 

Guillemot « 

Gulls 

Gurnard 

Gymnotus 

Gyr-Falcon 


772 
962 
745 
797 
771 
366 
369 
222 
477 
348 
932 
239 
980 
361 
370 
374 
492 
727 
585 
902 
768 
761 
478 
450 
887 
755 
573 
683 
574 
835 
327 
900 
681 
270 
790 
805 
882 
862 
481 


Haddock 

Hair-worm 

Hake-fish 

Hare 

,  Alpine  . . 

,  Calling  . 

,  Ogotona. 

Hartebeest. . . 


.  869 
1004 
.  870 
.  306 
311 
.  313 
.  313 
.  367 


Hawk 480,481 

H  awkrnoth 953 

Hedge  Accentor,  or  Sparrow..  608 

Hedgehog 263 

Hen  Harrier 478 

Heron 710,714 

Herring.... 892 

Hippopotamus 419 

Hog 425 

,  Ethiopian. 429 

Holibut..., , 873 

Hoopoe. .*. . .  635 

Hornbill 510 

Hornet 965 


CONTENTS. 


Horse 401 

Humming  Bird 550 

Hyena 159 

Hyran 424 

Ibex 371 

Ibis 747 

Ichneumon 209 

Fly 963 

Jacana 750 

Jackal ]  65 

Jackdaw 520 

Jager,  Richardson's 807 

Jaguar 198 

Jay 521 

Jerboa 303 

Kangaroo 250 

King-bird 589 

Kingfisher 545 

Kinglet,  Fiery  Crowned 609 

Kinkajou 247 

Kite 477 

Klein-buck 369 

Koodoo 362 

Lady-bug 930 

Lagotis 315 

Lamprey 914 

Lantern-fly 944 

Lark 555,  594 

Lasher 917 

Leeches 1006 

Lemming-rat 283 

Lemurs 68 

Leopard 192 

Ling 870 

Linnet 582 

Lion 173 

Lizard 828,836 

Llama 325 

Loach 916 

Lobster 997 

Locust 940,  945 

Locust-eating  Thrush 571 

Long-worm 1005 

Loon 804 

Louse 983 

Lucanus 924 

Lumpsucker 918 

Lynx... 206 

Lyre-bird 639 

Lytta 936 

Macaw 498,  505 

Mackerel 878 

Madrepores 1033 

Magpve 523, 

Maois 87> 

Mantis 939 

Marmot 288,292 


Martin 214,  628-633 

May-fly 953 

Megapode 663 

Merganser,  hooded 809 

Missel,  or  Misseltoe  Thrush. . .  561 

Mocking-Bird 569 

Moles 257 

Monkeys 51-65 

Monk-fish 910 

Moose-deer 331 

Moose,  or  Monati 117 

Moths 954 

Mouse 280 

Mule 415 

Mullet 888 

Muscle 1023 

Musk 328 

Musk  Ox 398 

Muskrat 277 

Musquito 9^1 

Mya  tribe 1019 

Napu  Chevrotaiu 330 

Narwal i 435 

Nautilus , .  .1027 

Nereis 1009 

Nightingale 599 

Nut-hatch 544 

Nyl  ghau 358 


Ocelot 

Opossum 

Oran  Otan , 

Oriole 

Ornithorhyncus.. . 

Oryx , 

Ostrich 

Otter , 

Ounce 

Ouzel,  water 

Owls 

Ox 

Ox-bird,  or  Dunlin 
Oyster , 


,484 


208 
248 

33 
527 

91 

363 

700 

222 

192 

556 

-492 

382 

734 

1025 


Paca 269 

Pallah 367 

Panther 191 

Papuan  Podargus 494 

Paradise  Grakle 639 

Parrots 498-506 

Partridge 690 

Peacock 661 

Peccary 431 

Pelicans 792,802 

Penguins 787 

Perch 877 

Peregrine  Falcon 482 

Peristera 650 

Petrel f  88 

Phalanger 257 

Phalarope 757 


CONTENTS. 


9 


Phasianella  

652 

Pheasant  

664 

Pholas  

1017 

Pigeons  
Pike  

645 
887 

Pill-chafer.  

923 

Pilchard  

895 

Pintado  Tribe  

681 

Pipe-fish  

915 

Pipit,  meadow  

597 

Plaise  

875 

Plant-lice  

947 

Plovers  

738,740 

Polecat  

217 

Polype  

1036 

Porcupine  

266 

918 

Porpoise  
Prawn  

448 
998 

844 

Ptarmigan  

689 
926 

Puma  

196 

Purre  

727 

Python,  tiger  

853 

717 

Quagga 418 

Quail 693 

Rabbrt 309 

Eaccoon 243 

Kail 742 

Rapacious  birds 451 

Rat 276 

Ratel 211 

Rattlesnake 845 

Raven 513 

Ray : 912 

Razor-shell 1019 

Red-billed  Pique-breuf 639 

Red-breast 604 

Redstart. '. .558,  562 

American 591 

Reed  bird 567 

Reindeer 335 

Reit-Buck 368 

Remora 871 

Rhinoceros 92 

Rice-bird 566 

Ring-dove 643 

Roach 901 

Robin 605 

Rock-dove 654 

Roe 344 

Rook 517 

Rose-chafer 922 

Ruff,  or  reeve 782 

Sable 216 

Salamander 841 . 

Salmon 883 


Saw-fly 962 

Sandpiper 732 

,  Wilson's '. . .  735 

Sand-wasp 964 

Sarraybe 367 

Scallop 1021 

Scaraboaus 919 

Scorpion 992 

Sea-horse 915 

Seals 123 

Sea-urchin 1015 

Sealing 1026 

Shad 898 

Shark 905 

Sheep 375 

Shetland  pony 410 

Ship-worm 1017 

Shootwing,  mountain 563 

Shrew-mouse 262 

water^ 262 

Shrike,  great  or  cinereous 495 

,  tyraift 497 

Shrimp, .' 998 

Silkworm 955 

Silurus, 917 

Siskin 608 

Skate 913 

Skimmer 809 

Skippers 934 

Skunk 210 

Sloth 82 

Slugs 1008 

Smelt 886 

Snails 1029 

Snakes 854 

Snipe 725,729 

Sooty  Tapoa 256 

Spanish-fly 936 

Sparrow 583 

Sparrow-hawk 4SO 

Spermaceti  whale 444 

Spheges 964 

Spiders 987 

Spider-fly 981 

Sponge .1035 

Spoonbill 750 

Sprat 897 

Springbok 365 

Squirrels 293 

Stag-beetle 924 

Star-fish 1013 

Starling 554 

Stilt 739 

Stoat 222 

Stork 712 

Sturgeon 904 

Sucking-fish 671,917 

Surmullets. 881 

Swallows 624 

Swan 759 

Sword-fish 864 

Sylphoe 928 


10 


CONTENTS. 


Tailor-bird 616 

Talpicott 649 

Tape-worm 1 003 

Tapir 422 

Taller 751 

Teal 775 

Tench 900 

Teredo 1017 

Termes 982 

Tern 808 

Thornback 913 

Thread-worms 1004 

Thrush 560 

Thunny  fish 880 

Tick 986 

Tiger 185 

Titmice 617-621 

Toad 826 

Torpedo 912 

Tortoises 811 

Toucan 507 

Trogon 635 

Trout 885 

Trumpeter 698 

Turbot 873 

Turkey 657,  662 

Turnstone 733 

Turtles 815 

Umber 887 

Urchins 263 

Vibrio  tribe, 1040 

Vicuna 325 

Vinago 656 

Viper 854 


Vireo,  red-eyed 593 

Volvox 1041 

Vorticella 1038 

Vultures, 451,  455 

Wagtail 602 

Walrus 117 

Wapiti 345 

Warbler,  garden 559 

Warblers, 599,601,611 

Wasp 965,9(50 

Waxwing,  or  chatterer 623 

Weasel. 208,219 

Weevil 931 

Whale 437 

Whame-fly 979 

Wheat-ear 558,  603 

Whidah 580 

Whip-poor-will 493 

Whiting 869 

Widgeon 773 

Wolf 155 

Wolf-fish .862 

Wolverine 241 

Wombat 255 

Woodcock 728 

Wood-pecker 541 

Wren, 606,612,616 

Wryneck 543 

Yak ' 398 

Yapak 257 

Yellow-hammer 580 

Zebu 399 

Zebra 416 


ON   THE  STUDY  OF   NATURE. 


"  ONCE  upon  a  time,  when  the  Seven  Wise  Men  of  Greece  were  met  together  at 
Athens,  it  was  proposed  that  each  of  them  should  state  to  the  others  what  he  con- 
sidered to  be  tne  greatest  wonder  in  the  Creation.  One  of  them  asserted  that 
nothing  was  so  wonderful  as  the  heavenly  bodies.  He  explained  the  opinions  of 
some  of  the  astronomers  respecting  the  fixed  stars,  that  they  were  so  many  suns, 
each  having  planets  rolling  round  them,  which  were  stocked  with  plants  and  animals 
like  this  earth.  Fired  with  the  idea,  they  instantly  agreed  to  supplicate  Jupiter 
that  he  would  at  least  permit  them  to  take  a  journey  to  the  Moon,  and  remain  there 
three  days,  in  order  that  they  might  view  the  wonders  of  that  place,  and  give  an 
account  of  them  to  the  world  at  their  return.  Jupiter  consented  :  he  directed  them 
to  assemble  on  a  high  mountain,  where  a  cloud  should  be  in  readiness  to  convey 
them  thither.  They  did  so,  and  took  with  them  some  men  of  talents,  to  assist  in 
describing  and  painting  the  objects  they  should  discover.  At  length  they  arrived 
at  the  Moon,  where  they  found  a  palace  fitted  up  for  their  reception.  On  the  day 
after  their  arrival,  they  were  so  much  fatigued  with  their  journey,  that  they  remained 
in  the  house  till  noon  ;  and,  continuing  still  faint,  they  partook  of  a  delicious  enter- 
tainment, which  they  relished  so  much  that  it  quite  overcame  their  curiosity.  This 
day  they  only  saw,  through  the  windows,  a  delightful  country,  adorned  with  luxuriant 
verdure,  and  with  flowers  exquisitely  beautiful,  and  heard  the  melodious  singing  of 
the  birds.  The  second  day  they  rose  very  early,  to  commence  their  observations  ; 
hut  some  elegant  females  of  the  country,  calling  upon  them,  advised  that  they  should 
first  recruit  their  strength  before  they  exposed  themselves  to  the  laborious  task  they 
were  about  to  undertake.  The  sumptuous  banquet,  the  rich  wines,  and  the  beauty 
of  these  females,  prevailed  over  the  resolution  of  the  strangers.  Music  was  intro- 
duced, the  young  ones  began  to  dance,  and  all  was  turned  to  jollity ;  so  that  the  whole 
of  this  day  seemed  dedicated  to  gaiety  and  mirth,  till  some  of  the  neighbors,  envious 
of  their  happiness,  rushed  into  the  room  with  swords.  With  some  difficulty  these 
were  secured ;  and  it  was  promised,  as  a  recompense  to  the  younger  part  of  the 
company,  that,  on  the  following  morning,  they  should  be  brought  to  justice.  On 
the  third  day  the  trial  was  heard  ;  and,  in  consequence  of  the  time  occupied  by  the 
accusations,  pleading,  exceptions,  and  the  judgment  itself,  the  whole  day  was  occu- 
pied, and  the  term  which  Jupiter  had  allowed  to  the  Wise  Men  expired.  When 
they  returned  to  Greece,  the  whole  country  flocked  around  them  to  hear  the  wonders 
of  the  Moon  described  ;  but  all  they  could  say,  for  it  was  all  they  knew,  was  this  : 
that  the  ground  was  covered  with  verdure,  intermixed  with  flowers ;  and  that  tho 
birds  sang  delightfully  among  the  trees :  but  what  was  the  nature  of  the  flowers 
they  had  seen,  of  the  birds  they  had  heard,  or  of  the  country  they  had  visited,  they 
were  entirely  ignorant.  On  which  they  were  every  where  treated  with  contempt."* 

This  fable  was  applied,  by  Linnaeus,  to  mankind  in  general.  In  youth  we  are  too 
feeble  to  examine  the  great  objects  around  us ;  all  that  season,  therefore,  is  lost 
amidst  weakness,  indolence,  luxury,  and  amusement.  We  are  little  better  in  man- 
hood ;  settling  ourselves  in  life ;  marrying ;  bustling  through  the  world ;  over- 
whelmed, at  length,  with  business,  cares,  and  perplexities,  we  suffer  those  years  also 
to  glide  away.  Old  age  succeeds :  still  some  employments  intervene,  till,  at  last,  we 

*  In  the  Lectures  of  Linnaeus  on  Natural  History,  he  frequently  made  use  of  some  apt  simili- 
tude by  way  of  exciting  the  attention  of  his  audience.  The  preceding  fable  was  one  that  h0 
adopted  in  his  Lecture  on  Insects. 

(11) 


12  ON   THE   STUDY   OF   NATURE. 

have  passed  through  the  world,  without  scarcely  a  single  recurrence  to  the  admirable 
works  of  our  Creator ;  and,  in  too  many  instances,  even  without  having  duly  con- 
sidered the  end  for  which  we  were  brought  into  it.  This,  with  a  few  exceptions,  is 
the  progress  of  man  through  life.  It  is  true  that  no  one  is  able  to  avoid  being  led, 
by  his  own  feelings,  occasionally  to  notice  the  wonderful  productions  with  which  he  is 
surrounded.  All  can  remark  the  beautiful  verdure  of  the  fields  and  woods  ;  the 
elegance  of  the  flowers;  and  the  melodious  singing  of  the  birds ;  yet  few  indeed  give 
themselves  the  trouble  of  proceeding  a  single  step,  further,  or  exhibit  any  desire  of 
examining  into  the  nature  of  these  astonishing  combinations  of  Divine  Power. 

It  is  one  material  use  of  the  study  of  Nature,  to  illustrate  this  most  important  of 
all  truths :  "  That  there  must  be  a  God :  that  he  must  be  Almighty,  omniscient,  and 
infinite  in  goodness ;  and  that,  although  he  dwells  in  a  light  inaccessible  to  any 
mortal  eye,  yet  our  faculties  see  and  distinguish  him  clearly  in  his  works." 

In  these  we  are  compelled  to  observe  a  greatness  far  beyond  our  capacities  to 
understand :  we  see  an  exact  adaptation  of  parts  composing  one  stupendous  whole  ; 
a  uniform  ^perfection  and  goodness,  that  are  not  only  entitled  to  our  admiration, 
but  that  command  from  us  the  tribute  of  reverence,  gratitude,  and  love  to  the  Parent 
of  the  Universe.  Every  step  we  take  in  our  observations  on  Nature,  affords  us  in- 
dubitable proofs  of  his  superintendence.  From  these  we  learn  the  vanity  of  all  our 
boasted  wisdom,  and  are  taught  that  useful  lesson,  humility.  We  are  compelled  to 
acknowledge  our  dependence  on  God,  and  that,  deprived  of  his  support,  we  must 
instantly  dissolve  into  nothing. 

Every  object  in  the  Creation  is.  stamped  with  the  characters  of  the  infinite  per- 
fection and  overflowing  benevolence  of  its  Author.  If  we  examine,  with  the  most 
accurate  discrimination,  the  construction  of  bodies,  and  remark  even  their  most 
minute  parts,  we  see  clearly  a  necessary  dependence  that  each  has  upon  the  other ; 
and,  if  we  attend  to  the  vast  concurrence  of  causes  that  join  in  producing  the  several 
operations  of  Nature,  we  shall  be  induced  to  believe  further,  that  the  whole  world  is 
one  connected  train  of  causes  and  effects,  in  which  all  the  parts,  either  nearly  or 
remotely,  have  a  necessary  dependence  on  each  other.  We  shall  find  nothing  insu- 
lated, nothing  dependent  only  on  itself.  Each  part  lends  a  certain  support  to  the 
others,  and  takes  in  return  its  share  of  aid  from  them.  Let  us,  for  instance,  refer  to 
the  eye,  an  organ  which  is  common  to  nearly  all  animal  bodies.  Here  we  have  ex- 
hibited to  us  nicety  of  formation,  connections,  and  uses,  that  astonish  us.  We  see  it 
placed  in  a  bony  orbit,  lined  with  fat,  as  an  easy  socket  in  which  it  rests,  and  in 
which  all  its  motions  readily  take  place.  We  know  it  to  be  furnished,  among  many 
others,  with  those  wonderful  contrivances,  the  iris,  the  pupil,  and  different  humors  ; 
and  with  that  incomprehensible  mechanism  the  optic  nerve,  which  affords  to  the 
brain,  in  a  manner  greatly  beyond  our  conceptions,  the  images  of  external  objects. 
How  admirable  is  the  construction  of  the  skeleton!  every  particular  bone  adapted 
peculiarly  to  the  mode  of  life  and  habits  of  the  animal  possessing  it.  The  muscular 
system  is  still  more  entitled  to  our  wonder ;  and  if  we  enter  into  examination  of  the 
viscera,  the  skin,  and  other  parts  of  the  body,  we  can  fix  no  bounds  to  our  astonish- 
ment. 

But  all  the  common  operations  of  Nature,  surprising  as  they  are,  become  so 
familiar  to  us,  that  in  a  great  measure  they  cease  to  attract  our  notice.  Thus  also 
all  .the  usual  powers  of  animal  life,  which,  were  they  but  adverted  to,  could  not  fail 
to  affect  the  mind  with  the  most  awful  impressions,  are  suffered  to  operate  unheeded, 
as  if  unseen. — We  all  know,  for  example,  that,  whenever  inclination  prompts  to  it, 
we  can,  by  a  very  slight  exertion  of  our  vital  faculties,  raise  oar  hand  to  our  head. 
Nothing  seems  more  simple  or  more  easy,  than  this  action  ;  yet,  when  we  attempt 
to  form  an  idea  of  the  way  in  which  that  incorporeal  existence  which  we  call  mind, 
can  operate  upon  matter,  and  thus  put  it  in  motion,  we  are  perfectly  lost  in  the 
incomprehensible  immensity  that  surrounds  us.  When  we  try  to  investigate  the 
properties  of  matter,  we  perceive  that,  by  patience  and  attention,  we  can  make  a 
progress  in  attainments  to  which,  according  to  our  limited  ideas,  bounds  can  scarcely 
be  assigned.  The  motions  of  the  planets  can  be  ascertained,  their  distances  mea- 
sured, and  their  periods  assigned.  The  Mathematician  is  able  to  demonstrate,  with 
the  most  decisive  certainty,  that  no  Fly  can  alight  upon  this  globe  which  we  inhabit 
without  communicating  motion  to  it ;  and  he  can  ascertain,  if  he  choose  to  do  it, 
what  must  be  the  exact  amount  of  the  motion  thus  produced.  In  this  train  of  in- 
vestigation the  mind  of  a  Newton  can  display  its  superior  powers,  and  soar  to  a 


ON   THE   STUDY   OF   NATURE.  13 

height  that  exalts  it  far  above  the  reach  of  others  ;  and  yet,  in  trying  to  explain  the 
cause  of  animal  motion,  the  meanest  reptile  that  crawls  upon  the  ground,  humili- 
ating as  the  thought  may  be,  is  on  a  footing  of  perfect  equality  with  a  Newton  : 
they  can  alike  exert  the  powers  conferred  on  them  by  the  Almighty  Creator,  without 
being  able  to  form  the  smallest  idea  of  the  way  in  which  they  are  enabled  to  produce 
these  effects.  Man,  however,  can  contemplate  these  effects  if  he  will ;  and  Man, 
perhaps  alone  of  all  the  animal  sthat  exist  on  this  globe,  is  permitted,  by  contem- 
plating the  wonders  which  these  unfold,  to  form,  if  he  please,  some  idea  of  his  own 
nothingness,  with  a  view  to  moderate  his  pride,  and  thus  to  exalt  himself  above  the 
unconscious  agents  that  surround  him. 

When  the  Anatomist  considers  how  many  muscles  must  be  put  in  motion  before 
any  animal  exertion  can  be  effected  ;  when  he  views  them  one  by  one,  and  tries  to 
ascertain  the  precise  degree  to  which  each  individual  muscle  must  be  constricted  or 
relaxed,  before  the  particular  motion  which  is  indicated  can  be  effected,  he  finds 
himself  lost  in  the  labyrinth  of  calculations  in  which  this  involves  him.  When  he 
further  reflects  that  it  is  not  his  own  body  only  that  is  endowed  with  the  faculty  of 
calling  forth  these  incomprehensible  energies,  but  that  the  most  insignificant  insect 
is  vested  with  similar  powers,  he  is  still  more  confounded.  A  skillful  naturalist  has 
been  able  to  ascertain  that,  in  the  body  of  the  minutest  Caterpillar,  there  are  up- 
wards of  two  thousand  muscles,  all  of  which  can  be  brought  into  action  with  as  much 
facility,  at  the  will  of  that  insect,  and  perform  their  several  offices  with  as  much 
accuracy,  promptitude,  and  precision,  as  the  most  perfect  animal ;  and  that  all  this  is 
done  by  the  caterpillar,  with  equal  consciousness  of  the  manner  how,  as  the  similar 
voluntary  actions  of  Man  himself  are  effected  !  It  would  be  no  easy  matter  to 
make  some  men  believe  that  the  most  minute  insect,  whose  whole  life  may  be  calcu- 
lated for  the  duration  of  only  a  few  hours,  is,  in  all  its  parts,  as  complete  as  the 
Elephant  that  treads  the  forests  of  India  for  a  century.  Little  do  some  persons 
imagine  that  even  in  its  appearance,  under  the  greatest  magnifying  powers,  it  is  as 
elegant  in  every  respect,  and  as  beautifully  finished,  as  any  of  the  larger  animals  ! 
Unlike  the  productions  of  men,  all  the  minute  parts  of  the  works  of  God  appear  in 
greater  perfection,  and  excite  in  us  greater  admiration,  the  more  minutely  and  more 
accurately  they  are  examined.  M.  de  Lisle  saw,  with  a  microscope,  a  very  small 
insect,  that  in  one  second  of  time  advanced  three  inches,  taking  jive  hundred  and 
forty  steps ;  and  many  of  the  discoveries  of  Leuwenhoek  were  even  still  more  won- 
derful than  this. 

If,  from  the  contemplation  of  microscopic  objects,  we  turn  our  attention  to  the 
system  of  the  Universe,  and  view  the  Heavens,  what  an  astonishing  field  of  admiration 
is  here  afforded  us !  The  immense  globe  that  we  inhabit  is  but  a  speck  in  the  Solar 
system  ;  and  that  system,  stupendous  as  it  is,  is  lost  in  the  immensity  of  the  space 
around.  Our  Sun  becomes  a  star  to  Planets  revolving  round  other  Suns,  as  their 
Suns  become  Stars  to  us.  Of  these  no  fewer  than  seventy-Jive  millions  may  be  dis- 
covered in  the  expanse  exposed  to  our  investigation.  But  what  are  even  all  these, 
when  compared  with  the  multitudes  distributed  through  the  boundless  space  of  air ! 
The  Universe  must  contain  such  numbers  as  exceed  the  utmost  stretch  of  human 
imagination.  To  obtain  some  faint  conception  of  the  wonderful  extent  of  space,  we 
may  remark  that  stars  of  the  first  magnitude,  or  such  as  seem  to  us  the  largest,  are 
nearly  19,000,000,000,000  miles  from  our  Sun;  and  that  some  of  the  smallest  stars 
are  at  many  times  that  distance  !  "  Great  is  our  God,  and  great  is  his  power !  0 
God,  who  is  like  unto  thee !" 

But  to  return  to  the  Animal  Creation ;  we  find  there  innumerable  additional  proofs 
of  our  hypothesis.  We  see  that  all  the  smaller  creatures,  which  serve  us  for  food, 
are  particularly  fruitful,  and  that  they  increase  in  a  much  greater  proportion  than 
others.  Of  the  birds  it  is  extremely  remarkable,  that,  lest  they  should  fall  short  of 
a  certain  number  of  eggs,  they  are  endowed  with  the  power  of  laying  others  in  the 
place  of  those- that  are  taken  away  ;  but  that,  when  their  number  is  complete,  they 
invariably  stop.  Here  is  an  operation,  like  many  others  which  we  shall  have  to 
observe,  much  beyond  the  reach  of  our  faculties  to  comprehend.  How  the  mere 
privation  of  part  should  cause  a  fresh  production,  is  not  indeed  easy  to  understand. 
The  organization  of  an  offspring  should,  in  this  case,  almost  seem  a  voluntary  act 
of  the  female  ;  but,  in  what  manner  it  is  done,  we  are  not  only  ignorant  at  present, 
but  shall  most  probably  ever  remain  so.  Noxious  animals  in  general  multiply  slowly; 
and  whenever  we  find  an  unusual  increase  of  such,  we  generally  discover  that  soino- 


14-  ON    THE    STUDY   OF    NATURE. 

thing  has  been  given  by  Providence  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  and  counterbalancing 
them.  Many  species  devour  each  other;  and  multitudes  which  might  otherwise,  by 
their  numbers,  become  of  serious  injury  to  mankind,  afford  food  to  other  creatures. 
The  insect  tribes  increase  with  astonishing  rapidity.  The  issue  of  some  of  them 
amount  to  more  than  two  thousand  in  a  year ;  and,  were  these  not  destroyed  by 
innumerable  enemies,  they  would  soon  fill  the  air,  and  in  the  end  would  occasion  the 
destruction  of  the  whole  animal  and  vegetable  creation. 

The  offspring  of  every  animal,  with  regard  to  number,  bears  a  certain  proportion 
to  the  duration  of  its  life.  The  Elephant  lives  to  the  age  of  a  hundred  years  or 
upwards  ;  the  female  consequently  produces  but  a  single  young  one  at  a  birth,  and 
this  does  not  arrive  at  maturity  till  it  is  sixteen  or  eighteen  years  old.  Nearly  the 
same  may  be  remarked  of  the  Rhinoceros,  and  of  all  the  larger  animals :  but  in 
most  of  the  smaller  ones,  whose  lives  are  shoft,  or  whose  increase  is  not  so  injurious 
to  man  as  the  increase  of  these  would  be,  we  always  find  the  number  of  offspring  to  be 
much  greater.  No  species  has  ever  been  found  to  increase  so  much  as  to  annihilate 
the  others ;  and  this  singular  harmony  and  just  proportion  has  now  been  supported 
for  several  thousand  years.  "  One  generation  passeth  away,  and  another  succeedeth," 
but  all  so  equally  as  to  balance  the  stock  in  all  ages  and  in  all  countries. 

In  the  Vegetable  Creation  we  observe  the  same  regularity  as  in  Animals.  There 
is  scarcely  a  vegetable  of  any  kind  that  is  not  rejected  as  food  by  some  animals,  and 
ardently  desired  by  others.  Numerous  also  are  the  plants  which,  at  the  same  time 
that  they  afford  only  the  natural  nourishment  to  some,  are,  by  others,  cautiously 
shunned,  as  poisonous  and  destructive.  All  this  has  been  contrived,  by  the  Author 
of  Nature,  for  the  best  and  wisest  purposes. 

Every  species  of  animal  is  admirably  calculated  for  the  climate  in  which  it  resides, 
arid  for  its  own  peculiar  mode  of  life.  In  the  dreary  northern  regions,  the  dark 
animals  become  white,  to  evade,  by  their  resemblance  to  the  prevailing  color  of 
the  country,  the  quick  sight  of  their  enemies.  Their  clothing,  also,  during  winter, 
becomes  nearly  double  what  it  is  in  the  summer.  In  torrid  climates  the  Sheep,  as  it 
is  stated,  loses  his  fleece,  and  is  covered  with  hair.  The  Camel,  that  traverses  the 
burning  sands  of  the  desert,  is  formed  with  soft,  spongy  feet,  which  the  heat  cannot 
crack  :  it  has  a  reservoir  of  water,  which  enables  it  to  resist  for  many  days  the  at- 
tacks of  thirst,  in  a  country  where  water  is  not  to  be  had  ;  and  it  is  contented  with 
browsing  on  such  miserable  food  as  is  to  be  met  with  in  its  progress.  Innumerable 
other  instances  might  be  mentioned ;  but  these  are  reserved  for  the  body  of  the 
work. 

In  vegetables,  we  observe  similar  marks  of  superintendence.  Some  are  alpine, 
and  can  exist  only  on  the  summits  of  mountains;  some- grow  in  marshes  ;  others  on 
the  plains,  &c  ;  and  each  of  these  is  exactly  adapted  to  its  peculiar  situation.  The 
plants  of  the  desert  are  nearly  all  succulent,  and  able  to  bear  the  privation  of  mois- 
ture for  an  astonishing  length  of  time.  Those  that  are  found  on  the  sea-shore  could 
not,  in  many  instances,  be  retained  in  their  situation,  did  not  their  roots  become  so 
matted  among  the  sand,  or  strike  so  deeply  down,  as  to  render  them  immovable  by 
all  the  shocks  they  sustain,  either  from  the  wind  or  water.  It  is  also  a  remarkable 
circumstance,  that  Evergreens  grow  principally  in  the  hottest  climates,  where  they 
afford  a  natural  shelter  to  the  various  animals,  from  the  excessive  heats  to  which 
they  would  otherwise  be  exposed. 

If  we  attend  to  the  contrivances  of  Providence  for  the  preservation  of  animals 
during  the  winter  of  cold  climates,  we  shall  have  an  additional  source  of  admiration. 
Most  of  those  which  feed  on  insects,  either  emigrate  to  other  countries,  or  become 
torpid.  Insects  themselves,  unable  to  bear  the  extreme  cold,  generally  lie  hidden 
within  their  cases,  from  which,  at  the  approach'  of  Spring,  they  burst  and  fly  forth. 
Some  animals,  as  the  Beaver,  Squirrels,  &c.,  that  feed  on  such  vegetables  as  can  be 
preserved  through  the  winter,  do  not  sleep,  but  live  in  their  retreats  on  those  pro- 
visions which  their  Creator  has  instructed  them  how  to  store  up  in  the  summer. 

The  preservation  of  the  ffspring  of  all  animals  is  not  less  wonderful  than  this. 
Quadrupeds  are  furnished  with  certain  receptacles,  in  which  is  secreted  a  fluid  called 
milk.  With  this  their  young  ones  are  nourished  till  their  stomachs  are  able  to  bear, 
and  their  teeth  to  chew,  more  solid  food.  As  Birds  are  destitute  of  this  species  of  nu- 
triment, their  offspring  are  able,  as  soon  as  hatched,  to  take  into  their  stomachs  such 
food  as  the  parents  collect  for  them  ;  and  the  insect  tribes  are  generally  brought  to 
life  in  a  nidus  that  itself  affords  them  nourishment. 


ON   THE   STUDY   OF   NATURE.  15 

It  is  also  deserving  of  remark,  that  birds  of  the  same  species  always  form  their 
nests  of  similar  materials,  laid  in  the  same  order,  and  exactly  of  the  same  figure ;  so 
that,  whenever  a  nest  is  seen,  the  bird  that  constructed  it  is  immediately  known. 
This  is  invariable  in  all  birds  and  in  all  countries  ;  with  those  taken,  when  just 
hatched,  from  the  nest,  and  brought  up  in  a  cage,  as  well  as  with  those  that  have  all 
their  lives  been  in  a  wild  state. 

From  the  animal  we  will  once  again  turn  to  the  vegetable  kingdom,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  examining  the  contrivances  of  Nature  there.  If  we  look  around  us,  we 
shall  find  it  a  difficult  matter  to  discover  an  entirely  barren  spot.  If,  by  any  devas- 
tation such  be  made,  it  does  not  long  remain  unoccupied.  Seeds  are  soon  scattered 
over  it :  the  downy  seeds  of  the  thistles,  wafted  by  the  winds,  are  the  first  to  take 
root,  and  after  these  comes  the  germs  of  various  other  plants,  till  at  length  the 
whole  space  is  filled.  If  a  rock  be  left  entirely  bare  by  the  receding  of  water,  the 
minute  crustaceous  Lichens  in  a  few  years  entirely  cover  it.  These,  dying,  turn  to 
earth,  and  the  imbricated  Lichens  now  have  a  bed  to  strike  their  roots  into.  These 
also  die,  and  various  species  of  Mosses  succeed;  and  when,  after  some  time,  a  suffi- 
ciency of  mould  has  been  formed,  the  larger  plants,  and  even  shrubs,  take  root  and  live. 

The  quickness  of  vegetation  both  in  hot  and  cold  climates  is  so  astonishing,  as  to 
be  perfectly  unaccountable,  were  we  not  able  to  refer  it  to  a  most  exalted  wisdom. 

The  following  is  the  Calendar  of  a  Siberian  or  Lapland  Year. 

June  23.  Snow  melts.  July  17.  Plants  at  full  growth.     Aug.  10.  Plants  shed  their  seed. 

July    1.  Snow  gone.  25.  Plants  in  flower.  18.  Snow. 

9.  Fields  quite  green.  Aug.  2.  Fruits  ripe.  From  Aug.  18,  to  June  23,  Snow  and  Ice. 

Thus  it  appears  that  only  a  month  elapses  from  the  time  when  the  plants  first 
emerge  from  the  ground  to  the  ripening  of  their  seeds  ;  and  that  Spring,  Summer, 
and  Autumn  are  crowded  into  the  short  space  of  forty-six  days. 

Again,  in  the  torrid  climates,  where  a  scorching  heat  prevails  through  the  greatest 
part  of  the  year,  we  have  a  similar  wonderful  contrivance.  In  India,  when  the  wet 
season  commences,  the  rain  falls  in  such  abundance,  that,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
hours,  ponds  of  considerable  depth  are  formed  in  every  hollow  place,  in  many  of 
which  there  had  not  for  several  preceding  months,  been  the  least  appearance  of 
vegetation  or  even  of  moisture.  No  sooner,  however,  does  the  rain  begin  to  fall,  than 
vegetation  commences ;  and,  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours,  the  appearance  of  ver- 
dure can  be  distinctly  perceived,  whichever  way  the  eye  is  directed.  But  the  most  sur- 
prising circumstance  is,  that  very  shortly  after  this  verdure  begins  to  appear,  these 
newly-formed  ponds  are  found  swarming  with  fish  of  such  size  as  to  admit  of  being 
taken  with  nets,  and  to  afford  food  for  man.  This  circumstance  is  related  by  Dr. 
Anderson,  on  the  authority  of  a  very  respectable  person  of  Bombay,  and  was  not 
stated  until  the  fullest  inquiries  had  been  made,  and  the  most  satisfactory  evidence 
had  appeared  respecting  it. 

Thus  does  the  uniform  voice  of  Nature  exclaim  aloud,  that  "  the  merciful  and 
gracious  Lord  hath  so  done  his  marvellous  works,  that  they  ought  to  be  had  in 
remembrance."  The  whole  material  system,  throughout  heaven  and  earth,  presents 
a  varied  scene  rich  in  use  and  beauty,  in  which  nothing  is  lost,  and  in  which  the 
meanest  and  minutest  creatures  have  their  full  designation  and  importance. — ''  Thus 
saith  the  Lord,  thy  Redeemer,  and  he  that  formed  thee  from  the  womb,  I  am  the 
Lord,  who  maketh  all  things,  who  stretcheth  forth  the  heavens  alone,  and  spreadeth 
abroad  the  earth  by  myself." 

From  the  preceding  observations,  it  appears  that  Natural  History  is  capable  of 
yielding  to  us  innumerable  subjects  for  both  moral  and  religious  study.  Its  chief 
tendency  ought  to  be,  to  lead  us,  from  the  admiration  of  the  works  to  the  contem- 
plation of  their  Author ;  to  teach  us  to  look,  through  Nature  up  to  Nature's  God. 
It  is  a  study  which  terminates  in  the  conviction,  the  knowledge,  and  the  adoration 
of  that  gracious  and  merciful  Being,  to  whose  goodness  alone  we  are  indebted  for 
every  happiness  that  we  enjoy. 

These  are  thy  glorious  works,  Parent  of  Good, 

Almighty  !  Thine  this  universal  frame  ; 

Thus  wondrous  fair,  thyself  how  wondrous  then ! 

Unspeakable,  who  sitt'st  above  these  heav'ns, 

To  us  invisible,  or  dimly  seen 

In  these  thy  lowest  works ;  yet  these  declare 

Thy  goodness  beyond  thought,  and  power  divine  ! 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  AND  FUNCTIONS 

OF    ANIMALS  IN    GENERAL 


MAMMIFEEOUS  ANIMALS. 
(QUADRUPEDS  AND  WHALES.) 

THE  class  of  animals  denominated  by  Linnaeus,  MAMMALIA,  comprehends  all  those 
which  nourish  their  offspring  with  milk  supplied  from  their  own  bodies,  and  which 
have,  flowing  in  their  veins,  a  warm  and  red  blood.  It  includes  the  whales,  which 
from  their  external  shape  and  habits  of  life,  might  be  considered  as  fish.  These  in- 
habit exclusively  the  water,  an  element  in  which  none  of  the  quadrupeds  can  long 
subsist;  and  they  are  furnished,  like  the  fish,  with  fins;  but,  in  every  essential 
characteristic,  they  exhibit  an  alliance  to  the  quadrupeds.  Like  the  quadrupeds 
they  have  warm  blood,  produce  their  offspring  alive,  and  nourish  them  with  milk 
furnished  from  teats.  In  their  internal  structure  they  are,  likewise,  in  a  great  mea- 
sure, allied  to  the  quadrupeds. 

The  bodies  of  nearly  all  the  mammiferous  animals  are  covered  with  hair,  a  soft 
and  warm  clothing,  liable  to  little  injury,  and  bestowed  in  quantity  proportioned  to 
the  necessities  of  the  animals,  and  the  climates  which  they  inhabit.  In  most  of  the 
aquatic  quadruped's  this  covering,  from  its  too  free  absorption  of  moisture,  is 
wanting. 

The  head,  in  all  the  higher  orders,  is  the  seat  of  the  principal  organs  of  sense — the 
mouth,  the  nose,  the  eyes,  and  the  ears.  It  is  through  the  mouth,  that  they  receive 
their  nourishment.  This  contains  the  teeth,  which,  in  most  of  the  Mammalia,  are 
used  not  only  for  the  mastication  of  food,  but  as  weapons  of  offence.  They  are  in- 
serted into  two  moveable  bones  called  jaws.  The  front  teeth,  the  office  of  which  is 
to  cut,  are  wedge-shaped,  and  so  placed  that,  in  action,  their  sharp  edges  are  brought 
into  contact,  and  thus  divide  the  aliment.  Next  to  the  front  teeth,  on  each  side,  are 
the  canine  teeth,  or  tusks.  These  are  longer  than  the  other  teeth,  conical  and 
pointed  ;  and  their  use  is  to  tear  the  foo.  dThe  teeth  at  the  back  of  the  jaw,  between 
which  the  food  is  masticated,  are  called  grinders.  In  animals  which  live  on  vegeta- 
bles, these  are  flattened  at  the  top ;  but  in  carnivorous  animals,  their  upper  surfaces 
are  furnished  with  sharp  and  conically-pointed  protuberances.  From  the  numbers, 
form,  and  disposition  of  the  teeth,  the  various  genera  of  quadrupeds  have  been 
arranged. 

The  nose  is  a  cartilaginous  body,  pierced  with  two  holes  called  nostrils.  In  some 
animals  this  is  prominent,  in  others  flat,  compressed,  turned  upward,  or  bent  down- 
ward. In  beasts  of  prey  it  is  often  either  longer  than  the  lips,  or  of  equal  length 
with  them.  In  a  few  animals  it  is  elongated  into  a  movable  trunk  or  proboscis ; 
and  in  one  tribe,  the  Rhinoceros,  is  armed  with  a  horn. 

The  eyes  of  quadrupeds  are,  for  the  most  part,  defended  by  movable  eyelids,  the 
outer  margins  of  which  are  furnished  with  hairs,  called  eye-lashes.  The  opening  of 
the  pupil  is  in  general  circular ;  but  in  some  animals,  as  Cats  and  Hares,  it  is  con- 
tracted into  a  perpendicular  line ;  and  in  Oxen,  Horses,  and  a  few  others,  it  forms  a 
tranverse  bar.  The  opening  contracts  during  the  day,  in  order  that  the  very  sensi- 
ble retina  may  not  be  irritated  by  the  rays  of  light ;  and,  on  the  contrary,  is  expanded 
in  the  dark,  to  allow  as  many  rays  to  pass  as  possible. 

(16) 


FUNCTIONS  OF   ANIMALS  17 

The  ears  are  openings  generally  accompanied  by  a  cartilage  which  defends  and 
covers  them,  called  the  external  ears.  In  aquatic  animals  the  latter  are  wanting,  as. 
in  them,  the  sounds  are  transmitted  merely  through  orifices  in  the  head,  which  have 
the  name  of  auditory  holes.  The  most  defenceless  animals  are  very  delicate  in  their 
sense  of  hearing,  as  are  likewise  most  of  the  beasts  of  prey.  In  wild  animals  the 
ears  are  erect  and  somewhat  funnel-shaped,  capable  of  having  their  openings  turned 
towards  the  quarter  from  which  the  sounds  proceed;  but  in  those  that  are  tame  and 
domestic,  the  ears  are,  for  the  most  part,  long  and  pendulous. 

The  head  is  joined  to  the  body  by  the  neck  ;  and  all  those  animals  that  often  ex- 
tend their  arms  or  anterior  feet  forward,  either  to  seize  upon  objects,  as  the  Monkeys, 
or  to  fly,  as  the  Bats,  have,  annexed  to  the  upper  part  of  the  thorax,  clavicles  or 
collar-bones.  The  clavicle  of  the  Mole  is  particularly  remarkable,  on  account  of  its 
thickness,  which  exceeds  its  length.  The  collar-bones  are  wanting  in  such  animals 
as  use  their  anterior  extremities  for  progressive  motion  only. 

Most  of  the  Mammiferous  Animals  walk  on  four  feet.  These  are  usually  divided 
at  the  extremities  into  toes  or  fingers ;  but  the  extremities  of  some,  as  those  of  the 
Horse,  end  in  a  single  corneous  substance,  called  a  hoof.  The  toes  of  a  few  of  the 
quadrupeds  terminate  in  broad  flat  nails,  and  of  most  of  the  others  in  pointed  claws. 
Sometimes  the  toes  are  connected  together  by  a  membrane :  this  is  the  case  in 
animals  that  reside  much  in  the  water.  Sometimes,  as  in  the  Bat,  the  digitations 
of  the  anterior  feet  are  greatly  elongated,  and  have  their  intervening  space  filled  by 
a  membrane  which  extends  round  the  hinder  legs,  and  the  tail,  and  by  means  of  which 
they  are  enabled  to  rise  into  the  air. 

Man,  and  a  certain  number  of  animals,  are  capable  of  seizing  objects,  by  surround- 
ing and  grasping  them  with  their  fingers.  For  this  purpose  the  fingers  are  separate, 
free,  flexible,  and  of  considerable  length.  Man  has  such  fingers  on  his  hands  only ; 
but  Apes  and  Lemurs  have  them  both  on  their  hands  and  feet. 

With  regard  to  the  internal  structure  of  Quadrupeds :  that  warm  and  red  fluid 
which  is  calledblood,  flows  through  the  body,  from  the  heart,  its  common  reservoir, 
by  a  series  of  vessels  called  arteries,  and  returns  by  another  series,  denominated 
veins.  During  the  circulation,  various  fluids  are  separated  from  the  blood,  and  are 
carried  through  little  vessels  to  be  lodged  in  proper  reservoirs.  These  fluids,  whick 
are  termed  secretions,  are  adapted  to  various  purposes  in  the  system. 

The  lungs  of  Mammiferous  Animals  consist  of  two  lobes,  and  are  placed  within 
the  thorax  or  chest.  Into  these  the  atmospheric  air  is  inspired  from  the  mouth  ; 
and  in  them  the  vital  air  and  the  matter  of  heat  are  separated ;  the  former,  contain- 
ing the  only  principle  proper  for. the  maintenance  of  life,  and  the  latter  being  neces- 
sary towards  keeping  up  the  fluidity  of  the  blood.  The  mephitic  air,  which  remains 
after  the  separation,  is  expired.  This  act  of  drawing  in  the  atmospheric  air,  separa- 
ting the  vital  air  and  matter  of  heat,  and  ejecting  the  mephitic  air,  is  termed 
respiration.  I 

In  digestion  it  is  that  the  juices  calculated  to  nourish  and  support  the  body  become 
separated  from  the  other  less  useful  parts  of  the  food.  Reduced  to  a  pulp,  by 
means  of  the  teeth  and  saliva,  these  pass  through  a  canal  which  terminates  in  a  large 
bag  or  reservoir,  called  the  stomach.  Here  the  aliment,  penetrated  and  further  dis- 
solved by  new  juices,  undergoes  a  trituration,  or  kind  of  grinding,  from  the  action  of 
the  stomach ;  and  the  nutritive  juices,  which,  on  their  union,  are  denominated  chyle, 
are  separated.  These  juices  are  taken  up  by  little  vessels  called  lacteals,  and  be- 
come converted  into  new  blood  and  flesh.  The  alimentary  canal  again  contracts  on 
leaving  the  stomach,  and,  arranged  in  a  great  variety  of  folds,  acquires  the  name  of 
intestines.  The  residue  of  what  is  not  converted  into  chyle  traverses  these  numerous 
sinuosities,  and  at  last  is  expelled  the  body. 

The  bodies  of  all  Mammiferous  Animals  are  supported  by  a  frame  of  bones  called 
a  skeleton.  To  these  bones  are  attached  the  muscles  or  flesh,  assemblages  of  fibres 
held  together  by  membranes,  and  terminating  in  a  kind  of  cords,  which  are  denomi- 
nated tendons.  The  muscles,  when  excited,  produce  motion  in  the  different  parts  of 
the  body ;  and  it  is  their  action  which  gives  to  all  animals  the  power  of  changing 
their  place,  and  performing  the  various  movements  that  are  necessary  to  their  wants. 

The  sensation  of  animals  arises  from  an  irritation  taking  place  on  the  ends  of 
certain  chords  called  nerves.  These  are  either  prolonged  from  the  spinal  marrow,  or 
they  are  united  in  pairs  in  the  brain. 


18  ON   THE   STRUCTURE  AND 

OF  CETACEOUS  ANIMALS,  AS    DISTINCT   FROM  QUADRUPEDS. 

The  Cetaceous  animals  constitute  the  seventh  Order  of  Mammalia.  They  inhabit 
chiefly  the  seas  of  the  Polar  regions  ;  yet,  like  the  quadrupeds,  they  breathe  air  by 
means  of  true  lungs.  They  are  consequently  compelled  to  rise  to  the  surface  of  the 
water  to -respire;  and  on  this  account  it  is  that  they  always  sleep  on  the  surface. 
Their  nostrils  are  open,  and  terminate  on  the  summit  of  the  head  ;  this  peculiarity  of 
structure  enables  them  to  draw  in  air  without  raising  their  mouth  out  of  the  water. 
The  nostrils  also  serve  them  as  canals  for  expelling  the  superfluous  water  which  they 
take  in  at  the  mouth  every  time  they  attempt  to  swallow  their  prey.  They  have 
also  warm,  red  blood  ;  and  they  produce  and  suckle  their  offspring  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  the  quadrupeds.  They  likewise  resemble  them  in  having  movable  eye-lids 
and  true  bones ;  and  in  their  power  of  uttering  loud  and  bellowing  sounds,  a  faculty 
altogether  denied  to  the  scaly  tribes. 

The  Cetaceous  animals  have  a  smooth  skin,  not  covered  with  hair.  Their  feet  are 
very  short ;  those  on  the  fore-part  of  the  body  being  formed  like  fins,  and  the  hinder 
ones  being  united  into  an  horizontal  tail. 

The  fat  of  these  animals  is  what  we  term  blubber.  It  does  not  coagulate  in  our 
atmosphere,  and  is  probably  the  most  fluid  of  all  animal  fats.  It  is  found  principally 
on  the  outside  of  the  muscles,  immediately  under  the  skin,  and  is  in  considerable 
quantity.  The  blubber  appears  principally  to  be  of  use  in  poising  their  bodies  :  it 
also  prevents  the  immediate  contact  of  the  water  with  the  flesh,  the  continued  cold 
of  which  might  chill  the  blood  ;  and,  in  this  respect,  it  serves  a  purpose  similar  to 
that  of  clothing  to  the  human  race. 

It  is  probable  that  the  Cete  swallow  all  their  food  whole,  for  they  are  not  furnished 
with  instruments  capable  either  of  dividing  or  masticating  it.  In  place  of  teeth,  the 
mouths  of  some  of  the  whales  are  supplied  with  laminae  of  horn  called  whalebone. 

This  substance  is  attached  to  the  interior  part  of  the  upper  jaw,  is  extremely 
elastic,  and  consists  of  thin  plates  of  considerable  length  and  breadth,  placed  in 
several  rows,  encompassing  the  outer  skirts  of  the  upper  jaw,  like  teeth  in  other 
animals.  The  laminae  are  parallel  to  each  other,  having  one  edge  towards  the  cir- 
cumference of  the  mouth,  and  the  other  towards  the  interior.  The  outer  row  is 
composed  of  the  longest  plates,  some  being  fourteen  or  fifteen  feet  in  length,  and 
twelve  or  fifteen  inches  broad  :  but  towards  the  anterior  and  posterior  parts  of  the 
mouth  they  gradually  become  very  short. — The  whalebone  is  supposed  to  be  prin- 
cipally of  use  in  the  retention  of  food  till  swallowed  :  for,  as  the  fish,  and  other  marine 
animals,  which  the  whales  catch,  are  very  minute  when  compared  with  the  size  of  their 
mouth,  a  quantity  sufficient  for  their  nutriment,  without  some  such  guard  as  this, 
could  scarcely  be  retained. 

From  these  animals  being  resident  entirely  in  the  water,  and  generally  far  removed 
from  the  haunts  of  man,  we  cannot  be  supposed  to  have  acquired  any  very  correct 
knowledge  of  their  manners  or  habits  of  life  :  even  their  species  are  but  imperfectly 
known. 

The  Mammiferous  Animals  have  been  divided  by  Linnaeus  into  seven  orders. 

1.  Primates,  which  have  four  front  teeth  in  each  jaw;  and  one  canine  tooth  on  each 
side  in  both  jaws.   The  principal  animals  of  this  order  are  the  Apes,  Lemurs,  and  Bats. 

2.  Bruta.     These  are  entirely  destitute  of  front  teeth.     The  tribe  consists  of  the 
Sloths,  Ant-eaters.  Rhinoceros,  Elephant,  and  Manati. 

3.  Ferce.    The  Ferae  have  generally  six  front  teeth  in  each  jaw ;  and  one  canine- 
tooth  on  each  side,  in  both  jaws.    They  consist  of  Seals,  Dogs,  Cats,  Weasels,  Otters, 
Bears,  Kangaroos,  Moles,  Shrews,  and  Urchins. 

4.  Glires.    The  animals  denominated  Glires  have  two  long  front-teeth  in  each 
jaw  ;  and  no  canine-teeth.     They  consist  of  the  Porcupines,  Cavies,  Beavers,  Rats, 
Marmots,  Squirrels,  Dormice,  Jerboas,  Hares,  and  Hyraxes. 

5.  Pecora.     The  Pecora  are  destitute  of  front-teeth  in  the  upper-jaw,  and  on  their 
feet  have  cloven  hoofs.     All  the  species  ruminate  or  chew  their  cud.     The  tribes  are 
the  Camel,  Musk,  Deer,  Giraffe,  Antelope,  Goat,  Sheep,  and  Ox. 

6.  Belluce.     These  have  obtuse  front-teeth  in  each  jaw,  and  undivided  hoofs  on 
their  feet ;  and  consist  of  the  Horses,  Hippopotamus  Tapir,  and  Hogs. 

7.  Cete  or  W/iales.     Instead  of  feet,  the  Cete,  which  comprise  the  Narwal,  Whale, 
Cachalot,  and  Dolphin  tribes,  have  fins.     On  the  front  and  upper  part  of  the  skull 
there  are  spiracles  or  breathing  holes.     The  teeth  differ  in  the  different  species ; 
^ud  the  tail  is  .flattened  horizontally.     They  are  inhabitants  only  of  the  sea 


FUNCTIONS   OF  BIRDS. 


BIRDS. 

There  is  no  division  of  the  animal  world  in  which  we  are  more  led  to  admire  the 
wisdom  of  the  Supreme  Being,  than  in  the  different  feathered  tribes.  Their  struc- 
ture and  habits  of  life  are  wonderfully  fitted  for  the  various  functions  they  have  to- 
perform.  Their  bodies  are  clad  with  feathers,  which  form  an  envelope  much  lighter 
than  hair.  These  lie  over  each  other  close  to  the  body,  like  the  tiles  of  a  house  ; 
and  are  arranged  from  the  fore-part  backward,  by  which  means  the  animals  are 
enabled  the  more  conveniently  to  cut  their  way  through  the  air.  For  this  purpose 
also  the  head  is  small  and  the  bill  somewhat  wedge-shaped ;  the  neck  is  long,  and 
easily  movable  in  all  directions ;  and  the  body  slender,  sharp  on  the  under  side,  and 
flat  or  round  on  the  back.  The  bones  likewise  are  hollow,  and  very  light  compara-, 
tively  with  those  of  terrestrial  animals.  For  the  purpose  of  giving  warmth  to  the 
body,  a  short  and  soft  down  fills  up  all  the  vacant  spaces  between  the  shafts  of  the 
feathers. 

Birds  are  enabled  to  rise  into  and  movo  from  place  to  place  in  the  air,  by  means 
of  the  members  that  are  denominated  wings.  The  muscles  by  which  the  wings  are 
move  are  exceedingly  large ;  and  have  been  estimated,  in  some  instances,  to  consti- 
tute not  less  than  a  sixth  part  of  the  weight  of  the  whole  body.  "When  a  bird  is  on 
the  ground,  and  intends  to  fly,  he  takes  a  leap,  stretches  his  wings  from  the  body, 
and  strikes  them  downward  with  great  force.  By  this  stroke  the  body  is  thrown 
into  an  oblique  position.  That  part  o  fthe  force  which  tended  upward  is  destroyed 
by  the  weight  of  the  bird ;  and  the  horizontal  force  serves  to  carry  him  forward. 
The  stroke  being  completed,  he  moves  up  his  wings.  These  being  contracted,  and 
having  their  edges  turned  upward,  meet  with  little  resistance  from  the  air.  When 
they  are  sufficiently  elevated,  the  bird  makes  a  second  stroke  downward,  and  the 
impulse  of  the  air  again  moves  him  forward.  These  successive  strokes  act  as  so 
many  leaps  taken  in  air.  When  the  bird  wants  to  turn  to  the  right  or  left,  he  strikes 
strongly  with  the  opposite  wing,  and  this  impels  him  to  the  proper  side.  The  tail 
acts  like  the  rudder  of  a  ship  ;  except  that  it  moves  him  upward  or  downward,  instead 
of  sideways.  If  the  bird  wants  to  rise,  he  raises  his  tail ;  and  if  to  fall,  he  depresses 
it ;  whilst  he  is  in  an  horizontal  position,  it  keeps  him  steady. 

A  bird,  by  spreading  his  wings,,  can  continue  to  move  horizontally  in  the  air  for 
some  time,  without  striking  them ;  because  he  has  acquired  a  sufficient  velocity,  and 
his  wings,  being  parallel  to  the  horizon,  meet  with  but  little  resistance.  When  he 
begins  to  fall,  he  can  easily  steer  himself  upward  by  his  tail,  till  the  motion  he  had 
acquired  is  nearly  spent ;  he  must  then  renew  it  by  two  or  three  more  strokes  of  his 
wings.  On  alighting,  he  expands  his  wings  and  tail  full  against  the  air,  that  they 
may  meet  with  all  the  resistance  possible. 

The  centre  of  gravity  in  birds  is  somewhat  behind  the  wings ;  and,  to  counterbal- 
ance this,  most  of  them  maybe  observed  to  thrust  out  their  head  and  neck  in  flying. 
This  is  very  apparent  in  the  flight  of  Ducks,  Geese,  and  several  other  species  of 
water-fowl,  whose  centre  of  gravity  is  further  backward  than  in  the  land  birds.  In 
the  Heron,  on  the  contrary, -whose  long  head  and  neck,  although  folded  up  in  flight, 
overbalance  the  rest  of  the  body^the  long  legs  are  extended,  in  order  to  give  the  proper 
counterpoise,  and  to  supply  what  is  wanting  from  the  shortness  of  the  tail. 

The  feathers  of  birds  would  perpetually  imbibe  the  moisture  of  the  atmosphere ; 
and,  during  rain,  would  absorb  so  much  wet,  as  to  impede  their  flight,  had  not  the 
wisdom  of  Providence  obviated  this  inconvenience  by  a  most  effectual  expedient. 
They  are  each  furnished  on  the  rump  with  two  glands,  in  which  a  quantity  of  unctu- 
ous matter  is  constantly  secreting.  This  is  occasionally  pressed  out  by  the  bill,  and 
used  for  the  lubrication  of  the  feathers.  The  birds  that  share,  as  it  were,  the  habi- 
tations of  man,  and  live  principally  under  cover,  do  not  require  so  great  a  supply, 
and  therefore  are  not  provided  with  so  large  a  stock  of  this  fluid,  as  those  that  rove 
abroad,  and  reside  in  the  open  element.  It  is  on  this  account  that  poultry,  when, 
wet,  make  the  ruffled  and  uncomfortable  appearance  that  we  observe. 
9 


20  -ON  THE    STRUCTURE   AND 

As  birds  are  continually  passing  among  the  hedges  and  thickets,  their  eyes  are  de- 
fended from  injury  by  a  membrane,  which  can  at  pleasure  be  drawn  over  the  whole 
eye  like  a  curtain.  This  is  neither  opaque  nor  wholly  pellucid,  but  is  somewhat 
transparent.  In  birds  we  find  that  the  sight  is  much  more  piercing,  extensive,  and 
exact,  than  in  the  other  orders  of  animals.  The  eye  is  large  in  proportion  to  the 
bulk  of  the  head.  This  is  a  superiority  conferred  upon  them  not  without  a  corres- 
ponding utility ;  it  seems  even  indispensable  to  their  safety  and  subsistence.  Were 
this  organ  dull,  or  were  it,  in  the  least  degree,  opaque,  the  rapidity  of  their  motion 
would  expose  them  to  the  danger  of  striking  against  various  objects  in  their  flight. 
In  this  case  their  celerity,  instead  of  being  an  advantage,  would  become  an  evil,  and 
their  flight  would  be  restrained  by  the  danger  resulting  from  it.  Indeed,  we  may 
consider  the  velocity  with  which  an  animal  moves,  as  a  sure  indication  of  t}ie  perfec- 
tion of  its  vision. 

Birds  respire  by  means  of  air-vessels,  that  are  extended  through  their  whole  body, 
and  adhere  to  the  under  surface  of  the  bones.  These,  by  their  motion,  force  the  air 
through  the  true  lungs,  which  are  very  small,  seated  in  the  uppermost  part  of  the 
chest,  and  closely  braced  down  to  the  back  and  ribs.  The  use  of  this  general  diffu- 
sion of  air  through  the  bodies  of  birds,  is  to  prevent  their  respiration  from  being 
stopped  or  interrupted  by  the  rapidity  of  their  motion  through  a  resisting  medium. 
The  resistance  of  the  air  increases  in  proportion  to  the  celerity  of  the  motion ;  and 
were  it  possible  for  a  man  to  move  with  swiftness  equal  to  that  of  a  Swallow,  the 
resistance  of  the  air.  as  he  is  not  furnished  with  reservoirs  similar  to  those  of  birds, 
would  soon  suffocate  him. 

Some  species  of  birds  are  confined  to  particular  countries ;  others  are  widely  dis- 
persed ;  and  several  change  their  abode  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  and  migrate 
to  climates  better  suited  to  their  temperament  or  mode  of  life  than  those  which  they 
leave.  Many  of  our  own  birds, -directed  by  a  peculiar  and  unerring  instinct,  retire, 
before  the  commencement  of  the  cold  season,  to  the  southern  districts,  and  again 
return  in  the  spring.  The  causes  usually  assigned  for  migration  are,  either  a  defect 
of  food,  or  the  want  of  a  secure  and  proper  asylum  for  incubation,  and  the  nutrition 
of  their  offspring. 

It  appears  from  very  accurate  observations,  founded  on  numerous  experiments, 
that  the  peculiar  notes,  or  song,  of  the  different  species  of  Birds,  are  acquired,  and 
are  no  more  innate  than  language  is  in  man.  The  attempt  of  a  nestling  bird  to  sing, 
may  be  compared  with  the  imperfect  endeavor  of  a  child  to  talk.  The  first  essay 
seems  not  to  possess  the  slightest  rudiments  of  the  future  song ;  but,  as  the  bird 
grows  older,  and  stronger,  it  is  not  difficult  to  perceive  what  he  is  -attempting. 
Whilst  the  scholar  is  thus  endeavoring  to  form  his  song,  when  he  is  once  sure  of  a 
passage,  he  commonly  raises  his  tone ;  but  when  unable  to  execute  the  passage,  he 
drops  it.  What  the  nestling  is  thus  not  thoroughly  master  of,  he  hurries  over; 
lowering  his  tone,  as  if  he  did  not  wish  to  be  heard,  and  as  if  he  could  not  yet  satisfy 
himself.  A  common  Sparrow,  taken  from  the  nest  when  very  young,  and  placed 
near  a  Linnet  and  Goldfinch,  adopted  a  song  that  was  a  mixture  of  the  notes  of  these 
two.  Three  nestling  Linnets  were  educated,  one  under  a  Sky-lark,  another  under  a 
Wood-lark,  and  the  third  under  a  Tit-lark ;  and,  instead  of  the  song  peculiar  to  their 
own  species,  they  adhered  entirely  to  that  of  their  respective  instructors.  A  Linnet 
taken  from  the  nest  when  about  three  days  old,  and  brought  up  in  the  house  of  Mr. 
Matthews,  an  apothecar}7,  at  Kensington,  having  no  other  sounds  to  imitate,  almost 
articulated  the  words  "  pretty  boy ;"  and  a  few  other  short  sentences.  The  owner  of 
this  bird  said,  that  it  had  neither  the  note  nor  the  call  of  any  bird  whatever.  It 
died  in  the  year  1772.  0 

These,  and  other  well-authenticated  facts,  tend  to  prove  that  Birds  have  no  innate 
notes,  but  that,  like  mankind,  the  language  they  first  learn  after  they  come  into  the 
world,  is  generally  that  which  they  adopt  in  after  life.  It  may,  however,  seem  unac- 
countable, why,  in  a  wild  state,  they  adhere  so  steadily  as  they  do  to  the  song  ot 
their  own  species  only,  when  the  notes  of  so  many  others  are  to  be  heard  around 
them.  This  evidently  arises  from  the  attention  that  is  paid  by  the  nestling  bird  to 
the  instructions  of  its  own  parent  only,  and  it  is  generally  disregarding  the  notes  of 
all  the  rest.  Persons,  however,  who  have  an  accurate  ear,  and  have  studied  the 
notes  of  birds,  can  very  often  distinguish  some  that  have  a  song  mixed  with  the 
jiotes  of  other  species. 

The  food  of  birds  is  of  course  very  different  in  the  different  kinds.    Some  are 


FUNCTIONS   OF   BIRDS.  21 

altogether  carnivorous  ;  others,  as  many  of  the  web-footed  tribes,  live  on  fish  ;  some 
on  insects  and  worms,  and  many  on  fruits  or  grain.  The  extraordinary  powers  of 
the  gizzard  in  the  graminivorous  tribes,  in  comminuting  their  hard  food,  so  as  to  pre- 
pare it  for  digestion,  are  such  as  almost  to  exceed  credibility.  In  order  to  ascertain 
the  strength  of  these  stomachs,  the  Abbe  Spallanzani  made  many  cruel,  though  at 
the  same  time  curious  and  not  uninteresting  experiments.  Tin  tubes  full  of  grain 
were  forced  into  the  stomachs  of  Turkeys  ;  and,  after  remaining  twenty  hours,  were 
found  to  be  broken,  compressed,  and  distorted  in  a  most  irregular  manner.  The 
stomach  of  a  Cock,  in  the  space  of  twenty-four  hours,  broke  off  the  angles  of  a 
piece  of  rough,  jagged  glass  ;  and,  on  examining  the  gizzard,  no  wound  or  laceration 
appeared.  Twelve  strong  tin  needles  were  firmly  fixed  into  a  ball  of  lead,  with  their 
points  projecting  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  from  the  surface ;  thus  armed,  it  was 
covered  with  a  case  of  paper,  and  forced  down  the  throat  of  a  Turkey.  The  bird 
retained  it  a  day  and  a  half  without  exhibiting  the  least  symptom  of  uneasiness. 
When  the  Turkey  was  killed,  the  points  of  nearly  all  the  needles  were  found  to  be 
broken  off  close  to  the  surface  of  the  ball.  Twelve  small  lancets,  very  sharp  both 
at  the  points  and  edges,  were  fixed  in  a  similar  ball  of  lead.  These  were  given  in 
the  same  manner,  to  a  Turkey-cock,  and  left  eight  hours  in  the  stomach ;  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  that  organ  was  opened,  bat  nothing  appeared  except  the 
naked  ball ;  the  twelve  lancets  having  been  all  broken  to  pieces.  From  these  facts 
it  was  concluded,  that  the  stones  so  often  found  in  the  stomachs  of  many  of  the 
feathered  tribes,  are  highly  useful  in  assisting  the  gastric  juices  to  grind  down  the 
grain  and  other  hard  substances  which  constitute  their  food.  The  stones  themselves, 
also,  being  ground  down  and  separated  by  the  powerful  action  of  the  gizzard,  are 
mixed  with  the  food,  and  no  doubt  contribute  to  the  health  as  well  as  to  the  nutri- 
ment of  the  animals. 

All  birds  are  oviparous,  or  produce  eggs,  .from  which,  after  the  process  of  incuba- 
tion, the  young  are  extruded.  These  eggs  differ  in  the  different  species,  in  number,  • 
figure,  and  color.  They  contain  the  rudiments  of  the  future  offspring ;  for  the 
maturation  and  bringing  to  perfection  of  which,  in  the  incubation,  there  is  a  bubble 
of  air  at  the  large  end,  betwixt  the  shell  and  the  inside  skin.  It  is  supposed  that,  from 
the  warmth  communicated  by  the  sitting  bird  to  this  confined  air,  its  spring  is  in- 
creased beyond  its  natural  tenor,  acd,  at  the  same  time,  its  parts  are  put  into  motion 
by  the  gentle  rarefaction.  Hence  pressure  and  motion  are  communicated  to  the 
parts  of  the  egg  ;  and  these,  in  some  unknown  manner,  gradually  promote  the  for- 
mation and  growth  of  the  young  one,  till  the  appointed  time  of  its  exclusion.  The 
use  of  that  part  of  the  egg  called  the  treddle,  is  not  only  to  retain  the  different 
liquids  in  their  proper  places,  but  also  to  keep  the  same  part  of  the  yolk  uppermost  ; 
which  it  will  effectually  do,  though  the  egg  be  turned  nearly  every  way.  The 
mechanism  seems  to  be  this :  the  treddle  is  specifically  lighter  than  the  white  in 
which  it  swims ;  and  being  connected  with  the  membranes  of  the  yolk,  at  a  point 
somewhat  out  of  the  direction  of  its  axis,  this  causes  one  side  to  become  heavier 
than  the  other.  Thus  the  yolk,  being  made  buoyant  in  the  midst  of  the  white,  is, 
by  its  own  heavy  side,  kept  with  the  same  part  always  uppermost. 

The  nests  of  birds  are,  in  general,  constructed  with  astonishing  art ;  and  with  a 
degree  of  architectural  skill  and  propriety,  that  would  foil  all  the  boasted  talents  of 
man  to  imitate. 

Mark  it  well,  within,  without : 
No  tool  had  he  that  wrought ;  no  knife  to  cut, 
No  nail  to  fix,  no  bodkin  to  insert, 
No  glue  to  join  ;  his  little  beak  was  all. 
And  yet,  how  neatly  finish'd  !    What  nice  hand, 
With  every  implement  and  means  of  art, 
And  twenty  years'  apprenticeship  to  boot, 
Could  make  me  such  another  ?     Fondly  then 
We  boast  of  excellence,  whose  noblest  skill 
Instinctive  genius  foils. 

In  most  of  the  species  both  the  male  and  famale  assist  in  this  interesting  operation. 
They  each  bring  materials  to  the  place  :  first  sticks,  moss,  or  straws,  for  the  founda- 
tion'and  exterior :  then  hair,  wool,  or  the  down  of  animals  or  plants,  to  form  a  soft 
and  commodious  bed  for  the  eggs,  and  for  the  bodies  of  their  tender  young,  when 
hatched.  The  outsides  of  the  nests  bear  in  general  so  great  a  resemblance  in  color 


22  ON    THE    STRUCTURE   AND 

to  the  surrounding  foliage  or  branches,  as  not  easily  to  be  discovered  even  by  per- 
sons who  are  in  search  of  them. 

This  is  one  of  those  numerous  and  wonderful  contrivances  which  compel  us  to 
believe  that  every  part  of  the  creation  is  under  the  protection  of  a  superintending 
Being,  whose  goodness  knows  no  bounds.  Without  this,  what  can  we  suppose  it  is 
that  instigates  a  creature  which  may  never  before  have  had  young,  to  form  a  nest, 
hollow,  for  the  purpose  of  containing  eggs  ;  (things  that  as  yet  it  knows  nothing  of ;) 
and  of  concentrating  a  necessary  proportion  of  heat  for  the  incubation  ?  Without 
this,  what  can  we  suppose  it  is  that  dictates  the  necessity  of  forming  the  outside  of 
this  nest  with  coarse  materials,  as  a  foundation,  and  of  lining  its  interior  with  more 
delicate  substances  ?  How  do  these  animals  learn  that  they  are  to  have  eggs,  and 
that  these  eggs  will  require  a  nest  of  a  certain  size  and  capacity  ?  Who  is  it  that 
teaches  them  to  calculate  the  time  with  such  exactness,  that  they  never  lay  their 
eggs  before  the  receptacle  for  them  is  finished  ?  No  one  can  surely  be  so  blind  as 
to  observe  all  this,  and  not  to  perceive  the  superintendence  of  a  beneficent  wisdom 
influencing  every  operation. 

The  classification  of  birds  is  principally  founded  on  their  habits  of  life ;  and  on 
the  formation  of  their  external  parts,  particularly  of  their  bills.  The  grand  division 
is  into  LAND  BIRDS  and  WATER  BIRDS. 


LAND  BIRDS. 

1.  Rapacious  Birds  (accipitres],  have  their  bill  hooked ;  and  on  each  side  of  the 
upper  mandible  there  is  an  angular  projection.     They  consist  of  Vultures,  Eagles 

.  or  Hawks,  and  Owls.    These  birds  are  -all  carnivorous,  and  associate  in  pairs ;   and 
the  female  is  generally  larger  and  stronger  than  the  male. 

2.  Pies  (piece).    These  have  their  bills  sharp  at  the  edge,  compressed  at  the  sides, 
and  convex  on  the  upper  surface.    The  principal  genera  are  Shrikes,  Crows,  Rollers, 
Orioles,  Grackles,  Humming-birds,  Parrots,  Toucans,  Cuckoos,  Woodpeckers,  Horn- 
bills,  and  Kingfishers.     Some  of  them  associate  in  pairs,  and  others  congregate. 
They  live  on  various  kinds  of  food ;  and  usually  build  their  nests  in  trees,  the  male 
feeding  the  female  during  the  process  of  incubation. 

3.  Passerine  Birds  (passeres),  have  a  conical,  sharp-pointed  bill.     To  this  order 
belong  the  Finches,  Grosbeaks,  Buntings,  Thrushes,  Fly-catchers,  Swallows,  Larks, 
Wagtails,  Titmice,  and  Pigeons.     While  breeding  they  live  chiefly  in  pairs ;  and  the 
nests  of  several  of  the  species  are  of  curious  and  singular  construction.    The  greater 
number  of  them  sing.     Some  of  them  subsist  on  seeds,  and  others  on  insects. 

4.  Gallinaceous  Birds  (gallincd).    The  bills  of  these  birds  have  the  upper  mandi- 
ble considerably  arched,     Pheasants,  Turkeys,  Peacocks,  Bustards,  Pintadoes,  and 
Grouse,  all  belong  to  this  order.     They  live  principally  on  the  ground  ;  and  scratch 
the  earth  with  their  feet  for  the  purpose  of  finding  grain  and  seeds.     They  usually 
associate  in  families,  consisting  of  one  male  and  several  females.    Their  nests  are 
artlessly  formed  on  the  ground ;  and  the  females  produce  a  numerous  offspring 


WATER  BIRDS. 

5.  Waders  (grallcz}.    These  have  a  roundish  bill,  and  a  fleshy  tongue ;  and  the 
legs  of  most  of  the  species  are  long.    The  principal  genera  are  the  Herons,  Plovers, 
Snipes,  and  Sandpipers,  which  live  for  the  most  part  among  marshes  and  fens,  and 
feed  on  worms  and  other  animal  productions.    They  form  nests  on  the  ground. 

6.  Swimmers  (anseres).     The  bills  of  these  birds  are  broad  at  the  top,  and  covered 
with  a  membranaceous  skin.     The  tribes  best  known  are  the  Ducks,  Auks,  PeB- 
guins,  Petrels,  Pelicans,  Guillemots,  Gulls,  and  Terns.     They  live  chiefly  in  the 
water,  and  feed  on  fish,  worms,  and  aquatic  plants.     Most  of  the  species  are  poly- 
gamous, and  construct  their  nests  among  reeds  or  in  moist  places.    The  females  lay 
many  eggs. 


FUNCTIONS   OF   AMPHIBOUS  ANIMALS.  23 


AMPHIBIOUS  ANIMALS. 

Under  this  title,  from  the  circumstances  of  their  living  occasionally  both  on  land 
and  in  water,  Linnasus  has  arranged  the  oviparous  quadrupeds,  usually  denominated 
Reptiles,  and  the  Serpents.  It  may  be  considered  exceptionable,  on  account  of  some 
individuals  being  confined  to  only  one  of  those  elements ;  but  these  are  so  few,  as 
not  to  affect  the  general,  denomination. 

The  amphibious  animals  have  ever  excited  in  mankind  a  great  degree  of  abhor- 
rence, originating  in  a  dread  of  their  supposed,  and,  in  some  instances,  of  their  un- 
doubtedly poisonous  qualities ;  in  the  unpleasant  sensation  of  touching  perfectly 
cold  animals,  and  in  their  often  ugly  and  squalid  forms.  This  abhorrence  is  so 
general,  in  all  countries,  and  among  all  people,  that,  even  where  the  species  are  in 
themselves  innoxious  and  beautiful,  it  is  not  to  be  conquered  without  difficulty.  To 
the  philosopher,  however,  the  various  tribes  afford  an  inexhaustible  fund  of  instruc- 
tion and  delight.  The  form,  the  destination,  and  the  importance  of  these  animals  in 
the  grand  scheme  of  nature,  are  truly  admirable,  and  have  been  found  amply  to 
repay  the  care,  the  danger,  and  the  trouble,  which  have  attended  the  investigation 
of  them. 

By  far  the  greater  number  of  the  species  live  in  retired,  watery,  and  shady  places, 
where  they  seem  stationed  to  prevent  the  excessive  multiplication  of  water-animals 
and  insects ;  and  themselves,  in  many  instances,  to  serve  as  food  for  fishes  and  birds. 
When  they  are  able  to  obtain  it,  they  generally  devour  a  great  quantity  of  food  at  a 
time,  but  this  is  digested  slowly,  and  they  are  endowed  with  the  power  of  sustaining 
abstinence  that  would  infallibly  prove  fatal  to  any  of  the  higher  orders  of  Animals. 
Several  of  the  species  have  been  known  to  exist,  in  apparent  health  and  vivacity, 
for  many  months,  without  any  food  whatever.  Nearly  all  the  Amphibia  are  fur- 
nished with  teeth,  but  these  seem  of  little  other  use  than  for  seizing  and  retaining 
their  prey ;  as  all  their  food  is  swallowed  whole. 

Their  respiration  is  not,  as  in  the  higher  animals,  carried  on  at  certain  short  and 
regular  intervals.  The  Amphibia  ,from  the  peculiar  structure  of  their  organs  of 
respiration,  are  able  to  suspend  it  almost  at  pleasure.  It  is  in  consequence  of  this 
that  they  are  enabled  to  support  their  change  of  element  without  injury.  Their  blood 
is  red,  but  cold  and  in  small  quantity. 

The  bodies  of  some  of  these  animals  are  protected  by  a  hard  and  horny  shield  or 
covering  ;  and  others  by  a  coriaceous  integument.  Some  of  them  have  scales  ;  and 
others  soft  pustular  warts  or  protuberances.  Their  .bones  are  more  cartilaginous 
than  those  either  of  quadrupeds  or  birds.  Several  of  the  species,  as  the  Frogs  and 
some  of  the  Lizards,  are  altogether  destitute  of  ribs. 

The  eijes  of  the  Amphibia  are  in  general  large  and  bright.  The  ears  have  neither 
external  valve  nor  canal ;  but  the  tympanum  is  level  with  the  head,  and,  in  many  of 
the  animals,  covered  with  the  skin  or  scales. 

All  the  Amphibia  are  extremely  tenacious  of  life,  and  some  of  them  will  continue 
to  move  and  exert  animal  functions  even  destitute  of  their  head  or  heart.  Many 
of  the  species  possess  a  high  degree  of  reproductive  power  ;  and,  when  their  feet  or 
tail  are  by  accident  destroyed,  others  will  grow  in  their  place.  Most  of  them  exhale 
loathsome  odors,  owing  probable  to  the  foulness  of  their  abode,  or  the  substances  on 
which  they  feed,  or  perhaps  to  the  length  of  time  that  is  occupied  in  digesting  their 
food. 

The  young  of  all  the  tribes  are  produced  from  eggs,  which,  after  the  parent  animals 
have  deposited  them  in  a  proper  place,  are  hatched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun.  Some  of 
the  species  have  their  eggs  covered  with  a  hard,  calcareous  shell;  whilst  those  of 
others  have  a  soft,  tough  skin  or  covering,  not  much  unlike  wet  parchment ;  the  eggs 
of  several  are  perfectly  gelatinous.  In  those  few  that  produce  their  offspring  alive, 
the  eggs  are  regularly  formed,  but  are  hatched  within  the  bodies  of  the  females  ;  this 
is  the  case  with  the  Vipers  and  some  others  of  the  Serpents. 

In  cold  and  temperate  climates,  nearly  all  the  Amphibia  pass  the  winter  in  a 
torpid  state.  During  this  season  they  are  often  found  perfectly  stiff,  in  holes  under 


'24:  ON   THE     STRUCTURE   AND 

ice,  or  in  water.  They  continue  thus  till  revived  by  the  returning  warmth  of  spring. 
They  then  become  reanimated,  change  their  skin,  and  appear  abroad  in  a  new  coat. 
Many  of  them  cast  their  skins  frequently  in  the  year ;  but  Tortoises  and  some  other 
Reptiles  have  an  osseous  covering  which  they  do  not  change. 

The  Amphibia,  though  they  are  occasionally  found  in  great  numbers  together, 
cannot  be  said  to  congregate,  since  they  do  nothing  in  common,  and,  in  fact,  do  not 
live  in  a  state  of  society.  The  flesh  and  eggs  of  some  of  the  species  constitute  a 
palatable  and  nutritious  food. 

Of  tfte  Serpents.  There  is  much  geometrical  elegance  in  the  sinuous  motion  of 
the  Serpent  tribe.  Their  back-bone  consists  of  movable  articulations,  and  runs 
through  the  whole  length  of  their  body.  The  breast  and  abdomen  are  surrounded 
with  ribs.  Some  of  the  species  can  render  their  bodies  perfectly  stiff,  and  by  this 
means  they  are  enabled  to  spring  with  great  force  and  velocity  on  their  prey. 

Most  of  them  are  covered  with  scales  ;  and  Linnaeus  has  endeavored  to  mark  the 
different  species  by  the  number  of  scaly  plates  on  the  abdomen  and  beneath  the 
tail.  Experience,  however,  has  proved,  that  these  are  too  variable  and  uncertain  to 
be  depended  on. 

The  head  is  connected  to  the  trunk  without  the  intervention  of  a  neck  ;  and  their 
jaws  are  so  formed  that  the  animals  are  able  to  swal^y  bodies  as  thick  and  fre- 
quently even  thicker  than  themselves.  The  tongue  is  slender  and  cleft. 

The  poisonous  Serpents,  which  are  not  more  than  one  sixth  of  the  whole  number 
of  species,  differ  from  the  others  in  having  long  tubular  fangs  on  each  side  of  the 
head  calculated  to  convey  the  venom  from  a  bag  or  receptacle  at  the  base  of  these 
fangs  into  the  wound  made  by  their  bite.  The  venomous  Serpents  have  only  two 
rows  of  true  or  proper  teeth,  (that  is,  such  as  are  not  fangs,)  in  the  upper  jaw,  whilst 
all  others  have  four.  A  head  entirely  covered  with  small  scales  is  also  in  some  de- 
gree a  character,  but  by  no  means  a  universal  one,  of  poisonous  species  ;  as  are  also 
scales  on  the  head  and  body  furnished  with  a  ridge  or  prominent  middle  line. 

The  Amphibia  are  divided  by  Linnaeus  into  two  orders  :  viz.  Reptiles  and  Serpents 

The  Reptiles  are  furnished  with  legs.  They  have  flat  and  naked  ears,  without 
auricles.  The  principal  tribes  are,  Tortoises,  Lizards,  and  Frogs. 

Serpents  are  destitute  of  feet.  Their  jaws  are  dilatable  and  not  articulated  ;  and 
they  have  neither  fins  nor  ears. 


FISHES. 

Were  we  acquainted  with  no  other  animals  than  those  which  inhabit  the  land, 
and  breathe  the  air  of  our  atmosphere,  it  would  appear  absurd  to  be  told  that' any 
race  of  beings  could  exist  only  in  the  water :  we  should  naturally  conclude,  from 
the  effect  produced  on  our  own  bodies  when  plunged  into  that  element,  that  the 
powers  of  life  could  not  there  be  sustained.  But  we  n'nd,  from  experience,  that  the 
very  depths  of  the  ocean  are  crowded  with  inhabitants,  which,  in  their  construction, 
modes  of  life,  and  general  design,  are  as  truly  wonderful  as  those  on  the  land.  Their 
history,  however,  must  always  remain  imperfect,  since  the  element  in  which  they 
live  is  beyond  human  access,  and  of  such  vast  dimensions,  as  to  throw  by  far  the 
greater  part  of  them  altogether  out  of  the  reach  of  man. 

That  they  are  in  every  respect,  both  of  external  and  internal  conformation,  well 
adapted  to  their  element  and  modes  of  life,  we  are  not  permitted  to  doubt.  The 
body  is,  in  general,  slender,  flattened  at  the  sides,  and  always  somewhat  pointed  at 
the  head.  This  enables  them,  with  ease,  to  cut  through  the  resisting  medium  which 
they  inhabit.  Some  of  them  are  endowed  with  such  extraordinary  powers  of  pro- 
gressive motion,  that  they  are  able  not  only  to  overtake  the  fastest  sailing  vessels, 
but,  during  the  swiftest  course  of  these,  to  play  round  them  without  any  apparently 
extraordinary  efforts. 

Their  bodies  are  in  general  covered  with  a  kind  of  horny  scales,  to  keep  them  from 
being  injured  by  the  pressure  of  the  water.  Several  of  them  are  enveloped  with  a 
fat  and  oily  substance,  to  preserve  them  from  putrefaction,  and  to  guard  them  from 
extreme  cold.  They  breathe  by  means  of  certain  organs  that  are  placed  on  each 


FUNCTIONS   OF   FISHES.  25 

side  of  the  neck,  and  called  gills.  In  tins  operation  they  fill  their  mouth  with  water, 
which  they  throw  backward,  with  so  much  force  as  to  lift  open  the  great  flap,  and 
force  it  out  behind.  And  in  the  passage  of  this  water,  among  the  feather-like  pro- 
cesses of  the  gills,  all,  or  at  least  the  greatest  part,  of  the  air  contained  in  it,  is  left 
behind,  and  carried  into  the  body  to  perform  its  part  in  the  animal  economy.  In 
proof  of  this  fact,  it  has  been  ascertained  that,  if  the  air  be  extracted  from  water 
into  which  fish  are  put,  they  immediately  come  to  the  surface  and  gasp  as  if  for 
breath.  Hence,  distilled  water  is  to  fish  what  the  vacuum  formed  by  an  air-pump  is 
to  most  other  animals.  This  is  the  reason  why,  in  winter,  when  a  fish-pond  is  en- 
tirely frozen  over,  it  is  necessary  to  break  holes  in  the  ice,  not  that  the  fish  may 
come  to  feed,  but  that  they  may  come  to  breathe.  Without  such  precaution,  if  the 
pond  be  small,  and  the  fish  be  numerous,  they  will  die  from  the  corruption  of  the 
water. 

Fishes  are  nearly  of  the  same  specific  gravity  with  water,  and  swim  by  means  of 
their  fins  and  tail.  The  muscular  force  of  the  latter  is  very  great.  Their  direct 
motion  is  obtained  by  moving  the  tail  from  one  side  to  the  other,  with  a  vibrating 
motion  ;  and,  by  strongly  bending  the  tail  sideways,  this  part  of  their  body  acts  like 
the  rudder  of  a  ship,  and  enables  them  to  move  in  an  opposite  direction.  The  fins 
of  a  fish  keep  it  upright,  especially  the  belly-fins,  which  act  like  feet ;  without  these 
it  would  float  with  its  back  downward,  as  the  centre  of  gravity  lies  near  the  back. 

In  addition  to  the  fins  and  tail,  the  air-bladder  is  of  material  assistance  to  fish  in 
swimming,  as  it  is  by  means  of  this  that  they  increase  or  diminish  the  specific  gravity 
of  their  bodies.  When,  by  their  abdominal  muscles,  they  compress  the  air  contained 
in  this  bladder,  the  bulk  of  their  body  is  diminished,  their  weight  compared  with  that 
of  the  water,  is  increased,  and  they  consequently  sink.  If  they  want  to  rise,  they 
relax  the  pressure  of  the  muscles,  the  air-bladder  again  acquires  its  natural  size,  the 
body  is  rendered  more  bulky,  and  they  ascend  towards  the  surface.  This  bladder 
lies  in  the  abdomen,  along  the  course  of  the  back-bone.  In  some  fish  it  is  single, 
and  ia  others  double.  The  air  appears  to  be  conveyed  into  it  from  the  blood,  by 
means  of  vessels  appropriated  to  that  purpose,  and  it  can  be  discharged  thence  either 
into  the  stomach  or  the  mouth.  Those  fish  which  are  destitute  of  air-bladders  have 
much  less  facility  in  elevating  themselves  in  the  water  than  any  others.  The 
greater  number  of  them,  consequently,  remain  at  the  bottom,  unless  the  form  of  their 
body  enables  them  to  strike  the  water  downwards  with  great  force.  This  the  Skate, 
the  Thornback,  and  other  species  of  Rays  do  with  their  large  pectoral  fins,  which 
are  of  such  size  and  strength  as  almost  to  resemble  wings  ;  and  the  mode  in  which 
these  fish  elevate  themselves  in  the  water,  is  precisely  the  same  as  that  which  is 
employed  by  birds  in  flying. 

The  teeth  of  fish  are  usually  situated  in  their  jaws :  in  some  species,  however, 
there  are  teeth  on  the  tongue  and  palate,  and  even  in  the  throat.  These  are 
generally  sharp-pointed  and  immovable ;  but  in  the  Carp  they  are  obtuse,  and  in  the 
Pike  so  movable  as  to  appear  fixed  only  to  the  skin.  The  tongue  is  in  general 
motionless  and  fleshy.  Being  furnished  with  nostrils  and  olfactory  nerves,  there  can 
be  little  doubt  that  fishes  possess  the  sense  of  smelling. 

The  bones  of  these  animals  are  formed  of  a  kind  of  intermediate  substance,  between 
true  bones  and  cartilages.  The  back-bone  extends  through  the  whole  length  of  the 
body,  and  consists  of  vertebras,  strong  and  thick  toward  the  head,  but  weaker  and 
more  slender  as  they  approach  the  tail.  The  ribs  are  attached  to  the  processes 
of  the  vertebra?,  and  enclose  the  breast  and  abdomin.  Several  fish,  as  the  Bays, 
have  no  ribs  ;  and  others,  as  the  Eel  and  Sturgeon,  have  very  short  ones.  In 
many  of  the  species  there  arc  small  bones  between  the  muscles,  to -assist  their  motion. 

The  sight  of  fishes  is  perhaps  the  most  perfect  of  all  their  senses.  The  eye,  in 
general,  is  covered  with  the  same  transparent  skin  that  covers  the  rest  of  the 
head  ;  the  use  of  which  is  probably,  to  defend  this  organ  in  the  water,  for  none  of  the 
species  have  eyelids.  The  globe  of  the  eye  is  somewhat  depressed  in  front,  and  it  is 
furnished  behind  with  a  muscle,  which  serves  to  lengthen  or  flatten  it,  as  the  animal 
may  require.  The  crystalline  humor,  which  in  quadrupeds  is  flattened,  is  in  fishes 
nearly  globular.  The  eyes  of  fish  are  usually  thought  to  be  immovable,  but  this 
does  not  appear  to  be  the  case  :  those  of  some  species  are  known  to  turn  in  the 
sockets. 

In  fishes  the  organ  of  hearing  is  placed  at  the  sides  of  the  skull ;  but  differing  in 
this  respect  from  that  "in  quadrupeds  and  birds,  it  is  entirely  distinct  and  detached 


26  ON   THE    STRUCTURE   AND 

from  it.  In  some  fishes,  as  those  of  the  Ray  kind,  the  organ  of  hearing  is  wholly 
surrounded  by  the  parts  containing  the  cavity  of  the  skull :  in  others,  as  the  Salmon 
and  Cod,  it  is  partly  within  the  skull.  In  its  structure  this  organ  is  by  no  means 
so  complicated  as  in  quadrupeds  and  other  animals  that  live  in  the  air.  Some 
genera,  as  the  Rays,  have  the  external  orifice  very  small,  and  placed  upon  the  upper 
surface  of  the  head  ;  but  in  others  there  is  no  external  opening  whatever. 

The  food  of  these  animals  is  extremely  various.  Insects,  worms,  or  the  spawn  of 
other  fish,  sustain  the  smaller  tribes  ;  which,  in  their  turn,  are  pursued  by  larger  foes. 
Some  feed  on  mud  and  aquatic  plants,  but  by  far  the  greater  number  subsist  on 
animal  food  only,  and  they  are  so  ravenous  as  often  not  to  spare  even  those  of  their  own 
kind.  Innumerable  shoals  of  some  species  pursue  those  of  others  through  vast 
tracts  of  the  ocean  ;  from  the  vicinity  of  the  pole  sometimes  even  to  the  equator. 
In  these  conflicts,  and  in  this  scene  of  universal  rapine,  many  species  must  have 
become  extinct,  had  not  the  Creator  accurately  proportioned  their  means  of  escape, 
their  production,  and  their  numbers,  to  the  extent  and  variety  of  the  dangers  to 
which  they  are  exposed.  The  smaller  species  are  consequently  not  only  more  nu- 
merous and  prolific  than  the  larger,  but  their  instinct  impels  them  to  seek  for  food 
and  protection  near  the  shore,  where,  from  the  shallowness  of  the  water,  many  of 
their  foes  are  unable  to  pursue  them. 

Fishes  are  in  general  oviparous  :  some  few,  however,  produce  their  offspring  alive. 
The  males  have  the  milt,  and  the  females  the  roe,  but  some  individuals  of  the  Cod 
and  Sturgeon  tribes  are  said  to  contain  both.  The  spawn  of  the  greater  number  is 
deposited  in  the  sand  or  gravel :  many  of  the  fish,  however,  which  reside  in  the  ocean, 
attach  their  ova  to  sea-weeds.  The  fecundity  of  these  tribes  far  surpasses  that  of 
any  other  race  of  animals.  In  the  spawn  of  a  single  Cod  upwards  of  nine  millions 
of  eggs  have  been  ascertained,  and  nearly  a  million  and  a  half  have  been  taken  from 
the  interior  of  a  Flounder. 

The  longevity  of  .fish  is  far  superior  to  that  of  other  creatures;  and  there  is  reason 
to  suppose  that  they  are,  in  a  great  measure,  exempted  from  disease.  Instead  of 
suffering  from  the  rigidity  of  age,  which  is  the  cause  of  natural  decay  in  land  animals, 
their  bodies  continue  to  increase  with  fresh  supplies;  and,  as  the  body  grows,  the 
conduits  of  life  seem  to  furnish  their  stores  in  greater  abundance.  How  long  these 
animals  continue  to  live,  has  not  yet  been  ascertained.  The  age  of  man  seems  not 
equal  to  the  life  of  the  most  minute  species.  In  the  royal  ponds  of  Marli,  in  France, 
there  are  some  particular  fish  which,  it  is  said,  have  been  preserved  tame  since  the 
time  of  Francis  the  First,  and  which  have  been  individually  known  to  the  persons 
who  have  succeeded  to  the  charge  of  them  ever  since  that  period. 

Fish,  like  land  animals,  are  either  solitary  or  gregarious.  Some,  as  Trout,  Salmon, 
&c.,  migrate  to  considerable  distances  in  order  to  deposit  their  spawn.  Of  the 
sea-fish,  the  Cod,  the  Herring,  and  many  others,  assemble  in  immense  shoals,  and 
migrate  in  these  shoals  through  vast  tracts  of  the  ocean. 

In  the  Gmelinian  edition  of  the  Systema  Naturae,  the  Fishes  are  divided  into  six 
orders : 

1.  Apodal;  with  bony  gills,  and  no  ventral  fins,  as  the  Eels. 

2.  Jugular;  with  bony  gills,  and  ventral  fins  before  the  pectoral  ones,  as  the  Cod 
and  Haddock. 

3.  Thoracic;  with  bony  gills  and  ventral  fins  placed  directly  under  the  thorax,  as 
the  Turbot,  Sole,  Perch,  and  Mackerel. 

4.  Abdominal;  with  bony  gills,  and  ventral  fins  placed  behind  the  thorax,  as  the 
Salmon,  Pike,  Herring,  and  Carp. 

5.  Branchiostegous :  with  gills  destitute  of  bony  rays,  as  the  Pike-fish  and  Lump- 
fish. 

6.  Chondropterygious ;  with  cartilaginous  gills,  as  the  Sturgeon,  Shark,  Skate,  and 
Lamprey. 


FUNCTIONS  OF   INSECTS.  27 


INSECTS. 

The  insect  division  of  the  animal  world  received  its  name  from  the  individuals  of 
which  it  is  composed  having  a  separation  in  the  middle  of  their  bodies,  by  which 
they  are  cut,  as  it  were,  into  two  parts.  These  parts  are  in  general  connected  by  a 
slender  ligament  or  hollow  thread. 

Insects  breathe  through  pores  arranged  along  their  sides  ;*  and  have  a  scaly  or 
bony  skin,  and  many  feet.  Most  of  them  are  furnished  with  wings.  They  are  desti- 
tute of  brain,  nostrils,  and  eyelids.  Not  only  the  place  of  the  liver,  but  of  all  the 
secretory  glands,  is,  in  them,  supplied  by  long  vessels  that  float  in  the  abdomen. 
The  mouth  is  in  general  situated  under  the  head  ;  and  is  furnished  with  transverse 
jaws,  with  lips,  a  kind  of  teeth,  a  tongue,  and  palate :  it  has  also,  in  most  instances, 
four  or  six  palpi,  or  feelers.  Insects  have  also  movable  antennae,  which  generally 
proceed  from  the  front  part  of  the  head,  and  are  endowed  with  a  very  nice  sense  of 
feeling. 

In  a  minute  examination  of  this  class  by  Professor  Cuvier,  neither  a  heart  nor  ar- 
teries have  been  detected ;  and  this  gentleman  says  that  the  whole  organization  of 
insects  is  such  as  we  might  have  expected  to  find,  if  we  had  previously  known  that 
they  were  destitute  of  such  organs.  Their  nutrition,  therefore,  seems  to  be  carried 
on  by  absorption,  as  is  the  case  with  the  polypes,  and  other  zoophytes,  f 

Nearly  all  Insects  (except  Spiders,  and  a  few  others  of  the  apterous  tribe,  whicti 
proceed  nearly  in  a  perfect  state  from  the  egg)  undergo  a  METAMOKPHOSIS,  or  change 
at  three  different  periods  of  their  existence. 

The  lives  of  these  minute  creatures,  in  their  perfect  state,  are  in  general  so  short 
that  the  parents  have  seldom  an  opportunity  of  seeing  their  living  offspring.  Con- 
sequently, they  are  neither  provided  with  milk,  like  viviparous  animals,  nor  are  they, 
like  birds,  impelled  to  sit  upon  their  eggs  in  order  to  bring  their  offspring  to  perfec- 
tion. In  place  of  these,  the  all-directing  .Power  has  endowed  each  species  with  the 
astonishing  faculty  of  being  able  to  discover  what  substance  is  fitted  to  afford  the 
food  proper  for  its  young;  though  such  food  is,  for  the  most  part,  totally  different 
from  that  which  the  parent  itself  could  eat.  Some  of  them  attach  their  eggs  to  the 
bark,  or  insert  them  into  the  leaves  of  trees  and  other  vegetable  substances  ;  others 
form  nests,  which  they  store  with  insects  or  caterpillars  that  will  attain  the  exact 
state  in  which  they  may  be  proper  food  for  their  young  ones,  when  they  shall  awaken 
into  life ;  others  bury  their  eggs  in  the  bodies  of  other  insects  ;  and  others  adopt 
very  surprising  methods  of  conveying  them  into  the  body,  and  even  into  the  internal 
viscera  of  larger  animals.  Some  drop  their  eggs  into  the  water,  an  element  in  which 
they  would  themselves  soon  be  destroyed.  In  short,  the  variety  of  contrivances  that 
are  adopted  by  insects  to  ensure  the  subsistence  of  their  offspring,  are  beyond  enu- 
meration. 

From  the  eggs  of  all  insects  proceed  what  are  called  larvae,  grubs,  or  caterpillars. 
These  consist  of  a  long  body,  covered  with  a  soft,  tender  skin,  divided  into  segments 
or  rings.  The  motions  of  many  of  the  larvae  are  performed  on  these  rings  only, 
either  in  the  manner  of  serpents,  or  by  resting  alternately  each  segment  of  the  body 
on  the  plane  which  supports  it.  Such  is  the  motion  of  the  larvae  of  Flies,  emphati- 
cally so  called,  and  of  Wasps  and  Bees,  Sometimes  the  surfaces  of  the  rings  are 
covered  with  spines,  stiff  bristles,  or  hooks,  this  is  the  case  in  Gad-flies.  Crane-flies, 
and  some  others.  The  bodies  of  the  larvae,  in  some  orders  of  insects,  have,  toward 
the  head,  six  feet,  each  formed  of  three  small  joints ;  the  last  of  which  is  scaly,  and 
terminates  in  a  hook  :  this  is  usual  in  those  of  Beetles  and  Dragon-flies.  The  larvae 
of  Butterflies  and  Moths,  besides  six  scaly  articulated  feet,  have  a  variable  number 
of  other  false  feet,  which  are  not  jointed,  but  terminate  in  hooks  disposed  in  circles 

*  The  Crab  and  Lobster  tribes  form  an  exception  to  this  rule,  for  they  respire  by  means  of 
gills. 

f  He  excepts  the  Crabs  and  Lobsters,  which  he  arranges  in  a  class  by  themselves,  and  denomi- 
nates Crustaceous  animals. 


28  ON   THE    STRUCTURE   AND 

and  semi-circles.  These  hooks,  which  are  attached  to  the  skin  by  a  kind  of  retrac- 
tile tubercles,  serve  as  cramps  to  assist  their  motion  'on  other  bodies.  The  larva?  of 
such  insects  as  undergo  only  a  semi-metamorphosis,  as  Locusts,  Crickets,  and  Cock- 
roaches, and  those  of  insects  that  undergo  no  transformation,  as  the  Spiders,  Ticks, 
and  Mites,  do  not  differ,  with  respect  to  their  feet,  from  the  perfect  insects.  In 
this  larva  state  many  Insects  remain  for  months,  others  for  a  year,  and  some  even  for 
two  or  three  years.  They  are,  in  general,  extremely  voracious,  oftentimes  devour- 
ing more  than  their  own  weight  in  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours. 

As  soon  as  all  their  parts  become  perfected,  and  they  are  prepared  to  appear 
under  a  new  form,  called  a  pupa  or  chrysalis*  most  species  of  insects  fix  upon  some 
convenient  place,  for  the  performance  of  this  arduous  operation.  This  is  generally  a 
place  where  they  are  not  exposed  to  danger  ;  for  in  their  transformation,  they  have 
neither  strength  to  resist,  nor  swiftness  to  avoid,  the  attack  of  an  enemy.  That 
Power  which  instructed  the  parents  to  deposit  their  eggs  in  a  proper  receptacle, 
directs  the  offspring  to  the  most  secure  and  appropriate  situation  for  their  future 
defenceless  state.  Some  of  them  spin  webs  or  cones,  in  which  they  enclose  them- 
selves ;  others  undergo  their  change  in  decayed  wood ;  and  others  conceal  themselves 
beneath  the  surface  of  the  earth.  Preparatory  to  the  transformation,  they  cease  to 
take  any  food,  and,  for  some  days,  continue  in  a  state  of  inactivity.  During  this 
time  the  internal  organs  are  gradually  unfolding  themselves.  When  the  completion 
is  at  hand,  many  of  them  may  be  observed  alternately  to  extend  and  contract 
their  bodies,  in  order  to  disengage  themselves  from  the  caterpillar  skin.  The  hinder 
parts  are  those  first  liberated :  when  this  is  done,  the  animals  contract,  and  draw 
the  skin  up  towards  their  head ;  and,  by  strong  efforts,  they  soon  afterward  push 
it  entirely  off.  In  their  chrysalid  state  they  remain  for  some  time,  to  all  appearance, 
inanimate ;  but  this  is  only  in  appearance,  for,  on  being  taken  into  the  hand,  they  will 
always  be  found  to  exhibit  signs  of  life.  It  is  singular  that,  in  the  changes  of  insects, 
the  intestinal  canal  is  frequently  very  different  in  the  same  individuals,  as  they  pass 
through  the  three  states. 

As  soon  as  the  animal,  within  the  shell  of  the  chrysalis,  has  acquired  strength 
sufficient  to  break  the  bonds  that  surround  it,  it  exerts  its  powers,  and  appears  to 
the  world  in  a  perfect  state.  For  a  little  while  it  continues  humid  and  weak  ;  but, 
as  the  humidity  evaporates,  its  wings  and  shell  become  hardened,  and  it  soon  after- 
ward commits  itself  in  safety  to  its  new  element. 

Some  writers  have  conjectured  that  the  antennce  or  horns  of  insects  are  their 
organs  of  hearing ;  for  it  is  evident,  from  various  experiments,  that  insects  are 
possessed  of  this  sense  in  a  degree  as  exquisite  as  most  other  animals,  although, 
from  their  minuteness,  we  perhaps  may  never  discover  by  what  means.  The  antenuse, 
however,  seem  little  likely  to  answer  the  purpose  of  ears.  These  instruments,  of 
apparently  exquisite  sensibility,  .appear  adapted  to  very  different  purposes,  but  to 
purposes  with  which  we  may  remain  long  unacquainted. 

The  eyes  of  insects  are  formed  of  a  transparent  crustaceous  set  of  lenses,  so  hard 
as  to  require  no  coverings  to  protect  them.  These,  like  multiplying  glasses,  have 
innumerable  surfaces,  on  every  one  of  which  objects  are  distinctly  formed;  so 
that,  if  a  candle  be  held  opposite  to  them,  it  appears  multiplied  almost  to  infinity  on 
their  surfaces.  Other  creatures  are  obliged  to  turn  their  eyes ;  but  insects  have 
always  some  or  other  of  these  lenses  directed  toward  objects,  from  what  quarter 
soever  they  may  present  themselves.  All  these  minute  hemispheres  are  real  eyes, 
through  which  every  thing  appears  topsy  turvy. 

M.  Leeuwenhoek,  with  the  aid  of  a  microscope,  used  as  a  telescope,  looked 
through  the  eye  of  a  Dragon-fly,  and  viewed  the  steeple  of  a  church,  which  was  two 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  feet  high,  and  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  the  place 
where  he  stood.  He  could  plainly  see  the  steeple,  though  not  apparently  larger 
than  the  point  of  a  fine  needle.  lie  also  viewed  a  house  ;  and  could  discern  the  front, 
distinguish  the  doors  and  windows,  and  perceive  whether  the  windows  were  open  or 
shut.  Mr.  Hook  computed  that  there  were  fourteen  thousand  of  these"  lenses  in  the 
two  eyes  of  a  Drone ;  and  M.  Leeuwenhoek  reckons  twelve  thousand  five  hundred 
and  forty-four  lenses  in  each  eye  of  the  Dragon-fly.  The  pictures  of  objects  that 
are  delineated  on  these,  must  be  millions  of  times  less  than  those  formed  on  the 

*  The  chrysalis  is  occasionally  called  Aurclia,  Bean)  or  Cod. 


FUNCTIONS   OF   INSECTS.  29 

human  eye.  Many  insects  still  smaller  have  eyes,  so  contrived  as  to  discern  objects 
some  thousands  of  times  less  than  themselves  ;  for  such  the  minute  particles  on 
which  they  feed  must  certainly  be. 

With  respect  to  the  wings  of  insects,  those  of  the  two  first  orders  of  Linnaeus 
have  their  wings  defended  by  a  pair  of  hard  crustaceous  cases  called  elytra.  The 
three  subsequent  orders  have  four  membranaceous  wings,  without  elytra.  All  the 
insects  of  the  sixth  order  have  but  two  wings,  and  under  each  of  these,  at  its  basj*, 
there  is  a  poise  or  balancer  like  a  little  knob.  These  poises  are  commonly  little 
balls,  each  placed  on  the  top  of  a  slender  stalk,  and  movable  every  way  at  pleasure. 
In  some  they  stand  alone,  but  in  others,  as  in  the  •  Flesh-fly  tribe,  they  have  little 
covers  or  hollow  membrauaceous  scales,  each  of  which  somewhat  resembles  a  spoon 
without  a  handle  :  every  time  the  insect  strikes  the  air  with  its  wings,  a  very  quick 
motion  may  be  perceived  in  the  balancer;  and  in  the  Flesh-flies,  when  this  moves, 
it  strikes  against  the  little  scale,  and  thus  assists  in  producing  the  well-known  buzz- 
ing sound  that  is  made  by  flies  when  on  the  wing.  The  use  of  the  poises  to  an 
insect  seems  to  be  precisely  the  same  as  that  of  a  long  pole,  loaded  at  each  end  with 
lead,  to  a  rope-dancer:  they  render  the  body  steady,'  and  obviate  all  its  unsteadiness 
in  flight. 

The  structure  of  ihsfeet  of  these  diminutive  creatures  is  truly  admirable.  Those 
insects  that  live  altogether  in  water  have  their  feet  long,  flat,  and  somewhat  hairy 
at  the  edges,  well  adapted  to  aid  their  motions  in  that  element.  Such  as  have 
occasion  to  burrow  into  the  earth  have  their  legs  broad,  sharp-edged,  and  serrated. 
These  that  use  their  feet  only  in  walking,  have  them  long  and  cylindrical.  Some 
have  their  feet  furnished  with  sharp,  hooked  claws,  and  skinny  palms,  by  which, 
from  the  pressure  of  the  atmosphere  upon  them,  they  are  enabled  to  walk  on  glass 
and  other  smooth  surfaces,  even  with  their  backs  downward.  Others  have  some- 
what like  sponges  that  answer  the  same  end  ;  and  the  spider  has  each  foot  armed 
with  a  kind  of  comb,  probably  for  the  purpose  of  separating  the  six  threads  that 
issue  from  so  many  orifices  of  its  body,  and  preventing  them  from  tangling.  In 
insects  which  have  occasionally  to  pass  over  spaces  by  leaping,  the  thighs  of  the 
hind  legs  are  peculiarly  large  and  thick. 

The  tongue  of  insects  is  a  taper  and  compact  instrument,  by  which  they  suck 
their  food.  Some  of  them  can  contract  or  expand  it  ;  and  others,  as  the  Butter- 
flies, roll  it  up  under  their  head,  somewhat  like  the  spring  of  a  watch.  In  many 
it  is  enclosed  within  a  sheath  ;  and  in  several,  as  the  Flies,  it  is  fleshy  and  tubular. 

The  mouth  is  generally  placed  somewhat  underneath  the  front  part  of  the  head  ; 
but  in  a  few  of  the  tribes  it  is  situated  below  the  breast.  Some  insects  have  it 
furnished  with  a  kind  of  forceps,  for  the  purpose  of  seizing  and  cutting  their  prey  ; 
and  in  others  it  is  pointed,  to  pierce  animal  or  vegetable  substances,  and  suck  their 
juices.  In  several  it  is  strongly  ridged  with  jaws  and  teeth,  to  gnaw  and  scrape 
their  food,  carry  burdens,  perforate  the  earth,  nay  the  hardest  wood,  and  even  stones, 
for  the  habitations  and  nests  of  their  offspring.  In  a  few  the  tongue  is  so  short  as 
to  appear  to  us  incapable  of  answering  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  formed  ;  and  the 
Gadflies  appear  to  have  no  mouth.  * 

Near  the  mouth  are  situated  the  palpi  or  feelers  :  these  are  generally  four,  but 
sometimes  six  in  number.  They  are  a  kind  of  thread-shaped  articulated  antennae. 
Their  situation,  beneath  a'nd  at  the  sides  of  the  mouth,  renders  them,  however,  suf- 
ficiently distinct  from  the  proper  antennae.  Some  writers  consider  them  to  be 
useful  in  holding  food  to  the  mouth,  whilst  the  insects  are  eating. 

Linnaeus  has  divided  the  animals  of  this  class  into  seven  orders,*  viz  : 

1.  Coleopterous  insects  (derived  from  the  Greek  words  »eotooj  a  sheath,  and  rttepov 
a  wing.)     These  are  the'  Beetles,  or  such  as  have  crustaceous  elytra  or  shells,  which 
shut  together,  and  form  a  longitudinal  suture  down  the  back.     Of  this  order  are 
the  Chafer  tribes,  and  several  others. 

2.  Hemipterous  insects  (from  j^ufcwj  half,  and  rtttfiov  a  wing,)  have  their  upper 
wings  half  crustaceous,  and  half  membranaceous,  not  divided  by  a  longitudinal  suture, 
but  incumbent  on  or  crossed  over  each  other;  as  the  Cockroach,  Locust,  &c. 

3.  Lepidopterous  insects  (from  Ttffoj  a  scale,  and  xtepw  a  wing,)  are  those  having 


*  Coleoptera,  Heraiptera,  Lepidoptera,  Neuroptera,  Hyruenoptera,  Diptera,  and  Aptera. 


30  ON   THE   STRUCTURE   AND   FUNCTIONS  OF   WORMS. 

four  wings  covered  with  fine  scales  apparently  like  powder  or  meal ;  as  the  Butterflies 
and  Moths. 

4.  Neuropterous    bisects  (from  vsvpov  a  nerve,   and  rtt?pov  a  wing,)   have  four 
membranaceous,  transparent,  naked  wings,  in  which  the  membranes  cross  each  other 
so  as  to  appear  like  net-work.     The  tail  has  no  sting,  but  is  sometimes  furnished 
with  appendices  like  pincers,  by  which  the  males  are  distinguished.    The  common 
Dragon-fly  is  the  best  example  that  can  be  brought  to  illustrate  this  order  ;  and  the 
genus  Phrygenea  forms  an  exception  with  respect  to  the  net-work  appearance  of  the 
wings. 

5.  Hymenopterous  insects  (from  vprjv  a  membrane,  and  rtrepov  a  wing.)    The  insects 
belonging  .to  this  order  have    generally  four  membranaceous  naked  wings  :   the 
neuters,  however,  in  some  of  the  genera,  and  in  others  the  males  or  females,  are  des- 
titute of  wings.     The  wings  do  not  so  much  resemble  net-work  as  those  of  the  last 
order.     The  tail,  except  in  the  male,  is  armed  with  a  sting.     The  Bee,  the  Wasp, 
and  the  Ant  are  of  this  tribe. 

6.  Dipterous  insects  (from  SirtJiooj  double,  and  rttfpov  a  wing,)  are  those  which  have 
only  two  wings,  each  furnished  at  its  base  with  a  poise  or  balancer.    The  common 
House-flies  and  the  Gnat  are  familiar  examples  of  this  order. 

7.  Apterous  insects  (from  a  without,  and  xtfpov  a  wing.)    This  order  contains  all 
such  insects  as  are  destitute  of  wings  in  both  sexes  ;  as  the  Spider,  the  Flea,  and  the 
Louse. 


WORMS. 

Nearly  all  the  species  of  this,  the  lowest  class  of  animal  being,  have  slow  locomo- 
tive powers.  Their  bodies  are  soft,  fleshy,  and  destitute  of  articulated  members. 

Some  of  them  have  hard  internal  parts,  and  others  have  crustaceous  coverings. 

Many  of  them  have  arterial  and  venous  vessels,  in  which  the  blood  undergoes  a 
real  circulation  ;  but  these  are  by  no  means  common  to  the  whole  class.  In  some 
of  them  eyes  and  ears  are  very  perceptible,  while  others  seem  to  enjoy  only  the  senses 
of  taste  and  touch,  which  are  never  wanting.  Many  have  no  distinct  head,  and 
most  of  them  are  destitute  of  feet.  The  whole  of  these  creatures  are  very 
tenacious  of  life.  In  most  of  them,  such  parts  as  have  been  destroyed  will  after- 
ward be  reproduced. 

They  are  divided  into  five  orders  * : 

1.  Intestinal  Worms.     These  are  simple  naked  animals,  without  limbs,  that  live 
Eome  of  them  within  other  animals,  some  in  water,  and  a  few  in  earth.    The  Asca- 
rides,  Tapeworms,  Leeches,  and  Common  Worms,  are  illustrations  of  this  order. 

2.  Molluscous   Worms.     These  are  simple  animals  without  shells,  and  furnished 
with  tentacula  or  arms  :  most  of  them  are  inhabitants  of  the  sea,  and  some  of  the 
species  possess  a  phosphorescent  quality.     The  Sea  Anemones,  Cuttle-fish,  Medusae, 
Star-fish,  and  Sea-urchins,  belong  to  the  Moluscae. 

3.  Testaceous  Worms ;  are  Mollusca?  covered  with  calcareous  shells,  which  they 
carry  about  with  them  ;  as  the  Mussels,  Cockles.  Oysters,  Snails,  &c. 

4.  Zoophytes ;  appear  to  hold  a  rank  between  animals  and  vegetables,  most  of 
them  taking  root  and  growing  up  into  stems  and  branches.     Some  of  them  are  soft 
and  naked,  and  others  are  covered  with  a  large  shell. 

5.  Animalcules ;  are   extremely  minute,  destitute  of  tentacula  or  feelers,   and 
generally  invisible  to  the  naked  eye.    They  are  chiefly  found  in  infusions  of  animal 
and  vegetable  substances  of  various  kinds. 

*  Intestina,  Mollusca,  Testacea,  Zoophyta,  and  Infusoria,  of  Linnaeus. 


MAMMIFEROUS    ANIMALS. 


PRIMATES. 

Thia  is  the  first  of  the  Linneean  orders  of  quadrupeds.  The  animals,  except  some  species  of 
Bats,  have  four  parallel  front  teeth  in  each  jaw.  They  have  one  canine  tooth  on  each  side  in 
both  jaws.  The  females  have  two  pectoral  mamma)  or  breasts.  The  fore  feet  resemble  hands, 
and  have  fingers,  for  the  most  part,  furnished  with  flattened  oval  nails. 

OF  APES  IN  GENERAL. 

INDEPENDENTLY  of  the  general  form  of  these  animals,  and  of  their 
external  and  internal  organization,  which  in  many  respects  present  a 
striking  and  humiliating  resemblance  to  those  of  men,  their  playful- 
ness, their  gesticulations  and  grimace,  have,  in  all  ages,  attracted  the 
notice  of  mankind.  Some  naturalists  have  asserted,  that  they  are  ca- 
pable of  reasoning  and  reflection,  and  that  they  are  guided  by  instincts 
much  superior  to  those  of  the  brute  creation  in  general.  This,  how- 
ever, is  certainly  not  the  case ;  for  they  are  known  to  be  inferior  in 
sagacity  to  numerous  other  quadrupeds. 

Their  limbs  are  peculiarly  strong;  and,  in  all  their  operations  and 
manoeuvres,  their  agility  is  most  astonishing.  They  have  great  de- 
light in  breaking,  tearing  to  pieces,  or  stealing  whatever  lies  in  their 
way.  If  any  thing  irritates  or  offends  them,  they  indicate  their  rage 
by  chattering  with  frheir  teeth.  Many  of  the  species,  when  they  are 
beaten,  will  sigh,  groan,  and  weep,  like  children;  but  most  of  them, 
on  such  occasions,  utter  dreadful  shrieks  of  distress.  They,  however, 
frequently  make  such  ridiculous  grimaces,  place  themselves  in  such 
strange  and  whimsical  attitudes,  and,  in  other  respects,  conduct  them- 
selves so  singularly,  that  even  the  most  serious  persons  must,  some- 
times, be  amused  with  them. 

For  greater  facility  of  description,  the  animals  of  this  extensive 
tribe  are  usually  arranged  in  three  divisions  of  Apes,  Baboons,  and 
Monkeys. 

Apes  are  destitute  of  tails;  they  walk  upright;  their  legs  are  fur- 
nished with  calves;  and  their  hands  and  feet  nearly  resemble  those 
of  men.  In  their  manners  they  are,  for  the  most  part,  mild  and  gen- 
tle, and  they  imitate  human  actions  more  readily,  and  are  susceptible 
of  greater  attainments,  than  any  others  of  their  tribe.  Baboons  have 
short  tails;  they  generally  walk  on  all  fours,  and  seldom  go  upright, 
except  when  constrained  so  to  do  in  a  state  of  servitude.  Some  of 
the  baboons  are  as  tall  as  men,  have  long  faces,  sunken  eyes,  and 
are  otherwise  extremely  disgusting.  In  their  dispositions  they  are 
usually  so  sullen  and  ferocious  as  to  be  incapable  of  any  education 


32  OF   APES   IN   GENERAL. 

whatever.  Monkeys  have  tails  in  general  longer  than  their  bodies. 
They  are  by  far  the  most  lively  and  active  of  the  whole  race.  They 
are  greatly  addicted  to  thieving,  and  scarcely  ever  imitate  human  ac- 
tions without  a  mischievous  intention.  One  division  of  the  Monkeys, 
which  are  denominated,  by  the  French  writers,  Sapajous,  have  their 
tails  extremely  long,  and  so  formed  that  they  can  coil  them  round 
any  object,  so  as  to  answer  nearly  all  the  purposes  of  an  additional 
hand.  By  means  of  these  they  are  able  even  to  swing  themselves 
backward  and  forward  amongst  the  branches  of  trees.  The  animals 
of  this  'division  are  inhabitants  almost  exclusively  of  the  New 
Continent. 

Monkeys  usually  live  in  much  more  extensive  troops  than  either 
Apes  or  Baboons.  Some  naturalists  have  been  credulous  enough  to 
believe  that  they  form  a  sort  of  republic,  in  which  a  great  degree  ot 
subordination  is  kept  up ;  that  they  always  travel  in  regular  order, 
conducted  by  chiefs,  the  strongest  and  most  experienced  animals  of 
their  troop;  and  that,  on  these  occasions,  some  of , the  largest  Mon- 
keys are  likewise  placed  in  the  rear,  the  sound  of  whose  voice  imme- 
diately silences  those  of  any  of  the  others  which  happen  to  be  too 
noisy.  The  negroes  of  Africa  believe  that  these  animals  are  a  vaga- 
bond race  of  men,  who  are  too  indolent  to  construct  habitations  or  to 
cultivate  the  ground. ' 

The  dexterity  of  Monkeys  is  such,  that,  although  burdened  by 
their  offspring  clinging  to  their  backs,  they  are  able  to  leap  from  one 
tree  to  another,  if  the  distance  be  not  very  great,  and.  to  secure  their 
hold  among  the  branches  with  the  greatest  certainty.  When  they 
perceive  any  person  taking  aim  at  them,  either  with  a  gun  or  bow, 
they  cry  out  and  grind  their  teeth,  and  this  sometimes  in  the  most 
horrible  manner  imaginable.  If  a  Monkey  be  shot,  and  fall  to  the 
ground,  all  the  rest  set  up  a  dismal  and  tremendous  howl;  and  if  one 
of  these  animals  be  wounded,  and  do  not  fall,  it  frequently  happens 
that  his  companions  will  seize  and  carry  him  off  far  beyond  the  reach 
of  their  enemy. 

In  many  parts  of  India,  Apes  and  Monkeys  are  made  objects  of 
worship  by  the  natives,  and  temples  of  the  greatest  magnificience  are 
erected  in  honour  of  them.  Their  numbers  are  almost  infinite.  They 
frequently  come  in  troops  into  the  cities,  and  enter  the  houses  at  all 
times  with  perfect  freedom.  In  Calicut,  however,  the  inhabitants 
contrive  to  keep  them  out  of  their  dwellings;  but  to  effect  this  they 
are  compelled  to  have  all  their  windows  lattice^!.  In  Amadabad,  the 
capital  of  Guzerat,  there  are  three  hospitals  for.  animals,  where  lame 
and  sick  Monkeys,  and  even  those  which  (without  being  diseased) 
choose  to  dwell  there,  are  fed  and  cherished.  Twice  every  week  the 
monkeys  of  the  neighborhood  assemble  spontaneously  in  the  streets 
of  the  city.  They  then  mount  upon  the  houses,  each  of  which  has  a 
small  terrace  or  flat  roof,  where  they  lie  during' the  great  heats.  On 
these  days  the  inhabitants  always  carefully  deposit  on  the  terraces, 
rice,  millet,  or  fruit;  and  if  they  be  accidentally  prevented  from  doing 
this,  the  disappointed  animals  become  so  furious,  that  they  break  the 
tiles,  and  commit  various  other  outrages. 


THE   ORAN   OTAN,  AND   CHIMPANZEE. 


33 


1.  APES. 


THE   ORAN   OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE. 

DESCRIPTION'.  The  Oran  Otan,  when  full  grown,  is  from  five  to  six  feet  in  height.  Its  color 
Is  a  ferruginous  or  reddish  brown;  and  the  hair  of  the  fore-arm  is  reversed.  The  face  is 
naked,  and  bears  some  resemblance  to  that  of  a  man ;  but  the  facial  angle  is  considerably  more 
acute,  and  consequently  the  forehead  is  much  more  oblique  than  in  any  human  subject.  The 
chin  also  has  no  elevation. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  Satyrus.  Linn  onus. — Great  Ape.  Penn. — Man  of  the  Woods.  Edwards. — 
Le  Jocko.  Bujfon.  Audebcrt. — Jocko,  in  Congo. — Sinsin,  in  China. — Oran  Otan,  in  the  Indian 
Islands.  This  name  signifies  Wild  Man. 

DESCRIPTION.  The  difference  betwixt  the  Chimpanzee  and  Oran  Otan  is  chiefly  in  size  and 
color.  The  Chimpanzee  seldom  measures  more  than  from  two  feet  and  a  half  to  three  feet  in 
height;  and  its  hair  is  dark  brown  or  blackish. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  Troglodytes.  Linn. — Le  Pongo.  Buffon.  Audcbert — Baris,  in  Guinea. — 
Chimpanzee  or  Quimpezee,  by  the  English  who  frequent  the  coast  of  Angola. 

IN  its  native  state,  the  Oran  Otari  is  an  in- 
habitant of  Borneo,  China,  the  East  Indies,  and 
Africa;  and  the  Chimpanzee,  of  Angola,  Sierra 
Leona,  and  some  parts  of  Asia.  Both  the  species 
are  exceedingly  wild,  and  are  found  only  in  the 
most  retired  places.  They  feed  .on  fruit,  vege- 
tables, and  roots  of  various  kinds ;  and  such  as 
inhabit  the  forests  that  are  adjacent  to  the  sea- 
shore, live  occasionally  on  crabs  and  shell-fish. 
Their  resting-places  are  in  trees,  where  they  are 
perfectly  secure  from  the  attack  of  all  preda- 
cious creatures  except  Serpents, 

Andrew  Battel,  a  Portuguese  traveller,  who, 
two  centuries  ago,  resided  in  Angola 
nearly  eighteen  years,  informs  us  that 
these  animals  were  very  common  in 
the  woods  of  that  country.  Their 
bodies,  he  says,  were  covered,  but  not 
very  thickly,  with  a  dun-colored  hair; 
and  their  legs  were  without  calves. 
They  always  walked  upright,  and  gene- 
rally, when  on  the  ground,  carried  their 
bands  clasped  on  the  hinder  part  ofi 
their  neck.  They  slept  in  the  trees, 
amongst  which  they  formed  a  kind  of  • 
arbor,  to  shelter  themselves  from  the 
weather ;  and  their  food  consisted  prin- 
cipally of  fruit  and  nuts.  Battel  says, 
that  the  inhabitants,  when  they  travelled  in  the  woods,  were  accus- 
tomed to  make  fires  around  the  places  where  they  slept,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  keeping  at  a  distance  various  species  of  voracious  animals; 
and  that,  at  these  fires,  the  Oran  Otans  would  assemble  in  the  morn- 
ings, and  would  sit  by  them  till  the  last  of  the  embers  were  expired. 


HUNTING  THE  ORAN  OTAN. 


34  THE   ORAN   OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE. 

• 

He  describes  these  animals  to  be  so  powerful,  that  ten  men  would  not 
have  strength  enough  to  hold  one  of  them ;  and,  consequently,  the 
inhabitants  could  never  catch  the  old  ones  alive.  He  states,  what 
perhaps  few  persons  will  be  inclined  to  believe,  that  when  any  of  them 
die,  the  rest  cover  up  the  bodies  with  great  branches  of  trees. 

Among  the  woods  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Gambia,  the  Oran  Otans 
collect  in  troops  of  three  or  four'thousand,  and  are  excessively  impu- 
dent and  mischievous.  Jobson,  who  gives  the  account,  says,  that 
whenever  his  party,  in  sailing  along  the  river,  passed  the  stations  of 
these  animals,  they  mounted  the  trees  and  gazed  upon  the  men. 
Sometimes  they  would  chatter  and  make  a  loud  noise,  at  the  same 
time  shaking  the  trees  with  their  hands,  which  they  did  with  vast  force 
and  violence.  At  night,  when  the  vessel  was  at  anchor,  the  animals 
often  took  their  stations  on  the  rocks  and  heights  above.  When  the 
men  were  on  shore  and  met  any  of  them,  the  old  ones  generally  came 
forward  and  seemed  to  grin  in  their  faces ;  but  they  always  fled  when 
an  attack  was  made.  One  of  them  was  killed  from  the  boat,  with  a 
gun,  but  before  the  boat  could  be  got  ashore,  the  others  had  carried 
away  the  dead  body. 

M.  Le  Compte  informs  us  that,  in  the  island  of  Borneo,  these-animals 
are  hunted  by  persons  of  quality,  somewhat  in  the  same  manner  as 
stags  are  in  Europe ;  and  that,  in  his  time,  this  kind  of  hunting  was 
a  favorite  diversion  of  the  king. 

In  a  wild  state  the  Oran  Otans  are  said  to  be  so  savage  and  fero- 
cious, that  if  a  Negro  be  unfortunate  enough  to  wander  in  the  woods, 
and  be  discovered  by  them,  they  generally  attack  and  kill- him.  With 
a  piece  of  wood  in  their  hands,  or  with  their  fists  only,  they  are  able 
to  drive  off  even  Elephants:  They  have  been  known  to  throw  stones 
at  persons  who  have  offended  them.  Bosman  informs  us,  that,  behind 
the  English  fort  at  Wimba,  on  the  cost  of  Guinea,  several  of  these 
Apes  attacked  two  of  the  company's  slaves,  overpowered  them,  and 
would  have  poked  out  their  eyes  with  sticks,  had  not  a  party  of 
Negroes  happened  to  come  up  and  rescue  them. 

It  is  asserted  that,  during  the  breeding  season,  the  males  relinquish 
their  habitations  to  the  females  and  their  offspring ;  and  that,  as  soon 
as  the  young  ones  have  attained  a  sufficient  degree  of  strength  to 
venture  abroad,  they  hang  on  the  breast  of  the  mother,  with  their 
arms  clasped  fast  about  her.  And  it  is  believed  that,  whenever  the 
females  are  killed,  their  young  ones  will  always  suffer  themselves  to 
be  caught. 

Gemelli  Carreri  relates  a  circumstance  concerning  these  animals, 
which,  if  we  could  believe  it  correct,  would  almost  induce  us  to  sup- 
pose that  they  were  not  altogether  destitute  of  reason.  He  tells  us, 
that  when  the  fruits  on  the  mountains  are  exhausted,  they  frequently 
descend  to  the  sea-coast,  where  they  feed  on  various  species  of  shell- 
fish, and  in  particular  on  a  large  species  of  oyster,  which  commonly 
lies  open  on  the  shore.  "  Fearful,  however,  of  putting  in  their  paws, 
lest  the  oyster  should  close  and  crush  them,  (he  says,)  they  insert  a 
stone  within  the  shell:  this  prevents  it  from  closing,  and  they  then 
drag  out  their  prey  and  devour  it  at  leisure." 


THE   OEAN  OTAN,  AND   CHIMPANZEE. 


35 


The  following  are  accounts  of  the  Oran  Otan  and  Chimpanzee,  in  a 
state  of  captivity  and  domestication. 

M.  de  la  Brosse,  a 
French  navigator,  who 
was  in  Angola  in  the 
year  1718,  and  who  pur- 
chased from  a  Negro, 
two  Oran  Otans,  remarks 
that  these  animals  would 
sit  at  table  like  men, 
and  eat  there  every  kind 
of  food,  without  distinc- 
tion ;  that  they  would 
use  a  knife,  a  fork,  or 
spoon,  to  cut  or  lay  hold 
of  what  was  put  on  their 
plate  ;  and  that  they 
drank  wine  and  other 
liquors.  At  table,  when 
they  wanted  any  thing, 
they  easily  made  them- 
selves understood  to  the 
cabin-boy ;  and  when  the 
boy  refused  to  answer 
their  demands,  they 
sometimes  became  en- 
raged, caught  him  by 
the  arm,  bit,  and  threw 
him  down.  The  male 
was  seized  with  sickness, 
and  he  made  the  people 
attend  him  as  if  he  had 
been  a  human  being.  He 
was  even  bled  twice  in  the  right  arm,  and,  whenever  afterwards  he 
found  himself  in  the  same  condition,  he  held  out  his  arm  to  be  bled,  as 
if  he  knew  that  he  had  formerly  received  benefit  from  that  operation. 

Two  Chimpanzees  were  sent  from  the  forests  of  the  Carnatic,  by  a 
coasting  vessel,  as  a  present  to  the  governor  of  Bombay.  They,  like 
the  rest  of  the  species,  had  many  human  actions,  and  seemed  by  their 
melancholy  to  have  a  rational  sense  of  their  captivity.  They  were 
scarcely  two  feet  high,  but  walked  erect,  and  had  nearly  the  human 
form.  The  female  was  taken  ill  during  the  voyage,  and  died  ;  and 
the  male,  exhibiting  every  demonstration  of  grief,  refused  to  eat,  and 
lived  only  two  days  afterwards. 

When  M.  Le  Guat  was  in  Java,  he  saw  a  tall  female  Ape,  which, 
no  doubt,  belonged  to  the  present  species.  Her  face,  he  says,  had  a 
distant  resemblance  to  some  of  the  grotesque  female  faces  which  he 
had  seen  among  the  Hottentots  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  She  made 
her  bed  very  neatly  every  day,  lay  upon  her  side,  and  covered  her- 
self with  the  slothes.  She  would  often  bind  up  her  head  with  a  hand- 
3 


TUB  ORAX  OTAN. 


36  THE   OR  AN   OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE. 

kerchief,  and  it  was  amusing  to  see  her  thus  hooded  in  bed.  It  was 
intended  to  bring  her  into  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  exhibition,  but 
she  died  on  board  the  ship  in  the  latitude  of  the  Cape. 

In  the  year  1759,  M.  Pallavicini,  who  held  an  official  situation  at 
Batavia,  had  in  his  house  two  Oran  Otans,  a  male  and  female,  which 
were  extremely  mild  and  gentle.  They  were  nearly  of  human  stature, 
and  imitated  very  closely  the  actions  of  men,  particularly  with  their 
hands  and  arms.  In  some  respects  they  appeared  to  have  a  degree 
of  bashfulness  and  modesty  which  is  not  observable  even  in  savage 
tribes  of  the  human  race ;  but  this,  probably,  was  a  trick  that  they 
had  been  taught.  If,  for  instance,  the  female  was  attentively  looked 
at  by  any  person,  she  would  throw  herself  into  the  arms  of  the  male, 
and  hide  her  face  in  his  bosom.  Their  voice  was  a  kind  of  cry, 
resembling  that  of  most  other  Apes  and  Monkeys. 

An  individual  of  the  Oran  Otan  species,  or  a  variety  nearly  allied 
to  it,  was  caught,  when  young,  in  the  interior  of  Guinea,  and  carried 
thence  to  Surinam.  Professor  Allemand  had  received  many  vague 
and  unsatisfactory  particulars  respecting  this  animal.  These,  however, 
were,  on  the  whole,  so  interesting,  that  he  was  induced  to  write  to  M. 
May,  a  captain  in  the  Dutch  naval  service,  stationed  at  Surinam,  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  an  authentic  account  of  it.  M.  May  informed 
him,  that,  when  he  was  with  his  vessel,  on  the  coast  of  Guinea,  one  of 
the  sailors  brought  on  board  a  small  tailless  Ape,  about  six  months 
old,  which  had  been  caught  in  the  kingdom  of  Benin.  He  soon  after- 
wards sailed  for  Surinam;  and  this  animal  arrived  in  perfect  health 
at  Paramaribo,  where  the  Oran  Otan  above-mentioned  was  then  living. 

He  was  greatly  surprised  to  find  that  the  two  animals  were  of 'the 
same  kind,  and  that  there  was  no  other  difference  betwixt  them  than 
that  of  their  size.  This,  however,  was  considerable,  the  Oran  Otan 
being  about  five  feet  and  a  half  in  height,  whilst  his  animal  scarcely 
exceeded  the  height  of  twelve  or  fourteen  inches. 

The  old  Oran  Otan  could  walk  equally  well  on  four  and  on  two 
feet :  it  was  very  strong  and  powerful.  M.  May  says,  that  he  has  seen 
•it  take  its  master  (a  stout  man)  by  the  middle  of  the  body,  raise  him 
with  the  greatest  ease  from  the  ground,  and  then  throw  him  to  the 
distance  of  two  or  three  paces.  M.  May  was  assured,  that  this  animal 
one  day  seized  a  soldier,  who  happened  carelessly  to  pass  near  the  tree 
to  which  he  was  chained,  and  that,  if  his  master  had  not  been  present, 
he  would  have  actually  carried  the  man  into  the  tree. 

At  the  time  when  M.  May  first  saw  the  animal,  it  had  been  in  Suri- 
nam twenty-one  years,  and  yet  it  did  not  appear  to  have  attained  its 
full  growth.  In  confirmation  of  this,. he  was  informed,  that  in  the 
preceding  year  it  had  increased  considerably  in  height.  The  captain 
of  an  English  vessel  offered  the  owner  of  this  animal  one  hundred 
guineas  for  it :  but  this  sum,  great  as  it  was,  he  refused ;  and  two  days 
afterwards  the  animal  died. 

Neither  the  Oran  Otan  nor  Chimpanzee  have  been  often  brought 
alive  into  Europe.  An  Oran  Otan  was  exhibited  in  London  in  the 
years  1818  and  1819  ;  a  Chimpanzee  in  the  year  1698,  another  in  1738, 
:and  a  third  in  1819 ;  and,  in  the  course  of  the  last  century,  three  or 


THE   ORAN  OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE.  37 

four  have,  at  different  times,  been  brought  into 
France. 

In  confinement,  both  the  Oran  Otan  and  Chim- 
panzee are  mild,  gentle,  and,  for  the  most  part, 
harmless  animals.  They  are  perfectly  devoid  of 
that  disgusting  ferocity  so  conspicuous  in  some  of 
the  larger  Baboons  and  Monkeys ;  and,  in  gen- 
eral, are  so  docile,  that  they  may  be  taught  to 
CHIMPANZEE.  perform,  with  dexterity,  a  great  variety  of  enter- 

taining actions. 

The  Chimpanzee  that  was  in  England  in  the  year  1698,  had  been 
caught  in  Angola,  and  far  up  the  country.  It  was  a  male,  and,  at  the 
time  it  was  taken,  had  a  female  in  company.  This  animal  was  soon 
rendered  tame,  and  became  the  most  gentle  creature  imaginable. 
Those  persons  whom  he  knew  on  board  the  vessel  which  brought  him 
over,  he  would  embrace  with  the  greatest  tenderness.  And,  although 
there  were  several  Monkeys  in  the  ship,  yet  he  would  on  no  occasion 
associate  with  them.  In  many  of  his  actions  he  displayed  considerable 
sagacity.  A  suit  of  clothes  was  made  for  him,  and  in  the  wearing  of 
them  he  took  great  delight.  Such  part  of  this  dress  as  the  animal 
could  not  put  on  by  himself,  he  would  bring  in  his  paws  to  some  one 
of  the  ship's  company  for  assistance.  At  night  he  would  lie  down  in 
bed,  precisely  in  the  same  manner  as  a  human  being;  would  place  his 
head  on  the  pillow,  and  pull  up  the  bed-clothes,  in  order  to  keep  him- 
self warm.  This  animal  died  a  short  time  after  he  came  to  London, 
and  his  body  was  purchased  for  dissection  by  Dr.  Tyson. 

A  female  Oran  Otan,  from  the  island  of  Borneo,  was  brought  alive 
into  Holland,  in  the  year  1776,  and  lodged  in  the  Menagerie  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange.  She  was  extremely  gentle,  and  exhibited  no  symp- 
toms whatever  of  fierceness  or  malignity.  She  had  a  somewhat 
melancholy  appearance,  yet  loved  to  be  in  company,  and  particularly 
with  those  persons  to  whose  care  she  was  entrusted.  Oftentimes, 
when  they  retired,  she  would  throw  herself  on  the  ground,  as  if  in 
despair,  uttering  the  most  doleful  cries,  and  tearing  in  pieces  any 
article  of  linen  that  happened  to  be  within  her  reach.  Her  keeper 
having  sometimes  sat  near  her  on  the  ground,  she  would  frequently 
take  the  hay  of  her  bed,  arrange  it  by  her  side,  and,  with  the  greatest  • 
anxiety  and  affection,  invite  him  to  sit  down. 

This  animal  usually  walked  on  all  fours,  like  other  Apes;  but  she 
could  also  walk  erect.  In  an  erect  posture,  however,  her  feet  were 
not  usually  extended  like  those  of  man,  but  the  toes  were  curved 
beneath,  in  such  manner  that  she  rested  chiefly  on  the  exterior  sides 
of  the  feet. 

One  morning  she  contrived  to  escape  from  her  chain ;  and,  not  long 
afterwards,  was  seen  to  ascend,  with  wonderful  agility,  the  beams  and 
oblique  rafters  of  the  building.  With  some  trouble  she  was  taken ; 
but  the  efforts  of  four  men  were  found  necessary  to  secure  her.  Two 
of  these  siezed  her  by  the  legs,  and  a  third  by  th^J^ead,  whilst  the 
other  fastened  the  collar  round  her  body.  During  the  time  she  was 
at  liberty  she  had,  amongst  other  pranks,  taken  the  cork  from  a  bottle 


38  THE   ORAN   OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE. 

of  Malaga  wine :  she  drank  the  wine  to  the  last  drop,  and  then  set  the 
bottle  again  in  its  place. 

She  would  eat  of  almost  every  kind  of  food  that  was  given  to  her ; 
but  she  lived  chiefly  on  bread,  roots,  and  fruit.  Carrots  and  straw- 
berries she  was  peculiarly  fond  of,  as  well  as  of  several  kinds  of 
aromatic  plants,  and  of  the  leaves  and  root  of  parsley.  She  also  ate 
meat,  both  boiled  and  roasted,  as  well  as  fish ;  and  was  fond  of  eggs, 
the  shells  of  which  she  broke  with  her  teeth,  and  then  emptied,  by 
sucking  out  the  contents.  When  strawberries  were  given  to  her  on 
a  plate,  it  was  amusing  to  see  her  take  them  up,  one  by  one,  with  a 
fork,  and  put  them  into  her  mouth,  holding,  at  the  same  time,  the 
plate  in  the  other  hand.  Her  usual  drink  was  water,  but  she  would 
also  eagerly  drink  all  sorts  of  wine,  particularly  Malaga.  After  drink- 
ing, she  wiped  her  lips ;  and  after  eating,  if  presented  with  a  tooth- 
pick, she  would  use  it  in  a  proper  manner.  Whilst  she  was  on  ship- 
board, she  ran  freely  about  the  vessel,  playing  with  the  sailors,  and 
would  go,  like  them,  into  the  kitchen  for  her  mess.  When,  at  the 
approach  of  night,  she  was  about  to  lie  down,  she  would  prepare  the 
bed  on  which  she  slept,  by  shaking  well  the  hay,  and  putting  it  in 
proper  order ;  and,  lastly,  she  would  cover  herself  up  warm  with  the 
quilt.  One  day,  seeing  the  padlock  of  her  chain  opened  with  a  key, 
and  shut  again,  she  seized  a  little  bit  of  stick,  and  put  it  into  the  key- 
hole, turning  it  about  in  all  directions,  and  examining  to  ascertain 
whether  the  padlock  would  not  open. 

On  the  first  arrival  of  this  animal  in  Holland,  she  was  so  young  as 
to  be  only  two  feet  and  a  half  high,  and  she  had  but  little  hair  on  any 
parts  of  the  body  except  the  back  and  arms ;  but,  at  the  approach  of 
winter,  she  became  thickly  covered,  and  the  hair  on  the  back  was  at 
least  six  inches  in  length.  After  having  been  seven  months  in  Hol- 
land, she  died ;  and  her  skin  was  deposited  in  the  Museum  of  the 
Prince  of  Orange. 

This  animal  was  seen  and  described  by  M.  de  Buffon.  He  informs 
us  that  she  always  walked  upright,  even  when  carrying  things  of 
great  weight;  that  her  air  was-  melancholy,  her  gait  grave,  her  move- 
ments measured,  and,  that  in  every  respect  of  disposition,  she  was 
very  different  from  other  apes.  She  would  present  her  hand  to  con- 
duct the  people  who  came  to  visit  her,  and  would  walk  as  gravely 
along  with  them  as  if  she  had  formed  a  part  of  the  company.  She 
would  frequently  sit  with  persons  at  dinner :  would  unfold  her  towel, 
wipe  her  lips,  use  a  spoon  or  fork  to  carry  the  provisions  to  her 
mouth,  pour  her  liquor  into  a  glass,  and  make  it  touch  that  of  a  per- 
son who  drank  at  the  same  time.  If  invited  to  take  tea,  she  would 
bring  a  cup  and  saucer,  place  them  on  the  table,  put  in  sugar,  pour 
out  the  tea,  and  allow  it  to  cool  before  she  drank  it.  All  these  actions 
she  performed  without  any  other  instigation  than  the  signs  or  verbal 
orders  of  her  master,  and  often  even  of  her  own  accord. 

She  exhibited  no  symptoms  whatever  of  ill-nature,  and  would  volun- 
tarily hold  out  her  paw  to  any  person  who  was  inclined  to  shake  hands 
with  her.  The  food  she  was  chiefly  fond  of  was  bread,  fruit,  carrots,  and 
roots  of  various  kinds:  and  these  she  would  eat  without  that  appear- 


THE   ORAN   OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE.  39 

ance  of  voracity  which  is  common  to  most  animals  of  her  tribe.  She 
would  take  in  one  hand  a  vessel  containing  water,  and  carrying  it  to 
her  mouth,  in  the  same  manner  as  a  child  or  a  man,  would  tranquilly 
drink  the  contents. 

Her  motions  were  slow  and  languid,  and  she  never  indicated  any 
great  degree  of  vivacity.  She  would  frequently  play  with  a  blanket, 
which  served  her  for  a  bed ;  and  sometimes  she  seemed  pleased  at 
tearing  it.  The  usual  attitude  of  this  animal  was  a  sitting  posture, 
with  her  knees  and  thighs  elevated :  and  even  when  she  walked,  it 
was  somewhat  in  the  same  posture,  with  her  haunches  but  little  raised 
from  the  ground.  M.  Allemand  informs  us,  that  she  was  seldom  seen 
to  stand  perfectly  upright,  except  when  she  wanted  to  seize  something 
that  she  could  not  otherwise  reach.  From  these  circumstances,  he 
was  induced  to  believe,  that  Oran  Otans,  in  a  wild  state,  do  not,  like 
men,  walk  in  an  upright  posture ;  but  that,  in  the  manner  of  other 
quadrupeds,  they  go  on  all  fours.  He  considers  that  the  hand-like 
conformation  of  their  fore  feet  is  given  to  them  for  the  purpose  of  en- 
abling them  to  climb.  This  animal  would  often  amuse  herself,  in  the 
room  where  she  was  kept,  by  climbing  upon  the  bars  of  the  windows, 
as  high  as  the  length  of  her  chain  would  allow. 

Of  an  Oran  Otan  which  M.  le  Compte  saw  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca, 
he  says,  that  all  its  actions  were  so  imitative  of  those  of  mankind,  and 
its  passions  were  so  expressive  and  lively,  that  a  dumb  person  could 
scarcely  have  rendered  himself  better  understood.  This  animal  was 
extremely  gentle,  and  exhibited  great  affection  towards  every  person 
from  whom  it  received  any  attentions.  One  thing  was  very  remark- 
able, that,  like  a  child,  it  would  frequently  make  a  stamping  noise 
with  its  feet ;  this  arose  either  from  joy  or  anger,  when  it  had 
received  or  was  refused  any  kind  of  food  to  which  it  was  partial. 

Its  agility  was  almost  incredible.  With  the  greatest  ease  and 
security  it  would  run  about  amongst  the  rigging  of  the  vessel,  would 
vault  about  from  rope  to  rope,  and  play  a  thousand  pranks,  as  if  it  were 
delighted  by  exhibiting  its  feats  of  dexterity  for  the  diversion- of  the 
company.  Sometimes,  suspended  by  one  arm,  it  would  poise  itself, 
and  then  suddenly  turn  round  upon  a  rope,  with  nearly  as  much 
quickness  as  a  wheel  or  a  sling.  Sometimes  it  would  slide  down  one 
of  the  ropes,  and  would  again  ascend  with  astonishing  agility.  There 
was  no  posture  which  this  animal  could  not  imitate,  nor  any  motion 
that  it  could  not  perform.  It  has  even  sometimes  been  known  to  fling 
itself  downward  from  one  rope  to  another,  though  at  a  distance  of 
more  than  thirty  feet. 

A  young  Oran  Otan  that  had  been  caught  in  the  interior  of  Borneo, 
was  taken  thence  to  Java;  and,  in  1817,  was  brought  to  England,  in 
one  of  the  ships  attached  to  the  expedition  which  had  sailed  with 
Lord  Amherst  to  China.  He  then  measured  only  about  two  feet  seven 
inches  in  length,  from  his  heel  to  the  crown  of  his  head. 

This  animal  was  utterly  incapable  of  walking  in  an  upright  posture. 

His  progressive  motion,  on  a  flat  surface,  was  accomplished  by 
placing  his  bent  fists  upon  the  ground  and  drawing  his  body  between 
his  arms.  In  sitting,  he  turned  his  legs  under  him.  After  his  ar- 


40  THE  OR  AN  OTAN,  AND  CHIMPANZEE. 

rival  in  Java  lie  was  allowed  to  be  at  liberty,  till  within  a  day  or  two 
of  his  being  put  on  board  of  the  ship  to  be  conveyed  to  England  ;  and 
he  made  no  attempt  whatever  to  escape  :  but  he  became  violent  when 
put  into  a  large  bamboo  cage,  for  the  purpose  of  being  conveyed  from 
the  island.  As  soon  as  he  felt  himself  in  confinement,  he  seized  the 
rails  of  the  cage  in  his  hands,  and  shaking  them  violently,  endeav- 
ored to  break  them  in  pieces ;  nor  did  he  entirely  cease  till  he  had 
broken  through  it  and  made  his  escape.  On  board  the  ship,  an 
attempt  was  made  to  secure  him  by  a  chain  tied  to  a  strong  staple ; 
he,  however,  instantly  unfastened  it,  and  ran  off  with  the  chain 
dragging  behind.  It  embarrassed  him  by  its  length,  on  which  he 
coiled  it  up  once  or  twice,  and  threw  it  over  his  shoulder ;  but  when  he 
found  it  would *not  remain  on  his  shoulder,  he  took  it  into  his  mouth. 
After  several  useless  attemps  had  been  made  to  secure  him  more 
effectually,  he  was  allowed  to  wander  freely  about  the  ship. 

He  soon  became  familiar  with  the  sailors,  and  surpassed  them  in 
agility.  They  often  chased  him  about  the  rigging  ;  and  he  gave  them 
frequent  opportunities  of  witnessing  his  adroitness  in  effecting  an 
escape.  At  first  starting  he  would  endeavour  to  outstrip  his  pursuers 
by  mere  speed :  but  when'he  was  much  pressed,  he  would  elude  them 
by  seizing  any  loose  rope  that  was  near  him,  and  swinging  out  of 
their  reach.  At  other  times  he  would  patiently  wait  on  the  shrouds, 
or  at  the  mast-head;  till  his  pursuers  almost  touched  him,  and  then 
would  suddenly  lower  himself  to  the  deck  by  any  rope  that  was  near 
him  ;  or  he  would  bound  along  the  main-stay,  from  one  mast  to  the 
other,  swinging  by  his  hands,  and  moving  them  one  over  the  other. 
When  in  a  playful  humor  he  would  often  swing  within  arm's  length 
of  his  pursuer,  and,  having  struck  him  with  his  hand,  would  throw 
himself  from  him. 

He  usually  slept,  wrapt  in  a  sail,  at  the  mast-head.  In  making  his 
bed,  he  carefully  removed  everything  out  of  his  way  that  might 
render  the  surface  he  intended  to  lie  on  uneven.  And,  as  soon  as 
he  had-  satisfied  himself  with  this  part  of  the  arrangement,  he  would 
spread  out  the  sail,  and  lying  down  upon  his  back,  would  draw  it 
over  his  body.  If  all  the  sails  happened  to  be  set,  the  animal  would 
hunt  about  for  some  other  covering,  and  would  steal  one  of  the  sailor's 
jackets  or  shirts,  or  would  empty  a  hammock  of  its  blankets,  and 
carry  them  away  to  sleep  upon. 

When  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  he  suffered  much  inconvenience 
from  the  cool  temperature  of  the  atmosphere ;  and  would  often 
descend  from  the  mast  shivering  with  cold.  Then,  run  ing  up  to  any 
one  of  the  persons  to  whom  he  was  chiefly  attached,  he  would  climb 
into  their  arms,  and  clasping  them  closely,  would  derive  warmth  from 
their  persons,  and  would  scream  violently  if  any  attempt  was  made  to 
remove  him. 

In  Java  his  food  was  chiefly  fruit ;  but  he  also  sucked  eggs  with 
voracity,  and  often  employed  himself  in  seeking  them.  He  there  slept 
in  a  large  tamarind-tree,  in  which  he  formed  a  kind  of  bed  by  inter- 
twining the  small  branches  of  the  tree,  and  covering  them  with  leaves. 
During  the  day,  he  would  lie  -with  his  head  projecting  beyond  the 


THE   OR  AN    OTAN,    AND  CHIMPANZEE. 


41 


nest,  watching  those  who  passed  beneath ;  and,  when  he  saw  any  one 
with  fruit,  would  immediately  descend,  to  obtain  a  share  of  it. 

On  board  the  ship  his  food  was  of  no  definite  kind.  He  ate  readily 
all  kinds  of  meat,  especially  raw  meat ;  was  very  fond  of  bread,  but 
he  always  preferred  fruit.  His  beverage  in  Java  was  water  ;  but,  in 
the  ship,  it  was  as  diversified  as  his  food.  He  preferred  coffee  and  tea, 
but  would  readily  take  wine,  beer,  or  spirits. 

In  the  attempts  of  this  animal  to  obtain  food,  he  afforded  many 
opportunities  of  judging  respecting  his  sagacity  and  disposition.  He 
was  always  impatient  to  seize  it  when  held  out  to  him  ;  became  pas- 
sionate if  it  was  not  soon  given  up,  and  would  chase  a  person  all  over 
the  ship  to  obtain  it.  The  animal  had  been  given  to  Mr.  Abel,  the 
naturalist  attached  to  the  expedition ;  and  this  gentleman  seldom 
went  on  the  deck  without  sweetmeats  or  fruit  in  his  pockets ;  and  he 
could  never  escape  the  vigilant  eye  of  the  animal.  Sometimes  Mr. 
Abel  endeavoured  to  evade  him,  by  ascending  to  the  mast-head,  but  he 
was  always  either  overtaken  or  intercepted  in  his  progress.  When  the 
Oran  Otan  came  up  to  Mr.  Abel,  on  the  shrouds,  he  would  secure 
himself  by  one  foot  to  the  rattling,  and  confine  the  legs  of  this 
gentleman  with  the  other  and  with  one  of  his  hands,  whilst,  with  the 
remaining  hand,  he  rifled  his  pockets.  If  he  found  it  impossible  to 
overtake  Mr.  Abel,  he  would  climb  to  a  considerable  height  on  the 
loose  rigging,  and  then  drop  suddenly  upon  him.  Or  if,  perceiving 
his  intention,  this  gentleman  attempted  to  descend,  the  animal  would 
slide  down  a  rope  and  meet  him  at  the  bottom  of  the  shrouds. 

He  neither  practised  the  grimaces  and  antics  of  other  Monkeys,  nor 
possessed  their  perpetual  proneness  to  mischief.  Mildness  and  gravity, 
approaching  to  melancholy,  seemed  to  be  the  characteristic  of  his  dis- 
position. When  he  first  came  among  strangers ;  he  would  sit  for 
hours  with  his  hand  upon  his  head,  looking  pensively  at  all  around 
him ;  and,  when  much  incommoded  by  their  examination,  he  would 
hide  himself  beneath  any  covering  that  was  at  hand.  He  soon  became 
attached  to  those  persons  who  kindly  used  him,  would  sit  by  their 
side,  and  run  to  them  for  protection.  The  boatswain  of  the  Alcesto 
taught  him  to  eat  with  a  spoon;  and 
the  animal  might  often  be  seen  at 
the  door  of  the  boatswain's  cabin, 
enjoying  his  coffee,  quite  unembar- 
rassed by  those  who  observed  him. 

The  favorite  amusement  of  this 
Oran  Otan,  in  Java,  was  to  swing 
from  the  branches  of  trees,  to  pass 
from  one  tree  to  another,  and  to 
climb  over  the  roofs  of  houses.  On 
board  the  ship,  he  was  chiefly  de- 
lighted to  hang  with  his  arms  from 
the  ropes,  and  to  play  with  the 
boys.  He  would  entice  them  into 
play  by  striking  them  with  his 
hand  as  they  passed,  and  then 


ORAN  OTAN   WASHING  HI3  HANDS. 


42  .  THE   ORAN   OTAN,   AND   CHIMPANZEE. 

bounding  from  them,  but  allowing  them  to  overtake  him  and  engage 
in  a  mock  scuffle,  in  which  he  used  his  hands,  feet,  and  mouth. 

But  though,  for  the  most  part  extremely  gentle,  he  could  be  excited 
to  violent  rage :  this  he  expressed  by  opening  his  mouth,  showing  his 
teeth,  seizing  and  biting  those  who  were  near  him. 

When  brought  to  London,  in  the  month  of  August,  1817,  this 
animal  was  deposited,  for  exhibition,  in  the  menagerie  at  Exeter 
'Change.  He  was  there  found  to  be  extremely  tame  and  gentle,  and  was 
frequently  allowed  to  take  his  food  and  sit  by  the  fire,  in  the  keeper's 
apartment ;  and  he  was  taught  two  feats  which  he  had  not  practised 
on  board  the  ship :  these  were  to  walk  upright,  or  rathe'r  to  walk  on 
his  feet  unsupported  by  his  hands  ;  the  other  was  to  kiss  the  keeper. 
With  regard  however,  to  the  former  of  these  accomplishments,  it  may 
be  remarked,  that  a  well-trained  dancing-dog  would  have  far  sur- 
passed him;  and  to  the  latter,  that  he  merely  pressed  his  projecting 
lips  against  the  face  of  the  keeper. 

This  animal  increased  very  much  in  all  his  dimensions  ;  and,  after 
having  lived  through  two  winters,  in  London,  he  died  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1819.  The  immediate  cause  of  his  death  was  the  changing  of 
his  teeth,  from  which  it  was  ascertained  that  he  must  have  been 
extremely  young  when  first  caught.  His  skin  and  skeleton  are  now 
deposited  in  the  museum  of  the  College  of  Surgeons  in  London. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1819,  a  Chimpanzee,  from  the  Gold  Coast  of 
Africa,  was  placed  in  the  menagerie  at  Exeter  'Change.  This  animal 
was  of  small  size  and  black  color,  and  extremely  mild  and  tractable ; 
but,  having  died  not  long  after  he  was  brought  there,  little  is  known 
respecting  his  habits  and  manners. 

Pere  Carbassori  brought  up  an  Oran  Otan,  which  became  so  fond 
of  him,  that  wherever  he  went,  it  always  seemed  desirous  of  ac- 
companying him :  whenever,  therefore,  he  had  to  perform  the  service 
of  his  Church,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  shutting  it  up  in  a  room. 
Once,  however,  the  animal  escaped,  and  followed  the  father  to  the 
church.  There,  silently  mounting  the  sounding-board  above  the 
pulpit,  he  lay  perfectly  still  till  the  sermon  commenced.  He  then 
crept  to  the  edge,  and,  overlooking  the  preacher,  imitated  all  his 
gestures  in  so  grotesque  a  manner,  that  the  whole  congregation  were 
unavoidably  urged  to  laugh.  The  father,  surprised  and  confounded 
at  this  ill-timed  levity,  severely  rebuked  his  audience  for  their  inatten- 
tion. The  reproof  failed  in  its  effect ;  the  congregation  still  laughed, 
and  the  preacher  in  the  warmth  of  his  zeal,  redoubled  his  vociferations 
and  his  actions :  these  the  Ape  imitated  so  exactly,  that  the  congre- 
gation could  npVlonger  restrain  themselves,  but  burst  into  a  loud  and 
continued  laughter.  A  friend  of  the  preacher  at  length  stepped  up 
to  him,  and  pointed  out  the  cause  of  this  improper  conduct ;  and  such 
was  the  arch  demeanor  of  the  animal,  that  it  was  with  the  utmost 
difficulty  the  father  could  command  the  muscles  of  his  countenance, 
and  keep  himself  apparently  serious,  while  he  ordered  the  servants  of 
the  Church  to  take  him  away. 


THE  BARBARY  APE.  43 


THE  BARBARY  APE.  • 

DESCRIPTION.  The  face  of  this  Ape  is  shaped  somewhat  like  that  of  a  Dog;  and  its  cheeks 
are  furnished  with  pouches.  When  the  animal  stands  upright,  its  height  is  usually  betwixt 
three  and  four  feet.  The  color  of  the  back  is  a  greenish  brown,  and  of  the  belly,  pale  yellow. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  inuus.  Linn. — Le  Magot.  Buffon.  Audebert. — Momenet.  Johnston. — 
fellow  Ape.  Du  Hnlde.— Barbary  Ape.  Pennant.  Shaw.— Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  PI.  7. 

The  forests  of  India, 
Arabia,  and  Africa,  abound 
in  animals  of  this  species  ; 
and  they  are  so  common 
in  Barbary,  that  the  trees 
are  sometimes  nearly  co- 
vered with  them.  A  few 
are  found  about  the  rock 
of  Gibraltar. 

They  subsist  on  vege- 
tables and  fruit;  and  in 
their  manners  are  equally 
fierce  and  mischievous. 
We  are  informed  that  some-  BARBAEY  Apt 

times  they  assemble  in  the  open  plains  of  India,  in  vast  troops,  and 
that  if  they  see  any  of  the  women  going  to  market,  they  attack  them 
and  take  away  their  provisions.  Tavernier,  apparently  alluding  to 
this  species,  says,  that  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  India  have  an  odd 
mode  of  amusing  themselves  at  their  expense.  They  place  five  or 
six  baskets  of  rice,  forty  or  fifty  yards  asunder,  in  an  open  ground 
near  their  retreat,  and  by  every  basket  put  a  number  of  stout  cudgels 
each  about  two  feet  long ;  they  then  retire  to  some  hiding-place,  not 
far  distant,  to  wait  the  event.  When  the  Apes  observe  that  there  are 
no  persons  near  the  baskets,  they  descend  in  great  numbers  from  the 
trees,  and  run  towards  them.  They  grin  at  each  for  some  time -before 
they  dare  approach ;  they  advance,  then  retreat,  and  seem  much  dis- 
inclined to  encounter  each  other.  At  length  the  females,  which  are 
more  courageous  than  the  males,  venture  to  approach  the  baskets, 
and  as  they  thrust  in  their  heads  to  eat,  the  males  on  one  side  advance 
to  prevent  them.  A  sharp  contest  now  commences.  The  different 
combatants  seize  the  cudgels  and  beat  each  other,  till  the  weakest 
party  is  driven  into  the  woods.  The  victors,  M.  Tavernier  tells  us, 
then  fall-to  in  peace,  and  devour  the  reward  of  their  labor. 

He  states  that  as  he  was  travelling  in  the  East  Indies,  in  company 
with  the  English  president,  several  large  apes  were  observed  upon  the 
trees  around  him.  The  president  was  so  much  amused,  that  he  ordered 
his  carriage  to  stop,  and  desired  M.  Tavernier  to  shoot  one  of  them. 
The  attendants,  who  were  principally  natives  and  well  acquainted  with 
the  manners  of  these  animals,  entreated  of  him  to  desist,  least  those 
that  escaped  might  do  them  some  injury  in  revenge  for  the  death  of  a 
companion.  Being,  however,  still  requested,  he  killed  one  of  them, 
In  an  instant  all  the  remaining  Apes,  to  the  number  of  sixty  or  up 


44 


THE   PIGMY   APE. 


BARBAKY  APE. 


wards,  descended  in  fury,  and  as 
many  as  could,  leaped  upon  the 
president's  coach,  where  they  would 
soon  have  strangled  him,  had  not 
the  blinds  been  immediately  closed, 
and  the  number  of  attendants  so 
at  as  to  drive  them  off.  They 
lowever  continued  to  run  after  the 
servants  for  at  least  three  miles 
from  the  place  where  their  com- 
panion was  slain. 
This  species  of  Ape  agrees  well  with  our  climate,  and  is  very 
common  in  exhibitions  in  this  country.  It  walks  on  four  in  preference 
to  two  legs ;  and  uses  the  same  grimaces  to  express  both  anger  and 
appetite.  Its  movements  are  brisk,  its  manners  gross ;  and  when 
agitated  by  passion,  it  exhibits  and  grinds  its  teeth.  Notwithstanding 
their  ferocious  and  unaccommodating  disposition,  these  animals  are 
sometimes  taught  to  dance,  to  make  gesticulations  in  cadence,  and 
allow  themselves  peaceably  to  be  clothed. 

M.  de  Buffon  had  a  Barbary  Ape  for  several  years.  In  summer, 
he  says,  it  delighted  to  be  in  the  open  air;  and,  even  in  winter, 
it  was  frequently  kept  in  a  room  without  fire.  Though  long  in  con- 
finement, it  did  not  become  at  all  civilized.  Whenever  food  was 
given  to  it,  it  filled  its  pouches ;  and  when  about  to  sleep,  loved  to 
perch  on  an  iron  or  wooden  bar. 


THE   PIGMY  APE. 


DESCRIPTION.  The  Pigmy  Ape,  \vhen  on  its  hind  legs,  is  about  two  feet  high.  Its  face  is 
almost  naked,  and  is  somewhat  long  and  wrinkled.  The  canine-teeth  are  short,  and,  as  well  &3 
the  ears,  very  much  resemble  those  of  men.  The  eyes  are  round,  reddish,  and  have  great  vivacity. 
The  posteriors  are  naked  and  callous  ;  and,  in  place  of  a  tail,  there  is  a  small  prominent  piece  of 
skin,  five  or  six  lines  in  length.  The  general  colors  of  the  body  are  olive-brown  above,  and 
yellowish  on  the  belly ;  and,  iu  many  individuals,  part  of  the  breast  and  belly  have  a  large, 
dark-colored  mark. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  sylvanus.  Linn. — Pitheque  Buffon. — Pigmy  Ape.  Pennant. — Shaw's 
Gen.  Zool.  PL  8. 


According  to  the  account  given 
by  M.  Desfontaines,  these  Apes  live 
in  great  troops ;  and  at  Sara,  in 
ancient  Numidia,  are  numerous  be- 
yond description.  Their  food  con- 
sists chiefly  of  pine-apples,  nuts, 
Indian  figs,  melons,  and  various 
kinds  of  fruit  and  vegetables.  Like 
many  others  of  their  tribe,  they  often 
go  in  a  body  to  attack  gardens  or 
plantations  ;  and,  notwithstanding 
all  the  care  that  is  taken  to  prevent 
their  depredations,  they  are  frequently  successful. 


Previously  to  the 


THE   PIGMY  APE.  45 

commencement  of  their  plundering,  they  always  sead  one  of  their 
party  to  the  top  of  some  adjacent  rock  or  tree,  to  give  notice  to  the 
rest  of  any  appearance  of  interruption.  This  animal  remains  on 
watch  during  the  whole  business ;  and,  if  he  perceive  any  person  ap- 
proach, or  hear  any  alarming  noise,  he  gives  a  loud  shriek,  on  which 
the  whole  troop  immediately  run  offj  and  climb  the  trees,  carrying 
away  with  them  whatever  they  may  happen  to  have  seized.  If  the 
alarm  continue,  and  the  country  be  well  wooded,  they  pursue  their 
roate,  leaping  from  tree  to  tree,  all  the  way  to  the  mountains.  In 
this  procedure  the  females  are  often  burdened  by  their  young  ones 
clinging  round  their  necks  and  backs ;  and  yet,  in  spite  of  such  an 
incumbrance,  they  are  able  to  leap  to  vast  distances.  The  injury 
that  these  animals  do  to  the  fruits  and  corn  is  incalculable.  They 
gather  them  into  heaps,  and  tear  and  throw  them  on  the  ground  in 
such  quantities,  that  what  they  eat  or  carry  off  is  generally  trifling 
compared  with  the  whole  quantity  which  they  destroy. 

The  females  seldom  produce  more  than  one  young  one  at  a  birth. 
This,  almost  as  soon  as  it  comes  into  the  world,  clings  to  the  back  of 
its  dam,  and  so  closely  embraces  her  neck  with  its  arms,  as  not  to  be 
shaken  off  by  any  of  her  usual  exertions.  The  Pigmy  Apes  have 
not  hitherto  been  known  to  breed  in  a  domestic  state,  even  when 
kept  in  large  enclosed  court-yards,  and  in  their  native  country. 

The  natural  disposition  of  these  creatures  is  in  general  so  mild,  that, 
in  most  cases,  they  may  be  tamed  without  difficulty.  In  their  general 
manners  they  are  gay  and  frolicsome,  and  they  always  chatter  when 
pleased ;  but  when  irritated,  they  use  threatening  gestures  and  will 
generally  bite,  with  great  fury,  such  persons  as  injure  or  insult  them. 
To  those,  on  the  contrary,  from  whom  they  are  accustomed  to  receive 
attentions,  they  become  greatly  attached :  they  will  exhibit  toward 
them  strong  proofs  of  fidelity,  and  will  even  follow  them  about  from 
place  to  place  without  attempting  to  escape.  When  these  Apes  are 
alarmed,  their  fear  is  always  plainly  depicted  in  the  countenance; 
for  this  changes  color  somewhat  like  that  of  a  man.  They  are  in 
general  a  dirty,  filthy  species,  and  leave  an  unpleasant  smell  wherever 
they  go.  With  the  most  mischievous  propensity,  they  break  and  de- 
stroy nearly  everything  that  lies  in  their  way;  and  they  are  only  to 
be  restrained  from  this  by  severe  chastisement.  They  use  both  their 
hands  and  feet  with  singular  address  in  laying  hold  of  objects.  M. 
Desfontaines  informs  us  that  he  has  often  seen  these  animals  throw  off 
with  the  greatest  ease,  chains  by  which  they  appeared  to  be  strongly 
secured. 

In  the  supplementary  volumes  of  M.  de  Buffon,  we  are  informed 
that  this  writer  kept  a  male  Pigmy  Ape  for  more  than  a  year.  He 
says  that  its  usual  mode  of  walking  was  on  four  feet ;  and  that  it 
could  seldom  be  induced  to  walk  upright  for  more  than  a  few  minutes 
at  a  time.  It  was  an  active  animal,  and  generally  in  motion.  Its 
greatest  delight  seemed  to  be  in  leaping,  climbing,  and  catching  at 
every  thing  within  its  reach.  Whenever  it  was  left  alone  it  exhibited 
symptoms  of  discontent.,  by  exerting  a  kind  of  mournful  cry.  In  its 


46  BABOONS — THE    MOTTLED. 

disposition  it  was  so  mild,  that  it  was  rarely  known  to  bite  with  se- 
verity any  one  who  teased  or  offended  it. 

The  Pigmy  Apes  generally  sleep  in  caverns  in  the  woods ;  and  we 
are  told  that  the  natives  of  the  country  which  they  inhabit  sometimes 
adopt  a  singular  mode  of  taking  them,  for  the  purpose  of  fattening 
them  as  food.  They  place,  near  their  haunts,  vessels  containing 
strong  liquors;  and  the  animals,  assembling  to  enjoy  so  unexpected  a 
repast,  become  intoxicated,  fall  asleep  together,  and  in  this  predica- 
ment are  easily  secured. 


II.  BABOONS. 

THE  COMMON  OB  MOTTLED  BABOON. 

DESCRIPTION.  This  animal,  which  is  found  in  the  hottest  parts  of  Africa,  is  frequently  three 
or  four  feet  in  height,  and,  in  its  upper  parts,  excessively  strong  and  muscular.  Toward  the 
middle  of  the  body  it  is,  like  all  the  Baboons,  very  slender.  Its  general  color  is  a  grayish 
brown ;  and  the  face,  which  is  long,  is  of  a  tawny  flesh  color.  It  has  pouches  in  its  cheeks. 
The  tail  is  very  short,  and  the  posteriors  are  bare,  and  callous.  Shaw. 

SYNONYMS.  Siinia  Sphinx.  Linnceus. — Mottled  Baboon.  Pennant. — Le  Papion.  Bujfon. 
Audeltert. — Common  Baboon.  Shaic. — Baboon.  Bctoick. — Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  PI.  16. — Bew. 
Quad.  p.  254. 

THE  disposition  of  these  Baboons  is  exceed- 
ingly ferocious,  and  their  appearance  is  at  once 
both  grotesque  and  formidable.  When  confined 
in  a  cage  they  will  sometimes  lay  hold  of  the 
bars,  and  shake  them  so  powerfully  as  to  make 
all  the  spectators  tremble ;  and,  in  their  native 
forests,  they  are  oftentimes  dangerous  enemies. 

In  Siam  they  frequently  sally  forth  in  aston- 
ishing multitudes,  to  attack  the  villages,  during 
the  time  the  laborers  are  occupied  in  the  rice 
COMMON  BABOON.  harvest ;  and   they  plunder  the   habitations   of 

whatever  provisions  they  can  lay  their  paws  on.  Fruit,  corn,  and 
roots  form  their  principal  food ;  and,  in  obtaining  these,  they  often 
commit  the  most  violent  outrages. 

They  are  so  strong  that,  in  a  wild  state,  one  of  these  Baboons  can 
easily  overpower  two  or  three  men,  if  they  be  unprovided  with 
weapons  of  defence. 

The  females  seldom  have  more  than  one  young  one  each:  this  they 
carry  between  their  arms ;  and  they  have  not  been  known  to  produce 
in  any  other  than  hot  climates. 

In  confinement,  these  animals  are  always  savage  and  ill-natured ; 
they  frequently  grind  their  teeth,  fret  and  chafe  with  the  utmost  fury. 
One  that  was  exhibited  at  Edinburgh  in  1779,  uniformly  presented  to 
the  spectators  the  most  threatening  aspect,  and  attempted  to  seize 
every  person  who  came  within  the  reach  of  his  chain :  on  such  occa- 
sions he  usually  made  a  deep  grunting  noise.  So  fond  are  these 
Baboons  of  eggs,  that  one  of  them  has  been  known  to  put  eight  into 
his  cheek-pouches  at  once ;  and  then,  taking  them  out  one  by  one, 


THE   RHB-NOSED   BABOON. 


47 


has  been  observed  to  break  them  at  the  end  and  deliberately  swallow 
their  contents.  They  may  be  induced  to  eat  meat,  but  not  unless  it 
be  cooked  ;  they  are  particularly  partial  to  wine  and  spirits.  One  of 
these  animals,  which  Mr.  Pennant  saw  at  Chester,  was  of  tremendous 
strength,  and  excessively  fierce.  Its  voice  was  a  kind  of  roar,  not 
unlike  that  of  a  Lion,  except  that  it  was  low  and  somewhat  inward. 
It  walked  on  all  fours,  and  never  stood  on  its  hind  legs  unless  it  was 
compelled  to  do  so  by  the  keeper ;  but  would  frequently  sit  on  its 
rump,  in  a  crouching  manner,  and  drop  its  arms  across  before  its 
body.  Mr.  Pennant  says  that  this  animal  was  particularly  fond  of 
cheese  ;  and  that,  whenever  ears  of  wheat  were  given  it,  it  dexterously 
picked  out  the  grains,  one  by  one,  with  its  teeth,  and  ate  them. 

The  capricious  disposition  of  this  Baboon  often  leads  it  to  the  most 
deliberate  acts  of  mischief.  Dr.  Goldsmith  says  he  has  seen  one  of 
these  animals  break  a  whole  service  of  china,  evidently  by  design, 
yet  without  appearing  to  be  in  the  least  conscious  of  having  done 
amiss. 


THE   HANDBILL,  OR  RIB-NOSED  BABOON. 

DESCRIPTION.  In  height  this  animal,  when  standing  upright,  measures  from  three  feet  and  a 
half  to  four  and  a  half  or  five  feet.  The  face  is  naked  j  and  the  cheeks  are  of  a  violet-blue 
color,  and  have  several  oblique  furrows.  The  nose  is  deep  red.  The  skin  round  the  eyes  is  vio- 
let j  and  the  irides  are  hazel.  The  hair  round  the  neck  is  very  long.  The  hair  of  the  sides  of 
the  head  joins  that  at  the  top,  and  the  whole  terminates  in  a  somewhat  pointed  form.  The  beard 
is  yellowish.  Each  hair  of  the  body  is  annulated  with  black  and  yellow,  which  gives  to  the 
whole  fur  a  greenish  brown  appearance.  This  animal  has  pouches  in  its  cheeks. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  Mormon.  Simia  Maimon.  Linncens. — Le  Mandril.  Le  Choras.  Buffon. 
-Le  Mandrill.  Geoffrey.  Audebert.  Latreille. — Mantegar.  Phil.  Tran. — Great  Baboon. 
Rib-nosed  Baboon.  Pennant. — Variegated  Baboon.  Maimon.  Shaw.  Bew.  Quad.  p.  456. 


It  is  difficult  to  figure  to 
the  mind  an  animal  more  dis- 
gusting in  its  manners,  or 
more  hideous  in  its  appear- 
ance, than  the  Mandrill.  Un- 
der its  projecting  forehead 
are  two  small  and  vivid  eyes, 
situated  so  near  to  each  other 
that  their  position  alone  gives 
to  the  physiognomy  an  air  of 
ferocity.  An  enormous  muz- 
zle, indicative  of  the  most 
brutal  passions,  terminates  in 
a  broad  and  rounded  extrem- 
ity of  a  fiery  red  color,  from 
which  continually  oozes  a 
mucus  humor.  The  cheeks, 
greatly  swollen,  and  deeply 

furrowed,  are  naked,  and  of  a  MANJ>RIU,. 

violet-blue  color.     A  narrow,  blood-colored  ridge  extends  down  the 


48  THE    DOG-FACED   BABOON. 

middle  of  the  face,  and  terminates  in  the  nose.  The  canine-teeth  are 
sharp  and  extremely  large.  The  tail  is  short ;  and  the  posteriors  are 
naked  and  red,  with  shades  of  blackish  and  blue. 

Never  did  the  disposition  of  an  animal  answer  more  correctly  to 
its  physiognomy,  than  that  of  the  Mandrill.  None  of  the  various 
means  which  have  been  adopted  to  subdue  the  ferocity  of  other  beasts, 
have  succeeded  with  this.  Endowed,  likewise,  with  muscular  power 
and  strength  incomparably  beyond  those  of  man,  the  keepers  of  wild 
animals  are  always  in  dread  of  it.  Its  whole  appearance,  its  gestures 
and  its  cries,  are  horrid ;  in  short,  it  affords  to  us  a  striking  emblem 
of  vice  in  its  greatest  deformity. 

But  the  Mandrill  has  not,  in  every 
part  of  its  age,  this  excess  of  bru- 
tality. Until  it  has  attained  that 
period  of  its  growth  when  the  ca- 
nine-teeth are  first  developed,  which 
usually  takes  place  about  the  age 
of  two  years,  its  face  is  black,  and 
it  is  as  gentle  as  most  other  young 
animals.  After  this  time,  however, 
but  more  particularly  after  its  sub- 
sequent change  of  them,  the  hair  becomes  long  and  wiry,  the  cheeks 
assume  their  livid  color,  the  body  gradually  takes  its  muscular 
form,  and  the  ferocious  passions  are  also  developed. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  voice  of  the  Mandrill  somewhat  resemble/3 
the  roaring  of  a  Lion.  Its  cry  is  oow,  aou,  pronounced  from  the 
throat.  These  animals  will  live  on  fruit,  carrots,  and  bread;  and 
they  eat  to  the  amount  of  two  or  three  pounds  weight  per  day.  They 
will  likewise  eat  meat  that  has  been  cooked,  but  they  always  refuse 
such  as  is  raw.  "When  nuts  are  given  to  them,  they  crush  them  be- 
tween their  teeth,  and  they  swallow  indiscriminately  both  the  shells 
and  kernels.  They  are  fond  of  fermented  liquors,  and  particulail/ 
of  wine  and  spirits. 

Mandrills  are  found,  in  a  wild  state,  on  the  Gold  Coast,  and  in  sev- 
eral other  parts  of  Africa.  Some  of  them  are  said  also  to  be  natives 
of  the  East  Indies,  and  of  the  Islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago. 


THE   DOG-FACED   BABOOX. 

DESCRIPTION.  The  Dog-faced  Baboon  is  betwixt  four  and  five  feet  high.  Their  head  avid 
face  greatly  resemble  those  of  a  dog.  The  hair  is  of  a  dusky  color,  and  peculiarly  long  and 
shaggy  as  far  as  the  waist,  but  short  on  the  hinder  parts.  The  face  is  naked;  and  the  ears  wre 
pointed  and  concealed  in  the  fur. 

The  Dog-faced  Baboons  are  natives  of  various  parts  of  Africa  and  Asia. 

SYNPNYMS.  Simia  haraadryas.  Linnaeus. — Le  Tartarin.  Brisson. — Le  Babouin  a  mus-?au 
de  Chien.  Buffon.— Dog-faced  Baboon.  Pennant.  Shaw.— Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  PL  IS.— 
Bewick's  Quad.  p.  460. 

These  animals  usually  associate  in  vast  companies.  When  travel- 
lers pass  their  haunts,  they  run  into  the  nearest  trees,  and  shake  the 
boughs  with  great  vehemence,  at  the  same  time  chattering  very 


THE    J30G-FACED   BABOON. 


49 


loudly.  They  are  so 
powerful,  as,  without 
difficulty,  to  overcome 
a  man ;  and  they  fre- 
quently commit  such 
depredations  in  culti- 
vated grounds,  that  the 
proprietors  are  com- 
pelled to  have  armed 
men  continually  on  the 
watch  to  prevent  them 
from  plundering. 

Among  the  moun- 
tains near  the  Cape  of 
Good  lEope  there  are 
immense  troops  of 
these  Baboons,  or  of 
a  kind  called  Ursine 
Baboons,  which  are 
very  nearly  allied  to 
haunts,  these  animals 


DOG-FACED  BABOON. 


them.  When  any  person  approaches  their 
set  up  a  universal  and  horrible  cry  for  a 
minute  or  two,  and  then  conceal  themselves  in  their  fastnesses,  and 
keep  a  profound  silence.  They  seldon  descend  to  the  plains,  except 
for  the  purpose  of  plundering  the  gardens  that  lie  near  the  foot  of  the 
mountains.  While  they  are  engaged  in  this  operation,  they  are  care- 
ful to  place  sentinels  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  a  surprise.  They 
break  the  fruit  in  pieces,  and  cram  it  into  their  cheek-pouches,  in 
order,  afterwards,  to  eat  it  at  leisure.  The  sentinel,  if  he  sees  a  man, 
gives  a  loud  yell ;  and  the  whole  troop  retreats  with  the  utmost  ex- 
pedition, and  in  a  most  diverting  manner,  the  young  ones  jumping  on 
and  clinging  to  the  backs  of  their  parents. 

W  hen  these  animals  discover  any  sin- 
gle person  resting  and  regaling  himself 
in  the  fields,  they,  if  possible,  approach 
behind,  and  snatch  away  whatever  they 
can  lay  hold  of;  then,  running  to  a  little 
distance,  they  will  turn  round,  seat  them- 
selves on  their  posteriors,  and,  with  the 
most  arch  grimaces  imaginable,  will 
devour  it  before  the  man's  face.  They 
frequently  hold  it  out  in  their  paws,  as 
if  to  offer  it  back  again,  and  use  such 
ridiculous  gestures,  that,  although  the  poor  fellow  loses  his  dinner, 
he  seldom  can  refrain  from  laughing. 

These  Ursine  Baboons  are  indeed  so  numerous  among  the  moun- 
tains, as,  at  times,  to  render  it  exceedingly  dangerous  for  travellers 
to  pass  them.  They  sit  undismayed  on  the  tops  of  the  rocks,  and 
sometimes  roll  or  throw  from  thence  stones  of  immense  size.  A  gun, 
in  these  cases,  is  generally  of  indispensable  use,  in  driving  them  to 
such  a  distance  that  the  stones  they  throw  may  do  no  material  injury, 


GROUP  OF  BABOONS. 


50  THE    DOG-FACED   BABOON. 

In  their  flight,  even  with  their  cubs  upon  their  backs,  they  often  make 
most  astonishing  leaps  up  perpendicular  rocks.  And  their  agility  is  so 
great  as  to  render  them  very  difficult  to  be  killed,  even  with  firearms. 

Lade  has  very  accurately  described  their  manners.  "  We  traversed 
a  great  mountain  near  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  amused  ourselves 
with  hunting  large  Apes,  which  are  very  numerous  in  that  place.  I 
can  neither  describe  all  the  arts  practiced  by  these  animals,  nor  the 
nimbleness  and  impudence  with  which  they  returned,  after  being  pur- 
sued by  us.  Sometimes  they  allowed  us  to  approach  so  near,  that  I 
was  almost  certain  of  seizing  them.  But  when  I  made  the  attempt, 
they  sprang,  at  a  single  leap,  ten  paces  from  me,  and  mounted  the 
trees  with  surprising  agility.  They  thence  looked  at  us  with  great 
indifference,  and  seemed  to  derive  pleasure  from  our  astonishment. 
Some  of  them  were  so  large,  that,  if  our  interpreter  had  not  assured 
us  they  were  neither  ferocious  nor  dangerous,  our  number  would  not 
have  appeared  sufficient  to  protect  us  from  their  attacks.  As  it  could 
serve  no  purpose  to  kill  them,  we  did  not  use  our  guns.  But  the 
captain  levelled  his  at  a  very  large  one  that  was  seated  on  the  top  of 
a  tree.  This  kind  of  menace,  of  which  the  animal,  perhaps,  recollected 
his  having  sometimes  seen  the  consequences,  terrified  him  to  such  a 
degree,  that  he  fell  down  motionless  at  our  feet,  and  we  had  no  diffi- 
culty in  seizing  him.  But,  when  he  recovered  from  his  stupor,  it  re- 
quired all  our  dexterity  and  efforts  to  keep  him.  We  tied  his  paws 
together,  but  he  bit  so  furiously,  that  we  were  under  the  necessity  of 
binding  our  handkerchiefs  over  his  head." 

In  confinement  these  Baboons  maybe  rendered  docile;  yet  they 
always  retain  the  disposition  to  revenge  an  injury.  At  the  Cape  they 
are  often  caught  when  young,  and  brought  up  with  milk  ;  and  Kolben 
tells  us,  that  they  will  become  as  watchful  over  their  master's  property 
as  the  most  valuable  house-dog  is  in  Europe.  Many  of  the  Hottentots 
believe  they  can  speak,  but  that  they  avoid  doing  so  least  they  should 
be  enslaved,  and  compelled  to  work.  Though  not  naturally  carnivo- 
rous, they  will  eat  either  meat  or  fish  that  is  cooked.  They  are  gen- 
erally kept  chained  to  a  pole ;  and  their  agility  in  climbing,  leaping, 
and  dodging  any  one  that  offers  to  strike  them,  is  almost  incredible. 
Though  one  of  these  animals  was  thus  tied  up,  it  was  impossible,  at 
the  distance  of  a  few  yards,  to  hit  him  with  a  stone.  He  would  either 
catch  it,  like  a  ball,  in  his  paw,  or  he  would  avoid  its  blow  with  the 
most  astonishing  agility. 

These  Baboons  are  sometimes  hunted  with  dogs ;  but  it  is  found 
necessary  to  have  a  considerable  number  in  the  chase.  A  single  dog 
is  by  no  means  sufficient;  for  if  the  Baboon  can  but  once  lay  hold  of 
a  dog  by  the  hind  legs,  he  will  swing  him  round  till  he  is  giddy. 
With  their  immense  teeth  they  also  bite  violently,  and,  by  means  of 
them,  they  are  able  to  defend  themselves  with  the  utmost  obstinacy. 

This  seems  to  have  been  the  kind  of  Ape  that  M.  le  Vaillant  had 
long  with  him  in  his  travels  through  the  southern  parts  of  Africa,  and 
to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Kees.  It  was  of  infinite  use  to  his 
people ;  was  more  watchful  than  any  of  his  dogs ;  and  frequently 
'  warned  him  of  the  approach  of  predacious  animals,  when  the  dogs 
seemed  unconscious  that  such  were  near. 


MONKEYS THE  EGRET. 


51 


CREY  BABOO*. 


Both  the  Dog-faced  and  Ursine  Baboons 
have  been  frequently  brought  into  England. 
In  the  month  of  February,  1820,  there  were 
two  young  ones  in  the  menagerie  at  Exeter 
Change. 

The  Grey  Baboon  is  found  in  the  East 
of  Africa,  where  they  do  much  damage  to 
the  coffee  plantations.  They  are  large  and 
rather  formidable  animals. 


III.   MONKEYS. 


EGRET  MONKEY. 


THE   EGRET   MONKEY. 

DESCRIPTION.  This  species  of  Monkey  is  about  two  feet  in  height.  It  has  somewhat  the  color 
of  a  wolf;  and  the  feet  are  black.  The  head  is  large  and  ugly.  The  nose  is  depressed,  the 
cheeks  are  wrinkled,  the  eyebrows  prominent  and  bristly,  and  the  lip  is  cleft  with  a  double 
fissure.  On  the  top  of  the  head  there  is  a  pointed  tuft  of  hair. 

SYNONYMS.  Simla  Aygula.  Linn, — L' Aigrette.  Bvffon.  Audebert. — Egret  Monkey.  Pen- 
nant. Shaw. 

IN  the  forests  of  Southern  Africa, 
India,  and  Java,  these  Monkeys  are 
frequently  seen  by  travellers  to  gambol 
on  the  trees  with  great  liveliness  and 
activity;  and  among  the  branches  of 
these  they  keep  up  an  incessant  noise 
during  the  night.  They  often  assem- 
ble in  troops,  for  the  purpose  of  plun- 
dering the  plantations.  When  they 
have  entered  a  field  of  millet,  they  load  themselves  with  this  gram,  by 
taking  in  their  mouths  and  in  each  paw  as  much  as  they  can  carry, 
and  putting  a  quantity  of  it  under  their  arms.  Thus  laden  they  return 
to  their  retreats,  leaping  all  the  way  on  their  hind  feet.  If  pursued; 
they  do  not,  in  their  alarm,  let  the  whole  fall,  in  order  to  run  off: 
they  drop  the  stalks  which  they  hold  in  their  hands,  and  under  their 
arms,  that  they  may  run  on  their  four  feet,  which  they  do  with  more 
speed  than  on  two ;  but  they  still  retain  what  they  carried  in  their 
mouth.  In  collecting  the  maize,  they  examine,  with  the  most  scrupu- 
lous accuracy,  every  stalk  they  pull ;  and  those  which  they  find  not 
perfectly  suited  to  their  purpose  they  throw  away.  By  this  delicacy 
of  choice  they  often  do  infinitely  more  damage  than  even  by  what 
they  carry  off  to  their  habitations/5" 

Few  animals  are  more  dirty,  ugly,  or  loathsome  than  the  Egret 
Monkeys.  When  awake  they  frequently  grind  their  teeth,  and  knit 
their  brows ;  and  during  these  and  their  various  other  grimaces,  they 
can  scarcely  be  viewed  without  disgust  and  horror.  Yet  if  taken 
young,  and  reared  with  attention,  they  will  become  exceedingly  mild 

*  This  account  has  been  applied  by  some  naturalists  only  to  the  present  species ;  but  Bosman. 
who  is  their  principal  authority,  makes  it  common  to  most  of  the  Monkeys  that  are  found  on  the 
coast  of  Guinea. 


5Z  THE   CHINESE   MONKEY. 

and  tractable.  M.  Audebert  informs  us  that  he  has  seen  a  female  of 
this  species,  which  exhibited  symptoms  of  the  sincerest  affection 
towards  a  small  Magot  (perhaps  Pigmy  Ape)  that  was  confined  in  the 
same  cage.  The  Egret  was  attentive  to  its  wants,  caressed,  and  fre- 
quently held  it  to  her  bosom  in  her  folded  arms. 


THE   CHINESE  MOXKEY. 

DESCRIPTION.  The  Chinese  Monkey  has  its  name  from  the  singular  disposition  of  the  hair 
on  the  top  of  its  head  this  is  parted  in  the  middle ;  lies  smooth  over  each  side,  and  spreads  in  a 
circular  manner,  so  as  somewhat  to  resemble  a  Chinese  cap.  It  is  about  the  size  of  a  cat,  has  a 
long  tail,  and  is  of  a  pale  yellowish  brown  color. 

STNOMYMS.  Simia  Sinica.  Linncens. — Le  Bonnet  Chinois.  Buffon.  Audebert. — Chinese 
Monkey.  Pennant.  Shaw. — Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  PL  20,  from  Bit/on 

If  we  may  believe  the 
accounts  which  various 
travellers  have  given  of 
the  parts  of  the  East 
Indies,  and  the  Indian 
Islands,  which  are  inhabit- 
ed by  these  Monkeys,  the 
proprietors  of  corn-fields 
and  of  sugar-plantations 
are  frequently  injured  to  a 
great  extent  by  their  pred- 
atory incursions.  In  their 
depredations  in  the  sugar- 
grounds,  etc.,  they  always 
place  a  sentinel,  on  some 
adjacent  tree,  to  watch 
whilst  the  rest  load  themselves  with  plunder.  If  any  person  approach 
he  screams  loudly  to  his  companions,  each  of  which,  seizing  as  many 
canes  as  he  can  grasp,  in  his  right  arm,  instantly  runs  oft'  on  three 
legs.  If  closely  pursued,  they  throw  away  their  prize,  and  endeavor 
to  save  themselves  by  scrambling  up  the  trees. 

When  corn,  fruit,  and  succulent  plants  fail,  they  eat  insects ;  and 
they  sometimes  descend  to  the  margins  of  rivers,  and  to  the  sea-coast, 
in  order  to  catch  fish  and  crabs.  They  are  said  to  put  their  tail  be- 
•twixt  the  pincers  of  crabs,  and,  when  these  are  closed,  to  carry  them 
off,  and  eat  them  at  leisure.  They  also  gather  cocoa-nuts,  and  are 
well-acquainted  with  the  method  of  extracting  the  juice  for  drink,  and 
the  kernel  for  food.  Indeed,  the  natives  of  India  often  catch  these 
Monkeys  by  means  of  a  cocoa-nut  with  a  hole  in  it.  This  is  laid  near 
their  haunts,  and  some  one  of  them  takes  it  up,  and  with  difficulty 
thrusts  his  paw  into  the  hole  in  order  to  get  at  the  kernel;  the  people 
who  are  on  watch  then  immediately  run  up,  and  seize  the  animal  be- 
fore he  can  disengage  himself. 

These  Monkeys,  like  most  others  of  their  tribe,  are  wonderfully 
active.  They  leap,  with  great  agility,  from  tree  to  tree;  and  even 
the  females,  although  loaded  with  their  young  ones,  are  able  to  leap 


BADOOX  AND  CHINESE  MONKET. 


STRIATED  MONKJEY. 


THE   STRIATED   MONKEY,  ,53 

nearly  as  well  as  the  rest.  We  are  informed  by  Pryard,  that,  in 
Calicut,  they  were  formerly  so  numerous,  and  so  impudent,  that  the 
inhabitants  were  under  the  necessity  of  having  trellises  to  their 
windows,  in  order  to  prevent  them  from  entering  into  and  plunder- 
ring  their  houses. 

THE   STRIATED   MONKEY. 

DESCRIPTION.  This  animal  is  no  larger  than  a  squirrel.  Its  tail  is  long,  thickly  covered  with 
fur,  and  beautifully  marked,  through  its  whole  length,  with  alternate  rings  of  black  and  white. 
The  body  is  of  a  reddish  ash-color,  slightly  undulated  with  dusky  shades.  The  face  is  flesh- 
colored,  and  has  on  each  side  a  large  and  thick  tuft  of  milk-white  hair,  standing  out  before  the 
ears.  The  paws,  which  are  covered  with  hair,  have  sharp  nails.  Shaio. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  iacchus.  Linn<ett8. — I/Oustiti.  Buffon.  Audebert. — Striated  Monkey. 
Pennant. — Sanglin.  Kerr. — Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  PL  25. — Bew.  Quad.  p.  475. 

In  a  native  state  these  beautiful  little 
creatures,  like  most  others  of  their  tribe, 
live  in  society,  on  trees.  They  inhabit  the 
woods  and  forests  of  South  America,  where 
they  subsist  chiefly  on  fruit  and  vegeta- 
bles: those,  however,  which  have  been 

kept  in  a  state  of  captivity,   have  been  ,M1 ^ 

known  to  feed  on  fish,  insects,  and  worms. 
One  that  was  brought  to  England  in  an 
East  India  ship  would  eat  nuts,  but  could 
not  be  prevailed  with  to  touch  ripe  fruit.  This  creature  was  peculiarly 
fond  of  the  smaller  kinds  of  spiders  and  their  eggs ;  but  he  uniformly  re- 
fused the  larger  ones,  as  well  as  the  large  blue-bottle  flies,  though  he 
frequently  ate  those  of  the  common  species. 

Mrs.  Kennon,  formerly  midwife  to  the  Boyal  Family,  had  a  Striated 
Monkey.  It  ate  of  many  different  kinds  of  food,  such  as  biscuits,  fruit, 
vegetables,  insects,  and  snails;  and  once,  when  let  loose,  it  snatched 
from  a  basin  of  water,  a  Chinese  Gold-fish,  which  it  killed  and  greedily 
devoured.  After  this,  by  way  of  trial,  some  live  eels  were  given  to 
it :  these  at  first  frightened  it,  by  twisting  round  its  neck ;  but  it 
soon  called  forth  resolution  enough  to  master  and  eat  them. 

Striated  Monkeys  may  be  rendered  exceedingly  tame  and  gentle  ; 
and  they  are  so  hardy  as  sometimes  to  produce  young  ones  in  the 
more  southern  parts  of  Europe.  M.  Audebert  informs  us  that  this 
has  been  the  case,  even  so  far  north  as  in  Paris.  A  pair  of  these 
monkeys,  which  belonged  to  a  Mr.  Cook,  a  London  merchant,  who 
resided  in  Lisbon,  had  young  ones  at  that  place.  At  their  birth  they 
had  little  fur  upon  them,  and  were  excessively  ugly.  They  frequently 
clung  fast  to  the  breast  or  back  of  their  mother ;  and  when  she  was 
tired  of  her  burden,  she  would  rub  them  off  against  the  wall,  or  what- 
ever else  was  near,  as  the  only  mode  of  ridding  herself  of  them. 
Whenever  this  was  the  case,  the  male  immediately  took  them  to  him, 
and  suffered  them  to  hang  for  a  while  round  him. 

The  voice  of  the  Striated  Monkey  is  a  kind  of  shrill  hissing  whistle. 
Most  of  the  individuals  have  a  somewhat  musky  smell.  Linnaeus 
remarks  that  they  are  great  enemies  to  cats. 


54 


THE   HOWLING   MONKEY. 


THE   HOWLING   MONKEY. 


HOWLING   MONKEY. 


DESCRIPTION.  These  animals  are  not  of  large  size.  Their  usual  length  is  about  one  foot  nine 
inches,  from  the  extremity  of  the  muzzle  to  the  base  of  the  tail.  M.  Le  Vaillant,  however,  had 
the  head  of  one  which  must  have  been  at  least  twice  this  size.  The  tail  is  prehensile,  about 
the  same  length  as  the  body,  and  naked  at  the  under  part  of  the  extremity.  The  general  color 
of  the  fur  is  a  bright  chestnut,  or  ferruginous  red.  The  face  is  naked  and  black. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  seniculus.  Lin». — L'Alouette.  Jhiffon.  Audelert. — Eoyal  Monkey. 
Pennant.  Shaw. — Guariba.  Marcgrave, — Ilurleur,  in  Cayenne. — Arabata,  in  Oronoko. 

The  howling  of  these 
Monkeys  in  the  woods, 
during  the  night,  is  truly 
horrid.  It  has  been  com- 
pared by  some  travellers 
to  the  screaming  of  im- 
mense herds  of  swine, 
and  by  others  to  the  roll- 
ing of  drums.  It  usually 
commences  at  the  close 
of  dark,  and  again  about 
two  hours  before  day- 
light in  the  morning.  A 
person  hearing  it  for  the 
first  time,  would  fancy 
from  some  nearly 
which  it  proceeds, 

may  be  distant  from  him  a  mile  or  more.  Some  travellers  have 
asserted  that  the  Howling  Monkeys  are  very  methodical  in  this 
kind  of  vocal  concert.  We  have  been  informed  that  one  of  them 
mounts  a  high  branch,  and  that  the  rest  seat  themselves  beneath.  He 
begins  his  howl,  and  continues  it  for  a  considerable  while  by  himself : 
then,  upon  a  signal  given,  the  whole  assembly  join  in  chorus.  When 
at  last  they  cease,  it  is  stated  to  be  on  another  signal,  which  is  given 
for  that  purpose  by  the  leader.  This  extraordinary  noise  is  made  by 
means  of  a  peculiar  long  bony  process  in  the  throat,  the  concavity  of 
which  augments  the  sound  in  a  very  surprising  manner. 

These  Monkeys  usually  assemble  in  troops  of  from  fifteen  to  thirty. 
They  are  not  considered  to  be  in  any  respect  dangerous,  and  always 
run  away  with  great  fear  from  the  hunters,  leaping  from  tree  to  tree 
with  wonderful  agility.  But  if  only  a  single  person  approach  their 
haunts,  they  have  courage  enough  to  tease  and  threaten  him.  Dampier, 
speaking  of  those  in  the  Bay  of  Campeachy,  says  that  they  danced 
from  tree  to  tree  over  his  head,  chattering  and  making  a  terrible 
noise,  and  many  grimaces  and  antic  gestures.  Some  of  them  broke 
down  dry  sticks  and  flung  at  him.  One  that  was  bigger  than  the  rest 
came  to  a  small  limb  just  over  his  head,  and  leaping  directly  at  him, 
made  him  start  back ;  but  the  Monkey  caught  hold  of  the  bough  by 
the  tip  of  his  tail,  and  there  remained  swinging  backward  and  forward, 
making  mouths  at  him.  At  last  he  passed  on;  they  still  keeping  him 


himself  about  to  be  attacked  by  ferocious  beasts 
adjacent  forest,  when  in  fact  the  animals  from 


THE   HOWLING   MONKEY.  55 

company,  with  the  like  menacing  gestures,  till  he  came  to  the  huts 
where  his  people  were  collected. 

He  informs  us  that  they  are  sullen  when  seized,  and  extremely 
difficult  to  be  taken  when  shot ;  for  that  they  will  cling  with  their 
tail  and  feet  to  a  bough,  as  long  as  any  life  remains.  "  When  I  have 
shot  at  one,  and  broken  its  leg  or  arm,  (he  says,)  I  have  pitied  the 
poor  creature,  to  see  it  look  at  and  handle  the  broken  limb,  and  then 
turn  it  from  side  to  side,  in  a  manner  so  mournful  as  scarcely  to  be 
described." 

When  M.  Oexmelin  was  in  South  America,  he  attended  the  hunting 
of  these  animals,  and  was  surprised  at  their  sagacity,  not  only  in  dis- 
tinguishing particularly  those  who  were  active  against  them,  but, 
when  attacked,,  in  defending  themselves  and  providing  for  their  own 
safety.  He  remarked  that  they  never  abandoned  each  other ;  that 
they  leaped  from  tree  to  tree  with  incredible  agility ;  and  that  they 
flung  themselves  headlong  from  branch  to  branch,  without  ever 
filling  to  the  ground,  always  catching  hold  with  their  hands  or  tail.  He 
says,  that  if  they  are  not  shot  dead  at  once  they  cannot  be  taken  ; 
for  even  when  mortally  wounded  they  will  remain  fixed  to  the  trees, 
where  they  often  die,  and. from  which  they  do  not  fall  till  they  are 
corrupted.  More  that  four  days  after  death  he  has  seen  them  firmly 
fixed  to  the  trees  ;  and  fifteen  or  sixteen  were  sometimes  shot  before 
three  or  four  could  be  obtained. 

These  Monkeys  often  descend  to  the  sea-shore  in  order  to  feed  on 
shell-fish.  Dampier  informs  us  that  he  has  seen  several  of  them  take 
up  oysters  from  the  beach,  lay  them  on  one  stone,  and  beat  them  with 
another  till  they  demolished  the  shells  ;  after  which  they  devoured  the 
contents. 

The  females  produce  two  young  ones  at  a  birth ;  and  these,  on  all 
occasions,  cling  so  tenaciously  to  the  back  of  their  mother,  that  there 
is  no  other  method  of  obtaining  one  of  them  than  by  shooting  the 
parent.  When  brought  up  in  captivity  they  lose  their  voice,  have 
always  a  sad  and  mournful  air,  and  soon  pine  away  and  die.  In  con- 
finement they  are  indolent  and  slow  in  all  their  motions;  and  their 
chief  delight  seems  to  consist  in  coiling  the  extremity  of  their  tail 
round  some  object  placed  for  the  purpose,  and  thus  suspending  them- 
selves, with  their  heads  downward. 

Many  of  the  voyagers  describe  the  flesh  of  these  Monkeys  as  excel- 
lent eating,  and  as  having  a  great  resemblance  in  taste  to  mutton. 
Dampier  says,  that  he  never  ate  any  thing  more  delicious.  The  heads 
are  frequently  served  up  in  soup;  but  there  seems  something  ^extremeiy 
disgusting  in  the  idea  of  eating  what  appears,  when  skinned  and 
dressed,  so  like  a  child.  The  skull,  the  paws,  and  indeed  every  part 
of  them  reminds  us,  much  too  strongly,  of  the  idea  of  devouring  a 
fellow-creature. 


56  THE    FOUR-FINGERED   MONKEY. 


THE   FOUR-FIXGERED  MONKEY. 

DESCRIPTION.  The  length  of  this  Monkey  is  about  eighteen  inches,  exclusive  of  the  tail, 
which  measures  nearly  two  feet.  Its  legs  and  arms  are  so  long  that  the  animal  has  hence  ob- 
tained the  name  of  Spider  Monkey.  The  face  is  naked  and  of  a  copper  color ;  and  the  body, 
which  is  of  a  peculiarly  slender  form,  is  covered  on  all  parts  with  long  black  hair.  The  under 
side  of  the  extremity  of  the  tail  is  naked.  These  animals  have  no  thumbs  on  their  fore-feet. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  paniscus.  Linn. — Le  Coiata.  Buff  on.  Aubebcrt — Spider  Monkey.  Ed- 
wards.— Quato,  in  Surinam. — Chamek,  in  Peru. 

These  are  bold  and  active  animals,  full 
of  gambols  and  grimaces  ;  but  in  their  dis- 
position mild  and  docile.  From  their  num- 
bers and  activity  they  enliven  many  of  the 
dreary  forests  of  South  America.  When 
engaged  on  expeditions  of  plunder,  they, 
like  others  of  their  tribe,  have  the  sagacity 
to  place  sentinels  on  the  adjacent  trees,  in 
order  to  give  warning  of  the  approach  of 
danger.  It  has  been  said  by  Ulloa,  that, 
in  their  native  forests,  when  they  want  to 
pass  from  top  to  top  of  lofty  trees,  too  dis- 
tant for  a  leap,  they  will  form  a  kind  of 
chain,  by  hanging  down  linked  to  each  other  TnE  FOUR-FIKOEBH>  MONKEY. 
by  their  tails  ;  and  that  they  will  swing  backward  and  forward  in  this 
manner  till  the  lowest  monkey  catches  hold  of  a  bough  of  the  next 
tree,  from  which  he  draws  the  rest  up.  We  are  also  told,  that,  by  a 
similar  expedient,  they  occasionally  cross  rivers,  where  the  banks  are 
steep. 

In  Guiana,  these  Monkeys  are  said  to  be  extremely  numerous. 
They  live  chiefly  on  fruit  and  roots,  though  they  will  occasionally 
eat  insects  and  worms:  they  are  likewise  fond  of  shell-fish. 

When  running  about  in  forests,  they  are  sometimes  guilty  of  very 
mischievous  pranks.  They  are  not,  like  the  Howling  Monkeys, 
alarmed  at  the  approach  of  hunters,  unless  they  have  guns ;  but  at 
the  report  of  these  they  all  immediately  run  away.  Sometimes  they 
will  break  pieces  off  the  branches  of  trees,  and  throw  them  with  great 
dexterity  at  the  men  as  they  pass  below ;  and  they  not  unfrequently 
adopt  even  more  unpleasant  modes  of  repulsion.  In  these  situations 
they  assume  a  thousand  attitudes,  which  often  afford  great  diversion 
to  the  spectators. 

The  agility  with  which  they  pass  from  one  tree  to  another  is  really 
wonderful.  M.  Audebert .  says,  that  he  has  seen  a  Four-fingered 
Monkey  climb  up  one  of  the  trees  on  the  Boulevards  of  Paris ;  where, 
coiling  his  tail  round  one  of  the  branches,  it  swung  itself  a  few  times 
backward  and  forward,  and  then,  with  the  force  thus  acquired,  darted 
into  the  next  adjacent  tree. 

The  countenance  of  these  animals  has  at  all  times  a.  grave  and 
melancholy  expression.  They  are  easily  tamed,  but,  by  confinement, 
they  lose  much  of  their  natural  playfulness:  they  seem  to  shun  the 


THE    FOUR-FINGERED   MONKEY.  57 

sight  of  mankind,  and  usually  sit  with  their  heads  bent  upon  their 
stomach,  as  if  to  conceal  themselves  from  observation.  When  touched 
they  utter  a  plaintive  kind  of  cry ;  and  they  have  another  kind  of 
sound,  nearly  similar,  which  they  emit  in  testification  of  delight  at 
receiving  any  kind  of  food  to  which  they  are  particularly  partial. 
These  animals  are  peculiarly  dexterous  in  the  use  of  their  tail.  They 
can  pick  up  with  it  objects  so  small  as  bits  of  wood  or  straw.  M. 
Audebert  says,  that  he  has  seen  a  four-fingered  Monkey  carry  hay 
with  its  tail,  for  the  purpose  of  making  its  bed,  and  move  and  spread 
it  about  with  as  much  facility  as  an  elephant  could  have  done  with 
his  trunk.  A  four-fingered  Monkey  has  also  been  known,  in  its  frolic, 
to  lay  hold  in  this  manner  of  a  squirrel,  which  had  been  put  into  the 
same  cage  Avith  it  as  a  companion. 

So  delicate  are  these  Monkeys,  that  it  is  not  without  great  difficulty 
that  they  can  support  a  long  voyage.  The  consequence  is,  that  they 
are  not  often  brought  alive  into1  England;  and  that,  even  if  they  ar- 
rive in  tolerable  good  health,  the  cold  of  our  northern  climate  soon 
destroys  them. 

It  was  a  Monkey  either  of  this  species,  or  of  one  nearly  allied  to 
it,  which  Captain  Stedman  shot  whilst  in  Surinam,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  it  into  broth,  and  the  destruction  of  which  was,  he  says,  at- 
tended with  such  circumstances  as  almost  ever  afterward  deterred 
him  from  going  a  monkey-hunting.  The  narrative  is  so  interesting, 
that  I  shall  give  it  in  his  own  words.  "Seeing  me  near  the  bank  of 
the  river  in  the  canoe,  the  creature  made  a  halt  from  skipping  after 
his  companions,  and,  being  perched  on  a  branch  that  hung  over  the 
water,  examined  me  with  attention,  and  with  the  strongest  marks  of 
curiosity,  no  doubt  taking  me  for  a  giant  of  his  own  species ;  while 
he  chattered  prodigiously,  and  kept  dancing  and  shaking  the  bough 
on  which  he  rested,  with  incredible  strength  and  agility.  At  this 
time  I  laid  my  piece  to  my  shoulder,  and  brought  him  down  from  the 
tree  into  the  stream.  But  may  I  never  again  be  witness  to  such  a 
scene !  the  miserable  animal  was  not  dead,  but  mortally  wounded.  I 
seized  him  by  the  tail,  and,  taking  him  in  both  my  hands,  to  end  his 
torment  swung  him  round,  and  hit  his  head  against  the  side  of  the 
canoe:  but  the  poor  creature  still  continuing  alive,  and  looking  at  me 
in  the  most  affecting  manner  that  can  be  conceived,  I  knew  no  other 
means  of  ending  his  murder,  than  to  hold  him  under  the  water  till 
he  was  drowned;  while  my  heart  sickened  on  his  account:  for  his 
dying  eyes  still  continued  to  follow  me  with  seeming  reproach,  till 
their  light  gradually  forsook  them,  and  the  wretched  animal  expired. 
I  felt  so  much  on  this  occasion,  that  I  could  neither  taste  of  him  nor 
of  another  which  had  been  shot  at  the  same  time,  though  I  saw  that 
they  afforded  to  my  companions  a  delicious  repast." 

Of  the  same  species  Captain  Stedrnan  relates  a  circumstance  very 
remarkable.  He  says,  that  he  one  day  saw  from  his  barge,  one  of 
these  Monkeys  come  down  to  the  water's  edge,  rinse  its  niouth,  and 
appear  to  clean  its  teeth  with  one  of  its  fingers. 


THE  FEARFUL  MONKEY. 


58  THE   FEARFUL   MONKEY. 


THE   FEARFUL   MONKEY. 

DESCRIPTION.  This  Monkey  is  about  the  size  of  a  small  cat,  and  its  tail  is  somewhat  longer 
than,  the  body.  The  tail  is  prehensile,  but  it  is  not  naked  at  the  under  part  of  the  extremity. 
The  individuals  vary  much  in  color  ;  some  being  red,  others  brown,  and  others  grey.  The  legs, 
thighs,  feet,  and  tail,  are  black.  The  face  and  ears  are  naked,  and  of  a  dark  flesh-color. 

These  Monkeys  are  extremely  common  in  the  woody  districts  cf  Cayenne  and  Surinam. 

SYNONYMS.  Siinia  trepida.  Linn. — Le  Sajou.  Buffon. —  Audebert. — Fearful  Monkey.  Pen- 
nant.— Bush-tailed  Monkey.  Edicards.— Sajouassou,  in  South  America. 

There  is  no  species  of  Monkey  more 
agile,  dexterous,  and  amusing  than  this. 
Even  the  Indians  of  South  America,  who, 
in  general,  are  very  inattentive  to  this 
race  of  animals,  are  frequently  induced 
to  stop  their  canoes,  in  order  to  admire 
the  playfulness  and  grimaces  of  these 
Monkeys,  in  the  forests  adjacent  to  the 
rivers.  Their  troops  usually  consist  of 
from  twenty  to  forty  individuals.  They 
frequently  whistle.  When  enraged,  they 
shake  their  heads  violently  ;  and  utter,  in  a  ferocious  tone,  the  syllables 
Pi,  ca,  rou.  Their  tail  is  prehensile,  but  they  use  it  with  much  less 
address,  in  laying  hold  of  objects,  than  the  four-fingered  Monkey. 

Of  all  the  Monkeys  of  South  America  these  are  the  best  able  to 
support  the  rigor  of  our  climate.  If  attended  to  with  care,  they  will 
live  comfortably  in  a  room  without  fire.  Of  this  M.  de  Buffon  men- 
tions two  instances ;  and  he  speaks  of  their  affection  toward  their 
offspring  as  peculiarly  interesting.  A  female  that  was  kept  at 
Bourdeaux,  in  the  year  1764,  produced  there  a  young  one.  Nothing, 
he  says,  could  be  more  beautiful  than  to  see  the  two  parents  occupied 
with  their  little  charge,  which  they  teased  incessantly,  either  by 
carrying  it  about,  or  by  caressing  it.  The  male  loved  it  to  distraction. 
They  carried  it  alternately ;  but  now  and  then,  when  it  did  not  hold 
properly,  they  gave  it  a  severe  bite. 

So  gentle  and  domestic  are  these  Monkeys,  when  treated  kindly, 
that  it  is  not  necessary  to  keep  them  chained.  But  if  they  be  per- 
mitted to  range  at  liberty,  their  restless  and  curious  or  inquisitive 
disposition  renders  them  occasionally  very  troublesome.  They  will 
break,  tear,  and  upset  almost  every  thing  that  lies  in  their  way. 

Their  food  is  fruit,  bread,  or  roots ;  and  they  will  devour  large 
insects  of  all  kinds.  They  search  eagerly  after  spiders,  of  which  they 
are  peculiarly  fond.  They  are  partial  both  to  wine  and  spirits.  It 
is  said,  that  in  Cayenne  no  other  animals  of  the  same  tribe  are  such 
excellent  guards  of  the  houses  as  these.  Some  of  them  have  been 
rendered  so  tame  as  to  follow  their  master  out  of  doors  like  a  dog. 
They  are,  however,  extremely  whimsical  in  their  attachments,  enter- 
taining for  some  persons  great  partiality  and  for  others  the  most 
decided  aversion. 


THE   SQUIRREL   MONKEY. 


59 


THE  SQUIRREL-MONKEY. 

DESCRIPTION.  This  animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  Rabbit.  The  color  of  its  body  is  reddish 
and  the  tail  is  black  at  the  extremity.  The  fore-feet  are  orange-colored.  The  head  is  very 
round,  and  the  face  milk-white,  with  a  round  black  patch  in  the  middle,  in  which  are  the  mouth 
and  nostrils.  The  eyes  are  black  and  lively. 

SYNONYMS.  Simia  Sciurea.  Linnceu*. — Orange  Monkey.  Pennant. — Caitaia.  Marcgrave. 
— Le  Siamiri.  Bujfon.  Audebert. — Keesee-Keesee.  Stedman. — Squirrel  Monkey.  Sk-nic. 
Shaw's  Gen.  ZooL  PL  25.  !§§i 

In  his  account  of  Surinam,  Capt. 
Stedman  informs  us,  respecting  these 
Monkeys,  that  he  saw  them  daily 
passing  along  the  sides  of  the  river, 
skipping  from  tree  to  tree,  regularly 
following  each  other,  like  a  little  army, 
with  their  young  ones  at  their  backs, 
not  unlike  small  knapsacks.  Their 
manner  of  travelling  is  this:  the  fore- 
most walks  to  the  extremity  of  a 
bough,  from  which  it  bounds  to  the 
extremity  of  one  belonging  to  the 
next  tree,  often  a  surprising  distance 
and  with  such  wonderful  activity  and 
precision,  that  it  never  once  misses  its 
aim :  the  others  one  by  one,  and 
even  the  females  with  their  little 
ones  at  their  backs,  which  stick  fast  to  their  mother,  follow  their 
leader,  and  perform  the  same  leap  with  the  greatest  apparent 
facility  and  safety.  They  are  also  remarkable  for  climbing  up  the 
nebees,  or  natural  ropes,  with  which  many  parts  of  the  forest  are  inter- 
woven. 


WHITE-NOSED   MONKEY. 

The  White-nosed  Monkey 
is  an  African  species.  Its 
name  is  given  from  the  color 
of  its  nose;  its  body  is  black, 
with  a  lighter  tint  in  the 
under  part. 


SQUHIREL-MONKEY. 


WHITE-NOSED  MONKEY. 

THE   PINCHE. 


The  Pinche  is  one  of  the  American 
Monkeys.  It  abounds  in  the  forests 
of  Columbia.  Its  body  is  only  seven 


60 


DIANA,   MARMOSET,   AND   AGILE   MONKEYS. 


inches  long.  Its  bead  is  covered  with 
long  white  hair ;  other  parts  of  the  body 
are  white,  mixed  with  red. 


DIANA    MONKEY. 

The  Diana  Monkey  has  a  white  cres- 
cent on  its  brow,  from  which  it  has 
received  its  name.  It  is  found  on  the 
west  coast  of  Africa,  It  is  docile  in 
captivity,  and  is  remarkable  for  the 
grace  of  its  movements.  Specimens  of 
this  species  were  formerly  in  possession 
of  the  London  Zoological  Society. 


DIANA  MO.NKEY. 


THE   MARMOSET   MONKEY. 

The  Marmoset,  says  Wood,  is  a  most  interesting  little  creature.  It 
is  exceedingly  sensitive  to  cold,  and  when  in  England  is  usually  oc- 
cupied in  nestling  among  the  materials  for  its  bed,  which  it  heaps  up 
in  one  corner,  and  out  of  which  it  seldom  emerges  entirely.  It  will 
eat  almost  any  article  of  food*,'  but  is  especially  fond  of  insects,  which 
it  dispatches  in  a  very  adroit  manner.  It  will  also  eat  fruits,  especially 
those  of  its  native  country.  Its  fondness  for  insects  is  carried  so  far, 
that  it  has  been  known  to  pinch  out  the  figures  of  beetles  in  an  ento- 
mological work,  and  swallow  them. 

A  beautiful  little  Marmoset  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  ate  a  great 
number  of  flies  which  were  caught  and  presented  to  it.  Its  little  eyes 
sparkled  with  eagerness  each  time  that  it  saw  the  hand  moving  to- 
ward  a  fly  settled  out  of  its  reach,  and  it  even  ventured  from  its  warm 
wooly  nest,  and  climbed  up  the  wires  of  its  cage  as  it  saw  the  fly  ap- 
proaching. It  was  also  rather  expert  at  catching  for  itself  the  flies 
that  settled  on  the  bars  of  the  cage.  A  blue-bottle  fly  was  evidently 
considered  a  great  prize. 


THE  AGILE   GIBBON  MONKEY. 

The  Agile  Gibbon,  says  Wood,  is  a  native  of  Sumatra.  It  derives 
its  name  of  Agile  from  the  wonderful  activity  it  displays  in  launching 
itself  through  the  air  from  branch  to  branch.  One  of  these  creatures, 
that  was  exhibited  in  London  some  time  since,  sprang  with  the 
greatest  ease  through  distances  of  twelve  and  eighteen  feet ;  and  when 
apples  or  nuts  were  thrown  to  her  while  in  the  air,  she  would  catch 
them  without  discontinuing  her  course.  She  kept  up  a  succession  of 
springs,  hardly  touching  the  branches  in  her  progress,  continually 
uttering  a  musical  but  almost  deafening  cry.  She  was  very  tame  and 


•WHITE-EYE-LID   AND   WANDEROO    MONKEYS. 


61 


gentle,  and  would  permit  herself  to 
be  touched  or  caressed.  The  height 
of  the  Gibbon  is  about  three  feet, 
and  the  reach  of  the  extended  arms 
about  six  feet.  The  young  Gibbon 
is  usually  of  a  paler  color  than  its 
parent.  There  are  several  species 
of  Gibbon,  amongst  which  some 
naturalists  include  the  Siamang,  a 
Monkey  chiefly  celebrated  for  the 
pains  it  takes  to  wash  the  faces  of 
its  young,  a  duty  which  it  con- 
scientiously performs  in  spite  of 
the  struggles  and  scrtams  of  its 
aggrieved  offspring. 


AGILE  GIBBON. 


THE  WHITE-EYE-LID  MONKEY. 

The  White-Eye-lid  Monkey 
is  one  of  the  African  species 
It  has  a  slender  form  and  a 
very  long  tail;  a  long  face 
and  white  eye-lids.  A  beau- 
tiful specimen  of  this  species 
was  recently  exhibited  at  the 
Gardens  of  the  Zoological 
Society  in  London. 


TTHITE-EYE-LID  MONKEY. 


THE   WANDEROO   MONKEY. 

A  specimen  of  this  species,  brought  from  the 
East  Indies,  was  exhibited  at  the  Gardens  of  the 
Zoological  Society.  It  has  an  abundance  of  long 
hair  about  the  head:  which  gives  it  rather  a 
savage  aspect.  Its  color  is  black,  and  its  man- 
ners in  captivity  are  docile.  It  is  playful,  and 
not  much  given  to  mischief.  It  has  sometimes 
been  called  the  lion-tailed  monkey.  It  is  found 
in  Ceylon,  and  some  of  the  other  eastern 
Islands. 


ffAXDEROO  MONX£Y. 


62 


MONA,   KAHAU,  AND    GUEREZA  MONKEYS. 


THE  MONA   MONKEY. 


This  is  a  graceful  and 
beautiful  species,  found 
in  the  northern  parts 
of  Africa.  It  is  of  a 
dark  brown  color  on 
the  upper  part  of  the 
body,  and  white  be- 
neath. Its  forehead  has 
a  crescent  of  white  hairs 
like  the  Diana  Monkey, 
^and  its  neck  is  adorned 
with  a  sort  of  frill  of  light  hair.  One  of  these  Monkeys  was  in  pos- 
session of  the  London  Zoological  Society. 

• 


MOXA   MONKEY. 


THE   KAHAU   OR  PROBOSCIS   MONKEY. 

The  Kahau  is  a  native  of  Borneo.  It 
derives  its  name  from  the  cry  it  utters, 
which  is  a  repetition  of  the  word  '•  Ka- 
hau." It  is  remarkable  for  the  extra- 
ordinary size  and  shape  of  its  nose,  and 
the  natives  relate  that  while  leaping  it 
holds  that  organ  with  its  paws,  apparently 
to  guard  it  against  the  branches.  As 
may  be  seen  from  the  engraving  it  is  not 
an  animal  of  very  captivating  appear- 
ance; but  when  it  has  been  macerated 
in  spirits  of  wine  for  a  few  months,  its 
ugliness  is  quite  supernatural.  Katural- 
ists  formerly  supposed  that  there  were 
two  species  of  this  animal, — the  nose  of 
one  being  aquiline  like  that  of  the  Mon- 
key in  the  accompanying  cut;  and  that  of  the  other  being  slightly 
retroussee.  It  was  discovered,  however,  that  the  latter  animal  was 
only  the  young  Kahau,  whose  nose  had  not  reached  its  full  beauty. 

The  length  of  the'  animal  from  the  head  to  the  tip  of  the  tail  is 
about  four  feet  four  inches ;  and  its  general  color  is  a  sandy  red,  re- 
lieved by  yellow  cheeks  and  a  yellow  stripe  over  the  shoulders. 


KAHAU  OR   PROBOSCIS   MOHKEY. 


THE   GUEREZA. 


This  animal  has  the  head,  face  and  neck,  back,  limbs,  and  part  of 
the  tail,  covered  with  short  black  hair;  the  temples,  chin,  throat,  and 
a  band  over  the  eyes  white;  the  sides,  flanks  from  the  shoulders  down- 
ward, and  loins  clothed  with  long  white  hair,  which  hangs  down  on 


THE   AYE-AYE   MONKEY. 


CCEREZA  MONKEY. 


each  side,  like  a  loose  garment. 
specimen  in  the  British 


It  is  found  in  Abyssina;  there  is  a 


AYE-AYE. 

This  animal  is  con- 
sidered by  the  natu- 
ralists as  something 
between,  a  Squirrel 
and  a  Monkey.  It  is 
found  in  Madagascar. 
Its  habits  are  noctur- 
nal; its  eyes  are  like 
those  of  an  owl,  and 
it  sees  badly  by  day. 
It  is  sluggish,  very 
sensitive  to  cold,  and 
slow  of  motion.  It 
lives  in  the  woods  on 
birds,fruits,  and  other 
vegetable  matter  and 
on  insects. 


AYE-ATE  MONKEY. 


64 


TEE-TEE   AND   FULL-BOTTOMED   MONKEYS. 


COLLARED   TEE-TEE  JIONKET. 


THE   COLLARED  TEE-TEE. 

The  Collared  Tee-Tee,  or  White- 
throated  Squirrel  Monkey,  says 
Wood,  is  found  to  the  east  of  the 
Orinoca.  It  lives  on  small  birds, 
insects,  and  fruits.  Its  habits  are, 
apparently,  mild  and  inoffensive, 
but  its  acts  belie  its  looks,  for  when 
a  small  bird  is  presented  to  it,  it 
springs  upon  its  prey,  like  a  cat,  and 
speedily  devours  it. 


THE   FULL-BOTTOM. 

This  animal  is 
found  in  Sierra  Le- 
one, where  it  is 
much  sought  by 
the  natives,  for  the 
purpose  of  applying 
its  singularly  beau- 
tiful hair  to  pur- 
poses of  ornament. 
While  the  body  is 
black,  the  head  and 
shoulders  are  cover- 
ed with  an  enor- 
mous quantity  of 
white  hair,  giving 
the  animal  the  ap- 
pearance of  wear- 
ing an  old-fashioned 
full-bottomed  wig, 
from  which  circum- 
stance it  is  some- 
times called  the 
Full-Bottom. 


FULL-BOTTOM   MONKEY. 


OF   MONKEYS   IN   GENERAL. 


65 


GROUP  OF   MONKEYS. 


ANECDOTES  OF  SOME  UNASCERTAINED  SPECIES  OF 

MONKEYS. 

M.  D'OBSONVILLE, 
speaking  of  the  sanc- 
tuaries for  Monkeys 
in  several  parts  of 
India,  says,  that  when 
travelling  he  has  oc- 
casionally entered 
these  ancient  temples 
to  repose  himself,  and 
that  the  animals  were 
not  in  the  least 
alarmed  at  his  ap- 
proach. He  has  seen 
several  of  them  at  first 
considering  him,  and 
then  attentively  look- 
ing at  the  food  he  was 

about  to  eat.  Their  eyes  and  agitation  always  painted  their  inquie- 
tude, their  passion  to  gormandize,  and  the  strong  desire  they  had  to 
appropriate  at  least  a  part  of  his  repast  to  themselves. 

In  order  to  amuse  himself  on  these  occasions,  he  always  took  care 
to  provide  a  quantity  of  parched  peas.  At  first  he  would  scatter  a 
few  on  the  side  where  the  chief  was,  (for  he  says  they  have  always  a 
principal  Monkey  to  head  them,)  and  the  animal  would  approach  by- 
degrees,  and  collect  them  with  avidity.  He  then  used  to  present  his 
hand  full;  and,  as  they  are  in  general  accustomed  to  see  none  but 
pacific  people,  the  chief  would  venture,  but  in  a  sideling  manner,  to 
approach,  as  if  eagerly  watching  that  there  was  no  sinister  contri- 
vance. Presently,  becoming  bold,  he  would  seize  the  thumb  of  the 
hand  in  which  the  peas  were  held,  with  one  paw,  and  take  the  corn  out 
with  the  other,  keeping  at  the  same  time  his  eye  steadily  fixed  on 
those  of  M.  D'Obsonville.  "If,"  continues  this  writer,  "  I  laughed  or 
moved,  he  would  break  off  his  repast,  and  working  his  lips,  would 
make  a  kind  of  muttering,  the  sense  of  which,  his  long  canine  teeth, 
occasionally  shown,  plainly  interpreted.  When  I  threw  a  few  at  a 
distance,  he  seemed  satisfied  that  others  should  gather  them ;  but  he 
grumbled  at,  and  sometimes  struck,  those  that  came  too  near  me. 
His  cries  and  solicitude,  though  in  part,  perhaps,  the  effect  of  greedi- 
ness, apparently  indicated  his  fear,  lest  I  should  take  advantage  of 
their  weakness  to  ensnare  them:  and  I  constantly  observed  that  those 
.  which  were  suffered  to  approach  me  nearest,  were  the  well-grown  and 
strong  males ;  the  young  ones  and  the  females  were  always  obliged 
to  keep  at  a  considerable  distance. 

Monkeys  are  generally  peaceable  enough  among  each  other.     ID 
extensive,  solitary,  and  fertile  places,  herds  of  different  species  some 


66  OF   MONKEYS   IN   GENERAL. 

times  chatter  together,  but  without  disturbance  or  any  confusion  of 
the  race.  When,  however,  adventurous  stragglers  seem  desirous  of 
seeking  their  fortunes  in  places  of  which  another  herd  is  in  possession, 
these  immediately  unite  to  sustain  their  rights.  M.  de  Maisonprc, 
and  six  other  Europeans,  were  witnesses  to  a  singular  contention  of 
this  nature,  in  the  enclosures  of  the  Pagodas  of  Cherinam.  A  large 
and  strong  Monkey  had  stolen  in,  but  was  soon  discovered.  At  the 
first  cry  of  alarm,  many  of  the  males  united,  and  ran  to  attack  the 
stranger.  Though  much  superior  both  in  size  and  strength  to  his  op- 
ponents, he  saw  his  danger,  and  ran  towards  the  top  of  a  pyramid, 
eleven  stories  high.  Thither  he  was  instantly  followed  ;  but  when 
he  had  arrived  at  the  summit  of  the  building,  which  terminated  in  a 
small  round  dome,  he  placed  himself  firmly,  and  taking  advantage  of 
his  situation,  he  seized  three  or  four  of  the  most  hardy,  and  precipita- 
ted them  to  the  bottom.  These  proofs  of  his  prowess  intimidated  the 
rest,  and,  after  much  noise,  they  thought  proper  to  retreat.  The  con- 
queror remained  till  evening,  and  then  betook  himself  to  a  place  of 
safety. 

Numerous  species  of  Cercopitheci  overrun  Africa.  Mrs.  Lee  pos- 
sessed one  from  the  Gambia,  which  was  grey  and  yellow,  and  which 
evinced  great  attachment  and  intelligence,  but  was  abominably 
mischievous,  and  was  never  let  loose  without  committing  some 
misdemeanor,  such  as  breaking  everything  he  could  dash  to  the 
ground,  and  deliberately  tearing  all  yielding  materials  to  pieces,  £c. 
He  was  brought  to  London,  and  afterwards  taken  to  the  Jardin  du 
Koi  in  Paris,  where,  after  an  absence  of  two  years,  he  recognized  his 
mistress  by  the  sound  of  her  voice,  and  furiously  shook  the  bars  of 
his  cage  till  she  came  to  him,  when  he  instantly  held  his  head  down 
for  her  to  rub  it.  But  the  most  amusing  of  all  Monkeys  was  Jack 
from  Senegal  (also  a  Cercopithecus),  who  belonged  to  the  cook  of  the 
vessel  in  which  Mrs.  Lee  sailed  to  England.  She  was  one  day  sitting 
alone  on  the  deck,  in  a  dead  calm,  when  Jack,  whom  she  had  never 
before  noticed,  suddenly  jumped  upon  her  shoulders,  and  chattered 
in  her  face;  she  sat  perfectly  still,  although  very  much  inclined  to 
shake  him  off;  he  then  descended  into  her  lap,  and  examined  the 
rings  on  her  fingers  with  the  greatest  attention,  every  now  and  then 
looking  into  her  face;  and  from  that  moment  she  was  his  especial 
favorite.  He  was  often  banished  to  an  empty  hen-coop  when  he 
was  particularly  troublesome,  from  which  she  so  constantly  rescued 
him,  that  whenever  he  had  done  wrong,  he  would  take  refuge  with 
and  hide  himself  close  to  her. 

Their  conduct  towards  such  of  their  brethren  as  become  captives  is 
very  remarkable.  If  one  of  them  be  chained  in  their  neighborhood, 
especially  if  of  the  society  to  which  he  belonged,  they  will  attempt 
various  means,  for  some  time,  to  procure  his  liberty ;  but  when  their 
efforts  prove  ineffectual,  and  they  see  him  daily  submit  to  slavery, 
they  will  never  again  receive  him  among  them,  but  even  if  he  should 
escape,  they  will  fall  upon  and  beat  him  away  without  mercy. 

When  Captain  Percival  was  at  Columbo,  there  wras  a  mischievous 


OF  MONKEYS  IN  GENERAL.  67 

Monkey  which  was  permitted  to  run  wild  about  the  fort,  and  was  so 
very  cunning  that  it  was  impossible  to  catch  him.  One  day  this 
animal  suddenly  made  his  entrance  into  the  captain's  apartment,  car- 
ried off  a  loaf  of  bread  from  his  table  and  made  its  escape.  He 
immediately  gave  the  alarm  to  an  officer  whom  he  observed  standing 
at  the  next  door;  upon  which  the  officer  ran  in  to  secure  his  own 
breakfast;  but,  to  his  great  mortification,  he  found  that  the  Monkey 
had  been  beforehand  with  him,  and  was  already  scrambling  up  to  the 
roofs  of  the  houses,  with  a  loaf  in  each  paw.  Next  day  the  same 
Monkey  snatched  off  a  very  fine  parrot  before  the  gentleman's  face 
to  whom  it  belonged,  tore  it  to  pieces,  and  then  held  it  out  to  the 
gentleman,  with  many  expressions  of  satisfaction  and  triumph  at  the 
exploit. 

Condamine  and  Bouger  saw,  in  Peru,  some  domesticated  Monkeys 
of  large  size,  which  had  been  admitted  into  the  apartments  of  the 
Academicians,  during  the  time  they  were  employed  in  making 
observations  in  the  mountains.  These  animals  greatly  excited  the 
astonishment  of  the  Academicians,  by  afterwards,  of  their  own  accord, 
going  through  a  series  of  imitations.  They  planted  the  signals,  ran 
to  the  pendulum,  and  then  immediately  to  the  table,  as  if  for  the  pur- 
pose of  committing  to  paper  the  observations  they  had  made.  They 
occasionally  pointed  the  telescopes  towards  the  heavens,  as  if  to  view 
the  planets  or  stars,  and  performed  numerous  other  similar  feats. 

An  occurrence  which  took  place  before  the  troops  of  Alexander 
the  Great,  is  too  singular  and  too  amusing  to  be  passed  over  in  silence. 
The  soldiers  under  the  command  of  this  monarch  always  marched  in 
order  of  battle.  They  happened,  one  night,  to  encamp  an  a  mountain, 
that  was  inhabited  by  a  numerous  tribe  of  Monkeys.  On  the  follow- 
ing morning  they  saw,  at  a  distance,  what  appeared  to  be  an  immense 
body  of  troops  approaching  them,  as  if  with  the  intention  of  coming 
to  an  engagement.  The  commanders,  as  well  as  the  soldiers,  were  in 
the  utmost  astonishment.  Having  entirely  subdued  the  princes  of 
the  country,  they  were  not  able  to  imagine  from  what  quarter  this 
new  force  could  have  come :  they  had  not  previously  been  informed 
of  any  thing  of  the  kind.  The  alarm  was  immediately  given,  and  in 
a  short  time  the  whole  Macedonian  army  was  drawn  up  in  battle 
array,  to  combat  with  this  unexpected  foe.  The  prince  of  the  coun- 
try, who  was  a  prisoner  in  the  camp,  was  interrogated  respecting  it. 
He  was  surprised  to  be  informed  of  such  a  force  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  requested  permission  to  behold  it  himself.  He  smiled  at  the 
error ;  and  the  Macedonians  were  not  a  little  chagrined  that  they 
should  have  been  such  fools  as  to  mistake  a  troop  of  these  imitative, 
animals  for  a  band  of  armed  men. 


THE  BENGAL  LORIS,  OR    SLOW  LEMUR. 


OF  LEMUKS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  principal  Linnean  characteristics  of  this  tribe  are  four  front- 
teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  the  intermediate  ones  remote:  six  long, 
compressed,  parallel  teeth  in  the  under  jaw ;  the  canine  teeth  solitary  ; 
and  the  grinders  somewhat  lobated. 

The  animals  have  one  sharp  claw  on  each  hind  foot ;  all  their  other 
nails  are  flat. 

In  their  habits  and  economy,  as  well  as  in  their  hand-like  paws, 
the  Lemurs  have  a  very  close  alliance  to  the  Monkeys.  They  prin- 
cipally differ  from  those  animals  in  the  shape  of  the  head,  which  is 
somewhat  like  that  of  the  Dog  ;  and  in  the  great  length  of  their  hind 
legs.  The  latter,  indeed,  are  so  long,  that,  when  the  animals  walk  on 
all-fours,  their  haunches  are  considerably  more*  elevated  than  the 
shoulder.  But  this  structure  is  of  astonishing  advantage  to  them  in 
climbing  into  trees.  Many  of  the  species  are  so  wonderfully  active, 
that  they  leap  from  branch  to  branch,  with  a  rapidity  which  the  eye 
is  scarcely  able  to  follow. 


THE  BENGAL  LORIS,  OR  SLOW  LEMUR. 

This  animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  small 
cat.  It  is  of  a  pale  brown  or  mouse 
color ;  the  face  is  flattish,  and  the  nose 
is  somewhat  sharp.  The  eyes  are  ex- 
tremely prominent :  they  are  surrounded 
with  a  circle  of  dark  brown,  and  a  stripe 
of  the  same  color  runs  along  the  middle 
of  the  back. 

There  are  few  quadrupeds  so  inactive, 
and  so  slow  in  their  motions,  as  the 
Bengal  Loris.  Hence  some  naturalists 
have  been  induced  to  rank  it  amongst 
the  Sloths,  but  it  has  no  other  resem- 

IHB  BENGAL  LOWS,  OR  SLOW  LKMDB.  •>•.  r  ,-1  oi      ,T_     ,1  ,1    • 

blance  whatever  to  the  Sloth  than  this. 

It  is  a  nocturnal  animal,  and  sleeps,  or  at  least  lies  motionless,  during 
the  greatest  part  of  the  day. 

The  late  Sir  William  Jones,  in  the  fourth  volume  of  the  Asiatic 
Researches,  has  given  us  an  extremely  pleasing  account  of  one  of 
these  little  creatures. 

"  In  his  manners  he  was  for  the  most  part  gentle,  except  in  the 
cold  season,  when  his  temper  seemed  wholly  changed  ;  and  his  Crea- 
tor, who  made  him  so  sensible  of  cold,  to  which  he  must  often  have 
been  exposed  even  in  his  native  forests,  gave  him,  probably  for  that 
reason,  his  thick  fur;  which  we  rarely  see  on  animals  in  these  tropical 
climates.  To  me,  who  not  only  constantly  fed  him,  but  bathed  him 
twice  a  week  in  water  accommodated  to  the  seasons,  and  whom  he 


THE  BENGAL  LORIS,  OR  SLOW  LEMUR.  69 

clearly  distinguished  from  others,  lie  was  at  all  times  grateful :  but 
when  I  disturbed  him  in  winter  he  was  usually  indignant,  and  seemed 
to  reproach  me  with  the  uneasiness  which  he  felt,  though  no  possible 
precaution  had  been  omitted  to  keep  him  in  a  proper  degree  of  warmth. 
At  all  times  he  was  pleased  at  being  stroked  on  the  head  and  throat, 
and  he  frequently  suffered  me  to  touch  his  extremely  sharp  teeth : 
but  his  temper  was  always  quick ;  and  when  he  was  unseasonably 
disturbed,  he  expressed  a  little  resentment,  by  an  obscure  murmur, 
like  that  of  a  Squirrel ;  or  a  greater  degree  of  displeasure  by  a  peevish 
ery,  especially  in  winter,  when  he  was  often  as  fierce  on  being  much 
importuned,  as  any  beast  of  the  woods. 

"  From  half  an  hour  after  sun-rise  to  half  an  hour  before  sun-set, 
he  slept  without  intermission,  rolled  up  like  a  Hedgehog ;  and,  as 
soon  as  he  awoke,  he  began  to  prepare  himself  for  the  labors  of  his 
approaching  day,  licking  and  dressing  himself  like  a  cat ;  an  opera- 
tion which  the  flexibility  of  his  neck  and  limbs  enabled  him  to  per- 
form very  completely  :  he  was  then  ready  for  a  slight  breakfast,  after 
which  he  commonly  took  a  short  nap  :  but  when  the  sun  was  quite 
set,  he  recovered  all  his  vivacity. 

"  His  ordinary  food  was  the  sweet  fruit  of  this  country ;  plantains 
always,  and  mangoes  during  the  season ;  but  he  refused  peaches,  and 
was  not  fond  of  mulberries,  or  even  of  guaiavas:  milk  he  lapped 
eagerly,  but  was  content  with  plain  water.  In  general  he  was  not 
voracious,  but  he  never  appeared  satisfied  with  grasshoppers ;  and 
passed  the  whole  night,  while  the  hot  season  lasted,  in  prowling  for 
them.  When  a  grasshopper,  or  any  insect,  alighted  within  his  reach, 
his  eyes,  which  he  fixed  on  his  prey,  glowed  with  uncommon  fire ; 
and  having  drawn  himself  back  to  spring  on  it  with  greater  force,  he 
seized  the  prey  with  both  his  fore-paws,  but  held  it  in  one  of  them 
while  he  devoured  it.  For  other  purposes,  and  sometimes  even  for 
that  of  holding  his  food,  he  used  all  his  paws  indifferently  as  hands, 
and  frequently  grasped  with  one  of  them  the  higher  part  of  his  ample 
cage,  while  his  three  others  were  severally  engaged  at  the  bottom  of 
it ;  but  the  posture  of  which  he  seemed  fondest  was  to  cling  with  all 
four  of  them  to  the  wires,  his  body  being  inverted.  In  the  evening 
he  usually  stood  erect  for  many  minutes,  playing  on  the  wires  with 
his  fingers,  and  rapidly  moving  his  body  from  side  to  side,  as  if  he 
had  found  the  utility  of' exercise  in  his  unnatural  state  of  confinement. 

"  A  little  before  day-break,  when  my  early  hours  gave  me  frequent 
opportunities  of  observing  him,  he  seemed  to  solicit  my  attention ; 
and  if  I  presented  my  finger  to  him,  he  licked  or  nibbled  it  with 
great  gentleness,  but  eagerly  took  fruit  when  I  offered  it ;  though  he 
seldom  ate  much  at  his  morning  repast :  when  the  day  brought  back 
his  night,  his  eyes  lost  their  lustre  and  strength,  and  he  composed 
himself  for  a  slumber  of  ten  or  eleven  hours. 

"  My  little  friend  was,  on  the  whole,  very  engaging;  and  when  ho 
was  found  lifeless,  in  the  same  posture  in  which  he  would  naturally 
have  slept,  I  consoled  myself  with  believing  that  he  died  without 
much  pain,  and  lived  with  as  much  pleasure  as  he  could  have  enjoyed 
in  a  state  of  captivity." 


70  THE  MACAUCO,  OR  RING-TAILED  LEMUR. 

In  the  year  1755,  M.  D'Obsonville  purchased  one  of  these  animals 
in  India.  His  voice  was  a  kind  of  whistling  by  no  means  unpleasant. 
When  his  prey  was  attempted  to  be  taken  from  him,  his  countenance 
changed  to  an  appearance  expressive  of  chagrin,  and  he  inwardly 
uttered  a  tremulous,  acute, 'and  painful  note.  He  was  melancholy, 
silent,  and  patient.  He  generally  slept  during  the  day,  with  his  head 
resting  upon  his  hands,  and  his  elbows  between  his  thighs.  But  in 
the  midst  of  this  sleep,  although  his  eyes  were  closed,  he  was  exceed- 
ingly sensible  to  all  impressions  from  without,  and  never  neglected 
to  seize  whatever  prey  came  inconsiderately  within  his  reach.  Though 
the  glare  of  sunshine  was  unpleasant  to  him,  it  was  never  observed 
that  the  pupils  of  his  eyes  suffered  any  contraction. 

During  the  first  month  he  was  kept  with  a  cord  tied  round  his 
waist,  which  without  attempting  to  untie,  he  sometimes  lifted  up  with 
an  air  of  grief.  M.  D'Obsonville  himself  took  charge  of  him,  and  at 
the  beginning  he  was  bitten  four  or  five  times  for  offering  to  disturb 
or  take  him  up ;  tut  gentle  chastisement  soon  corrected  these  little 
passions,  and  he  afterwards  gave  the  animal  the  liberty  of  his  bed- 
chamber. Towards  night  the  little  creature  would  rub  his  eyes, 
then,  looking  attentively  round,  would  climb  upon  the  furniture,  or 
more  frequently  upon  ropes  placed  for  the  purpose. 

Sometimes  M.  D'Obsonville  would  tie  a  bird  in  the  part  of  the 
chamber  opposite  to  him,  or  hold  it  in  his  hand,  in  order  to  invite 
him  to  approach  :  the  animal  would  presently  come  near  with  a  long, 
careful  step,  like  a  person  walking  on  tiptoe  to  surprise  another. 
When  within  a  foot  of  his  prey  he  would  stop,  and,  raising  himself 
upright,  would  advance,  gently  stretching  out  his  paw ;  then,  darting 
at  it,  would  seize  and  strangle  it  with  remarkable  celerity. 

This  animal  perished  by  an  accident.  He  appeared  much  attached 
to  his  master,  who  always  used  to  caress  him  after  feeding.  His  re- 
turn of  affection  consisted  in  taking  the  end  of  M.  D'Obsonville's 
fingers,  pressing  them,  and  at  the  same  time  fixing  his  half-open  eyes 
on  those  of  his  master. 


THE   MACAUCO,   OR  RING-TAILED  LEMUR. 

The  Macauco  is  about  the  size  of  a 
small  cat.  In  its  general  form  it  is 
long  and  slender.  The  muzzle  is 
pointed,  and  there  is  a  black  space 
round  each  eye.  The  ears  are  oval. 
The  forehead  is  white ;  and  the  back 
of  the  head,  sides  of  the  neck,  and 
shoulders,  are  blackish.  The  back, 
and  the  outsides  of  the  legs,  are  of  a 
brownish  grey  color ;  and  the  throat, 
breast,  and  insides  of  the  legs  are 
whitish.  The  tail  which  is  very  long 
and  thickly  covered  with  hair,  is 


THE    MACAUCO,   OR    RING-TAILED   LEMUR.  71 

marked  throughout  its  whole  length  with  alternate  black  and  white 
rings. 

Although  these  animals  have  been  frequently  brought  into  Europe 
from  Madagascar  and  other  islands  of  the  East,  yet  we  are  almost 
wholly  ignorant  of  their  habits,  except  in  a  domesticated  state.  It 
has,  however,  been  ascertained,  that  they  are  creatures  of  great 
activity ;  and  that,  like  the  rest  of  their  tribe,  they  subsist  chiefly  on 
fruit,  and  inhabit  trees,  where  they  live  in  troops,  forty  or  fifty  in 
number. 

A  Macauco,  which  was  kept  in  the  Museum  of  Natural  History  in 
Paris,  had  been  in  Europe  more  than  nineteen  years ;  and  from  the 
great  age  which  this  animal  attained,  it  is  natural  to  conclude  that  the 
temperature  of  an  European  climate  was  suited  to  its  habits.  Such, 
however,  does  not  seem  to  be  precisely  the  case.  He  appeared  to 
suffer  much  from  the  cold,  frequently  rolling  himself  into  a  ball,  and 
covering  his  back  and  head  with  his  long  and  bushy  tail.  During  the 
winter,  he  was  always  kept  in  a  room  that  Jhad  fire  in  it;  and,  fre- 
quently for  along  time  together,  he  would  sit  before  the  fire,  stretching- 
out  his  little  arms  towards  the  flame  to  warm  himself.  Whenever  he 
sat  in  the  sun,  he  adopted  the  same  attitude.  He  was  so  partial  to 
heat,  that  he  often  burnt  his  whiskers  and  face,  before  he  would 
remove  to  a  greater  distance.  "When  the  heat  incommoded  him,  he 
would  turn  the  sides  of  his  head,  alternately,  to  the  fire  in  order  to 
alleviate  the  pain  thereby  occasioned. 

The  animal  had  been  previously  accustomed  to  a  chain ;  and  con- 
sequently, when  he  was  brought  into  the  Museum  he  was  suffered  to 
range  at  freedom  about  the  Conservatory.  In  this  room  were  pre- 
pared the  skins  of  such  animals  as  were  intended  to  enrich  the 
collections;  and  the  greatest  attention  was  necessary  to  keep  the 
creature  out  of  mischief.  Continually  in  motion,  he  handled  and 
turned  over  almost  every  thing  within  his  reach. 

A  board  placed  over  the  door  served  him  for  a  bed.  To  this  he 
retired  at  night,  but  never  until  he  had  first  prepared  himself  for  sleep, 
by  at  least  half  an  hour's  violent  exercise  in  leaping  about  the  room. 
As  soon  as  this  was  ended  he  would  lie  down  on  his  bed,  and,  in  a 
few  minutes  afterwards,  was  fast  asleep. 

His  usual  food  was  bread,  carrots,  and  fruit;  and  he  was  particularly 
fond  of  the  latter.  He  would  also  eat  eggs ;  and  when  young,  was 
partial  to  baked  meats  and  spirituous  liquors.  No  creature  could  be 
more  gentle  than  he,  and  on  all  occasions,  he  showed  himself  sensible 
of  the  kindnesses  and  attention  he  received.  He  exhibited  no  indi- 
cations of  particular  attachment,  but  was  familiar  with  every  one ;  and 
would  climb  on  the  shoulders,  and  go  to  rest  on  the  knees  of  any  per- 
son who  would  suffer  him  to  do  so. 

Several  of  these  animals  have,  at  different  times,  been  imported  into 
England.  A  Macauco  that  was  in  the  menagerie,  at  the  Tower  of 
London,  although  he  would  suffer  himself  to  be  handled,  never  failed 
to  resent  any  attempt  to  tease  him.  He  exhibited  much  dislike  to 
children,  and,  had  he  not  been  chained,  would  sometimes  have  attacked 
them.  He  usually  sat  on  his  haunches  in  an  upright  posture,  with 


72  INDRI,  MONGOUS,  AND  RUFFLED  LEMUR. 

his  tail  elevated  over  his  shoulders.  Like  the  animal  in  the  mena- 
gerie at  Paris,  he  was  extremely  susceptible  of  cold ;  arid,  though 
kept  in  a  warm  room,  would  come  as  near  to  the  fire  as  possible 
He  did  not  usually  sleep  in  the  day-time;  and  at  night  would  lie 
coiled  up  with  his  head  under  his  breast,  and '  his  long  bushy  tail 
wrapped  closely  round  his  body. 

The  Indri  is  an  active  and  intelligent  animal  of  this  tribe 
Although  an  inhabitant  of  deep  forests,  residing  among  the  branches 
of  the  trees,  and  subsisting  on  vegetables  and  fruit,  we  are  assured, 
by  M.  Sonnerat,  that  the  Indri  is  so  susceptible  of  education,  that  the 
natives  of  Madagascar  are  enabled  to  train  it  to  the  chase.  This,  if 
true,  is  a  singular  fact,  as  all  other  animals  that  are  known  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  chase,  are  themselves  carniverous,  and  have  been 
endowed  with  a  natural  instinct  to  pursue  and  destroy. 

The  Mongous,  or  Woolly  Macauco.  M.  de  Buffon  possessed  a 
Mongous  during  several  years.  For  some  time,  at  first,  the  animal 
was  suffered  to  run  at  liberty  about  the  house ;  but  he  became  at 
length  so  troublesome  that  it  was  necessary  to  keep  him  chained. 
Whenever  he  escaped  from  his  chain,  he  would  visit  the  shops  of  the 
neighborhood,  and  would  devour  fruit,  sugar,  and  sweetmeats,  open- 
ing with  wonderful  dexterity  the  boxes  that  contained  them.  At 
such  times  it  was  difficult  to  retake  him,  as  he  would  bite  severely 
even  those  whom  he  best  knew. 

Whenever  this  animal  was  weary  of  being  left  alone,  he  made  a 
loud  kind  of  a  noise,  somewhat  resembling  the  croaking  of  a  frog. 
So  fearful  was  he  of  cold  and  moisture,  that  he  never  willingly  moved 
far  from  the  fire.  His  chief  food  consisted  of  bread  and  fruits.  His 
tongue  was  so  rough  that  he  could  lick  a  person's  hand  until  it  be- 
came inflamed ;  and-,  if  not  guarded  against,  he  would  generally  end 
this  operation  with  a  bite.  This  animal  died  of  cold,  in  the  winter  of 
1750,  although,  during  the  whole  time,  he  had  been  kept  in  a  perfectly 
warm  place. 

The  Lemurs,  says  Wood, 
derive  their  name  from  their 
nocturnal  habits,  and  their 
noiseless  movements.  The 
Ruffled  Lemur  is  a  native  of 
Madagascar.  It  lives  in  the 
depths  of  the  forests,  and 
only  moves  by  night,  the 
*•  entire  day  being  spent  in 
sleep.  Its  food  consists  of 
fruits,  insects  and  small  birds, 
which  latter  it  takes  while 
they  are  sleeping.  This  is 
the  largest  of  the  Lemurs, 
LEMUR.  5eing  rataer  larger  than  a  cat. 


OF   BATS   IN   GENERAL.  73 


OF  BATS  IN  GENERAL. 

Bats  have  erect,  sharp-pointed  teeth,  situated  near  together.  Their  fore-toes  are  elongated, 
and  connected  by  the  membranes  which  perform  the  office  of  wings.  Linn. — Gmel.  i.  45. 

THESE  very  singular  animals  would  seem,  at  first  sight,  to  bold  a 
kind  of  middle  station  between  the  quadrupeds  and  birds.  It  is, 
however,  only  in  their  power  of  raising  themselves  into  the  air,  by 
means  of  the  membranes  which  extend  round  their  body,  that  they 
are  in  the  least  allied  to  the  latter. 

Their  structure. cannot  be  contemplated  without  admiration.  The 
bones  of  their  fore-feet  are  continued  .fnto  long  and  thin  processes, 
connected  by  a  most  delicately-formed  membrane  or  skin,  capable, 
from  its  thinness,  of  being  contracted  at  pleasure  into  innumerable 
wrinkles,  so  as  to  lie  in  a  small  space  when  the  animal  is  at  rest,  and 
to  be  stretched  to  a  very  wide  extent  for  flight.  Should  a  speculative 
philosopher,  not  aware  of  the  anatomical  impossibility  of  success, 
attempt,  says  Dr.  Shaw,  by  means  of  light  machinery,  to  exercise  the 
power  of  night,  he  could  not  hit  on  a  more  plausible  idea  than  that 
of  copying  the  structure  described.  Accordingly,  a  celebrated  author 
has  represented  a  sage  theorist  busied  in  imitating,  for  this  purpose, 
"the  folding  continuity  of  the  wing  of  the  Bat." 

Although  this  membrane  enables  the  Bat,  after  it  has  once  raised 
itself  from  the  ground,  to  flit  along  .the  air,  yet  all  its  motions,  when 
compared  w':th  those  of  birds,  are  clumsy  and  awkward ;  and,  in 
walking,  its  feet  appear  so  entangled  with  its  wings,  that  it  seems 
scarcely  able  to  drag  its  body  along. 

The  British  Bats  generally  pass  the  winter,  during  the  absence  of 
their  insect  prey,  in  a  torpid  state,  without  either  food  or  motion, 
suspended  in  some  dark  place,  in  old  ruins,  caverns,  or  in  the  hollows 
of  decayed  trees.  During  the  time  they  remain  in  this  state,  most  of 
the  animal  functions  are  so  far  suspended  as  scarcely  to  be  perceptible. 
The  action  of  the  heart  and  arteries  becomes  so  exceedingly  languid, 
that  the  pulse  can  hardly  be  felt :  if  respiration  be  at  all  carried  on,  it 
is  also  so  very  slow  as  scarcely  to  be  discernible.  The  natural 
temperature,  or  animal  heat,  sinks  greatly  below  the  usual  standard ; 
and  digestion  becomes  altogether  suspended.  All  the  visible  excretions 
are  at  a  stand  ;  and  none  of  the  functions  seem  to  go  on,  excepting  a 
very  slow  degree  of  nutrition,  and  an  interchange  of  old  for  new 
matter,  in  the  depository  cells  of  the  body. 

Like  the  mouse,  these  animals  are  capable  of  being  tamed  to  a 
certain  degree  ;  and  we  are  told  by  Mr.  White,  that  he  was  once  much 
amused  by  the  sight  of  a  Bat  that  would  take  flies  out  of  a  person's 
hand.  "If."  says  he,  "you  gave  it  anything  to  eat,  it  brought  its 
wings  round  before  its  mouth,  hovering  and  hiding  its  head  in  the 
manner  of  birds  of  prey  when  they  feed.  The  adroitness  it  showed 
in  shearing  off  the  wings  of  flies,  (which  were  always  rejected,)  was 


74  OF   BATS   IN   GENERAL. 

worthy  of  observation.  Insects  seemed  to  be  most  acceptable,  though 
he  did  not  refuse  raw  flesh  when  offered ;  so  that  the  notion  that  Bats 
go  down  chimneys  and  gnaw  people's  bacon,  seems,  upon  the  whole, 
no  improbable  story."  While  Mr.  White  amused  himself  with  this 
quadruped,  he  saw  it  several  times  confute  the  vulgar  opinion  that 
Bats,  when  on  a  flat  surface,  cannot  get  on  wing  again ;  for  it  rose 
with  great  facility  from  the  floor. 

From  experiments  made  by  Spallanzani,  on  the  Long-eared,  the 
Horse-shoe,  and  the  Noctule  Bats,  it  appears  that  these  animals  possess 
some  additional  sense,  which  enables  them,  when  deprived  of  sight, 
to  avoid  obstacles  as  readily  as  when  they  retained  the  power  of  vision. 

After  their  eyes  had  been  covered,  or  even  when  they  were  put  en- 
tirely out,  they  would  fly  about  in  a  darkened  chamber,  without  ever 
striking  against  the-  walls,  and  would  alwaj^s  suspend  their  flight,  with 
caution,  when  they  came  to  a  place  where  they  could  perch.  In  the 
middle  of  a  dark  sewer/ that  turned  at  right  angles,  they  would,  though 
at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  walls,  regularly  bend  their  flight  with 
the  greatest  nicety.  When  branches  of  trees  were  suspended  in  a 
room,  they  always  avoided  them  ;  and  flew  betwixt  threads  hung  per- 
pendicularly from  the  ceiling,  though  these  were  so  near  each  other 
that  they  had  to  contract  their  wings  in  passing  through  them.  M. 
Jurin  supposes  that  the  sense  which  enables  the  Bats  to  peform  these 
unaccountable  operations,  is  lodged  in  the  expanded  nerves  on  the 
nose;  but,  in  several  of  the  species,  the  membrane  in  which  these 
nerves  end  is  wanting.  Some  persons  have  supposed  that  this  power 
of  avoiding  obstacles  in  the  dark  is  dependent  principally  on  the  ears ; 
for,  when  the  ears  of  the  blinded.  Bats  were  closed,  they  flew  against 
the  sides  of  the  room,  and  did  not  seem  at  all  aware  of  their  situation. 

Several  Bats  were  collected  by  Mr.  Carlisle,  for  the  purpose  of  the 
above  experiments,  and  they  were  preserved  in  a  box  for  more  than 
a  week.  They  refused  every  kind  of  food  for  several  days.  During 
the  daytime  they  were  extremely  desirous  of  retirement  and  darkness, 
and,  while  confined  to  the  box,  they  never  moved  or  endeavored  to 
get  out  while  it  was  light.  Even  when  they  were  put  out  on  the  carpet, 
they  commonly  rested  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then,  beginning  to  look 
about,  crawled  slowly  to  some  dark  corner  or  crevice.  At  sunset  the 
scene  was  quite  changed  ;  every  one  then  endeavored  to  scratch  its 
way  out  of  the  box  ;  a  continued  chirping  was  kept  up,  and  no  sooner 
was  the  lid  of  the  prison  opened,  than  each  was  active  to  escape, 
either  flying  away  immediately,  or  running  nimbly  to  a  convenient 
place  for  taking  wing.  When  these  Bats  were  first  collected,  several 
of  the  females  had  young  ones  clinging  to  their  breasts  in  the  act  of 
sucking.  One  of  them  flew  with  perfect  ease,  though  two  little  ones 
were  thus  attached  to  her,  which  weighed  nearly  as  much  as  their 
parent.  All  the  young  ones  were  devoid  of  down,  and  of  a  black 
color. 

From  Linnaeus  we  learn,  that  the  female  makes  no  nest  for  her  off- 
spring. She  is  content  with  the  first  hole  she  finds,  where,  sticking 
herself  by  her  hooks  against  the  sides  of  her  apartment,  she  permits 
her  young  ones  to  hang  at  the  nipple,  and  in  this  manner  continues 


THE   COMMON   BAT. 


75 


for  the  first  or  second  day.  When,  after  some  time,  she  begins  to 
grow  hungry,  and  finds  it  necessary  to  go  abroad  in  search  of  food, 
she  takes  her  little  ones  off  and  sticks  them  to  the  wall,  in  the  same 
manner  that  she  had  herself  before  hung :  there  they  immovably  cling, 
and  patiently  wait  her  return. 

Bats,  it  is  said,  may  be  caught -by  throwing  into  the  air  heads  of 
burdock,  whitened  with  flower :  either  mistaking  these  for  prey,  or 
dashing  casually  against  them,  they  are  caught  by  the  hooked  prickles, 
and  brought  to  the  ground. 


THE  COMMON  BAT. 


TIIE  COMMON  BAT. 


The  Common  Bat  is  about  the  size  of  a  small  mouse,  and  measures 
nearly  nine  inches  from  tip  to  tip  of  its  wings.  The  ears  are  short, 
and  have  each  a  small  inner  valve.  The  eyes  are  very  minute.  The 


• 

76  THE   NOCTULE   BAT,  ETC. 

color  of  the  fur  is  somewhat  that  of  the  common  mouse,  with  a  slightly 
reddish  tinge. 


NOCTULE  BAT. 

The  length  of  the  Noctule  Bat  is  about  five  and  a  half  inches  to 
the  tip  of  the  tail,  and  the  breadth  of  the  expanded  membranes  is 
fourteen  and  a  half  inches.  The  ears  are  short,  broad,  and  rounded  ; 
and  the  inner  valves  small.  The  fur  is  nearly  of  a  chesnut  color. 


BARBASTELLE  BAT. 

The  Barbastelle  Bat  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  two  first  species. 
On  the  muzzle  there  is  a  naked,  hollow,  or  sunken  mark.  The  ears 
are  large,  and  so  broad  that  their  inner  edges  touch  each  other  over 
the  nose.  The  inner  valves  are  conspicuous.  The  color  of  the  fur 
is  a  blackish  brown. 


HORSE-SHOE  BAT. 

The  length  of  the  Horse-shoe  Bat  is  three  and  a  half  inches  to  the 
tip  of  the  tail,  and  the  breadth  of  the  expanded  membranes  aboi-t 
fourteen  inches.  On  the  face  there  is  a  pointed  membraneous  append- 
age, somewhat  in  the  form  of  a  horse's  shoe,  which  surrounds  the 
nose  and  upper  lip.  The  ears  are  about  the  length  of  the  head,  sharp- 
pointed,  and  have  no  inner  valves.  The  fur  is  of  a  deep  cinereous 
color  on  the  upper  parts,  and  whitish  below. 


THE  VAMPIRE   BAT. 


The  usual .  length  of  the  Vampire 
Bat  is  from  nine  inches  to  a  foot,  and 
the  extent  of  its  wings  is  sometimes 
four  feet  and  upwards.  Its  general 
color  is  a  deep  reddish  brown.  The 
head  is  shaped  somewhat  like  that 
a  fox.  The  nose  is  sharp  and 
)lack ;  and  the  tongue  pointed,  and 
terminated  by  sharp  prickles.  The 
ears  are  naked,  blackish,  and  pointed ; 
and  the  membranes  of  the  wings  are 
similar  in  color  to  those  of  the  Com- 
mon Bat. 


THE   VAMPIRE   BAT.  77 

This  animal  is  a  native  of  Guinea,  of  Madagascar,  and  of  other 
islands  in  the  Indian  Ocean. 

The  specific  denomination  of  Vampire  has  been  given  by  natu- 
ralists to  this  tremendous  species  of  Bat,  from  the  circumstance  of  its 
reputed  propensity  to  suck  the  blood  of  men  and  animals  during  their 
sleep.  There  is,  however,  reason  to  imagine  that  this  thirst  for  blood 
is  not  confined  to  a  single  species,  but  that  it  is  common  to  several  of 
the  large  kind  of  Bats,  which  are  inhabitants  of  hot  climates. 

We  are  informed  that  the  Bats  of  Java  seldom  fail  to  attack  such 
persons  as  lie  in  the  open  air  with  their  extremities  uncovered ;  and 
that  persons  thus  attacked,  have  sometimes  nearly  passed  from  sleep 
to  death.  It  is  stated  that  the  Bats  are  so  dexterous  in  this  operation, 
that  they  can  insinuate  their  aculeated  tongue  into  a  vein,  and  con- 
tinue to  draw  the  blood,  without  being  perceived ;  and  that,  during 
all  the  time  they  are  thus  engaged,  they  agitate  the  air  with  their 
wings  in  so  pleasing  a  manner;  as  to  throw  the  sufferer  into  a  still 
sounder  sleep  than  he  was  before.  Notwithstanding  this  propensity 
for  blood,  it  is  asserted  that  they  also  subsist  on  the  juices  of  different 
kinds  of  fruit;  and  that,  in  particular,  they  are  so  partial  to  the  juice 
of  the  palm-tree,  that  they  will  sometimes  intoxicate  themselves  with 
it,  until  they  fall  senseless  to  the  ground. 

During  the  day-time  these  animals  lie  concealed  in  the  hollows  of 
decayed  trees,  or  suspend  themselves  to  the  branches  by  their  claws ; 
and  toward  the  close  of  evening  they  issue  forth  in  flights,  even  more 
numerous  than  those  of  crows  in  Europe.  We  are  informed  by 
Finch,  in  his  quaint  style  of  writing,  that  "they  hang  to  the  boughs 
of  trees  near  Surat,  in  the  East  Indies,  in  such  vast  clusters,  as  would 
surprise  a  man  to  see ;  and  the  noise  and  squealing  they  make  is  so 
intolerable,  that  'twere  a  good  deed  to  bring  two  or  three  pieces  of 
ordnance,  and  scour  the  trees,  that  the  country  might  be  rid  of  such 
a  plague  as  they  are  to  it."  In  a  small  island,  one  of  the  Philippines, 
Dampier  tells  us  that  he  saw  an  incredible  number  of  Bats,  so  large 
that  none  of  his  company  could  reach  from  tip  to  tip  of  their  wings. 
In  the  evening,  as  soon  as  the  sun  was  set,  he  says  these  animals  used 
to  take  their  flight  in  swarms,  like  bees,  to  a  neighboring  island :  and 
that  they  were  seen  to  continue  in  immense  numbers  till  darkness 
rendered  them  no  longer  visible.  The  whole  of  the  time  from  day- 
break in  the  morning  till  sunrise,  they  occupied  in  returning  to  their 
former  place;  and  this  course  they  constantly  pursued  all  the  time  the 
ship  was  stationed  off  that  island. 

At  Eose  Hill,  near  Port  Jackson,  in  New  Holland,  it  is  supposed 
that  more  than  twenty  thousand  of  these  animals  were  seen  within  the 
space  of  a  mile.  Some  that  were  caught  alive  would  almost  imme- 
diately afterwards  eat  boiled  rice  ana  other  food  from  the  hand ;  and 
in  a  few  days  became  as  domestic  as  if  they  had  been  bred  in  the 
house.  Governor  Philip  had  a  female,  which  would  hang  by  one 
leg  a  whole  day  without  changing  its  position,  and  in  that  pendant 
situation,  with  its  breast  neatly  Covered  with  one  of  its  wings,  would 
eat  whatever  was  offered  to  it,  lapping  from  the  hand  like  a  cat. 
Yauipire  Bats  have  sometimes  been  brought  alive  into  England ;  but 


78  THE   SPECTRE  BAT. 

they  are  so  tender  that  they  do  not  long  survive  the  chilly  tempera- 
ture  of  our  climate. 

The  smell  of  these  creatures  is  more  rank  and  powerful  than  that 
of  a  fox  ;  yet  the  Indians  eat  them,  and  declare  their  flesh  to  be  ex- 
cellent food.  They  become  excessively  fat  at  certain  times  of  the 
year,  and  it  is  then  that  they  are  said  to  be  the  .most  delicious.  The 
French  who  reside  in  the  Isle  of  Bourbon,  boil  them  in  their  soup, 
to  give  it  a  relish  ! 

In  New  Caledonia  the  natives  use  the  hair  of  these  animals  in  the 
making  of  ropes,  and  for  the  tassels  of  their  clubs ;  interweaving  it  with 
the  threads  of  Gyperus  squarrosus.  x  . 


SPECTRH  BAT. 


THE   SPECTRE   BAT. 

The  length  of  the 
Spectre  is  about  six 
inches ;  and  the  ex- 
tent of  its  wings  two 
feet.  On  the  nose 
there  is  an  upright, 
pointed,  lanceolate 
and  funnel-shaped 
membrane.  The  co- 
lor of  the  fur  is  cin- 
ereous. The  ears 
and  wing-membranes  are  naked  and  blackish. 

In  no  material  respect  do  the  habits  and  economy  of  these  animals, 
natives  chiefly  of  South  America,  and  of  some  of  the  islands  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  appear  to  differ  from  those  of  the  species  last  described. 
Their  thirst  for  blood  has  been  distinctly  ascertained  by  numerous 
travellers.  M.  de  Condamine  says  respecting  them,  that  "the  Bats 
which  suck  the  blood  of  horses,  mules,  and  even  of  men,  when  not 
guarded  against  by  sleeping  under  the  shelter  of  a  pavilion,  are  a 
scourge  to  most  of  the  hot  countries  of  America."  At  Borja,  and 
several  other  places,  he  states,  that  they  had  destroyed  even  the  great 
cattle  which  had  been  introduced  there  by  the  missionaries. 

Captain  Stedman,  whilst  sleeping  in  the  open  air  in  Surinam,  was 
attacked  by  one  of  these  bats.  On  awaking  about  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  he  was  extremely  alarmed  to  find  himself  weltering  in  con- 
gealed blood,  and  without  feeling  any  pain.  Having  started  up,  he 
ran  to  the  surgeon,  with  a  fire-brand  in  his  hand,  and  all  over  be- 
smeared with  gore.  The  cause  of  his  alarm  was  however  soon 
explained.  After  he  had  applied  some  tobacco-ashes  to  the  wound, 
and  had  washed  the  gore  from  himself  and  his  hammock,  he  examined 
the  place  where  he  had  lain,  and  observed  several  small  heaps  of 
congealed  blood  upon  the  ground ;  on  examining  which  the  surgeon 
judged  that  he  had  lost  at  least  twelve  or  fourteen  ounces.  Captain 
Stedman  says  that  these  animals,  knowing  by  instinct  that  the  person 
they  intend  to  attack  is  in  a  sound  slumber,  they  generally  alight 


THE   LONG-EARED   BAT.  .       79 

near  the  feet,  where,  while  the  creature  continues  fanning  with  his 
enormous  wings,  which  keep  the  person  cool,  he  bites  a  piece  out  of 
the  tip  of  the  great  toe,  so  very  small  that  the  head  of  a  pin  could 
scarcely  be  received  into  the  wound,  and  which  is  consequently  not 
painful.  Yet  through  this  orifice  he  sucks  the  blood,  until  he  is  obliged 
to  disgorge.  He  then  begins  again,  and  thus  continues  sucking  and 
disgorging  until  he  is  scarcely  able  to  fly ;  and  the  sufferer  has  often  been 
known  to  sleep  from  time  into  eternity.  The  Spectre  Bats  generally 
bite  in  the  ear,  but  always  in  places  where  the  blood  flows  spon- 
taneously. 

These  animals,  it  is  said,  will  frequently  hang  to  one  another  in 
vast  clusters  like  swarms  of  bees.  Mr.  Foster  assures  us  that  he  has 
seen  at  least  five  hundred  of  them  suspended,  some  by  their  fore,  and 
others  by  their  hind  legs,  in  a  large  tree,  in  one  of  the  Friendly 
Islands. 


THE  LOXG-EARED  BAT. 

The  long-eared  bat  is  found  in 
most  parts  of  Europe,  and  is 
common  in  England.  It  may  be 
seen  any  warm  evening  flying 
about  in  search  of  insects,  and 
uttering  its  peculiar  shrill  cry. 
It  is  very  common  on  Hampstead 
Heath.  The  ears  are  about  an 
inch  and  a  half  in  length,  and 
have  a  fold  in  them  reaching  al- 
most to  the  lips,  from  which  pecu- 
liarity the  genus  is  called  Plecotus. 

This  bat  is  very  easily  tamed, 
and  will  take  flies  and  other  in- 
sects from  the  hand.  One  that  I  had  in  my  own  possession  used  to 
hang  by  the  wing-hooks  during  the  whole  of  the  day,  and  could 
hardly  be  persuaded  to  move,  or  even  to  eat ;  but  when  the  evening 
came  on,  it  became  very  brisk  indeed,  and  after  carefully  combing 
itself  with  its  hind  feet,  it  would  eagerly  seize  a  fly  or  beetle  and 
devour  it,  always  rejecting  the  head,  legs,-  and  wings.  It  was  then 
very  impatient  to  be  released  from  the  cage,  and  would  show  its  un- 
easiness by  clinging  about  the  cage  and  fluttering  its  wings.  It  un- 
fortunately died  before  further  investigations  could  be  made,  but. 
during  the  short  time  that  it  survived,  it  seemed  very  gentle,  and  only 
bit  me  once,  although  I  used  frequently  to  handle  it. 

The  singular  appearance  of  the  hair  of  the  Bat  as  seen  through  a 
microscope  is  caused  by  a  number  of  scales  adhering  to  the  exterior 
of  the  hair.  These  scales  can  be  rubbed  off,  and  in  consequence  of 
this  property,  the  bat's  hair  often  assumes  very  singular  forms.  The 
hair  that  is  figured  was  drawn  by  means  of  the  Camera  Lucida,  from 
a  specimen  seen  by  transmitted  light,  but  if  it  had  been  seen  by 


80          SPLENDID  HORSE-SHOE  AND   GREATER   JAVELIN   BAT. 

reflected  light  it  would  have  presented  quite  a  different  appearance, 
not  very  unlike  the  plant  called  Mare's  tail  before  its  leaves  are  grown. 

The  details  of  the  hair  are  different  in  the  differing  species  of  Bats, 
but  there  is  always  a  character  about  them  which  is  not  to  be  mis- 
taken. 

When  the  Long-eared  Bat  is  suspended  by  its  hinder  claws  it 
assumes  a  most  singular  aspect.  The  beautiful  long  ears  are  tucked 
under  its  wings,  which  envelop  great  part  of  its  body.  The  tragus, 
that  pointed  membrane  visible  inside  the  ear,  is  then  exposed,  and 
appears  to  be  the  actual  ear  itself,  giving  the  creature  a  totally  dif- 
ferent cast  of  character. 


SPLENDID    HORSE-SHOE    BAT. 


SP1ENDID  HORSE-SHOE  BAT. 


This  is  a  rare  and  fine  Javanese  species,  KebbleJc  of  the  natives 
described  by  Doctor  Horsen'eld.  The  nasal  apparatus  consists  of  a 
broad  membrane  stretching  across  the  nose.  Its  color- is  pure  brown 
above,  variegated  with  grey  beneath.  Fur  long  and  silky.  Body 
four  inches  in  length.  Expansion  nineteen  inches  and  a  half. 


GREATER    JAVELIN    BAT. 


GREATER  JAVELIN  BAT. 


This  species  has  four  cutting  teeth  above  and  four  below,  and  its 
canine  teeth  are  very  strong.  On  its  nose  are  two  crests,  one  formed 
like  a  leaf  or  javelin  head  and  the  other  like  a  horse-shoe.  The  cars 
are  large  and  the  tongue  bristled  with  papillae. 


AMBOYNA  AND  KALONG  BATS. 
AMBOYNA  BAT. 


81 


AMBOYNA  BAT. 


This  species  has  a  small  nail,  or  what  naturalists  call  the  index 
wing  finger,  a  conical  head,  short  ears,  tail  absent  or  rudimentary,  and 
the  membrane  between  the  thighs  very  little  developed. 


THE  KALONG. 


KALONG   BAT. 


This  is  the  largest  species  known,  the  expansion  of  its  wings  being 
five  feet.  The  upper  part  of  its  neck  is  musky  red,  the  rest  of  the 
fur  blackish,  with  scattering  white  hairs  on  the  back.  It  is  found  in 
the  low  grounds  of  Java,  always  in  flocks.  They  hang  motionless 
upon  the  branches  of  trees  during  the  day.  In  the  night  they  commit 
great  ravages  on  the  gardens  and  plantations  of  fruit.  Their  flight  is 
slow  and  steady.  The  Javanese  amuse  themselves  with  shooting  tha 
Kalongs  on  moonlight  nights. 


82 


SLOTHS — THE  THREE-TOED. 


BRUTA. 


The  animals  belonging  to  this  order  have  no  front-teeth  in  either 
jaw.  Their  feet  are  armed  with  strong,  blunt;  and  hoof-like  nails. 
Their  form  is  in  appearance  clumsy,  and  their  pace  somewhat  slow. 
No  animals  belonging  to  this  order  are  natives  of  Europe. 

.OF  THE  SLOTHS  IN  GENERAL. 

The  Sloths  have  no  cutting  teeth  in  either  jaw ;  the  canine4eeth 
are  obtuse ;  and  there  are  five  grinders  on  each  side.  Their  fore-legs 
are  much  longer  than  the  hind  ones ;  and  the  body  is  covered  with 
hair,  and  not  with  scales,  as  in  the  Armadillo,  arid  Manis. 

All  the  species  which  constitute  the  present  tribe  are  unparalleled 
in  the  rest  of  the  animal  creation,  for  slowness  and  inactivity.  Their 
feet  are  furnished  with  strong  hooked  claws,  to  enable  them  to  climb 
into  trees,  where  their  voracity  leads  them  to  devour  both  the  leaves 
and  fruit.  Their  eyes  are  languid  and  heavy,  and  their  whole  coun- 
tenance expresses  so  much  misery,  that  no  one  can  look  upon  them 
without  pity.  Their  teats  are  seated  on  the  breast;  and,  in  two  of 
the  species,  it  is  a  remarkable  circumstance,  that  instead  of  distinct 
excretory  apertures,  there  is  but  one  common  canal,  as  in  birds. 

Only  three  species  of  Sloth  have  hitherto  been  discovered,  two  of 
which  are  found  chiefly  in  South  America. 

THE   THREE-TOED   SLOTH. 


In  its  general  appearance 
this  animal  is  extremely  un- 
couth. The  body  is  thick,  the 
fore-legs  are  short,  and  the 
hinder  ones  far  longer.  The 
feet  are  small,  but  armed  with 
three  excessively  strong  and 
large  claws,  of  a  curved  form, 
and  sharp-pointed.  The  head 
is  round,  and  the  face  short 
and  naked.  The  eyes  are 
small,  black  and  round.  The 
hair  on  the  top  of  the  head 
projects  over,  and  gives  to  the 
animal  a  very  peculiar  and 
grotesque  physiognomy.  Its 
general  color  is  a  greyish 
brown ;  and  the  hair  is  long 
and  coarse,  covering  the  body, 
particularly  about  the  back 
and  thighs,  very  thickly 


THREE-TOED  SLOTI1. 


THE    THREE-TOED    SLOTH.  83 


Of  the  three-toed  Sloth  there  is  extant  a  very  curious,  though  often- 
quoted  account,  written  by  Kircher,  principally  from  the  authority 
of  a  Provincial  of  the  Jesuits,  who  had  been  resident  in  South  America, 
and  who,  having  at  different  times  had  several  of  these  animals  in  his 
possession,  had  tried  several  experiments  with  them  relative  to  their 
nature  and  properties.  The  figure  of  the  three-toed  Sloth,  is  (he  says) 
extraordinary.  This  animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  cat,  has  a  very  ugly 
countenance,  and  has  its  claws  extended  like  fingers.  It  lives  gener- 
ally on  the  tops  of  trees ;  and  if  these  be  at  all  lofty,  it  sometimes 
occupies  two  whole  days  in  crawling  up,  and  as  many  in  getting 
down  again.  Providence  has  doubly  guarded  it  against  its  enemies; 
first,  by  giving  it  such  strength  in  its  feet,  that  whatever  it  seizes  it 
holds  with  astonishing  tenacity:  secondly,  in  having  given  it  such  an 
affecting  countenance,  that,  when  it  looks  at  any  one  who  might  be 
tempted  to  do  it  an  injury,  it  is  almost  impossible  not  to  be  moved 
with  compassion:  it  also  sheds  tears,  and  upon  the  whole  persuades 
one  that  a  creature  so  defenceless  and  so  abject  ought  not  to  be 
tormented. 

The  Provincial  had  one  of  these  animals  brought  to  the  Jesuits' 
College  at  Carthagena.  He  put  a  long  pole  under  its  feet ;  this  it 
seized  very  firmly,  and  would  not  let  go  again.  The  animal,  thus 
voluntarily  suspended,  was  placed  between  two  beams,  and  there  re- 
mained without  food  for  forty  days,  its  eyes  being  always  fixed  on 
those  who  looked  at  it.  At  length  it  was  taken  down,  and,  with 
great  cruelty,  a  dog  was  let  loose  on  it.  This  dog,  the  Sloth  seized 
in  its  claws,  and  held  fast  until  both  the  animals  died  of  hunger. 

In  ascending  the  trees,  the  Sloth  first  stretches  one  of  its  paws,  and 
fixes  its  long  claw  as  high  as  it  can  reach.  It  then  heavily  raises  its 
body,  and  gradually  fixes  the  other  paw ;  and  in  this  manner  con- 
6 


84  THE    TWO-TOED    SLOTH. 

tinues  to  climb,  every  motion  being  incredibly  slow  and  languid.  When 
the  Sloth  once  gets  into  a  tree,  we  are  told  that  it  will  not  descend 
while  a  leaf  or  bud  is  remaining ;  and,  in  order  to  save  the  slow  and 
laborious  descent  which  it  would  otherwise  be  obliged  to  make,  it 
sometimes  suffers  itself  to  fall  to  the  ground,  its  tough  skin,  and 
thick,  coarse  hair,  sufficiently  securing  it  from  injury.  Occasionally 
the  Sloths  will  suspend  themselves  by  their  claws  from  the  branches 
of  trees,  and,  thus  hanging,  a  branch  may  be  cut  off,  and  they  will 
fall  with  it  rather  than  quit  their  hold.  A  Sloth  that  was  taken  by 
some  person  who  went  out  in  the  expedition  under  Woodes  Kogers, 
was  brought  on  board  the  ship,  and  put  down  at  the  lower  part  of  the 
mizen  shrouds.  It  climbed  to  the  mast-head ;  but  occupied  two  hours 
in  what*  a  monkey  would  have  performed  in  less  than  half  a  minute. 
It  proceeded  with  a  very  slow  and  deliberate  pace,  as  if  all  its  move- 
ments had  been  directed  by  machinery. 

These  animals  are  always  most  active  during  the  night,  at  which 
time  they  utter  their  plaintive  cry,  ascending  and  descending  in  per- 
fect tune,  through  the  hexachord,  or  six  successive  musical  intervals. 
When  the  Spaniards  first  arrived  in  America,  and  heard  this  unusual 
noise,  they  fancied  they  were  near  some  nation,  the  people  of  which 
had  been  instructed  in  European  music. 

When  kept  in  a  house,  the  Sloth  never  rests  on  the  ground,  but 
always  climbs  upon  some  post  or  door  to  repose.  If  a  pole  be  held 
out  to  one  of  these  ani'mals  when  on  the  ground,  it  will  immediately 
lay  hold  of  it;  and,  if  these  be  afterwards  fixed  upright,,  will  climb  to 
the  top,  and  there  firmly  adhere. 


THE   TWO-TOED   SLOTH. 


TWOTOKD  SLOTH. 


The  two-toed  Sloth  is  considerably  larger  than  the  preceding 
species,  and  differs  from  it  principally  in  having  only  two  claws,  on 
each  of  its  fore -feet. 

It  is  a  native  of  Ceylon  and  the  East  Indies. 

This  animal,  although  heavy  and  excessively  awkward  in  its  mo 


THE   GREAT  ANT-EATER.  85 

tions,  has  sufficient  activity  to  ascend  into  and  descend  from  the  loftiest 
trees,  several  times  in  the  course  of  a  day.  Like  the  last  species,  he 
is  chiefly  alert  in  the  evenings  and  during  the  night. 

The  Marquis  de  Montmirail;  some  years  ago,  purchased  one  of  these 
animals  at  Amsterdam.  It  had  been  fed  with  sea-biscuit,  but  he  was 
told,  that,  as  soon  as  the  winter  was  over,  and  the  verdure  began  to 
appear,  it  would  require  nothing  but  leaves.  The  creature  was  con- 
sequently supplied  with  leaves.  These  he  ate  freely  while  they  were 
green  and  tender ;  but  the  moment  they  began  to  be  dry,  shrivelled, 
or  worm-eaten,  he  refused  them.  During  the  three  years  that  the 
marquis  had  him,  his  common  food  was  -bread,  apples,  roots,  and 
milk;  but  he  was  so  heavy  and  inanimate,  that  he  did  not  even  re- 
cognize the  hand  that  fed  him. 

The  most  natural  position  of  this  animal,  and  which  he  preferred 
to  all  others,  was  that  of  suspending  himself  on  the  branch  of  a  tree, 
with  his  body  downward.  He  sometimes  even  slept  in  this  position, 
his  fore-claws  fastened  nearly  on  the  same  point,  and  his  body  des- 
cribing the  figure  of  a  bow.  The  strength  of  his  muscles  was  almost 
incredible ;  but  this  became  useless  to  him  when  he  walked. 


OF  THE  ANT-EATEKS  IN  GENEKAL. 

The  Ant-eaters,  as  they  subsist  entirely  on  insects,  have  no  teeth. 
Their  tongue  which  is  long  worm-like  and  covered  with  a  kind  of 
glutinous  moisture,  is  the  only  instrument  by  which  they  seize  their 
food.  Instead  of  teeth,  they  have,  however,  certain  bones,  not  unlike 
teeth,  that  are  situated  deep  in  the  mouth,  near  the  entrance  of  the 
gullet.  The  mouths  of  the  whole  tribe  are  lengthened  into  a  somewhat 
tubular  form. 

THE  GREAT  ANT-EATER. 


GREAT   ANT-EATERS. 


The  body  of  the  Great  Ant-eater  is  covered  with  exceedingly  coarse 
and  shaggy  hair.  Its  head  is  very  long  and  slender,  and  the  mouth 
but  just  large  enough  to  admit  its  tongue,  which  is  cylindrical,  nearly 
two  feet  in  length,  and  lies  folded  double  within  it.  The  tail  is  of 
enormous  size,  and  covered  with  long,  black  hair,  somewhat  like  the 
tail  of  a  horse.  The  whole  animal,  from  the  end  of  the  snout  to  the 
tip  of  the  tail,  is  sometimes  eight  or  nine  feet  in  length. 


86 


THE   GREA      ANT-EATER. 


GREAT  ANT-EATEBS  IW  QUEST  OJ   FOOD. 


The  food  of  this  very  singular  animal  consists  principally  of  Ants, 
and  these  he  obtains  in  the  following  manner.  When  he  comes  to  an 
Ant-hill,  he  scratches  it  up  with  his  long  claws,  and  then  unfolds  his 
slender  tongue,  which  much  resembles  an  enormously  long  worm. 

This  being  covered  with  a  clammy  matter  or  saliva,  the  Ants  adhere 
to  it  in  great  numbers:  then,  by  drawing  it  into  his  mouth,  he  swal- 
lows thousands  of  them  alive ;  and  he  repeats  the  operation  till  no 
more  are  to  be  found.  He  also  tears  up  the  nests  of  wood-lice,  which 
he  in  like  manner  discovers ;  and  frequently  climbs  trees  in  quest  of 
these  insects,  and  of  wild  bees  or  their  honey.  But  should  he  meet 
with  little  success,  in  his  pursuit  of  food,  he  is  able  to  fast  for  a  con- 
siderable time,  without  inconvenience. 

The  motions  of  the  Ant-eater  are  in  general  very  slow.  He,  how- 
ever, swims  over  great  rivers  with  sufficient  ease ;  and,  on  these 
occasions,  his  tail  is  always  thrown  over  his  back.  With  this 
extraordinary  member,  when  asleep,  or  during  heavy  showers  of  rain, 
the  animal  also  covers  its  back ;  but  at  .other  times  he  trails  it 
along,  and  sweeps  the  ground. 

It  is  said  that  these  animals  are  tameable,  and  that,  in  a  domestic 
state,  they  will  pick  up  crumbs  of  bread,  and  small  pieces  of  flesh. 
They  are  natives  of  Brazil  and  Guiana.  The  females  have  one  young- 
one  at  a  birth ;  and  this  does  not  arrive  at  maturity  till  it  is  four 
years  old. 

When  on  the  ground,  the  Ant-eater  moves  with  much  apparent 
awkwardness,  always  resting  on  the  heel  of  its  long  feet.  But  it  is 
able  to  climb  with  great  ease.  Though  destitute  of  teeth,  and 
generally  inclined  to  shun  contention,  yet,  when  it  is  attacked,  and 
its  passions  are  roused,  it  is  a  fierce  and  dangerous  antagonist.  If 
it  can  once  seize  its  enemy  within  the  grasp  of  its  fore-feet,  it  fixes 
the  claws  into  his  sides,  and  both  fall  together ;  and  it  frequently 


THE  LONG-TAILED   MANIS.  87 

happens  that  both  perish ;  for  the  perseverance  of  the  Ant-eater  is  so 
obstinate,  that  it  will  not  extricate  itself  even  from  a  dead  adversary. 
Such  is  its  strength,  that  even  the  panthers  of  America  are  often 
unequal  to  it  in  combat. 


OF  THE  MANIS  TEIBE. 

These  animals  have  no  teeth.  Their  mouth  is  long  and  tubular, 
and  the  tongue  cylindrical  and  extensile.  The  body  is  covered  on 
the  upper  parts  with  scales ;  and,  beneath,  it  is  either  naked  or  clad 
with  hair. 

In  their  general  appearance,  these  animals  greatly  resemble  the 
lizards.  Their  form,  and  the  scales  with  which  all  the  upper  parts  of 
their  body  are  covered,  would  induce  a  casual  observer  to  believe 
that  they  were  really  allied  to  the  reptile  tribes.  This,  however,  is 
by  no  means  the  case ;  they  are  truly  mammiferous  animals,  bringing 
forth  living  offspring,  and  nourishing  them  in  the  same  manner  as 
other  quadrupeds. 


THE  LONG-TAILED  MANIS. 

This  animal  is  very  long  and 
Blender.  It  sometimes  measures 
nearly  five  feet  in  length,  from 
the  tip  of  its  nose  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  tail.  All  the  upper 
parts  of  its  body  and  tail  are  co- 
vered with  broad,  but  sharp- 
pointed  scales,  of  a  deep  brown 
color,  with  a  glossy  or  polished 
surface.  The  under  parts  are  LONG  TAILED  MANIS- 

clad  with  hair.     On  each  of  the  feet  there  are  four  toes. 


THE  SHOKT-TAILED  MANIS. 

The  short-tailed  Manis  is  much  thicker  in  proportion  to  its  length 
than  the  last  species :  the  tail  also  is  considerably  shorter ;  and  on 
each  of  the  feet  there  are  five  toes.  This  animal  sometimes  grows  to 
the  length  of  six  feet  and  upwards. 

The  scales  with  which  the  bodies  of  these  extraordinary  creatures 
are  covered,  are  not  attached  to  the  skin  by 'their  whole  under  surface, 
but  only  by  their  lower  extremity ;  and  thus,  like  the  quills  of  the 
porcupine,  they  are  moveable  at  pleasure.  When  exasperated,  the 
animals  erect  them  ;  and  when  attacked,  they  roll  themselves  into  a 
ball,  and  present  to  their  enemy  a  surface  armed  on  every  side.  The 
scales  are  sharp  at  the  points,  and  of  a  substance  so  hard,  that,  on 
collision,  they  will  strike  fire  like  flint. 


88  THE  THREE-BANDED  ARMADILLO. 

To  escape  from  their  foes  by  swiftness  of  foot  would  be  utterly 
impracticable ;  and  their  Creator  has  not  endowed  them  with  ppwers 
for  offensive  resistance ;  but,  when  they  thus  act  on  the  defensive,  no 
animal  whatever  is  able  to  overcome  them.  The  tiger  and  panther 
may  tread  upon,  may  roll  them  about,  and  attempt  to  devour  them  ; 
but  all  their  efforts  are  vain,  and  where  they  expected  an  easy  prey 
they  find  only  weapons  which  wound  them  in  every  attempt  to  obtain 
it.  Of  all  the  quadrupeds,  without  excepting  even  the  porcupine,  the 
armor  of  the  Manis  is  the  strongest,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most 
defensive. 

The  mode  in  which  these  animals  feed,  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
Ant-eaters.  Their  tongue,  which  is  long,  cylindrical,  and  covered 
with  a  viscous  fluid,  is  the  instrument  by  which  their  subsistence  is 
derived.  They  lie  down  in  places  frequented  by  insects  ;  and  extend- 
ing their  tongue  upon  the  ground,  the  insects  are  attracted  by  the 
moisture,  and  eagerly  run  upon  it  in  great  numbers.  When  the 
animal  finds  that  it  is  sufficiently  covered,  he  suddenly  withdraws  it 
and  swallows  its  prey. 

Both  the  species  of  Manis  are  natives  of  Africa  and  the  East  Indies. 
The  Negroes  eat  their  flesh,  which  is  white,  and  considered  by  them 
as  (f  glicate  food.  The  scales  are  used  for  various  purposes. 


OF  THE  AEMADILLO  TRIBE. 

These  animals  are  destitute  both  of  cutting  and  canine  teeth;  but 
they  have  several  grinders.  They  are  distinguished  from  each  other 
by  the  number  of  flexible  bands  of  which  their  shell  is  composed. 

Instead  of  hair,  the  body  of  the  Armadillo  is  covered  with  a  kinl 
of  plate  armor.  And  as  in  its  structure,  the  Manis  reminds  us  of  tie 
lizards,  so  the  shell  with  which  the  Armadillo  is  clad,  presents  ivs 
with  at  least  a  distant  resemblance  of  the  tortoise.  These  aie 
inoffensive  animals.  They  are  natives  almost  exclusively  of  the  New 
Continent:  they  live  in  burrows  or  holes  which  they  form  in  the 
ground ;  and  feed  on  roots,  fruit,  vegetables,  and  insects. 


THE   THREE-BANDED   ARMADILLO. 

The  Three-banded  Armadillo  is  abovt 
twelve  inches  long,  and  eight  broad,  exclu- 
sive of  the  tail,  which  is  two  inches  in  length. 
The  body  is  nearly  covered  with  a  shell:  this, 
on  the  shoulders  and  rump,  consists  of  five 
cornered  pieces,  very  regularly  arranged ;  and 
round  the  body  are  three  belts  of  shell,  composed  of  square  or  oblong 
pieces,  having  on  each  several  scales  of  a  yellowish  white  color.  All  the 
pieces  of  this  armor  are  connected  by  a  membrane,  like  the  joints  in 
the  tail  of  a  lobster;  and  they  slide  so  easily  over  each  other,  as  to 
allow  of  free  motion  to  the  limbs. 


THREE   BANDED   ARMADILLO. 


THE  SIX-BANDED  ARMADILLO.  89 

*  When  the  Armadillo  is  in  danger  of  being  attacked  by  its  enemies, 
it  rolls  itself  up  in  the  manner  of  the  hedge-hog,  withdrawing  its 
head,  tail,  and  legs;  and,  except  its  nose,  leaving  nothing  but  the 
shell  in  view.  In  this  position  it  sometimes  resembles  a  large  ball, 
flattened  at  the  sides ;  and,  thus  defended,  it  continues  till  the  danger 
is  past,  and  frequently  for  a  long  time  afterwards.  If  the  animal  hap- 
pen to  be  near  a  precipice,  it  will  sometimes  roll  itself  over ;  and  in 
this  case,  says  Molina,  in  his  natural  history  of  Chili,  it  generally  falls 
t,o  the  bottom  unhurt. 

These  creatures,  like  swine,  root  up  the  earth  in  search  of  food. 
They  live  in  barrows,  which  they  dig  in  the  ground,  and  which  they 
seldom  quit,  except  during  the  night.  Although  they  are  natives  of 
the  hot  climates  of  America,  they  will  live  in  temperate  regions.  M. 
de  Buffon  saw  one  in  Languedoc,  which  was  fed  in  the  house,  and 
went  about  every  where  without  doing  any  mischief. 

The  Armadillos  walk  quickly,  but  they  can  neither  leap,  run 
nor  climb  into  trees;  so  that  they  cannot  escape  those  who  pursue 
them.  In  case  of  pursuit,  they  have  seldom  any  resource  except  to 
hide  themselves  in  their  holes ;  but,  if  these  be  at  too  great  a  distance, 
they  dig  a  hole  before  they  are  overtaken.  And  such  is  the  strength 
of  their  snout  and  the  claws  of  their  fore-feet,  that  in  a  few  moments 
they  are  able  to  conceal  themselves.  Sometimes,  however,  before 
they  can  become  quite  concealed,  they  are  caught  by  the  tail ;  and 
then  they  resist  so  powerfully,  that  the  tail  often  breaks  short  off^  and 
is  left  in  the  hands  of  the  pursuers.  To  avoid  this  the  hunter  has 
recourse  to  artifice ;  and,  by  tickling  the  animal  with  a  stick,  it  loses 
its  hold,  and  suffers  itself  to  be  taken  without  further  trouble.  When 
caught,  the  Armadillo  rolls  itself  into  a  ball,  and  will  not  again  ex- 
tend itself  unless  placed  near  the  fire. 

These  animals  are  hunted  with  small  dogs,  which  are  trained  by 
the  Indians  for  this  purpose.  The  hunters  know  when  they  are  con- 
cealed in  their  holes,  by  the  number  of  flies  which  then  hover  round; 
and  their  usual  mode  of  forcing  them  out  is  by  smoking  the  burrows, 
or  pouring  in  water.  If  they  begin  to  dig,  the  animal  digs  also;  and, 
by  throwing  the  earth  behind  it,  so  effectually  closes  up  the  hole, 
that  the  smoke  cannot  penetrate. 

The  females  of  this  species  are  very  prolific.  They  breed  three  or 
four  times  in  a  year,  and  produce  several  young  ones  at  a  birth. 
The  Indians  are  extremely  partial  to  the  flesh  of  Armadillos  as  food ; 

and  they  apply  the  shells  to  various 
uses.  Chiefly,  however,  they  paint 
them  of  different  colors,  and  make 
them  into  baskets,  boxes,  and  other 
small  utensils. 

The    six    banded    Armadillo    is 
found  in  Paraguay. 


SIX   BAXDED   ARMADILLO. 


90  PECICIAGO. 


PECICIAGO 

This  is  a  South  American  variety,  well  delineated  in  the  Engraving. 
It  is  called  by  naturalists  the  Chlamyphorus  Truncatus,  from  the 
abrupt  manner  in  which  its  hinder  part  terminates.  It  is  found  in 
Chili,  burrowing  in  the  rich  soil  of  the  valleys,  living  chiefly  under 
ground.  It  appears  to  subsist  on  insects  which  it  captures  in  the 
night. 

Few  animals  with  which  we  are  acquainted  are  better  qualified  for 
a  subterranean  mode  of  life,  or  better  furnished  with  the  means  of 
"  progressing"  through  the  soil,  or  forming,  galleries  and  chambers. 
The  top  of  the  head,  and  the  whole  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  body, 
are  covered  with  a  thin  shell  of  a  consistence  between  horn  and  leather, 
divided,  by  intersecting  furrows,  into  a  series  of  bands  or  strips,  each 
strip  being  itself  made  up  of  fifteen  or  twenty  plates  of  a  square  form, 
except  on  the  head,  which  is  covered  with  a  single  plate  composed 
of  a  mosaic-work  of  rounded  and  irregular  portions.  This  horny 
covering  or  shield  is  not  fixed  by  the  whole  of  its  inferior  surface  to 
the  integuments  beneath,  as  is  the  case  with  the  armadillo,  but  merely 
rests  on  the  back,  free  throughout,  "  excepting  along  the  spine  of  the 
back  and  top  of  the  head;  being  attached  to  the  back,  immediately 
above  the  spine,  by  a  loose  cuticular  production,  and  by  two  remark- 
able bony  processes  on  the  top  of  the  os  frontis  (bone  of  forehead),  by 
means  of  two  large  plates  which  are  nearly  incorporated  with  the 
bone  beneath;  but  for  this  attachment,  and  the  tail  being  firmly 
curved  beneath  the  belly,  the  covering  would  be  very  easily  detached." 
The  extremity  of  the  tail  is  formed  like  a  paddle.  "  The  whole  surface 
of  the  body  is  covered  with  fine  silk  like  hair,  (of  a  delicate  straw 
color,)  longer  and  finer  than  that  of  the  mole,  but  not  so  thick.  The 
anterior  of  the  chest  is  large,  full,  and  strong ;  the  anterior  extremi- 
ties short,  clumsy,  and  powerful."  The  hand,  which  is  amazingly 
thick  and  compact,  is  furnished  with  five  powerful  but  compressed 
nails,  which,  arranged  together  in  their  natural  situation,  constitute 
one  of  the  most  efficient  scrapers  or  shovels  which  can  be  possibly 
imagined ;  and  expressly  adapted  for  progression  under  ground,  but 
in  an  equal  ratio  ill-fitted  for  celerity  on  the  surface.  The  hind  legs 
are  comparatively  weak,  the  feet  being  long  and  somewhat  resembling 
the  human ;  the  toes  are  furnished  with  small  flattened  nails.  Sight 
is  but  a  second-rate  sense,  as  it  regards  its  importance  in  the  economy 
of  an  animal  living  in  darkness  beneath  the  ground ; — the  organs 
of  vision,  therefore,  are  almost  as  little  developed  as  in  the  mole, 
being  very  minute,  and  buried  in  the  long  silky  fur;  by  which  the 
circular  orifices  of  the  ears  are  also  equally  concealed.  The  head  is 
almost  conical  in  its  figure,  going  off  from  a  broad  base  to  a 
pointed  snout,  furnished  with  an  enlarged  cartilage,  as  in  the  hog, 
and  doubtless  for  the  same  purpose,  of  grubbing  and  burrowing  for 
food.  In  accordance  with  the  details  of  external  configuration  the 
skeleton  is  equally  indicative  of  the  creature's  habits.  The  skull  is 
firm,  and  prevented  from  being  pressed  upon  by  the  shield,  which 


ORNITHORHYNCUS. 


91 


rests  on  two  solid  pro- 
jections, as  seen  in  the 
annexed  sketch.  The 
bones  of  the  fore  limbs 
are  thick,  short,  and 
angular ;  the  scapulas 
broad  and  strong;  the 
ribs  thick,  and  capable 
of  resisting  great  pres- 
sure. The  hip-bones  are 
of  singular  construction, 
and  admirably  formed  for  protecting  the  internal  organs  from  injury. 
Such  is  an  outline  of  the  structure  and  habits  of  the  chlamyphorus, 
an  animal  which,  though  bearing  in  some  points  a  close  analogy  both 
to  the  mole  and  the  armadillo,  yet  possesses  characters  so  exclusively 
its  own,  as  to  render  it  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  remarkable 
of  modern  discoveries  in  zoology.  Of  this  rare  animal  two  speci- 
mens alone  exist,  one  in  the  Museum  of  Philadelphia,  the  other, 
whose  skeleton  is  perfect,  in  the  Museum  of  the  Zoological  Society 
of  London. 


8KOLL  OF   CHLAMYPHORUS. 


ORNITHORHYNCUS. 

THE  DUCK-BILLED  PLATYPUS. 

— Australia,  where  everything 
seems  to  be  reversed  ;  where  the 
north  wind  is  warm  and  the  south 
wind  cold,  the  thick  end  of  a  pear 
is  next  the  stem,  and  the  stone 
of  n  cherry  grows  outside,  is  the 
residence  of  this  most  extraordi- 
nary animal.  When  it  was  first 
introduced  into  Europe,  it  was 
fully  believed  to  be  the  manufac- 
ture of  some  imposture,  who  with 
much  ingenuity  had  fixed  the 
beak  of  a  duck  into  the  head  of 
some  unknown  animal. 
It  lives  by  the  banks  of  rivers,  in  which  it  burrows  like  the  water 
rat.  Curiously  enough,  it  finds  no  difficulty  in  this  labor,  although 
its  house  is  always  very  deep,  for  the  feet  are  so  constructed  that  the 
animal  can  fold  back  the  web  at  pleasure,  and  thus  the  foot  is  enabled 
to  perform  its  task.  It  feeds  upon  water-insects  and  shell-fish,  always 
rejecting  the  crushed  shells  after  swallowing  the  inhabitant. 

Mr.  Ben  net  attempted  to  rear  some  young  Ornithorhynci  at  Sydney, 
but  they  died  in  a  short  time.  They  were  fond  of  climbing  between  a 
press  and  the  wall,  placing  their  backs  against  the  press  and  their 
feet  against  the  wall.  They  used  to  dress  their  fur  with  their  beak 
and  feet,  just  as  a  duck  prunes  its  feathers. 
The  male  has  a  sharp  spur  on  its  hind  feet. 


PUCK-BILLED  PLATYPUS. 


92 


THE   RHINOCEROS   TRIBE. 


The  learned  have  given  the  animal  several  names.  Some  follow 
Shaw,  and  call  it  Platypus  Anatinus ;  some  give  it  the  name  of 
Ornithorhyncus  rufus  or  fuscus,  or  crispus  or  brevirostris,  with  other 
titles.  The  native  name  for  the  creature  is  "  Mullingong,"  a  title 
which,  although  not  euphonius,  is  perhaps  little  less  so  than  the 
scientific  names,  while  it  certainly  has  the  advantage  over  them  in 
point  of  brevity. 


THE   RHINOCEROS  TRIBE, 


RHINOCEROS. 


WE  now  come  to  a  race  of  animals  of  huge  size  and  bulk,  inhabi- 
tants only  of  tropical  climates.  They  are  dull  and  sluggish  in  their 
manners;  but  in  their  disposition,  they  are  in  general  inoffensive  and 
peaceable.  They  have  on  the  nose  a  solid,  conical  horn,  not  fixed  in 
the  bone :  this  is  never  shed,  but  remains  during  life.  Their  skin  is 
tuberculated  and  exceedingly  hard,  but  on  the  under  parts  of  the  bc:iy 


THE   SINGLE-HORNED   RHINOCEROS.  93 

it  is  sufficiently  tender  to  be  cut  through  with  a  knife.  The  general 
internal  structure  of*these  animals  corresponds  with  what  is  observed 
m  the  horse. 


THE    SINGLE-HORNED  OR    COMMON    RHINOCEROS. 

The  length  of  the  Khinoceros  is  usually  about  twelve  feet,  and 
this  is  also  nearly  the  girth  of  his  body.  The  skin,  which  is  of  a 
blackish  color,  is  disposed,  about  the  neck,  into  large  plaits  or  folds. 

A  fold  of  the  same  kind  passes  from  the  shoulders  to  the  fore  legs  ; 
another  from  the  hind  part  of  the  back  to  the  thighs.  The  skin  is 
naked,  rough,  and  covered  with  a  kind  of  tubercles,  or  large 
callous  granulations.  Between  the  folds,  and  under  the  belly,  it 
is  soft,  and  of  a  light  rose-color.  The  ears  are  moderately  large, 
upright ,  and  pointed.  The  eyes  are  small,  and  so  situated  that  the 
animal  can  only  see  what  is  nearly  in  a  direct  line  before  him. 

The  Ehinoceros  is  a  native  of  India,  Ceylon,  Java,  Sumatra,  and 
several  parts  of  Ethiopia. 

The  Single-horned  Rhinoceros  is  not  exceeded  in  size  by  any 
laud  animal  except  the  elephant,  and  in  strength  and  power  he  gives 
place  to  none.  His  nose  is  armed  with  a  formidable  weapon,  a  hard 
and  solid  horn,  sometimes  more  than  three  feet  in  length,  and,  at  the 
base,  eighteen  inches  ifi  circumference ;  and  with  this  he  is  able  to 
defend  himself  against  the  attack  of  every  ferocious  animal. 

Tho  body  of  the  Ehinoceros  is  defended  by  a  skin  so  hard  as  to 
be  impenetrable,  except  in  the  under  parts  by  either  a  knife  or  spear. 
It  is  said,  that,  even  to  shoot  a  full-grown  Ehinoceros  of  advanced 
age,  it  is  necessary  to  use  iron  bullets,  as  those  of  lead  are  sometimes 
flattened  by  striking  against  the  skin. 

The  upper  lip  of  this  animal  answers,  in  some  measure,  the  same 
purpose  as  the  trunk  of  the  elephant.  It  protrudes  over  the  lower 
one  in  the  form  of  a  lengthened  tip ;  and,  being  extremely  pliable,  is 
used  in  catching  hold  of  the  branches  of  trees  and  shrubs,  and  deliver- 
ing them  into  the  mouth. 

Although  the  Ehinoceros  is  generally  of  a  quiet  and  inoffen- 
sive disposition,  yet  when  this  animal  is  attacked  or  provoked 
he  becomes  extremely  dangerous ;  and  he  is  sometimes  subject  to 
paroxysms  of  fury,  which  nothing  can  assuage. 

In  the  year  1743,  a  Ehinoceros  was  brought  from  Bengal  into 
Europe.  He  was  at  this  time  only  two  years  old,  and  the  expense  of 
his  food  and  journey  amounted  to  nearly  WOOL  sterling.  He  had 
every  day,  at  three  meals,  seven  pounds -weight  of  rice,  mixed  with 
three  pounds  of  sugar  ;  besides  hay  and  green  plants  :  he  also  drank 
large  quantities  of  water.  In  his  disposition  he  was  sufficiently  peace- 
able, readily  permitting  all  parts  of  his  body  to  be  touched.  When 
he  was  hungry,  or  was  struck  by  any  person,  he  became  mischievous, 
and  nothing  would  appease  him  but  food. 

Another  of  these  animals  which  was  brought  from  Atcham,  in  the 
dominions  of  the  king  of  Ava,  was  exhibited  at  Paris  in  the  year  1748. 


94 


THE    SINGLE-HORNED   RHINOCEROS. 


BHINOCER03   PURSUING  THE    HDNTER. 


lie  was  tame,  gentle,  and  even  caressing ;  was  fed  principally  on  hay 
and  corn,  and  was  much  delighted  with  sharp  or  prickly  plants,  and 
the  thorny  branches  of  trees.  The  attendants  frequently  gave  him. 
branches  that  had  sharp  and  strong  thorns  on  them  ;  but  he  bent  and 
broke  them  in  his  mouth  without  seeming  to  be  in  the  least  incom- 
moded. It  is  true  tlrey  sometimes  drew  blood  from  the  mouth  and 
tongue  ;  "  but  that,"  says  Father  le  Compte,  who  gives  us  the  de- 
scription, "  might  even  render  them  the  more  palatable,  and  these 
little  wounds  might  serve  only  to  cause  a  sensation  on  the  palate 
similar  to  that  excited  by  salt,  pepper,  or  mustard  on  ours." 

As  an  equivalent  for  a  very  dull  sight,  the  Ehinoceros  has  a  most 
acute  and  attentive  ear.  He  has  also  the  power  of  running  with  great 
swiftness  ;  and,  from  his  enormous  strength  and  his  impenetrable 
covering,  he  is  capable  of  rushing  with  resistless  violence  through 
the  woods ;  the  smaller  trees  bending  like  twigs  as  he  passes  them. 
In  his  general  habits  and  manner  of  feeding  the  Khinoceros  resembles 
the  elephant :  he  resides  in  cool,  sequestered  spots,  near  waters,  and 
in  shady  woods.  Like  the  hog,  he  delights  in  occasionally  wallowing 
in  the  mire. 

The  flesh  of  this  animal  is-  an  article  of  food  in  some  parts  of  Cey- 
lon, Java,  and  Sumatra.  Th'e  skin,  flesh,  hoofs,  teeth,  and  even  the 
dung,  are  each  used  medicinally.  The  horn  when  cut  through  the 
middle,  is  said  to  exhibit,  on  each  side,  the  rude  figure  of  a  man ;  the 
outlines  being  marked  by  small  white  strokes.  Many  of  the  Indian 
princes  drink  out  of  cups  made  of  this  horn;  erroneously  imagining 
that,  when  these  hold  any  poisonous  draught,  the  liquor  will  ferment 
till  it  runs  quite  over  the  top.  Martial  informs  us,  that  the  Roman 


THE   SINGLE-HORNED   EHINOCEROS. 


95 


SINGLE-HORNED  RHINOCEROS. 


ladies  of  fashion  used 
these  horns  in  the  baths, 
to  hold  their  essence- 
bottles  and  oils.  The 
Javanese  make  shields 
of  the  skin. 

The  only  three  ani- 
mals of  this  species 
that  have  been  brought 
into  England  during 
the  last  half  century, 
were  all  purchased  for 
the  exhibition-rooms 
at  Exeter  'Change. — 
One  of  them,  of  which 
the  skin  is  still  pre- 
served, came  from  Laknaor,  in  the  East  Indies,  and,  in  1790, 
was  brought  in  the  Melville  Castle  East  Indiaman,  as  a  present  to 
Mr.  Dundas.  This  gentleman,  however,  not  wishing,  to  have,  the 
trouble  of  keeping  him,  gave  the  animal  away;  and  not  long  afterwards 
he  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Pidcock,  of  Exeter'  Change,  for  the  sum  of 
7001.  This  animal  exhibited  no  symptoms  of  a  ferocious  propensity, 
and  would  even  allow  himself  to  be  patted  on  the  back  and  sides  by 
strangers.  His  docility  was  about  equal  to  that  of  a  tolerably  tractable 
pig :  he  would  obey  the  orders  of  his  keeper,  to  walk  about  the  room 
and  exhibit  himself  to  the  numerous  spectators  who  came  to  visit 
him.  He  usually  ate,  every  day,  twenty-eight  pounds  weight  of 
clover,  besides  about  the  same  weight  of  ship-biscuit,  and  a  great 
quantity  of  greens.  This  food  was  invariably  seized  in  his  long  and 
projecting  upper  lip,  and  by  it  was  conveyed  into  his  mouth.  He 
was  allowed  also  five  pails  of  water  twice  or  thrice  a  day ;  and  he  was 
fond  of  sweet  wines,  of  which  he  would  often  drink  three  or  four 
bottles  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours.  His  voice  was  not  much  unlike 
the  bleating  of  a  calf.  This  was  generally  exerted  when  he  observed 
f  ny  body  with  fruit,  or  other  favorite  food  in  his  hand  ;  and  in  such 
cases,  it  seems  to  have  been  a  mark  of  his  anxiety  to  have  food  given 
him. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1792, 
as  this  Ehinoceros  was  one  day 
rising  up  very  suddenly,  he  dis- 
located the  joint  of  his  right  fore-leg. 
This  accident  brought  on  an  in- 
flammation, which  about  nine 
months  afterward,  occasioned  his 
death.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  that 
in  the  first  attempts  that  were 
made  to  recover  the  animal,  the 
incisions  which  were  formed  through  his  thick  and  tough  hide,  were 
invariably  found  to  be  healed  in  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours.  He 
die!  in  a  caravan,  at  Corsham,  near  Portsmouth. 


96  THE   TWO-HORNED   RHINOCEROS. 

The  second  Kliinoceros  that  was  at  Exeter  'Change  was  considerably 
smaller  than  this,  and  was  likewise  a  male.  It  was  brought  over 
about  the  year  1799,  and  lived  not  more  than  twelve  months  afterward. 
An  agent  of  the  Emperor  of  Germany  purchased  it  of  Mr.  Pidcock 
for  1000Z. ;  but  it  died  in  a  stable-yard  in  Drury-Lane,  after  the 
purchaser  had  been  in  possession  of  it  about  two  months. 

The  third  of  these  animals  I  saw  at  Exeter  'Change  in  the  month 
of  October,  1810.  It  was  kept  somewhat  more  than  four  years 
afterward,  and  then  sold  to  an  innkeeper  of  Ghent  for  exhibition  on 
the  continent. 

The  females  of  this  species  produce  only  a  single  young  one  at  a  birth. 

THE  TWO-HORNED   RHINOCEROS. 

This  species  differs  from  the  last,  principally  in  the  appearance  of 
its  skin  ;  which,  instead  of  vast  and  regularly- marked  armor-like 
folds,  has  merely  a  slight  wrinkle  across  the  shoulders,  and  on  the 
hinder  parts,  and  a  few  fainter  wrinkles  on  the  sides :  so  that,  in  com- 
parison with  the  Common  Rhinoceros,  it  appears  almost  smooth. 
What,  however,  constitutes  the  chief  distinction,  is  the  nose  being 
furnished  with  two  horns,  one  of  which  is  smaller  than  the  other,  and 
situated  above  it.  These  horns  are  loose  when  the  animal  is  in  a  qui- 
escent state,  but  become  fixed  and  immovable  when  it  is  enraged. 
Shaio.  i.  202. 

In  their  habits  and  manner  of  feeding,  these  animals  differ  but  little 
from  the  Single-horned  Ehinoceros.  M.  Le  Vaillant  informs  us  that 
whenever  they  are  at  rest  they  place  themselves  in  the  direction  of  the 
wind,  with  their  noses  toward  it,  in  order  to  discover  by  the  smell  the 
approach  of  any  enemies.  From  -time  to  time  they  move  their  heads 
round  to  look  behind  them,  and  to  be  assured  that  they  are  safe  on 
all  sides  ;  but  they  soon  return  to  their  former  position.  When  they 
are  irritated,  they  tear  up  the  ground  with  their  horns ;  throwing  the 
earth  and  stones  furiously,  and  to  a  vast  distance  over  their  heads. 

The  description  which  has  been  given  by  Mr.  Bruce  of  the  habits 
of  the  Two-horned  Rhinoceros  is  deserving  of  particular  notice.  He 
informs  us  that  "  besides  the  trees  that  are  capable  of  most  resist- 
ance, there  are,  in  the  vast  forests  within  the  rains,  trees  of  a  softer 
consistence,  and  of  succulent  quality,  which  seem  to  be  destined  for 
the  principal  food  of  this  animal.  For  the  purpose  of  gaining  the 
highest  branches  of  these,  his  upper  lip  is  capable  of  being  lengthened 
out  so  as  to  increase  his  power  of  laying  hold  with  it,  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  elephant  does  with  his  trunk.  With  this  lip,  and  the 
assistance  of  his  tongue,  he  pulls  down  the  upper  branches,  which  have 
most  leaves,  and  these  he  devours  first.  Having  stripped  the  tree  of 
its  branches,  he  does  not  immediately  abandon  it ;  but  placing  his 
snout  as  low  in  the  trunk  as  he  finds  his  horns  will  enter,  he  rips  up 
the  body  of  the  tree  and  reduces  it  to  thin  pieces  like  so  many  laths ; 
and,  when  he  has  thus  prepared  it,  he  embraces  as  much  of  it  as  pos 
sible  in  his  monstrous  jaws,  and  twists  it  round  with  as  much  ease  aa 
an  ox  would  a  root  of  celery,  or  any  small  plant." 


THE   TWO-HORNED    RHINOCEROS. 


97 


When  pursued  and  in  fear,  he  moves  with  astonishing  swiftness, 
considering  his  size,  the  apparent  unwieldiness  of  his  body,  his  great 
weight  before,  and  the  shortness  of  his  legs.  It  is  not,  however,  true 
that,  in  a  plain,  his  pace  is  more  rapid  than  that  of  a  horse  ;  for  Mr. 
Bruce  has  often  passed  these  animals  with  ease,  and  seen  other  persons 
worse  mounted  than  himself,  do  the  same  ;  but  by  his  cunning  he  is 
ofteu  able  to  elude  pursuit.  He  makes  constantly  from  wood  to  wood, 
and  forces  himself  into  ttte  thickest  parts  of  the  forest.  The  trees  that 
are  dead  or  dry,  are  broken  down,  as  if  with  a  cannon-shot,  and  fall 
behind  and  on  each  side  of  him,  in  all  directions*  Others  that  are 
more  pliable,  greener  or  fuller  of  sap,  are  bent  back  by  his  weight, 
and  by  the  velocity  of  his  motions.  And,  after  he  has  passed,  they 
restore  themselves,  like  a  green  branch,  to  their  natural  position,  and 
often  sweep  the  incautious  pursuer  and  his  horse  from  the  ground, 
and  dash  them  in  pieces  against  the  surrounding  trees. 

The  eyes  of  the  Ehinoceros  are  very  small;  he  seldom  turns  his 
head,  and  therefore  sees  nothing  but  what  is  before  him.*  It  is  to 
this  that  he  owes  his  death,  and  he  never  escapes  if  there  be  so  much 
plain  as  to  enable  the  horses  of  the  hunters  to  get  before  him.  His 
pride  and  fury  then  make  him  lay  aside  all  thoughts  of  escaping, 
except  by  victory  over  his  enemy.  He  stands  for  a  moment  at  bay: 
then  at  a  start,  runs  straight  forward  at  the  horse  which  is  nearest  to 
him.  The  rider  easily  avoids  the  attack  by  turning  short  to  one  side. 
This  is  the  fatal  instant  :  a  naked  man  who  is  mounted  behind  the 
the  principal  horseman,  drops  off  the  horse,  and,  unseen  by  the  Rhi- 
noceros, gives  him,  with  a  sword,  a  stroke  across  the  tendon  of  the 
heel,  which  renders  him  incapable  either  of  flight  or  resistance. 

These  animals  fre- 
quent  wet  and  marshy 
situations  ;  but  large, 
fierce,  and  strong  as 
they  are,  they  suffer 
great  torment,  from  an 
apparently  con  tern  ptiBle 
adversary.  This  is  a 
fly,  (probably  of  the 
Linnean  genus  oestrus,} 
which  is  bred  in  the 
black  earth  of  the 
marshes  in  Abyssinia. 
It  persecutes  the  Rhi- 
noceros so  unremit- 
tingly, that  it  would  in 
a  short  time  subdue 

him,  but  for  a  Stratagem 

which  he  practices  for  his  preservation.  In  the  night,  when  the  fly 
is  at  rest,  the  huge  animal  chooses  a  convenient  place,  where,  rolling 
in  the  mud,  he  clothes  himself  in  a  kind  of  case,  which  defends  him 

*  The  account  of  Mr.  Bruce  differs  in  this  particular,  from  that  of  M.  Le  Yaillant,  before 
qtuted. 


TWO-HOUNED  RHINOCEROS. 


98  THE   TWO-HORNED   RHINOCEROS. 


\VHITE   RHINOCEROS. 


against  his  adversary  the  following  day :  the  wrinkles  and  plaits  of 
his  skin  serve  to  keep  this  muddy  plaister  firm  upon  every  part  of  his 
body,  except  the  hips,  shoulders,  and  legs.  Here  it  cracks  and  falls 
off,  by  his  motion,  and  leaves  him  exposed,  in  those  parts,  to  the 
attacks  of  the  fly.  The  itching  and  pain  which  follows,  occasion  him 
to  rub  himself  with  great  violence  against  the  roughest  trees  he  can  find. 

The  skin  of  this  Ehinoceros  is -not  so  hard  or  impenetrable  as  that 
of  the  last  species.  In  his  wild  state  he  is  often  slain  by  javelins 
thrown  from  the  hand,  some  of  which  enter  his  body  to  a  great 
depth.  A  musket-shot  will  go  through  him  unless  interrupted  by  a 
bone;  and  the  inhabitants  of  Shangalla  kill  these  animals  bv  the 
clumsiest  arrows  that  ever  were  used,  and  afterwards  cut  him  to  pieces 
with  the  very  worst  of  knives. 

In  order  to  afford  some  idea  of  the  enormous  strength  of  this  Ehi- 
noceros,  I  shall  quote  Mr.  Bruce's  account  of  the  hunting  of  this  animal 
in  Abyssinia.  "  We  were  on  horseback  (says  this  gentleman)  by  dawn 
of  day,  in  search  of  the  Ehinoceros,  many  of  which  we  had  heard 
making  a  very  deep  groan  and  cry  as  the  morning  approached. 
Several  of  the  Agageers,  or  hunters,  then  joined  us ;  and  after  we  had 
searched  about  an  hour  in  the  very  thickest  part  of  the  wood,  a  Ehi- 
noceros rushed  out  with  great  violence,  and  crossed  the  plain  towards 
a  wood  of  canes  that  was  about  two  miles  distant.  But  though  he  ran, 
or  rather  trotted,  with  surprising  speed,  considering  his  bulk,  he  was, 
in  a  short  time,  transfixed  with  thirty  or  forty  javelins.  This  attack 
so  confounded  him,  that  he  left  his  purpose  of  going  to  the  wood,  and 
ran  into  a  deep  hole,  or  ravine,  without  outlet,  breaking  above  a  dozen 
of  the  javelins  as  he  entered.  Here  we  thought  he  was  caught  as  in 
a  trap,  for  he  had  scarcely  room  to  turn ;  and  a  servant,  who  had  .a 
gun,  standing  directly  over  him,  fired  at  his  head,  and  the  animal  fell 
immediately,  to  all  appearance,  dead.  All  those  on  foot  now  jumped 
in  with  their  knives  to  cut  him  up;  but  they  had  scarcely  begun, 


THE   TWO-HORNED   RHINOCEROS. 


99 


TUB   WOUNDED  BHINOCZKOB 


when  the  animal  recovered  so  far  as  to  rise  upon  his  knees :  happy 
then  was  the  man  that  escaped  first ;  and  had  not  one  of  the  Agageers, 
who  was  himself  engaged  in  the  ravine,  cut  the  sinew  of  the  hind  leg 
as  he  was  retreating,  there  would  have  been  a  very  sorrowful  account 
of  the  foot-hunters  that  day." 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  the  cavity  which  contained  the  brain 
of  one  of  these  .huge  animals,  was  so  small  as  to  be  only  six  inches 
long  and  four  deep  ;  and,  being  filled  with  peas,  was  found  to  contain 
barely  a  quart:  while  a  human  skull,  measured  at  the  same  time,  took 
above  two  quarts  to  fill  it. 

The  Hottentots,  and  even  some  of  the  colonists  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  set  a  high  value  on  the  dried  blood  of  the  Ehinoceros.  They 
ascribe  to  it  great  virtues  in  the  cure  of  .many  disorders  of  the  body. 
The  flesh  is  eatable,  but  it  is  full  of  sinews. 


BHINOCEROS  ATTACKING  ELEPHANTS. 


100 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


THE   ELEPHANT   TEIBE. 

THESE  animals  have  no  front  teeth  in  either  jaw ;  but  from  the  upper 
jaw  there  proceed  two  long  tusks,  which,  in  a  state  of  nature,  are 
chiefly  employed  in  tearing  up  trees  for  food,  and  as  weapons  of  de- 
fence against  their  enemies.  They  have  a  long,  cartilaginous,  pre- 
hensile trunk,  which  is  capable  of  laying  hold  even  of  the  most 
minute  substances.  Their  body  is  thinly  scattered  over  with  hairs. 
No  more  than  one  species  has  hitherto  been  ascertained. 


THE   ELEPHANT. 

The  Elephant  is  un- 
doubtedly the  largest  of 
all  terrestrial  animals. 
It  sometimes  attains  the 
height  of  twelve  feet; 
though  its  more  general 
height  seems  to  be  from 
nine  to  ten  feet.  The 
skin  is  usually  of  a  deep 
ash-color.  The  tusks  in 
a  full-grown  male  Elo- 
phant  sometimes  ex- 
tend ten  feet  from  the 
sockets;  but 'those  of 
the  females  are  short. 
The  eyes  are  extremely 
small,  and  the  ears  large 
and  pendulous.  The  head  is  large,  the  back  much  arched,  the  legs 
extremely  thick,  and  the  feet  divided  into,  or  rather  edged  with,  live 
rounded  hoofs.  The  tail  is  terminated  by  a  few  scattered  and  very 
thick  black  hairs.  The  teats  of  the  females  are  two,  seated  at  a  small 
distance  behind  the  fore-legs. 

There  is  scarcely  any  animal  in  the  creation  that  has,  at  different 
times,  occupied  so  much  the  attention  of  mankind  as  the  elephant. 
Formed  in  a  peculiar  manner  for  the  service  of  man  in  the  hot 
climates,  he  is  endowed  with  every  requisite  to  usefulness.  He  is 
strong,  active,  and  laborious ;  and  such  are  his  mildness  and  sagacity, 
that  he  can  be  trained  to  almost  any  service  which  a  brute  is  capable 
of  performing. 

Elephants  are  found  wild,  and  generally  in  large  troops,  in  the 
shady  woods  of  Asia  and  Africa.  They  feed  on  vegetables,  on  the 
young  shoots  of  trees,  on  grain,  and  fruit ;  and  they  are  probably  the 
longest  lived  of  any  quadrupeds ;  for  they  sometimes  attain  the  great 


AFRICAN   ELEPHANT. 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


101 


age  of  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  twenty  years.  This  circumstance 
alone  would  induce  us  to  suppose  that  they  could  not  be  very  prolific, 
as  in  such  case  the  countries  which  they  inhabit  would  soon  be  over- 
stocked, and  consequently  devastated  by  them.  The  females  seldom 
produce  more  than  a  single  young-one  at  a  birth.  This,  when  first 
born,  is  about  the  size  of  a  large  dog ;  and  it  does  not  attain  its  full 
growth  until  it  is  sixteen  or  eighteen  years  old. 

In  the  structure 
of  the  Elephant, 
the  most  singu- 
lar organ  is  the 
trunk  or  probos- 
cis. This,  which 
is  an  extension 
of  the  canals  of 
the  nose,  is  very 
long,  composed 
of  a  great  num- 

er  of  cartilagin- 
ous rings,  and 
divided  in  the  in- 
side through  its 
whole  length. — 

At  the  lower  end  *ODNG  ELEPHANT. 

it  is  furnished  with  a  kind  of  moveable  finger;  and  it  is  so  strong  as 
to  be  capable  of  breaking  off  large  branches  from  trees.  Through 
this  the  animal  smells  and  breathes ;  and  by  means  of  it,  he  conveys 
food  to  his  mouth.  The  sense  of  smelling  the  elephant  enjoys  'in 
such  perfection,  that  if  several  people  be  standing  around  him,  1'e 
will  discover  food  in  the  pocket  of  any  one  present,  and  take  it  out 
by  his  proboscis  with  great  dexterity.  With  this  he  can  untie  the 
knots  of  ropes,  and  open  and  shut  gates  by  turning  the  keys  or  push- 
ing back  the  bolts,  and  pick  up  even  the  smallest  bodies  from  the 

ground.  It  is,  in 
short,  one  of  the 
most  useful  and  ex- 
traordinary instru- 
ments that  the  wis- 
dom of  Providence 
has  bestowed  on  any 
species  of  animal. 

The  disposition  of 
these  animals  isgen- 
ile,  and  their  man- 
ners are  social,  for 
they  are  seldom  seen 
wandering  alone.— 
They  generally 
march  in  troops,  the 
oldest  keeping  fore- 


CETLON   ELEI-HAXT. 


102 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


most,  and  the  next  in  age  bringing  up  the  rear.  The  young  and  the 
feeble  occupy  the  middle.  The  mothers  carry  their  young  ones  firmly 
embraced  in  their  trunks.  They  do  not,  however,  observe  this  order, 
except  in  perilous  marches,  when  they  are  desirous  of  pasturing  on 
cultivated  fields.  In  the  deserts  and  forests,  they  travel  with  less 
caution,  but  without  separating  so  far  as  to  exceed  the  possibility  of 
leceiving  assistance  from  one  another. 

The  wild  Elephants  of  Ceylon  live  in  troops  or  families,  distinct 
from  all  others,  and  seem  to  avoid  the  strange  herds  with  particular 
care.  When  a  family  removes  from  place  to  place,  the  largest-tusked 
males  place  themselves  at  the  head,  and  if  they  come  to  a  river  they 
are  the  first  to  pass  it.  On  arriving  at  the  opposite  bank,  they  try 
whether  the  landing  place  is  good ;  if  it  be,  they  give  a  signal  with 
their  trunk,  when  another  division  of  the  old  Elephants  swim  over: 
the  young  then  follow,  holding  one  another  by  locking  their  trunks 
together;  and  the  rest  of  the  old  ones  bring  up  the  rear. 

The  modes  of  taking 
this  animal,  and  ren- 
dering it  submissive 
to  human  authority, 
merit  particular  atten- 
tion. At  Tepura,  in 
the  East  Indies,  when 
the  inhabitants  are  de- 
sirous of  securing  the 
wild  male  Elephants, 
they  do  it  by  means  of 
Koomkees,  or  female 
Elephants,  trained  for 
the  purpose.  As  the 
hunters  know  the 
places  where  the  Ele- 
phants come  out  to  feed,  they  advance  towards  them  in  the  evening 
with  four  Koomkees.  When  the  nights  are  dark,  the  objects  of  pur- 
suit are  discovered  by  the  noise  they  make  in  cleaning  their  food, 
which  they  do  by  whisking  and  striking  it  against  their  fore-legs. 

As  soon*  as  the  hunters  have  determined  on  the  animal  they  mean 
to  secure,  three  of  the  Koomkees  are  conducted  silently  and  slowly, 
at  a  little  distance  from  each  other,  nearly  to  the  place  where  he  is 
feeding.  The  Koomkees  advance  cautiously,  feeding  as  they  go  along. 
When  the  male  perceives  them  approaching,  if  he  takes  the  alarm, 
and  is  viciously  inclined,  he  beats  the  ground  with  his  trunk,  and 
makes  a  noise,  showing  evident  marks  of  displeasure.  This,  however, 
is  not  often  the  case:  he  generally  allows  them  to  approach,  and 
sometimes  even  advances  to  meet  them. 

The  drivers  now  conduct  two  of  the  females,  one  on  each  side  of 
him  :  these  close  themselves  gently  against  his  neck  and  shoulders ; 
the  third  female  then  comes  up,  and  places  herself  across  his  tail. 
In  this  situation,  far  from  suspecting  any  design  against  his  liberty, 
he  begins  to  toy  with  the  females,  and  caresses  them  with  his  trunk, 


MODE  OF  CAPTURING  ELEPHANTS. 


THE   ELEPHANT.  103 

While  thus  engaged,  the  fourth  female  is  brought  near,  attended  by 
proper  assistants,  who  immediately  get  under  the  body  of  the  animal, 
and  put  a  slight  rope  round  his  hind-legs.  If  he  take  no  notice  of 
this  slight  confinement,  the  hunters  proceed  to  tie  his  legs  Avith  a 
stronger  rope;  which  is  passed  alternately,  by  means  of  a  forked  stick, 
and  a  kind  of  hook,  from  one  leg  to  the  other,  in  the  form  of  a  figure 
of  8.  Six  or  eight  of  these  ropes  are  generally  employed  one  above 
another;  and  they  are  fastened  at  their  intersections  by  another  rope, 
that  is  made  to  pass  perpendicularly  up  and  down.  A  strong  cable, 
with  a  running  noose,  is  next  put  round  each  hind  leg,  above  the  other 
ropes ;  and  afterward  six  or  eight  ropes  are  crossed  from  leg  to  leg 
above  the  cable.  The  fixing  of  these  ropes  usually  occupies  about 
twenty  minutes,  during  which  time  the  utmost  silence  is  observed. 

When  thus  secured,  the  animal  is  left  to  himself,  the  Koomkees 
retiring  to  a  little  distance.  He  attempts  to  follow  them,  but  'finding 
his  legs  tied,  and  becoming  sensible  of  the  danger  of  his  situation,  he 
immediately  retreats  toward  the  jungle.  The  drivers  mounted  on 
tame  Elephants,  and  accompanied  by  several  persons,  who  till  this 
time  have  been  kept  out  of  sight,  follow  him  at  a  little  distance;  and 
as  soon  as  he  passes  near  a  tree  sufficiently  stout  to  hold  .him,  they 
make  a  few  turns,  round  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  with  the  long  cables 
which  trailed  behind  him.  His  progress  being  thus  stopped,  he  be- 
comes furious,  and  exerts  his  utmost  efforts  to  disengage  himself. 
The  Koomkees  dare  not  now  approach  him  ;  and,  in  his  fury,  he  falls 
down  on  the  earth  and  tears  it  up  with  his  tusks.  When  he  has  ex- 
hausted himself,  the  Koomkees  are  again  brought  near  and  take  their 
former  positions.  •  After  getting  him  nearer  the  tree,  the  people  carry 
the  ends  of  the  long  cables  two  or  three  times  round  it,  so  as  to  pre- 
Nvent  the  possibility  of  his  escape.  His  fore-legs  are  now  tied  in  the 
same  manner  as  his  hind-legs  were.  The  cables  are  made  fast,  one 
on  each  side,  to  trees  or  stakes  driven  deep  into  the  earth ;  and  he  is 
subsequently  fastened,  by  means  of  other  ropes,  to  two  Koomkees, 
one  on  each  side. 

Every  thing  being  now  ready,  and  a  passage  being  cleared  from  the 
jungle,  all  the  ropes,  except  one,  are  taken  from  his  legs.  The  Koom- 
kees pull  him  forward ;  sometimes,  however,  not  without  much  strug- 
gling and  violence  on  his  part.  When  brought  to  his  proper  station, 
and  made  fast,  he  is  treated  with  a  mixture  of  severity  and  gentleness ; 
and,  generally,  in  a  few  months  he  becomes  tractable,  and  appears 
perfectly  reconciled  to  his  fate.  It  seems  somewhat  extraordinary, 
that  though  the  animal  uses  his  utmost  force  to  disengage  himself  when 
taken,  and  would  kill  any  person  who  came  within  his  reach,  yet  he 
seldom  attempts  to  injure  the  females  that  have  ensnared  him ;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  seems,  as  it  were,  consoled  by  them  for  the  loss  of  his 
liberty. 

The  mode  of  securing  a  herd  of  wild  Elephants  is  very  different 
from  that  adopted  in  taking  a  single  male,  and  the  process  is  much 
more  tedious. 

When  a  herd  of  these  animals,  which  generally  consist  of  from  forty 
to  a  hundred,  is  discovered,  about  five  hundred  people  are  employed 


USRD   OF   ELEPHANTS. 


to  surround  it.  By  means  of  fire  and  noises,  they,  in  the  course  of 
some  clays,  are  able  to  drive  them  to  the  place  where  they  are  to  be 
secured.  This  is  called  the  Kedda.  It  consists  of  three  enclosures, 
communicating  with  each  other  by  means  of  narrow  openings  or  gate- 
ways. The  outer  one  is  the  largest,  the  middle  generally  the  next  in 
size,  and  the  third  or  furthermost  the  smallest.  When  the  animals 
arrive  near  the  first  enclosure,  (the  palisadoes  and  two  gates  of  which 
are  as  much  as  possible  disguised  by  branches  of  trees  and  bamboos 
being  stuck  in  the  ground,  in  order  to  have  the  appearance  of  a  natu- 
ral jungle,)  great  difficulty  attends  the  business  of  getting  them  in. 
The  leader  always  suspects  some  snare,  and  it  is  not  without  the  ut- 
most hesitation  that  he  passes ;  but  as  soon  as  he  enters,  all  the  rest 
follow.  Fires  are  now  lighted  round  the  greatest  part  of  the  enclosure, 
particularly  at  the  entrance,  and  loud  and  discordant  noises  are  made 
tor  the  purpose  of  urging  them  on  to  the  next  enclosure.  The  Ele- 
phants find  themselves  entrapped,  and  discovering  no  opening  except 
the  entrance  to  the  next  enclosure,  they  at  length  pass  it.  The  gate 
is  instantly  shut  upon  them,  fires  are  lighted,  and  discordant  noises 
are  made  as  before,  till  they  have  passed  through  another  gateway 
into  the  last  enclosure,  where  they  are  secured  in  a  similar  manner. 
Being  now  completely  surrounded,  and  perceiving  no  outlet  through 
which  they  can  escape,  they  appear  desperate,  and,  in  their  fury,  ad- 
vance frequently  to  the  surrounding  ditch,  in  order  to  break  clown 
the  palisade,  inflating  their  trunks,  and  screaming  out  aloud :  but 
wherever  they  make  an  attack,  they  are  opposed  by  lighted  fires,  and 


THE   ELEPHANT.  105' 

by  the  noise  and  triumphant  shouts  of  the  hunters.  The  ditch  is  then 
filled  with  water ;  and,  after  a  while,  they  have  recourse  to  it  in  order 
to  quench  their  thirst  and  cool  themselves,  which  they  do  by  drawing 
the  water  into  their  trunks,  and  then  squirting  it  over  every  part 
of  their  bodies. 

When  the  Elephants  have  continued  in  the  enclosure  a  few  days, 
where  they  are  regularly,  though  scantily,  fed  from  a  scaffold  on  the 
outside,  the  door  of  the  Roomee  (an  outlet  about  sixty  feet  long 
and  very  narrow)  is  opened,  and  one  of  the  Elephants  is  enticed  to 
enter  by  having  food  thrown  before  it.*  When  the  animal  has  ad- 
vanced, the  gate  is  shut  and  well  secured  on  both  sides.  Finding  his 
retreat  now  cut  off,  and  the  place  so  narrow  that  he  cannot  turn  him- 
self, he  proceeds,  and  exerts  his  utmost  efforts  to  break  down  the  bars 
in  front  of  him,  running  against  them,  screaming  and  roaring  most 
violently,  and  battering  them,  like  a  ram,  by  repeated  blows  with  his 
head,  retreating  and  advancing  with  the  utmost  fury.  In  his  rage  he 
even  rises,  and  leaps  upon  the  bars  with  his  fore-feet,  striving  to  break 
them  down  with  his  weight.  When  he  becomes  fatigued  with  these 
exertions,  ropes  are,  by  degrees,  put  round  him ;  and  he  is  secured  in 
a  manner  nearly  similar  to  that  adopted  in  taking  the  single  males ; 
and  thus,  in  succession,  they  are  all  secured. 

The  Elephants  are  now  separated,  and  each  is  given  into  the  care 
of  a  keeper,  who  is  appointed  to  attend  and  instruct  him.  Under  this 
man  there  are  three  or  four  others,  who  assist  in  supplying  food 
and  water  till  the  animal  becomes  sufficiently  tractable  to  feed  him- 
self. In  a  few  days  the  keeper  advances  cautiously  to  the  side  of  the 
Elephant,  and  strokes  and  pats  him  with  his  hand,  at  the  same  time 
speaking  to  him  in  a  soothing  voice ;  and  after  a  little  while,  the  beast 
begins  to  know  the  keeper  and  obey  his  commands.  By  degrees  the 
latter  becomes  familiar,  and  at  length  mounts  upon  the  animal's  back, 
from  one  of  the  tame  Elephants,  lie  gradually  increases  the  intimacy, 
as  the  animal  becomes  more  tame,  till  at  last  he  is  permitted  to  seat 
himself  on  his  neck,  from  which  place  he  is  afterwards  to  regulate 
and  direct  all  his  motions.  In  five  or  six  weeks  the  Elephant  becomes 
obedient  to  his  keeper ;  his  fetters  are  by  degrees  taken  off;  and  gen- 
erally in  about  six  months  he  will  suffer  himself  to  be  conducted  from 
place  to  place,  with  as  much  complacency  as  if  he  had  been  long 
subdued.  Care,  however,  is  taken  not  to  let  him  approach  his  former 
haunts,  lest  a  recollection  of  them  should  induce  him  to  attempt  to 
recover  his  liberty;  for  it  is  generally  believed  that,  if  an  Elephant 
escape,  after  having  been  in  bondage,  it  is  not  possible,  by  any  art, 
again  to  entrap  him.  The  following  instances,  recorded  in  the  Phil- 
osophical Transactions  for  1799,  will,  however,  prove  that  this  is  not 
the  fact:— 

A  female  Elephant  was  first  taken  in  the  year  1765,  and  two  years 
afterwards  was  suffered  to  escape  into  the  woods.  She  was  retaken ; 

*  In  many  places  this  mode  is  not  adopted ;  but  as  soon  as  the  herd  has  been  surrounded  by  a 
strong  palisade,  Koomkees  are  sent  in  with  proper  people,  who  tie  them  oa  the  spot,  in  the  man- 
ner we  have  mentioned  respecting  the  single  male  Elephants. 


106  THE    ELEPHANT. 

but  broke  loose  in  a  stormy  night,  and  again  escaped.  In  1782,  more 
than  ten  years  after  her  second  escape,  she  was  driven  by  the  Ele- 
phant-hunters belonging  to  Mr.  Leeke,  of  Longford -hall,  in  Shropshire, 
into  an  enclosure  in  which  Elephants  are  secured ;  and  the  day  fol- 
lowing, when  Mr.  Leeke  went  to  see  the  herd  that  had  been  taken, 
this  Elephant  was  pointed  out  to  him  by  the  hunters,  who  well  recol- 
lected her.  They  frequently  called  to  her  by  name ;  to  which  she 
seemed  to  pay  some  attention,  by  immediately  looking  towards  them 
when  it  was  repeated;  nor  did  she  appear  like  the  wild  Elephants, 
who  were  constantly  running  about  the  enclosure  in  a  rage,  but 
seemed  perfectly  reconciled  to  her  situation. 

For  eighteen  days,  she  never  approached  near  enough  to  the  outlet 
to  be  secured.  Mr.  Leeke,  at  length,  went  himself,  when  there  were 
only  this  Elephant,  another  female,  and  eight  young  ones  remaining 
in  the  enclosure.  After  the  other  female  had  been  secured,  the  hun- 
ters were  ordered  to  call  on  this  animal  by  name.  She  immediately 
came  to  the  side  of  the  ditch,  within  the  enclosure;  and  some  of  the 
drivers  were  desired  to  carry  in  a  plantain  tree.  She  not  only  took 
the  leaves  of  this  from  their  hands  with  her  trunk,  but  she  opened 
her  mouth  for  them  to  put  a  leaf  into  it ;  which  they  did,  at  the  same 
time  stroking  and  caressing  her,  and  calling  to  her  by  name.  One 
of  the  trained  Elephants  was  now  ordered  to  be  brought  to  her,  and 
the  driver  was  told  to  take  her  by  the  ear,  and  order  her  to  lie  down. 
At  first  she  retired  to  a  distance,  seeming  angry  :  but,  when  the  drivers, 
who  were  on  foot,  called  to  her,  she  immediately  came  and  allowed 
them  to  stroke  and  caress  her  as  before  ;  and,  a  few  minutes  afterwards, 
she  permitted  the  trained  Elephants  to  be  familiar  with  her.  A  driver 
from  one  of  these  then  fastened  a  rope  round  her  body,  arid  jumped 
on  her  back:  this,  at  the  moment,  she  did  not  like,  but  she  was  soon 
reconciled  to  it.  A  small  cord  was  then  placed  round  her  neck,  for 
the  driver  to  put  his  feet  in  ;  who,  seating  himself  in  the  usual  man- 
ner, drove  her  about  the  enclosure,  in  the  same  manner  as  any  of  the 
tame  Elephants. 

In  June,  1787,  a  male  Elephant,  taken  the  year  before,  was  travel- 
ling, in  company  with  some  others,  towards  Chittigong,  laden  with 
baggage  ;  and  having  come  upon  a  Tiger's  track,  he  took  fright  and 
ran  off  into  the  woods,  in  spite  of  all  the  efforts  of  his  driver.  On 
entering  the  wood,,  the  driver  saved  himself  by  springing  from  the 
animal  and  clinging  to  the  branch  of  a  tree  under  which  he  was 
passing  ;  and  the  Elephant  escaped. 

Eighteen  months  after  this,  when  a  herd  of  Elephants  had  been 
taken,  and  had  remained  several  days  in  the  enclosure,  one  of  the 
drivers,  attentively  viewing  a  male  Elephant,  declared  he  resembled 
the  animal  that  had  run  away.  This  excited  the  curiosity  of  every 
one  to  go  and  look  at  him ;  but  when  any  person  came  near,  the 
animal  struck  at  him  with  his  trunk,  and  in  every  respect  appeared 
as -wild  and  outrageous  as  any  of  the  other  Elephants.  An  old 
hunter  at  length  coming  up  and  examining  him,  declared  that  he  was 
the  very  Elephant  that  had  made  his  escape.  Confident  of  this,  he 
boldly  rode  up  to  him  on  a  tame  Elephant,  and  ordered  him  to  lie 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


THE  ENRAGED  ELEPHANT. 


down,  pulling  him,  at  the  same  time,  by  the  ear.  The  animal  seemed 
taken  by  surprise,  and  instantly1  obeyed  the  word  of  command. 

A  female  Elephant,  belonging  to  a  gentleman  at  Calcutta,  being 
ordered  from  the  upper  country  to  Chittygong,  broke  loose  from  her 
keeper,  and  was  lost  in  the  woods.  The  excuses  which  the  keeper 
made  were  not  admitted.  It  was  supposed  that  he  had  sold  the  Ele- 
phant; his  wife  and  family,  therefore,  were  sold  for  slaves,  and  he 
was  condemned  to  work  upon  the  roads.  About  twelve  years  after- 
wards this  man  was  ordered  into  the  country,  to  assist  in  catching 
wild  Elephants.  He  one  day  fancied  that  in  a  group  which  was  before 
him,  he  saw  his  long-lost  Elephant.  He  was  determined  to  go  up  to 
it ;  nor  could  the  strongest  representations  of  the  danger  with  which 
his  rashness  might  be  attended,  dissuade  him  from  his  purpose. 
When  he  approached  the  animal,  she  knew  him;  and,  giving  him 
three  salutes,  by  waving  her  trunk  in  the  air,  knelt  down  and  received 
him  on  her  back.  She  afterwards  assisted  in  securing  the  other 
Elephants,  and  likewise  brought  with  her  three  young  ones  which 
she  had  produced  during  her  absence.  The  keeper  recovered  his 
character ;  and,  as  a  recompense  for  his  sufferings  and  intrepidity, 
had  an  annuity  settled  on  him  for  life.  This  Elephant  was  afterwards 
in  the  possession  of  Governor  Hastings. 

These  and  other  instances  that  have  occurred,  clearly  evince  that 
Elephants  have  not  the  sagacity  to  avoid  a  snare  into  which  they  have, 
even  more  than  once,  fallen. 

.  The  Elephant,  when  tamed,  becomes  the  most  gentle  and  obedient 
of  all  domestic  animals.  He  soon  learns  to  comprehend  signs,  and 


108  THE    ELEPHANT. 

even  to  understand  the  expression  of  sounds.  He  distinguishes  the 
tones  of  command,  of  anger,  or  of  approbation  ;  and  regulates  his 
actions  accordingly.  He  receives  the  orders  of  his  keeper  with 
attention,  and  executes  them  with  prudence  and  eagerness,  but 
without  any  degree  of  precipitation ;  for  his  movements  are  always 
measured,  and  his  character  seems  to  partake  of  the  gravity  of  his 
bulk.  He  is  easily  taught  to  bend  his  knees  for  the  accommodation 
of  those  who  mount  him  ;  and  to  use  his  trunk  for  raising  burdens, 
and  to  assist  in  loading  himself.  He  allows  himself  to  be  clothed,  and 
is  employed  in  drawing  chariots,  ploughs,  and  wagons.  He  draws 
steadily,  and  never  proves  restive,  unless  insulted  by  improper  chas- 
tisement. The  man  who  conducts  him  generally  rides  on  his  neck, 
and  uses  an  iron  rod,  hooked  at  the  end,  or  having  there  a  kind  of 
bodkin,  with  which  he  pricks  the  head,  or  sides  of  the  ears,  in  order 
to  urge  him  forward  or  to  turn  him.  But  words  are  generally 
sufficient. 

The  domestic  Elephant  performs  more  work  than  perhaps  six  horses. 
He  is  generally  fed  with  rice,  raw  or  boiled,  and  mixed  with  water ; 
and,  to  keep  him  in  full  vigor,  he  is  said  to  require  daily  a  hundred 
pounds  weight  of  this  food,  besides  fresh  herbage  to  cool  him ;  and 
he  ought  to  be  led  to  the  water  twice  or  thrice  a  day  for  the  purpose 
of  bathing.  He  sucks  up  water  in  his  trunk,  carries  it  to  his  mouth, 
drinks  part  of  it,  and,  by  elevating  his  trunk,  allows  the  remainder 
to  run  over  every  part  of  his  body.  His  daily  consumption  of  water, 
for  drink,  has  been  calculated  at  forty-five  gallons. 

To  give  an  idea  of  the  labor  which  he  performs,  it  is  sufficient  to 
remark,  that  all  the  tuns,  sacks,  and  bales,  transported  from  one 
place  to  another  in  India,  are  carried  by  Elephants ;  that  they  carry 
burdens  on  their  bodies,  on  their  necks,  and  even  in  their  mouths,  by 
giving  them  the  end  of  a  rope,  which  they  hold  fast  with  their  teeth  ; 
that,  uniting  sagacity  to  strength,  they  never  break  or  injure  any  thing 
committed  to  their  charge ;  that  from  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  they 
put  these  bundles  into  boats  without  wetting  them,  laying  them  down 
gently,  and  arranging  them  where  they  ought  to  be  placed;  that, 
when  disposed,  in  the  places  where  their  masters  direct,  they  try 
with  their  trunks  whether  the  goods  are  properly  stowed ;  and,  if  a 
tun  or  a  cask  roll,  they  go,  of  their  own  accord,  in  quest  of  stones  to 
support  and  render  it  firm. 

M.  Phillipe  was  witness  to  the  following  facts  : — He  one  day  went 
to  the  river  at  Goa,  near  which  place  a  great  ship  was  building.  Here 
was  a  large  area,  filled  with  beams  for  that  purpose.  Some  men  tied 
the  ends  of  heavy  beams  with  a  rope.  This  was  handed  to  an  Elephant, 
who  carried  it  to  his  mouth,  and,  after  twisting  it  round  his  trunk, 
drew  it,  without  any  conductor,  to  the  place  where  the  ship  was 
building.  One  of  the  Elephants  sometimes  drew  beams  so  large,  that 
it  would  have  required  more  than  twenty  men  to  move  them.  But 
what  surprised  this  gentleman  still  more,  was  that  when  other  beams 
obstructed  the  road,  he  elevated  the  ends  of  his  own  beam,  that  it 
might  run  easily  over  those  which  lay  in  his  way. 

Elephants  not  only  obey  the  voice  of  their  keeper  when  present , 


THE   ELEPHANT.  109 

but  some,  even  in  his  absence,  will  perform  extraordinary  tasks  which 
have  been  previously  explained  to  them.  "  I  have  seen  two,"  says 
M.  D'Obsonville,  "  occupied  in  beating  down  a  wall  ;  which  their 
Cornacs  or  keepers  had  desired,  and  had  encouraged  them  to  do  by  a 
promise  of  fruits  and  brandy.  They  combined  their  efforts ;  and 
doubling  up  their  trunks,  which  were  guarded  from  injury  by  leather, 
thrust  them  against  the  strongest  part  of  the  wall;  and  by  reite- 
rated shocks  continued  their  efforts,  carefully  observing  and  following 
with,  their  eyes  the  effects  of  the  equilibrium :  at  last,  when  it  was 
sufficiently  loosened,  making  one  violent  push,  they  suddenly  drew 
back  together,  that  they  might  not  be  wounded  ;  and  the  whole  came 
tumbling  to  the  ground." 

At  a  certain  season  of  the  year,  these  animals  are  seized  with  a 
ferocity  which  renders  them  intractable,  and  formidable :  but  in  their 
ordinary  state,  the  most  acute  pains  will  not  provoke  them  to  injure 
those  who  have  not  offended  them.  A  female  Elephant,  rendered 
furious  by  the  wounds  she  had  received,  at  the  battle  of  Hambour, 
ran  about  the  field  making  the  most  hideous  cries.  A  soldier,  not 
withstanding  the  alarm  of  his  comrades,  was  unable,  perhaps  on 
account  of  his  wounds,  to  fly.  The  Elephant  approached,  seemed 
afraid  of  trampling  upon  him,  took  him  up  with  her  trunk,  placed 
him  gently  on  his  side,  and  continued  her  route. 

An  incident,  to  which  M.  le  Baron  de  Lauriston  was  witness, 
during  one  of  the  late  wars  in  the  East,  forms  another  proof  of  the 
sensibility  of  the  Elephant.  This  gentleman,  from  peculiar  circum- 
stances, was  induced  to  go  to  Laknaor,  at  a  time  when  an  epidemic 
distemper  was  making  the  greatest  ravages  amongst  the  inhabitants. 
The  principal  road  to  the  palace-gate  was  covered  with  the  sick  and 
dying,  extended  on  the  ground,  at  the  very  moment  when  the  nabob 
must  necessarily  pass.  It  appeared  impossible  for  his  Elephant  to  do 
otherwise  than  tread  upon  and  crush  many  of  these  poor  wretches, 
unless  the  prince  would  stop  till  the  way  could  be  cleared  ;  but  he  was 
in  haste,  and  such  tenderness  would  have  been  unbecoming  in  a 
person  of  his  importance.  The  Elephant,  however,  without  appearing 
to  slacken  his  pace,  and  without  having  received  any  command  for 
that  purpose,  assisted  them  with  his  trunk,  removed  some,  set  others 
on  their  feet,  and  stepped  over  the  rest  with  so  much  address  and 
assiduity,  that  not  one  person  was  wounded.  An  Asiatic  prince  and 
his  slaves  were  deaf  to  the  cries  of  nature,  while  the  heart  of  the  beast 
relented :  he,  more  worthy  than  his  rider  to  elevate  his  front  towards 
the  heavens,  heard  and  obeyed  the  calls  of  humanity. 

The  following  instance  of  the  sagacity  of  these  animals  was  men- 
tioned to  Dr.  Darwin,  by  a  gentleman  of  undoubted  veracity,  who 
has  been  much  conversant  with  our  Eastern  settlements.  The  Ele- 
phants that  are  employed  in  carrying  the  baggage  of  our  armies,  are 
put  each  under  the  care  of  one  of  the  natives  of  Indostan ;  and  while 
this  person  and  his  wife  go  into  the  woods  to  collect  leaves  and 
branches  of  trees  for  his  food,  they  fix  him  to  the  ground  by  a  long 
chain,  and  frequently  leave  a  child,  yet  unable  to  walk,  under  his 
protection;  and  the  intelligent  animal  not  only  defends  it,  but,  as  it 


110 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


ELEPHANT-HUNTING  IN  INDIA. 


creeps  about,  when  it  arrives  near  the  extremity  of  his  chain,  he  wraps 
his  trunk  gently  round  its  body,  and  brings  it  again  into  the  centre 
of  his  circle.  Elephant-hunting  has  always  been  a  favorite  sport  in 
India.  The  native  princes  are  fond  of  it,  and  the  English  residents 
not  less  so.  It  is  rather  a  dangerous  sport. 

During  one  of  the  wars  in  India,  many  Frenchmen  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  observing  one  of  the  Elephants  that  had  received  a  flesh- 
wound  from  a  cannon-ball.  After  having  been  twice  or  thrice  con- 
ducted to  the  hospital,  where  he  extended  himself  to  be  dressed,  he 
afterwards  used  to  go  alone.  The  surgeon  did  whatever  he  thought 
necessary,  and  sometimes  applied  even  fire  to  the  wound.  The  pain 
which  the  animal  suffered,  often  caused  him  to  utter  the  most  plaintive 
groans,  yet  he  never  expressd  any  other  token  than  that  of  gratitude, 
to  the  person  who  thus  by  momentary  torments  effected  his  cure. 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


Ill 


DEAD   ELEPHANT. 


In  the  last  war,  a  young  Elephant  received  a  violent  wound  in  its 
head,  the  pain  of  which  rendered  it  so  frantic  and  ungovernable,  that 
it  was  found  impossible  to  persuade  the  animal  to  have  the  part 
dressed.  Whenever  any  one  approached,  it  ran  off  with  fury,  and 
would  suffer  no  person  to  come  within  several  yards  of  it.  The  man 
who  had  the  care  of  this  animal,  at  length  hit  upon  a  contrivance  for 
securing  it.  By  a  few  words  and  signs,  he  gave  to  its  mother  suffi- 
cient intelligence  of  what  was  wanted ;  the  sensible  creature  im- 
mediately seized  her  young  one  with  her  trunk,  and  held  it  firmly 
down,  though  groaning  with  agony,  while  the  surgeon  completely 
dressed  the  wound :  and  she  continued  to  perform  this  service  every 
day  till  the  animal  was  perfectly  recovered. 

In  India  these  animals  were  formerly  employed  in  the  launching  of 
ships.  An  Elephant  was  directed  to  force  a  very  large  vessel  into 
the  water  ;  but  the  work  proved  superior  to  his  strength.  His  master, 
in  a  sarcastic  tone,  bade  the  keeper  take  away  this  lazy  beast,  and 
bring  another.  The  poor  animal  instantly  repeated  his  efforts, 
fractured  his  skull,  and  died  on  the  spot. 

In  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  a  story  is  related  of  an  Elephant 
having  formed  such  an  attachment  for  a  very  young  child,  that  he 
was  never  happy  but  when  the  child  was  near  him.  The  nurse  fre- 
quently took  it  in  its  cradle,  and  placed  it  between  his  feet.  This  he 
at  length  became  so  much  accustomed  to,  that  he  would  never  eat  his 
food  except  it  was  present.  When  the  child  slept,  he  would  drive  off 
the  flies  with  his  proboscis ;  and  when  it  cried,  would  move  the  cradle 
backward  and  forward,  and  thus  rock  it  again  to  sleep. 

A  sentinel  belonging  to  the  present  menagerie  at  Paris,  was  always 
very  careful  in  requesting  the  spectators  not  to  give  the  Elephants 
any  thing  to  eat.  This  conduct  particularly  displeased  the  female ; 
who  beheld  him  with  a  very  unfavorable  eye,  and  several  times  en- 
deavored to  correct  his  interference,  by  sprinkling  his  head  with 
water  from  her  trunk.  One  day,  when  several  persons  were  collected 


112  THE    ELEPHANT. 

to  view  these  animals,  a  by-stander  offered  the  female  a  bit  of  bread 
The  sentinel  perceived  it ;  but  the  moment  he  opened  his  mouth  to 
give  his  usual  admonition,  she,  placing  herself  immediately  before 
him,  discharged  in  his  face  a  considerable  stream  of  water.  A 
general  laugh  ensued;  but  the  sentinel,  having  calmly  wiped  his 
face,  stood  a  little  to  one  side,  and  continued  as  vigilant  as  before. 
Soon  afterwards,  he  found  himself  under  the  necessity  of  repeating 
his  admonition  to  the  spectators;  but  no  sooner  was  this  uttered, 
than  the  female  laid  hold  of  his  musket,  twirled  it  round  with  her 
trunk,  trod  it  under  her  feet,  and  did  not  restore  it  till  she  had  twisted 
it  nearly  into  the  form  of  a  screw. 

M.  Navarette  says,  that  at  Macassar,  an  Elephant  driver  had  a 
cocoa-nut  giveri  him,  which,  out  of  wantonness,  he  struck  twice 
against  his  Elephant's  forehead,  to  break.  The  day  following  the 
animal  saw  some  cocoa-nuts  exposed  in  the  street  for  sale;  and  taking 
one  of  them  up  with  his  trunk,  beat  it  about  the  driver's  head  and 
killed  him  on  the  spot. 

An  Elephant  that  was  exhibited  in  France  some  years  ago,  was  re- 
marked to  be  peculiarly  dexterous  in  the  use  of  his  trunk.  With 
great  ease  he  one  day  loosened  the  buckle  of  a  large  double  leather 
strap,  with  which  his  leg  was  fastened;  and  though  the  attendants 
had  wrapped  the  buckle  round  with  a  small  cord,  and  tied  many  knots 
on  it,  the  creature  deliberately  loosened  the  whole,  without  breaking 
either  the  cord  or  the  strap.  One  night,  after  having  disengaged 
himself  in  this  manner  from  his  strap,  he  broke  up  the  door  of  his 
lodge  with  such  dexterity  as  not  to  awaken  the  keeper.  Thence  he 
went  into  several  courts  of  the  menagerie;  forcing  open  doors,  and 
throwing  down  the  walls  where  the  doors  were  too  narrow  for  him  to 
pass.  In  this  manner  he  got  access  to  the  apartments  of  other 
animals ;  and  so  -terrified  them,  that  they  fled  into  the  most  retired 
corners  of  the  enclosure. 

That  Elephants  are  susceptible  of  the  warmest  attachment  to  each 
other,  the  following  account,  extracted  from  a  late  French  journal, 
will  sufficiently  prove.  Two  Ceylonese  Elephants,  a  male  and  female, 
each  about  two  years  and  a  half  old,  were,  in  1786,  brought  into  Hol- 
land, as  a  present  to  the  Stadth older.  After  the  subjugation  of  Hol- 
land by  the  French,  they  had  been  separated,  in  order  to  be  conveyed 
from  the  Hague  to  Paris,  where  a  spacious  hall  was  prepared  for 
their  reception  in  the  place  now  called  the  Jardin  des  Plantes.  This 
was  divided  into  two  apartments,  which  had  a  communication  by 
means  of  a  large  door  resembling  .a  portcullis.  The  enclosure  round 
these  apartments'consisted  of  very  strong  wooden  rails.  The  morning 
after  their  arrival,  they  were  conveyed  to  this  habitation.  The  male 
was  first  brought.  He  entered  the  apartment  with  suspicion,  recon- 
noitred the  place,  and  then  examined  each  bar  separately  with  his 
trunk,  and  tried  its  solidity  by  shaking  it.  When  he  arrived  at  the 
portcullis,  which  separated  the  apartments,  he  observed  that  it  was 
fastened  only  by  a  perpendicular  iron  bar.  This  he  raised  with  his 
trunk ;  he  then  pushed  up  the  door,  and  entered  the  second  apartment 
where  he  received  his  breakfast.  These  two  animals  had  been  parted 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


113 


HUNTING  THE  ELEPHANT   BY  NIGHT. 


(but  with  the  utmost  difficulty)  for  the  convenience  of  carriage,  and 
had  not  seen  each  other  for  some  months;  and  the  joy  they  ex- 
perienced, on  meeting  again  after  so  long  a  separation,  is  scarcely  to 
be  expressed.  They  immediately  rushed  towards  each  other,  and 
sent  forth  cries  of  joy  so  animated  and  loud  as  to  shake  the  whole 
hall.  They  breathed  also  through  their  trunks  with  such  violence, 
that  the  blast  resembled  an  impetuous  gust  of  wind.  The  joy  of  the 
female  was  the  most  lively.  She  expressed  it  by  quickly  flapping 
her  ears,  which  she  made  to  move  with  astonishing  velocity,  and  drew 
her  trunk  over  the  body  of  the  male  with  the  utmost  tenderness.  She 
particularly  applied  it  to  his  ear,  where  she  kept  it  a  long  time;  and, 
after  having  drawn  it  over  his  whole  body,  often  moved  it  affection- 
ately towards  her  own  mouth.  The  male  did  the  same  over  the  body 
of  the  female,  but  his  joy  was  more  steady.  He  seemed,  however,  to 
express  it  by  tears,  which  fell  from  his  eyes  in  abundance.  After 
this  time  they  occupied  the  same  apartment;  and  their  mutual  ten- 
derness and  natural  affection,  excited  the  admiration  of  all  who  have 
visited  them. 

These  two  Elephants  consumed  every  clay  a  hundred  pounds  weight 
of  hay,  and  eighteen  pounds  of  bread,  besides  several  bunches  of 
carrots,  and  a  great  quantity  of  potatoes.  During  summer  they  drank 
about  thirty  pails  of  water  in  the  day.  On  their  arrival  in  Holland, 
they  were  conveyed  in  a  vessel,  up  the  river  Waal,  to  Nimeguen, 
whence  they  were  driven  on  foot  to  Loo.  The  attendants  had  much 
difficulty  in  inducing  them  to  cross  the  bridge  at  Arnheirn.  The 


114  THE   ELEPHANT. 

animals  had  fasted  for  several  hours,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
food  was  placed  for  them  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  bridge.  Still, 
however,  some  time  elapsed  before  they  would  venture  upon  it ;  and 
at  last  they  would  not  make  any  step  without  first  carefully  examin- 
ing the  planks,  to  ascertain  that  they  were  firm.  During  the  time 
they  were  kept  at  Loo  they  were  perfectly  tame,  and  were  suffered  to 
range  at  liberty.  They  would  sometimes  come  into  the  room  at  the 
dinner-hour,  and  take  food- from  the  company.  After  the  conquest 
of  Holland,  from  the  cruelty  with  which  they  were  treated  by  many 
of  the  spectators  who  crowded  to  visit  them,  they,  however,  lost  much 
of  their  gentleness  ;  and  their  subsequent  confinement  in  the  cages  in 
which  they  were  conveyed  to  Paris,  even  rendered  them,  in  some 
degree,  ferocious  towards  spectators. 

Elephants  are  said  to  be  extremely  susceptible  of  the  power  of 
music.  Suetonius  informs  us,  that  the  emperor  Domitian  had  a  troop 
of  Elephants  disciplined  to  dance  to  the  sound  of  music ;  and  that 
one  of  them,  who  had  been  beaten  for  not  having  his  lesson  perfect, 
was  observed  the  night  afterwards  in  a  meadow,  practising  it  by  him- 
self! 

At  Paris  some  curious  experiments  have  been  lately  made  respect- 
ing the  power  of  music  over  the  sensibility  of  the  Elephant.  A  band 
of  music  went  to  play  in  a  gallery  extending  round  the  upper  part  of 
the  stalls  in  which  were  kept  two  Elephants,  distinguished  by  the 
names  of  Margaret  and  Hans.  A  perfect  silence  was  procured.  Some 
provisions  of  which  they  were  fond,  were  given  them  to  engage  their 
attention  ;  and  the  musicians  began  to  play.  The  music  no  sooner 
struck  their  ears,  than  they  ceased  from  eating,  and  turned  in  surprise 
to  observe  whence  the  sound  proceeded.  At  the  sight  of  the  gallery, 
the  orchestra,  and  the  assembled  spectators,  they  manifested  consider- 
able alarm,  as  though  they  imagined  there  was  some  design  against 
their  safety.  But  the  music  soon  overpowered  their  fears,  and  all 
other  emotions  became  completely  absorbed  in  their  attention  to  it. 
Music  of  a  bold  and  wild  expression  excited  in  them  turbulent  agita- 
tions, expressive  either  of  violent  joy,  or  of  rising  fury.  A  soft  air, 
performed  on  the  bassoon,  evidently  soothed  them  to  gentle  and 
tender  emotions.  A  gay  and  lively  air  moved  them,  especially  the 
female,  to  demonstrations  of  highly  sportive  sensibility.  Other 
variations  of  the  music  produced  coresponding  changes  in  the  emotions 
of  the  Elephants. 

A  male  Elephant  was  brought  to  England  in  the  year  1793,  and  was 
purchased  by  Mr.  Pidcock  of  Exeter  'Change,  London.  This  animal 
was  taught  by  his  keeper  to  perform  a  great  variety  of  tricks  for  the 
amusements  of  the  visitors.  If  a  pot  of  ale  was  brought  to  him,  he 
would  put  the  extremity  of  his  trunk  into  it,  and  sucking  up  the 
liquor,  would  afterwards  blow  it  into  his  mouth ;  this  done,  he  would 
make  a  motion  with  his  head,  which  the  keeper  always  took  care  to 
tell  the  donor,  was  the  animal's  mode  of  expressing  gratitude  for  the 
gilt;  and  which,  probably,  the  major  part  of  the  spectators  believed 
to  be  really  the  case.  He  would  take  up  a  watch  or  even  the  smallest 
piece  of  money  from  the  floor;  and,  at  command,  would  put  it  again 


THE   ELEPHANT. 


115 


THE  ELEPHANT. 


into  the  owner's  hand  or  pocket.  He  would  take  from  any  person  a 
piece  of  money,  and  give  it  to  a  boy  (who  attended  for  the  purpose) 
for  bread,  fruit,  or  vegetables,  which  he  immediately  ate.  If  his 
keeper  ordered  him,  he  would  unbolt  the  door  of  his  den,  or  untie, 
with  the  finger  at  the  extremity  of  his  proboscis,  a  piece  of  strong 
cord  that  was  fastened  to  the  door.  When  the  keeper  has  been  en- 
gaged in  sweeping  the  den,  the  imitative  animal  has  not  unfrequently 
taken  in  his  trunk  another  broom,  and  attempted  to  sweep  the  place 
after  him. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1798,  whilst  a  considerable  part  of  Mr.. 
Pidcock's  collection"  of  animals  was  at  Lancaster,  for  the  purpose  of 
exhibition,  several  intoxicated  sailors  came  to  the  carriages  in  the- 
night,  and  began  to  demolish  them.  The  keeper,  who  was  roused  by 
the  noise,  went  out,  and  reprimanded  the  sailors  for  their  conduct. 
This  had  no  effect  in  influencing  them  to  desist ;  but  in  return  they 
began  to  ill-treat  the  man.  His  cries  reached  the  ears  of  the  Elephant : 
as  soon  as  the  animal  recognized  his  voice,  he  burst  open  the  door  of 
his  den,  and  immediately  came  out  to  the  keeper's  assistance.  The 
moment,  however  that  the  sailors  perceived  him,  they  all  ran  off',  and 
little  mischief  was  done.  This  animal  died  in  the  year  1803. 

There  was  afterwards  at  Exeter  'Change,  a  female  Elephant,  which 
was  brought  to  England  in  the  Kockingham  East-Indiaman,  and 
landed  on  the  6th  of  January,  1796.  At  the  time  of  her  arrival  she 
was  not  much  bigger  than  a  large  hog,  but  she  afterwards  attained 
her  greatest  size.  She  was  considerably  more  thick  and  fleshy,  both 
in  the  body  and  limbs,  than  the  male,  and  her  head,  in  proportion, 
was  larger.  This  animal,  by  some  secret  signal  given  from  the- 
8 


116  THE   ELEPHANT. 

keeper,  would,  at  his  order,  beat  as  many  times  with  her  trunk  against 
the  rails  of  her  den,  as  there  were  persons  in  the  room  ;  and  in  a  similar 
manner,  would  beat  the  hour,  after  the  man  had  held  up  a  watch  to 
one  of  her  eyes.  She  would  take  off  his  hat,  and  again  put  it  on,  as 
often  as  she  was  commanded.  She  would  lie  down,  and  rise  up  again ; 
and  would  unbolt  and  bolt  the  door  of  her  den,  whenever  the  keeper 
ordered  her  to  do  so.  If  the  keeper  put  a  shilling  near  the  wall  of 
the  room,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  the  animaVs  trunk,  and  ordered  her  to 
pick  it  up,  she  immediately  extended  her  trunk  towards  it,  and  blew 
hard  against  the  wall :  the  blast  moved  the  shilling  within  her  reach, 
on  which  she  seized  it,  and  delivered  it  to  him,  or  to  any  person  that 
he  directed. 

As  all  the  animals  that  are  deposited  in  the  menagerie  at  Exeter 
'Change,  are.  kept  up  one  or  more  flights  of  stairs,  it  excites  no  in- 
considerable degree  of  wonder,  in  most  of  the  visitors,  to  conceive  how 
such  an  unwieldy  creature  as  an  Elephant  could  have  been  conveyed 
into  the  place  where  it  is  exhibited.  The  mode  is  this  :  when  one  of 
these  animals  arrives,  he  is  compelled  to  walk  up  a  kind  of  platform 
that  is  laid  over  the  staircase.  In  order  to  make  him  enter  the  den, 
one  keeper  pricks  him  behind,  with  a  sharp-pointed  spear,  whilst 
another  goes  before,  and  entices  him  with  fruit.  This,  of  course,  is 
always  a  troublesome  operation,  and  requires  much  care  and  address 
in  the  persons  employed. 

An  Elephant  which  is  now  in  Exeter  'Change  is  a  male,  and 
measures  more  than  ten  feet  in  height.  He  is  so  tractable  as  to  have 
been  several  times  introduced  in  the  dramatic  entertainments  at 
Coverit-garden  Theatre.  The  keeper  of  this  animal  usually  sleeps 
in  a  place  above  his  den,  and  at  the  height  of  twelve  or  fourteen  feet 
from  the  ground.  One  night,  about  the  end  of  the  year  1819,  the 
man  did  not  return  home  in  the  evening  so  early  as  usual,  and  the 
Elephant  by  means  of  his  proboscis,  and  by  resting  his  knees  against 
the  railing  of  his  den,  contrived  to  raise  himself  on  his  hind  legs  and 
reach  the  trunk  in  which  the  man  kept  his  clothes.  The  animal 
opened  the  trunk,  took  out  the  clothes,  and  swallowed  pantaloons, 
waistcoats,  neckcloths,  and  several  other  articles  of  dress ;  and,  hap- 
pily for  the  owner,  did  not  experience  any  inconvenience  from  this 
unusual  diet. 

Some  of  the  Indians  who  believe  in  transmigration  of  souls,  are 
persuaded  that  a  body  so  majestic  as  that  of  the  Elephant,  must  be 
animated  with  the  soul  of  some  great  man  or  king.  In  many  of  the 
eastern  countries,  white  Elephants  are  regarded  as  the  living  manes 
of  the  Indian  emperors.  Each  of  these  animals  has  a  palace,  a  number 
of  domestics,  and  magnificent  trappings;  and  eats  out  of  golden 
vessels,  filled  with  the  choicest  food.  They  are  absolved  from  all 
labor.  The  emperor  is  the  person  before  whom  they  bow  the  knee, 
and  their  salute  is  returned  by  the  monarch.  When  the  king  of  Pegu 
walks  abroad,  four  white  Elephants,  adorned  with  precious  stones  and 
ornaments  of  gold,  march  before  him ;  and  when  he  gives  audience, 
these  Elephants  are  presented  to  him;  and  they  do  him  reverence  by 
•raising  their  trunks,  opening  their  mouths,  making  three  distinct  cries, 


THE   ARCTIC   WALRUS.  117 

and  then  kneeling.  This  ended,  they  are  led  back  to  the  stable,  and 
there  each  of  them  is  fed  from  a  large  golden  vessel.  They  are  twice 
a-day  washed  with  water,  taken  from 'a  silver  vessel;  and,  in  going 
to  the  vessels  which  contain  their  food  and  water,  they  are  preceded 
by  trumpets,  and  march  with  great  majesty. 

Such  are  the  accounts,  collected  through  a  tolerably  wide  range  of 
authorities,  which  I  have  been  enabled  to  give,  of  the  disposition  and 
manners  of  this  useful  and  most  intelligent  of  all  animals.  These,  in 
a  few  instances,  may  perhaps  have  been  exaggerated  by  the  writers, 
and  must  consequently  be  received  with  some  degree  of  limitation; 
yet,  we  have  had  so  many  surprising  instances  of  the  sagacity  of  Ele- 
phants, related  on  unquestionable  authority,  that,  however  wonderful 
these  may  seem,  it  would  not  be  right  to  entirely  discredit  any  of 
them,  without  direct  proof  of  their  untruth.  The  authorities  for  the 
whole  are  such  as  have  been  received  by  different  respectable  and 
observing  men,  who,  with  both  the'  power  and  ability  of  inquiring 
into  the  facts,  seem  to  have  entertained  no  doubts  whatever  of  their 
validity. 


THE   MOESE,  OR  MANATI  TEIBE. 

These  animals  are  destitute 
of  fore  teeth  in  both  jaws.  From 
the  upper  jaw  proceed  two  great 
tusks,  which  point  downward. 
The  grinders  have  wrinkled  sur- 
faces. The  lips  are  doubled. 
The  hind  feet  are  at  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  body,  and  unite 
into  a  kind  of  fin. 

The  Manati  are  animals  entirely  marine.  They  feed  on  sea-weeds, 
corallines,  and  shell-fish,  and  are  not  carnivorous.  Their  elongated 
body,  declining  in  bulk  from  the  head  gradually  to  the  tail,  and  .thej.r 
short,  fin-like  feet,  give  them  some  alliance  to  the  fishy  tribes.  They 
may  indeed  be  considered  as  forming  one  of  those  steps  in  nature,  by 
which  we  are  conducted  from  one  great  division  of  the  animal  world 
to  the  other.  Though  the  general  residence  of  all  the  species  is  in 
the  sea,  yet  some  of  them  are  perfectly  amphibious,  and  live  with 
equal  ease  on  the  land  and  in  water. 

THE   GREAT  MORSE,    OR  ARCTIC   WALRUS, 

This  is  an  animal  of  enormous  size.  It  sometimes  measures  nearly 
eighteen  feet  in  length,  and  ten  or  twelve  feet  in  circumference.  In 
the  upper  jaw  there  are  two  long  tusks,  which  bend  downward.  The 
head  is  small,  the  neck  short,  and  body  round.  The  lips  are  very 
thick,  and  the  upper  one  is  cleft  into  two  large  rounded  lobes,  on 
which  there  are  several  thick  and  semi-transparent  bristles.  The  eyes 
are  very  small;  and  instead  of  external  ears,  there  are  only  two  small 


118  THE   ARCTIC   WALRUS. 

circular  orifices.  The  skin  is  thick,  and  scattered  over  with  short, 
brownish  hair.  The  legs  are  short ;  and  on  each  foot  there  are  five 
toes,  connected  by  webs.  The  hind  feet  are  considerably  broader 
than  the  other.  The  tail  is  very  short. 

When  we  consider  the  enormous  size  and  strength  of  these  animals, 
and  that  they  are  furnished  with  weapons  so  powerful  as  the  long 
tusks  which  project  from  their  upper  jaw,  it  was  not  without  surprise 
we  learn  that  their  general  disposition  and  habits  are  peaceful  and 
inoffensive.  The  uses  to  which  their  tusks  are  applied,  are  the 
scraping  of  shell-fish,  and  other  prey,  out  of  the  sand,  and  from  the 
rocks ;  they  are  likewise  employed  in  aiding  their  ascent  upon  the 
islands  of  ice,  and  as  weapons  of  defence  against  the  attacks  of  their 
enemies.  If,  however,  their  passions  be  roused  by  provocation  or 
attack,  these  animals  are  sometimes  exceedingly  furious  and  vin- 
dictive. When  surprised  on  the  ice,  the  females  first  provide  for  the 
safety  of  their  young  ones,  by  flinging  them  into  the  sea,  and  convey- 
ing them  to  a  secure  distance ;  they  then  return  with  great  rage  to 
the  place  where  they  were  attacked,  for  the  purpose  of  revenging  any 
injury  they  may  have  received.  They  will  sometimes  attempt  to 
fasten  their  teeth  on  the  boats,  in  order  to  sink  them,  or  will  rise 
under  them  in  great  numbers,  with  the  intention  of  oversetting  them ; 
at  the  same  time  exhibiting  all  the  marks  of  rage,  roaring  in  a  dread- 
ful manner,  and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  great  violence.  They  are 
strongly  attached  to  each  other,  and  will  make  every  effort  in  their 
power,  even  to  death,  to  liberate  a  harpooned  companion.  A 
wounded  Walrus  has  been  known  to  sink  beneath  the  surface  of  the 
ocean,  rise  suddenly  again,  and  bring  up  with  it  multitudes  of  others, 
who  have  united  in  an  attack  on  the  boat  from  whence  the  insult 
came. 

Great  numbers  of  Arctic  Wal- 
ruses, regularly  visit  the  Magdalene 
Islands,  in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence, 
every  spring.  Immediately  on  their 
arrival,  they  crawl  up  the  sloping 
rocks  of  the  coast  in  great  numbers, 
and,  when  the  weather  is  fair,  they 
frequently  remain  for  many  days; 
but  on  the  first  appearance  of  rain, 
they  retreat  to  the  water  with  great 
precipitation.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
<m AN ICEBURO  weeks  they  assemble  in  great  num- 

bers. Formerly,  when  undisturbed  by  the  Americans,  their  herds 
have  been  kn  own  to  amount  to  seven  or  eight  thousand.  These  animals 
are  killed  by  the  inhabitants,  for  the  sake  of  their  skins  and  fat.  At 
a  proper  time,  the  hunters,  taking  advantage  of  a  sea-wind  to  prevent 
the  animals  from  smelling  them,  endeavor  in  the  night,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  dogs,  to  separate  those  that  are  furthest  advanced  from 
those  nearest  the  water,  driving  them  different  ways.  This  is  generally 
esteemed  a  very  dangerous  process,  as  it  is  impossible  to  drive  them 
in  any  particular  direction,  and  sometimes  difficult  to  avoid  being 


THE   ARCTIC   \TALRUS.  119 

attacked  by  them.  In  the  darkness  of  the  night,  however,  many  of 
them  lose  their  knowledge  of  the  direction  in  which  they  lie,  with 
respect  to  the  water,  so  that  they  stray  about,  and  are  killed  by  the 
men  at  leisure ;  those  nearest  the  shore  becoming  the  first  victims. 
In  this  manner  .fifteen  or  sixteen  hundred  have  sometimes  been 
killed  at  one  time.  They  are  then  skinned,  and  the  coat  of  fat  that 
surrounds  them  is  taken  off,  and  dissolved  into  oil.  The  skin  is  cut 
into  slices  two  or  three  inches  wide,  and  exported  to  America  for 
carriage- traces,  and  to  England  for  glue. 

It  is  said  that  the  Walruses  will  sometimes  attack  small  boats 
through  wantonness,  and  not  only  thow  the  people  into  confusion,  but 
frequently  subject  them  to  great  danger.  In  the  year  1766,  some  of 
the  crew  of  a  sloop  which  sailed  to  the  northward,  to  trade  with  the 
Esquimaux,  were  attacked  in  their  boat  by  a  great  number  of  these 
animals ;  and  notwithstanding  their  utmost  endeavors  to  keep  them 
off,  a  small  one,  more  daring  than  the  rest,  got  in  over  the  stern 
and,  after  sitting  and  looking  at  the  men  for  some  time,  again  plunged 
into  the  water  to  his  companions.  At  that  instant  another  of  enor- 
mous size,  was  getting  in  over  the  bow ;  and,  every  other  means 
proving  ineffectual  to  prevent  the  approach  of  such  an  unwelcome 
visitor,  the  bow-man  took  up  a  gun  loaded  with  goose-shot,  put  the 
muzzle  into  the  animal's  mouth,  and  shot  him  dead.  He  immediately 
sunk,  and  was  followed  by  all  his  companions.  The  people  then 
made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  ship,  and  just  arrived  before  the 
creatures  were  ready  to  make  their  second  attack,  which  would 
probably  have  been  much  more  dangerous  than  the  first. 

The  following  is  captain  Cook's  description  of  a  herd  of  Walruses, 
that  were  seen  floating  on  a  mass  of  ice  off  the  northern  part  of  the 
continent  of  America. —  "They  lie  (says  he)  in  herds,  of  many  hun- 
dreds, upon  the  ice,  huddling  over  one  another  like  swine ;  and  roar 
or  bray  so  loud,  that  in  the  night,  or  in  foggy  weather,  they  gave  us 
notice  of  the  vicinity  of  the  ice  before  we  could  see  it.  We  never 
found  the  whole  herd  asleep,  some  being  always  upon  the  watch. 
These,  at  the  approach  of  the  boat,  would  wake  those  next  to  them ; 
and  the  alarm  being  thus  gradually  communicated,  the  whole  herd 
would  be  awaked.  But  they  were  seldom  in  a  hurry  to  get  away, 
till  after  they  had  been  once  fired  at.  They  then  would  tumble  over 
one  another  into  the  sea,  in  the  utmost  confusion.  And  if  we  did  not 
at  the  first  discharge,  kill  those  we  fired  at,  we  generally  lost  them, 
though  mortally  wounded.  Vast  numbers  of  these  animals  would 
follow  and  come  close  up  to  the  boats ;  but  the  flash  of  a  musket  in 
the  pan,  or  even  the  pointing  of  a  musket  at  them,  would  send  them 
down  in  an  instant.  The  female  Walrus  will  defend  her  offspring  to 
the  very  last,  and  at  the  expense  of  her  own  life,  whether  in  the  water 
or  upon  the  ice.  Nor  will  the  young  one  quit  the  dam,  though  she  be 
dead;  so  that,  if  one  be  killed,  the  other  is  a  certain  prey." 

We  are  informed  by  Crantz,  in  his  account  of  Greenland,  that  Wal- 
ruses, when  playing  about  in  the  water,  have  been  frequently  observed, 
with  their  long  tusks,  to  draw  sea-fowl  beneath  the  surface,  and  after 
a  little  while,  tc  throw  them  'up  into  the  air.  As  they  are  not  car- 


120  THE   WHALE-TAILED   MAN  ATI. 

nivorous  animals,  but  live  entirely  on  shell-fish  and  marine  plants, 
they  do  not  eat  these  birds,  consequently  this  can  be  done  only  out 
of  wantonness  and  frolic. 

The  tusks  of  the  Walrus,  which  weigh  from  ten  to  thirty  pounds 
each,  are  used  as  ivory  ;  but  the  animals  are  sought  after  principally 
for  the  sake  of  their  oil.  A  very  strong  and  elastic  leather,  it  is  said, 
may  be  prepared  from  the  skin.  The  animals  frequently  weigh  from 
1500  to  2000  pounds,  and  yield  from  one  to  two  barrels  of  oil  each. 

THE   WHALE-TAILED   MORSE,  OR   MANATI. 

The  length  of  the  whale-tailed  Manati  is 
sometimes  nearly  twenty-eight  feet,  and  the 
weight  as  much  as  eight  thousand  pounds. 
The  head  is  small.  The  lips  are  double ; 
and,  near  the  junction  of  the  jaws,  the  mouth 
is  filled  with  white  tubular  bristles,  which 
are  of  use  to  prevent  the  food  from  run- 
ning out  of  their  mouth  with  the  water.  The  eyes  are  extremely 
small,  as  also  are  the  orifices  of  the  ears.  The  tail  is  thick  and 
strong;  ending  in  a  black,  stiff  fin.  The  skin  is  thick,  hard,  and 
black,  and  full  of  inequalities,  like  the  bark  of  oak  ;  and  beneath  this 
there  is  a  thick  blubber. 

These  animals  frequent  chiefly  the  seas  that  lie  betwixt  America 
and  Karntschatka,  and  are  seldom  seen  upon  the  shore,  unless  driven 
there  by  tempestuous  weather.  They  are  always  found  in  herds,  in 
which  the  old  ones  keep  behind,  and  drive  the  young  ones  before  them ; 
some  at  the  same  time  going  along  the  sides,  by  way  of  protection. 
They  live  in  families,  each  consisting  of  perhaps  a  male  and  female, 
a  half-grown  young  one,  and  a  new-born  cub ;  and  these  families  fre- 
quently unite,  so  as  to  form  vast  droves. 

In  their  manners  they  are  peaceable  and  harmless,  and  have  a  very 
extraordinary  attachment  to  each  other.  When  one  of  them  is  hooked, 
or  struck  with  a  harpoon,  the  whole  herd  will  attempt  its  rescue. 
Some  will  strive  to  overset  the  boat  by  going  beneath  it;  others  will 
fling  themselves  on  the  rope  of  the  hook,  and  press  it  down  in  order 
to  break  it;  and  others  again  will  make  the  utmost  efforts  to  wrench 
the  instrument  out  of  the  body  of  their  wounded  companion. 

In  their  conjugal  affection,  if  such  it  may  be  termed,  they  are  most 
exemplary.  A  male,  after  having  used  all  its  endeavors  to  release  his 
mate,  which  had  been  struck,  pursued  her  to  the  very  edge  of  the 
water;  and  no  blows  that  were  given  could  force  him  away.  As  long 
as  the  deceased  female  continued  in  the  water,  he  persisted  in  his  at- 
tendance; and  even  for  three  days  after  she  was  drawn  on  shore,  cut 
up,  and  carried  away,  he  was  observed  to  remain  in  expectation  of  her 
return. 

These  animals,  which,  like  the  last  species,  are  eagerly  pursued  by 
seamen  for  the  sake  of  their  blubber  and  skins,  are  generally  caught  by 
means  of  a  harpoon  fastened  to  a  long  line.  The  strongest  man  in  the 
boat  strikes  the  instrument  into  the  nearest  animal.  This  done,  twenty 


THE  ROUND-TAILED   MANATI. 


121 


HUNTING   THE  MORSE. 


or  thirty  people  on  shore  seize  the  rope,  and  drag  the  creature  to  land. 
The  poor  beast,  assisted  by  its  faithful  companions,  makes  every  pos- 
sible resistance;  it  clings  with  its  feet  to  the  rocks,  till  it  leaves  the 
skin  behind  ;  and  often  great  fragments  of  rock  will  fly  off  before  it 
can  be  secured. 

The  flesh  of  these  animals  is  coarser  than  beef,  and  does  not  soon 
putrefy;  that  of  the  young  ones  is  stated  to  be  not  much  unlike 
veal. 


THE   ROUND-TAILED   MANATI. 

TLe  Eound-tailed  Manati  are  about  six  feet  in  length,  and  three  or 
four  in  circumference.  They  have  a  short,  thick  neck,  small  eyes, 
and  thick  lips;  are  very  thick  about  the  shoulders,  and  taper  gradu- 
ally to  the  tail,  which  is  broad  and  round.  The  skin  is  thick  and 
hard,  and  has  a  few  hairs  scattered  over  it. 

Sometimes,  in  their  frolicsome  moods,  the  Eound-tailed  Manati  are 
observed  to  leap  to  great  heights  above  the  surface  of  the  water. 
They  chiefly  delight  in  shallow  waters  near  low  land,  and  in  places 
that  are  secure  from  surges,  and  where  the  tides  run  gently.  Marine 
plants  seem  to  constitute  their  principal  food. 

They  are  caught  by  means  of  harpoons ;  and  the  affection  of  the 
parent  for  her  offspring  is  as  conspicuous  in  this  as  in  the  last  species 
If  a  young  one  be  with  its  mother  when  she  is  struck  by  a  fisherman, 
careless  of  her  own  sufferings  she  affectionately  takes  it  under  her  fins, 
or  feet,  to  protect  it  from  her  own  fate.  But  how  cruelly  do  mankind 
reward  them  for  these  tender  offices!  The  young  one,  which  will 


122  THE   SEA-APE   MANATI. 

never  forsake  its  dam,  even  in  the  greatest  distress,  is,  on  these  occa- 
sions, considered  in  no  other  light  than  a  certain  prey. 

We  are  told  that  this  species  of  Manati  is  often  tamed  by  the  native 
inhabitants  of  America,  and  that  it  delights  in  music.  A  governor 
of  Nicaragua  is  said  to  have  kept  one  of  them  in  a  lake  near  his 
house,  for  six-and-twenty  years.  The  animal  was  usually  fed  with 
bread,  and  fragments  of  victuals,  in  the  same  manner  as  fish  are  fed 
in  a  pond.  He  became  so  familiar,  that,  in  tameness  and  docility,  he 
nearly  equalled  what  has  been  boasted  by  the  ancients,  of  their  Dol- 
phin. The  domestics  gave  him  the  name  of  Matto ;  and,  when  any 
of  them  came  at  the  regular  hour  to  feed  him,  and  called  him  by  his  name, 
he  would  immediately  approach  the  shore,  and  take  food  out  of  their 
hands.  Sometimes  he  would  even  crawl  up  to  the  house  to  receive 
it ;  and  when  there,  would  play  with  the  servants  and  children.  Ac- 
cording to  Peter  Martyr,  the  writer  of  the  account,  this  animal  has 
been  known  even  to  carry  persons  across  the  lake  on  his  back.  From 
circumstances  similar  to  these,  some  writers  have  been  led  to  imagine 
not  only  that  the  Dolphin,  but  that  the  Mermaids  and  Syrens,  of  the 
ancients,  were,  in  reality,  no  other  than  this  species  of  Manati. 

These  animals  are  found  in  most  of  the  great  rivers  of  Africa,  from 
Senegal  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope;  and  in  many  of  those  of  the 
eastern  coasts  of  South  America.  In  the  river  of  Amazon,  they  are 
often  seen  nearly  a  thousand  leagues  from  its  mouth. 

Their  flesh,  as  food,  is  stated  to  be  white,  sweet,  and  salubrious. 
The  thicker  parts  of  the  skin,  cut  into  slices,  and  dried,  become  very 
tough,  and  are  used  for  whips.  The  thinner  parts,  which  are  more 
pliant,  serve  the  Indians  as  thongs  for  fastening  together  the  sides  of 
their  canoes. 


Sea-Ape  Manati*  We  are  informed  by  Mr.  Steller,  that  he  saw, 
off  the  coast  of  America,  a  marine  animal,  which  he  denominates  a 
Sea-ape.  He  states,  that  it  was  extremely  playful,  and  amused  all 
who  saw  it  by  a  great  number  of  frolicsome  tricks.  It  sometimes 
swam  on  one,  and  sometimes  on  the  other  side  of  the  ship,  gazing  at 
it  with  great  admiration.  Occasionally  it  would  stand  erect,  for  a 
considerable  time  together,  with  one  third  of  its  body  above  the 
water ;  then  dart  beneath  the  ship  and  appear  on  the  other  side,  and 
repeat  the  same  for  twenty  or  thirty  times  successively.  It  would 
frequently  rise  with  a  sea-plant  in  its  mouth,  not  unlike  the  bottle- 
gourd,  toss  it  up  and  catch  it,  and  play  with  it  a  thousand  antics. 

*  This  animal,  though  placed  by  Mr.  Pennant  among  the  Manati,  seems  rather  to  belong  to 
the  Seals.  Its  head  was  somewhat  like  that  of  a  Dog,  and  the  ears  were  sharp  and  upright. 
The  eyes  were  large,  and  there  were  strong  whiskers  on  each  lip.  The  body  was  round  and 
conoid,  the  thickest  part  near  the  head;  and  the  animal  was  apparently  destitute  of  feet. 


FERAE. 

.  MOST  of  the  animals  belonging  to  this  order  have  six  front  teeth, 
of  a  somewhat  conical  shape,  both  in  the  upper  and  under  jaw.  Next 
to  these  are  strong  and  sharp  canine-teeth;  and  the  grinders  are 
formed  into  conical  or  pointed  processes.  Their  feet  are  divided  into 
toes,  which  are  armed  with  sharp  hooked  claws. 


OF  THE  SEALS  IN  GENERAL. 


In  their  upper  jaw  the  Seals  have  six  parallel  and  sharp-pointed 
fore-teeth,  the  exterior  ones  of  which  are  the  largest ;  and  in  the  lower 
jaw  four,  that  are  also  parallel,  distinct,  and  equal.  There  is  one 
canine-tooth  in  each  jaw ;  and  five  grinders  above,  and  six  below,  all 
of  which  have  three  knobs  or  points. 

There  is  a  very  close  alliance  between  the  Seals  and  the  Manati; 
most  of  them  having  the  same  kind  of  elongated  body,  and  fin-like 
feet.  These  animals,  as  well  as  the  Manati,  inhabit  the  waters,  where 
they  swim  with  great  ease.  In  summer  they  live  much  on  the  shores, 
but  in  winter  they  confine  themselves  almost  entirely  to  the  sea. 
Their  flesh,  fat,  and  hides,  are  all  of  use,  but  in  an  economical  and 
commercial  view. 

(123) 


124  THE  COMMON  SEAL. 


THE  COMMON  SEAL. 

r 

The  usual  length  of  thess  animals  is  five  or  six  feet.  The  head  is 
large  and  round;  the  neck  small  and  short;  and  on  each  side  of  the 
mouth  there  are  several  strong  bristles.  From  the  shoulders  the 
body  tapers  to  the  tail.  The  eyes  are  large :  there  are  no  external 
ears ;  and  the  tongue  is  cleft  or  forked  at  the  end.  The  legs  are  very 
short ;  and  the  hinder  ones  are  placed  so  far  back,  as  to  be  of  but  littfe 
use,  except  in  swimming.  The  feet  are  all  webbed.  The  tail  is 
short.^  The  animals  vary  in  color;  their  short,  thick-set  hair  being 
sometimes  grey,  sometimes  brown  ,or  blackish,  and  sometimes  even 
spotted  with  white  or  yellow. 

The  dens  or  habitations,  in 
which  these  animals  most  com- 
monly reside,  are  hollow  rocks,  or 
caverns,  near  the  sea,  but  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  tide.  In  the  sum- 
mer-time they  will  frequently  leave 
the  water,  to  bask  or  sleep  in  the 
sun  on  the  large  stones  or  shivers 
THE  COMMON  SEAL.  of  rOcks.  They  are,  however,  ex- 

tremely watchful,  never,  says  Mr.  Pennant,  sleeping  long  without 
moving.  At  intervals  of  about  a  minute  or  two,  they  raise  their 
heads,  to  see  that  they  are  not  threatened  with  danger.  Providence 
seems  to  have  given  to  them  this  propensity,  because,  being  destitute 
of  auricles  or  external  ears,  they  consequently  are  neither  able  to 
hear  quickly,  nor  from  a  great  distance. 

In  their  proper  depth  of  water  these  animals  are  very  rapid  in  theii 
motions.  They  will  dive  like  a  shot,  and  in  a  few  moments  after- 
wards, rise  at  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  yards.  A  person  of  the 
parish  of  Ssnnam,  in  Cornwall,  once  saw  a  seal  in  pursuit  of  a  Mullet. 
The  Seal  turned  it  to  and  fro,  in  deep  water,  as  a  grey-hound  does  a 
hare.  The  Mullet,  at  last,  found  that  it  had  no  way  to  escape  but  by 
running  into  shoal- water.  The  Seal  pursued ;  and  the  former,  to  get 
more  surely  out  of  danger,  threw  itself  on  its  side,  by  which  means  it 
darted  into  shallower  water  than  it  could  have  swam  in  with  the  depth 
of  its  paunch  and  fins,  and  thus  escaped. 

Seals,  if  taken  young,  are  capable  of  being  tamed  ;  they  will  follow 
their  master  like  a  Dog,  and  come  to  him  when  called  by  the  name 
that  is  given  to  them.  Some  years  ago  a  young  Seal  was  thus  domes- 
ticated. It  was  taken  a  little  distance  from  the  sea,  and  was  generally 
kept  in  a  vessel  full  of  salt  water;  but  sometimes  it  was  allowed  to 
crawl  about  the  house,  and  even  to  approach  the  fire.  Its  natural 
food  was  regularly  procured  for  it ;  and  it  was  carried  to  the  sea 
every  day,  and  thrown  in  from  a  boat.  It  used  to  swim  after  the  boat, 
and  always  allowed  itself  to  be  taken  back.  It  lived  thus  for  several 
weeks ;  and  probably  would  have  lived  much  longer,  had  it  not  been 
sometimes  too  roughly  used. 
A  Seal  that  was  exhibited  in  London,  in  the  year  1750,  answered 


THE   COMMON  SEAL.  125 

to  the  call  of  his  keeper,  and  attended  to  whatever  he  was  com- 
manded to  do.  He  would  take  food  from  the  man's  hand,  crawl  out  of 
the  water,  and,  when  ordered,  would  stretch  himself  out  at  full  length 
on  the  ground.  He  would  thrust  out  his  neck  and  appear  to  kiss  the 
keeper,  as  often  as  the  man  pleased  ;  and  when  he  was  directed,  would 
again  return  into  the  water. 

Some  time  ago,  a  farmer  of  Aberdowr,  a  town  on  theFifeshire  side  of 
the  banks  of  the  Frith  of  Forth,  in  going  out  among  the  rocks  to  catch 
lobsters  and  crabs,  discovered  a  }roung  Seal,  about  two  feet  and  a  half 
long,  which  he  brought  home.  He  offered  it  some  pottage  and  milk, 
which  the  animal  greedily  devoured.  It  was  fed  in  this  manner  for  three 
days,  when  the  man's  wife,  considering  it  an  intruder  in  her  family, 
would  -not  suffer  it  to  be  kept  any  longer.  Taking  some  men  of  the 
town  along  with  him  for  the  purpose,  her  husband  threw  it  into  the 
sea  ;  but  notwithstanding  all  their  endeavors,  it  persisted  in  returning 
to  them.  It  was  agreed  that  the  tallest  of  the  men  should  walk  into 
water  as  far  as  he  could,  and,  having  thrown  the  animal  in,  that  they 
should  hide  themselves  behind  a  rock  at  some  distance.  This  was 
accordingly  done ;  but  the  animal  returned  from  the  water,  and  soon 
discovered  them  in  their  hiding-place.  The  farmer  again  took  it 
home,  where  he  kept  it  for  some  time  ;  but  at  length  growing  tired  of 
it,  he  had  it  killed  for  the  sake  of  its  skin. 

We  are  informed  that  Seals  delight  in  thunder-storms ;  and,  that 
during  these  times,  they  will  sit  on  the  rocks,  and  contemplate  with 
apparent  pleasure  and  gratification  the  convulsion  of  the  elements. 
The  Icelanders  entertain,  respecting  these  animals,  a  strange  supersti- 
tion. They  believe  them  to  resemble  the  human  species  more  than 
any  other  creature ;  and  that  they  are  the  offspring  of  Pharaoh  and 
his  host,  who  were  converted  into  Seals  when  they  were  overwhelmed 
in  the  Red  Sea. 

The  females  produce  two  or  more  young  ones  at  a  birth.  These,  in 
northern  climates,  they  deposit  in  cavities  of  the  ice ;  and  the  male  makes 
a  hole  through  the  ice  near  them,  for  a  speedy  communication  with  the 
water.  Into  this  they  always  plunge  with  their  offspring,  the  moment 
they  observe  a  hunter  approach;  and  at  other  times  they  descend  into 
it  spontaneously  in  search  of  food.  The  manner  in  which  the  male 
Seals  make  these  holes  is  astonishing :  neither  their  teeth  nor  their 
paws  have  any  share  in  the  operation.  It  is  performed,  says  M.  Acerbi, 
solely  by  their  breath.  When  the  females  come  out  of  the  sea,  they 
bleat  Wee  sheep  for  their  young :  and  though  they  often  pass  among 
hundreds  of  other  young  ones  before  they  come  to  their  own,  yet  they 
will  never  suffer  any  of  the  strangers  to  suck  them.  About  a  fortnight 
after  their  birth,  they  are  taken  out  to  sea,  and  instructed  in  swimming 
and  seeking  their  food :  when  they  are  fatigued,  the  parent  is  said  to 
carry  them  on  her  back.  The  Seal-hunters  in  Caithness  assured  Mr. 
Pennant  that  their  growth  was  so  rapid,  that  in  nine  tides  (about  fifty- 
four  hours)  after  their  birth,  they  became  as  active  as  their  parents. 

These  animals  are  pursued  and  killed  for  the  advantage  of  their 
skins  and  oil.  The  time  when  this  is  done  is  generally  in  October,  or 
the  beginning  of  November.  The  hunters,  furnished  with  torches  and 


SEAL-nUN'TIN.",  IN  SCOTLAND. 


bludgeons,  enter  the  mouths  of  the  caverns  about  midnight,  and  row 
in  as  far  as  they  can.  They  then  land;  and,  having  stationed  them- 
selves in  proper  places,  begin  by  making  a  great  noise,  which  alarms 
the  animals,  and  brings  them  down  in  confusion  from  all  directions 
towards  the  sea.  In  this  hazardous  employment  much  care  is  requisite 
on  the  part  of  the  hunters  to  avoid  the  throng,  which  presses 
upon  them  with  great  impetuosity,  and  bears  away  every  thing  that 
opposes  its  progress ;  but  when  the  first  crowd  has  passed,  they  kill 
great  numbers  of  young  ones,  which  generally  straggle  behind. 

To  the  inhabitants  of  Greenland,  Seals  are  animals  of  great  impor- 
tance. The  sea  is  to  these  people  what  corn-fields  are  to  us ;  and  the 
Seal-fishery  is  their  most  copious  harvest.  The  flesh  supplies  them 
with  their  principal  food :  the  fat  furnishes  them  with  oil  for  their 
food,  their  lamps,  and  fires ;  and  the  fibres  of  the  sinews  serve  better 
for  sewing  with  than  thread  or  silk.  Of  the  skins  of  the  entrails,  this 
people  make  their  windows,  curtains  for  their  tents,  and  shirts;  and 
part  of  the  bladders  they  use  in  fishing,  as  buoys  or  floats  to  their  har- 
poons. Of  the  bones  they  formerly  made  all  those  instruments  and 
working-tools  that  are  now  supplied  to  them  by  the  introduction  of 
iron.  Even  the  blood  is  not  lost;  for  they  boil  that,  with  other  ingre- 


THE   URSINE   SEAL.  127 

dients,  as  soup.  Of  the  skins  they  form  clothing,  coverings  for  their 
beds,  houses,  and  boats,  and  thongs  and  straps  of  every  description. 
To  be  able  to  pursue  and  kill  Seals,  is  the  height  of  the  Greenlanders' 
desires  and  pride ;  and  to  this  labor,  which  is  in  truth  an  arduous  one, 
they  are  trained  from  their  childhood. 

The  hunting  of  the  Seal  also  sets  the  courage  and  enterprize  of  the 
Finlander  in  the  strongest  possible  light.  The  season  for  this  chase 
begins  when  the  sea  breaks  up,  and  the  ice  floats  in  shoals  upon  the 
surface.  Four  or  five  peasants  will  go  out  to  sea  in  one  small  open 
boat,  and'  will  often  continue  more  than  a  month  absent  from  their 
families.  Thus  do  they  expose  themselves  to  all  the  horrors  of  the 
northern  seas,  having  only  a  small  fire,  which  they  kindle  on  a  sort 
of  brick  hearth,  and  living  on  the  flesh  of  the  Seals  which  they  kill. 
The  fat  and  skins  they  bring  home.  The  perils  with  which  these 
voyagers  have  to  struggle,  are  almost  incredible.  They  have  inces- 
santly to  pass  between  masses  of  ice,  which  threaten  to  crush  their 
little  bark  to  atoms.  They  mount  the  floating  shoals;  and,  creeping 
along  them,  steal  cautiously  upon  the  animals,  and  kill  them  as  they 
.repose  on  the  ice. 

The  Common  Seals  are  found  on  most  of  the  rocky  shores  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  and  especially  on  those  of  Scotland.  They  in- 
habit all  the  European  seas ;  and  are  found  considerably  within  the 
arctic  circle,  in  the  seas  both  of  Europe  and  Asia,  and  even  upon  the 
shores  of  Kamtschatka. 

Their  usual  food  consists  of  fish  and  other  marine  productions,  all 
of  which  they  eat  beneath  the  water.  When  they  are  in  the  act  of 
devouring  fish  that  abound  in  oil,  the  place  may  be  easily  remarked 
by  the  smoothness  of  the  waves  immediately  above.  The  flesh  of 
Seals  formerly  found,  in  England,  a  place  at  the  tables  of  the  great ; 
as  appears  from  the  bill  of  fare  of  a  vast  feast  which  archbishop  Nevil 
gave  in  the  reign  of  king  Edward  the  Fourth. 

The  voice  of  a  full-grown  Seal  is  hoarse,  and  not  unlike  the  barking 
of  a  dog ;  and  that  of  the  young  ones  resembles,  in  some  measure,  the 
mewing  of  a  kitten. 

THE  URSINE  SEAL. 

The  males  are  about  eight  feet  in  length,  but  the  females  are  much 
smaller.  Their  bodies  are  thick,  decreasing  somewhat  towards  the 
tail.  The  nose  projects  like  that  of  a  Pug  Dog :  and  the  eyes  are 
large  and  prominent.  The  fore-legs  are  about  two  feet  long,  and,  with 
the  feet,  have  somewhat  the  appearance  of  turtles'  fins.  The  hind 
legs  are  rather  shorter  ;  and  have  five  toes,  separated  by  a  web.  The 
general  color  of  the  hair  is  black  ;  but  that  of  the  old  ones  is  tipped 
with  gray.  The  females  are  ash-colored. 

Like  the  species  last  described,  the  Ursine  Seals  live  in  families , 
every  male  being  surrounded  by  from  eight  to  fifty  females,  whom  he 
guards  with  the  utmost  jealousy.  Each  family  keeps  separate  from 
the  others,  although  they  lie  by  thousands  on  the  shores  which  they 
inhabit.  The  males  exhibit  great  affection  towards  their  offspring, 


128 


THE   URSINE   SEAL. 


URSINE   SEAL. 


and  equal  tyranny  towards  the  females.  They  are  fierce  in  the  pro- 
tection of  the  former ;  and,  should  any  one  attempt  to  carry  off  their 
cub,  they  will  stand  on  the  defensive,  while  the  female  conveys  it 
away  in  her  mouth.  Should  she,  however,  have  the  misfortune  to 
drop  it,  the  male  instantly  quits  his  enemy,  falls  on  her,  and  beats  her 
against  the  stones  till  he  leaves  her  for  dead.  But  if  the  young  one 
be  entirely  carried  off,  he  appears  excessively  affected,  sheds  tears, 
and  exhibits  every  mark  of  sorrow. 

Those  animals  that,  through  age  or  impotence,  are  deserted  by  the 
females,  withdraw  themselves  from  society,  and  not  only  become 
splenetic,  peevish,  and  quarrelsome,  but  so  much  attached  to  their 
own  stations,  as  to  prefer  death  to  the  loss  of  them.  If  they  perceive 
another  animal  approaching  them,  they  are  instantly  roused  from  their 
indolence,  snap  at  the  encroacher,  and  give  him  battle.  During  the 
fight,  they  often  insensibly  intrude  on  the  station  of  their  neighbor, 
who  then  joins  in  the  contest:  so  that  at  length  the  civil  discord,  at- 
tended with  hideous  growls,  spreads  along  the  whole  shore. 

This  is  one  of  the  causes  of  the  disputes  which  take  place  among 
these  irritable  creatures.  But  a  much  more  serious  cause  is,  when  an 
attempt  is  made  to  seduce  away  any  of  their  females.  A  battle  is  the 
sure  consequence  of  the  insult,  and  sad  indeed  is  the  fate  of  the  van- 
quished animal :  he  instantly  loses  all  his  females,  who  immediately 
desert  him  and  attach  themselves  to  the  victor. 

When  only  two  of  the  animals  are  engaged  in  combat,  they  rest  at 
intervals,  laying  down  near  each  other ;  then,  rising  both  at  once, 
they  renew  the  battle.  They  fight  with  their  heads  erect,  and  turn 
them  aside  to  avoid  the  blows.  As  long  as  their  strength  continues 
equal,  they  use  only  their  fore-paws ;  but  the  moment  that  one  of  them 


THE   BOTTLE-NOSED    SEAL.  129 

fails,  the  other  seizes  Mm  with  his  teeth,  and  throws  him  upon  the 
ground.  The  wounds  they  inflict  are  very  deep,  and  like  the  cut  of 
a  sabre ;  and  it  is  said,  that  in  the  month  of  July  scarcely  one  is  to 
be  seen  that  has  not  some  mark  of  this  description.  At  the  conclusion 
of  an  engagement,  such  as  are  able  throw  themselves  into  the  sea, 
to  wash  off  the  blood.  They  are  exceedingly  tenacious  of  life,  and 
will  sometimes  live  a  fortnight  after  receiving  such  wounds  as  would 
immediately  have  destroyed  any  other  animal. 

Besides  their  notes  of  war,  the  Ursine  Seals  have  several  others. 
When  they  lie  on  the  shore,  and  are  diverting  themselves,  they  low 
like  oxen.  After  victory,  they  make  a  noise  somewhat  like  the  chirp- 
ing of  a  cricket;  and  after  a  defeat,  or  after  receiving  a  wound,  they 
mew  like  a  cat. 

When  they  come  out  of  the  water,  they  shake  themselves,  and 
smooth  their  hair  with  their  hind-feet;  apply  their  lips  to  those  of 
the  females,  as  if  to  kiss  them ;  lie  down  and  bask  in  the  sun  with 
their  hind  legs  up,  which  they  wag  as  a  dog  does  his  tail.  Sometimes 
they  lie  on  their  back ;  and  sometimes  roll  themselves  up  into  a  ball, 
and  thus  fell  asleep.  They  not  unfrequently  swim  on  their  back,  and 
so  near  the  surface  of  the  water  that  their  hind-feet  are  quite  dry. 
They  cut  through  the  waves  with  great  rapidity,  frequently  swimming 
at  the  rate  of  seven  or  eight  miles  an  hour.  Their-  cubs  are  as 
sportive  as  puppies,  have  mock  fights,  and  tumble  one  another  about 
on  the  ground.  The  male  parent  looks  on  with  a  sort  of  complacency, 
parts  them,  licks  and  kisses  them,  and,  as  it  is  said,  seems  to  take  a 
greater  affection  to  the  victor  than  to  the  vanquished. 

On  Behring's  Island  these  animals  are  found  in  such  numbers  as 
almost  to  cover  the  whole  shore;  and  travellers  are  sometimes 
obliged,  for  their  own  safety,  to  leave  the'*  sands  and  level  country, 
and  go  over  the  rocks  and  hills.  It  is,  however,  remarkable,  that  they 
only  frequent  that  part  of  the  coast  which  lies  towards  Kamtschatka. 
In  the  beginning  of  June  they  retire  southward,  for  the  purpose  ol 
bringing  forth  their  offspring ;  and  return  towards  the  end  of  August. 
They  seldom  produce  more  than  a  single  young-one  at  a  birth.  This 
they  continue  to  nurse  for  about  three  months:  at  the  end  of  which 
time  it  has  acquired  sufficient  strength  and  activity  to  provide  its  own 
sustenance. 

THE    BOTTLE-NOSED    SEAL. 

The  male  of  this  species  mea- 
sures from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  in 
length  ;  and  is  distinguished  from 
the  female  by  a  large  snout,  pro- 
jecting five  or  six  inches  beyond 
the  extremity  of  the  upper  jaw. 
This  snout  the  animal  inflates 
when  he  is  irritated,  thus  giving 
it  the  appearance  of  an  arched  or 
hooked  nose.  The  skin  is  thinly 


THE  BOTTLE-NOSED  SEAL. 


130  THE    LEONINE    SEAL. 

covered  with  a  rust-colored  hair.  The  feet  are  short,  and  the  hinder 
ones  so  webbed  as  to  appear  like  fins.  In  the  upper  jaw  there  are  four 
front  teeth,  and  in  the  lower  jaw  only  two. 

So  great  is  the  quantity  of  fat,  or  blubber,  contained  between  the 
skin  and  the  flesh  of  these  animals,  that,  in  the  largest  of  them,  it  is 
at  least  a  foot  in  depth.  Consequently,  when  in  motion,  they  have 
somewhat  the  appearance  of  immense  skins  filled  with  oil ;  the 
tremulous  motion  of  the  blubber  being  plainly  discernible  beneath 
the  surface. 

They  are  of  a  lethargic  disposition,  and  when  at  rest  are  not  easily 
disturbed.  It  is  not  difficult  to  kill  them  ;  for,  in  consequence  of  their 
sluggish  and  unwieldy  motions,  they  are  incapable  either  of  escaping 
or  resisting.  A  sailor,  however,  was  one  day  carelessly  employed  in 
skinning  a  young  one  that  he  had  just  killed,  when  the  female,  from 
whom  he  had  taken  it,  came  upon  him  unperceived,  and  bit  him  so 
dreadfully,  that  he  died  a  little  while  afterwards. 

These  animals  seem  to  divide  their  time  almost  equally  between  the 
land  and  sea.  They  continue  at  sea  during  the  summer,  and  coming 
on  shore  at  the  commencement  of  winter,  reside  there  all  that  season. 
When  on  shore,  they  feed  on  the  grass  and  verdure  which  grow  on 
the  banks  of  the  fresh-water  streams;  and,  when  not  employed  in 
feeding,  they  sleep  in  herds,  in  the  most  miry  places  they  can  find. 
Like  the  Ursine  Seals,  each  herd  seems  to  be  under  the  direction  of 
a  large  male;  which  the  seamen  ludicrously  style  the  Bashaw,  from 
the  circumstance  of  his  driving  away  females  from  the  other  males, 
and  appropriating  them  to  himself.  These  Bashaws,  however,  do  not 
arrive  at  this  envied  superiority  without  many  bloody  and  dreadful 
contests,  of  which  their  numerous  scars  generally  bear  evidence. 
Their  battles  are  frequent,  and  sometimes  extremely  furious. 

It  has  been  remarked,  that  each  herd  places  at  a  distance  some  of 
the  males  as  sentinels ;  and  that  these  never  fail  to  give  the  alarm  if 
any  thing  hostile  approaches.  The  noise  they  make  for  this  purpose  is 
very  loud,  and  may  be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance.  Their  usual 
voice  is  a  kind  of  loud  grunting;  or  sometimes  a  snorting,  like  that 
of  horses  in  full  vigor. 

The  Bottle-nosed  Seals  are  usually  found  in  the  seas  around  New 
Zealand,  the  Island  of  Juan  Fernandez,  and  the  Falkland  Islands. 


THE   LEONINE   SEAL. 

The  Leonine  Seal  has  a  large  head  and  eyes.  The  nose  turns  up, 
somewhat  like  that  of  a  Pug  Dog.  The  ears  are  conical  and  erect 
and,  along  the  neck  of  the  male,  there  is  a  mane  of  stiff  curled  hair. 
The  whole  neck  is  covered  with  long,  waved  hair,  not  much 
unlike  that  of  the  Lion.  The  hair  of  the  other  parts  of  the  body  is 
short  and  red :  that  of  the  female  yellowish.  At  a  certain  age  these 
animals  become  gray.  Their  feet  resemble  those  of  the  Ursine  S^al. 
The  weight  of  a  large  male  is  about  1600  pounds.  The  males  are 


THE   LEONINE   SEAL. 


131 


HUNTING  THE  SEAL  Off  THE  ICE. 


frequently  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  feet  long,  but  the  females  seldom 
exceed  eight. 

Leonine  Seals  are  found  in  great  numbers  on  the  eastern  shores  of 
Kamtschatka.  They  inhabit  chiefly  the  most  rocky  situations ;  and, 
by  their  loud  and  tremendous  roaring,  are  frequently  of  use  during 
foggy  weather,  in  giving  warning  to  sailors  of  their  near  approach  to 
the  coast. 

If  a  human  being  appear  among  them,  they  immediately  run  off 
toward  the  sea,  and  when  attacked  or  disturbed  in  their  sleep,  they 
seem  to  be  seized  with  horror;  in  their  ludicrous  attempts  to  escape, 
they  fall  into  the  utmost  confusion,  and  tumble  down,  and  tremble  so 
violently,  that  they  are  scarcely  able  to  use  their  limbs.  When, 
however,  they  find  it  impossible  to  escape  without  fighting,  they 
become  desperate,  and  turn  on  their  assailant  with  vast  noise  and 
fury.  But  when  they  find  themselves  uninjured,  and  that  there  is  no 
intention  to  assail  them,  they  soon  overcome  their  fear  of  mankind. 
Steller,  when  he  was  on  Behring's  Island,  lived  for  six  days  in  a  hovel 
that  was  surrounded  by  these  animals.  They  were  soon  reconciled  to 
him,  would  observe,  with  great  apparent  calmness,  what  he  waa 
doing ;  would  lie  down  near  him,  and  even  suffer  him  to  take  hold  of 
and  play  with  their  cubs. 

The  Leonine  Seals  have  often  severe  disputes,  for  the  possession  of 
their  females ;  and  Steller  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  several  of 
their  conflicts.  He  once  was  witness  to  a  duel  between  two  males 
which  lasted  for  three  days,  and  in  which  one  of  them  received  above 
a  hundred  wounds.  The  Ursine  Seals  that  were  among  them  never 
interfered,  but  always  hastened  out  of  the  way  of  their  battles. 

The  females  bring  forth  a  single  young-one  at  a  birth.     The  cubs 

are  not  sportive,  like  most  other  young  animals,  but  seem  stupified  by 

much  sleep.     They  are  often  taken  by  their  parents  into  the  water, 

and  taught  to  swim  ;  and  when  they  are  tired,  they  climb  on  thei~ 

9 


132  THE    HARP    SEAL. 

mother's  back.  It  is  said,  however,  that  the  males  frequently  push 
them  off  again,  in  order  to  habituate  them  to  this  exercise. 

The  chase  of  these  animals  is  esteemed  by  the  Karntschadales  an 
occupation  of  the  highest  honor.  When  they  find  one  of  them  asleep, 
they  approach  it  against  the  wind  ;  strike  a  harpoon,  fastened  to  a 
long  cord,  into  its  breast,  and  run  off  with  the  utmost  precipitation. 
The  other  end  of  the  cord,  being  fastened  to  a  stake,  prevents  the 
animal  from  running  entirely  away,  and  they  principally  effect  his 
destruction  by  flinging  their  lances  into  him.  or  shooting  him  with 
arrows.  As  soon  as  he  is  exhausted,  they  venture  near  enough  to  kill 
him  with  their  clubs.  When  a  Leonine  Seal  is  discovered  alone  on 
the  rocks,  they  shoot'  him  with  poisoned  arrows.  Immediately  he 
plunges  into  the  sea  ;  but,  unable  to  bear  the  poignancy  of  his  wounds 
in  the  salt  water,  swims  in  agony  to  the  shore.  If  opportunity  allow, 
they  transfix  him  with  their  lances  ;  if  not,  they  leave  him  to  die  of 
the  poison. 

During  about  two  months  of  the  summer,  the  full-grown  males  ab- 
stain almost  entirely  from  eating,  and  indulge  themselves  in  indolence 
and  sleep.  Their  voice  is  not  much  unlike  the  deep  bellowing  of  a 
bull.-  The  young-ones  bleat  like  sheep. 


There  are  many  Seals  known,  among  which  are  the  Sea  Leopard, 
a  spotted  species ;  the  Harp  Seal,  so  called  because  the  markings  on 
fits  back  something  resemble  a  lyre ;  and  the  Sea  Lion. 


THE   DOG   TRIBE COMMON    DOG. 


133 


THE  DOG  TRIBE. 


THE  generic  characters  of  the  Dog  are  these :- — He  has  six  cutting 
teeth  in  the  upper  jaw;  and  those  at  the  sides  are  longer  than  the  in- 
termediate ones,  which  are  lobated.  In  the  under  jaw  there  are  also 
six  cutting  teeth;  the  lateral  ones  lobated.  Th,ere  are  four  canine- 
teeth,  one  on  each  side,  both  above  and  below ;  and  six  or  seven 
grinders. 

All  the  animals  belonging  to  this  tribe  are  carniyerous,  swift  of  foot, 
and  well  adapted  to  the  chase;  but,  when  urged  by  necessity;  they 
are  able  to  subsist  on  vegetable  food.  In  a  wild  state  they  usually 
associate  in  immense  packs.  These  are  often  so  powerful  as  to  make 
war  with,  and  overcome,  many  beasts  of  prey  which,  individually,  are 
much  more  strong  and  ferocious  than  themselves. 

The  females  produce  from  three  or  four,  to  eight  or  ten  young-ones, 
at  a  litter.  < 


THE   COMMON   DOG. 

To  no  animal  are  mankind  so  much  indebted  for  services  and  affec- 
tion as  to  the  Dog.  Among  all  the  various  orders  of  brute  creatures, 
none  have  hitherto  been  found  so  entirely  adapted  to  our  use,  and 
even  to  our  protection,  as  this.  There  are  many  countries,  both  of  the 
old  and  new  continent,  in  which,  if  man  were  deprived  of  this  faithful 
ally,  he  would  unsuccessfully  resist  the  foes  that  surround  him,  seek- 


134  THE   COMMON   DOG. 

ing  opportunities  to  destroy  his  labor, 
attack  his  person,  and  encroach  upon 
his  property.  His  own  vigilance,  in 
many  situations,  could  not  secure  him, 
on  the  one  hand,  against  their  rapa- 
city, nor  on  the  other  against  their 
speed.  The  Dog,  more  tractable  than 
any  other  animal,  conforms  himself  to 
the  movements  and  habits  of  his  mas- 
ter. His  diligence,  his  ardor,  and  his 
obedience,  are  inexhaustible;  and  his 
disposition  is  so  friendly,  that,  unlike 
every  other  animal,  he  seems  to  re- 
COMJKHT  DOO.  member  only  the  benefits  he  receives ; 

he  soon  forgets  our  blows ;  and  instead  of  discovering  resentment 
while  we  chastise  him,  he  exposes  himself  to  torture,  and  even  licks 
the  hand  from  which  it  proceeds. 

The  care  of  the  Dog  in  directing  the  steps  of  the  blind,  affords  an 
instance  of  his  obedience  and  fidelity,  which  is  peculiarly  deserving 
of  notice.  There  are  few  persons  who  have  not  seen  some  of  these 
unfortunate  objects  thus  guided  along  through  the  winding  streets  of 
a  town  or  city,  to  the  spot  where  they  are  to  supplicate  charity  of 
passengers.  In  the  evening  the  Dog  safely  conducts  his  master  back, 
and  receives  as  the  reward  of  its  services,  that  scanty  pittance  which 
wretchedness  can  bestow.  Mr.  Kay,  in  his  Synopsis  of  Quadrupeds, 
informs  us  of  a  blind  beggar  who  was  thus  led  through  the  streets  of 
Kome  by  a  middle-sized  Dog.  This  Dog,  besides  leading  his  master 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  protect  him  from  all  danger,  had  learned  to 
distinguish  both  the  streets  and  houses  where  he  was  accustomed  to 
receive  alms  twice  or  thrice  a  week.  Whenever  the  animal  came  to 
any  one  of  these  streets,  he  would  not  leave  it  till  a  call  had  been 
made  at  every  house  where  his  master  was  usually  successful  in  his 
petitions.  When  the  beggar  began  to  ask  alms,  the  Dog  lay  down  to 
rest ;  but  the  man  was  no  sooner  served  or  refused,  than  the  dog  rose 
spontaneously,  and,  without  either  order  or  sign,  proceeded  succes- 
sively to  all  the  other  houses.  "  I  observed,  not  without  pleasure  and 
surprise,  (says  Mr.  Kay,)  that  when  a  halfpenny  was  thrown  from  a 
window,  such  were  the  sagacity  and  attention  of  this  Dog,  that  he 
went  about  in  quest  of  it,  took  it  from  the  ground  with  his  mouth, 
'and  put  it  into  the  blind  man's  hat.  Even  when  bread  was  thrown, 
the  animal  would  not  taste  it,  unless  he  received  it  from  the  hand  of 
his  master." 

It  is  possible  to  train  these  animals  in  such  a  manner  that  they 
may  be  entrusted  to  go  to  market  with  money,  on  which  occasion 
they  will  repair  to  a  known  shop,  and  carry  home  provisions  in  safety 
Some  years  since,  a  person  who  lived  at  the  turnpike-house  about  a 
mile  from  Stratford  on  Avon,  had  trained  a  Dog  to  go  to  the  town 
for  such  small  articles  of  grocery  as  he  wanted.  A  note  mentioning 
the  things  was  tied  round  the  Dog's  neck,  and  in  the  same  manner 


THE   COMMON   DOG.  135 

the  articles  were  fastened,  and  the  commodities  were  always  brought 
safe  home. 

It  is  recorded  of  a  Dog  belonging  to  a  nobleman  of  the  Medici 
family,  that  it  always  attended  at  its  master's  table ;  changed  the 
plates  for  him;  and  carried  him  his  wine  in  a  glass  placed  on  a  sal- 
ver, without  spilling  the  smallest  drop.  This  animal  would  also  hold 
the  stirrup  in  its  teeth  while  his  master  was  mounting  his  horse. 

The  sagacity  and  attention  of  the  Dog  are,  indeed,  so  great,  that  it 
is  not  difficult  to  teach  him  to  dance,  hunt,  leap,  and  exhibit  a  thou- 
sand pleasing  dexterities.  The  feats  performed  by  the  dancing  dogs 
exhibited  some  years  ago  at  Sadler's  Wells,  will  be  long  remembered. 
After  storming  a  fort,  and  performing  various  other  exploits,  one  of 
them  was  brought  in  as  a  deserter,  was  shot,  and  carried  off  as  dead 
by  his  companions.  The  mode  in  which  a  Dog  is  taught  to  point; 
out  different  cards  that  are  placed  near  him,  is  this.  He  is  first 
taught,  by  repeated  trials,  to  know  something  by  a  certain  mark  ; 
and  then  to  distinguish  one  ace  from  another.  Food  is  frequently 
offered  to  him  on  a  card  that  he  is  unacquainted  with,  after  which  he 
is  sent  to  search  it  out  from  the  pack ;  and,  after  a  little  experience, 
he  never  mistakes  it.  Profiting  by  the  discovery  of  receiving  food 
and  caresses  as  a  reward  for  his  care,  he  soon  becomes  able  to  know 
each  particular  card,  which,  when  it  is  called  for,  he  brings  with  an 
air  of  gaiety,  and  without  any  confusion ;  and  in  reality,  it  is  no 
more  surprising  to  see  a  Dog  distinguish  one  card  from  thirty  others, 
than  it  is  to  see  him  distinguish  in  the  street  his  master's  door  from 
those  of  the  neighbors. 

Plutarch  relates,  that  in  the  theatre  of  Marcellus,  a  Dog  was  exhib- 
ited before  the  Emperor  Vespasian,  so  well  instructed  as  to  excel  in 
every  kind  of  dance.  He  afterward  feigned  illness,  in  a  manner  so 
natural  as  to  astonish  the  spectators.  Pie  first  exhibited  symptoms 
of  pain  ;  then,  falling  down,  as  if  dead,  would  suffer  himself  to  be 
carried  about  in  that  state.  Afterward,  at  the  proper  time,  he  seemed 
to  revive,  as  if  waking  from  a  profound  sleep  ;  and  then  jumping  and 
sporting  about,  he  showed  every  demonstration  of  joy.  , 

But  of  all  the  educational  attainments  by  which  the  Dog  has  been 
distinguished,  that  of  learning  to  speak  seems  to  be  the  most  extra- 
ordinary. The  French  academicians,  however,  mention  a  Dog  in 
Germany,  which  would  call,  in  an  intelligible  manner,  amongst  other 
things,  for  tea,  coffee,  or  chocolate.  The  account  is  from  no  less 
eminent  a  person  than  the  celebrated  Leibnitz,  who  comrnunicated  it 
to  the  Koyal  Academy  of  France.  This  Dog  was  of  a  middling  size, 
and  was  the  property  of  a  peasant  in  Saxony.  A  little  boy,  the 
peasant's  son,  imagined  that  he  perceived  in  the  Dog's  voice  an 
indistinct  resemblance  to  certain  words,  and  therefore  took  it  into 
his  head  to  teach  him  to  speak.  For  this  purpose  he  spared  neither 
time  rior  pains  with  his  pupil,  who  was  about  three  years  old  when 
this  his  learned  education  commenced;  and  at  length  he  made  such 
progress  in  language,  as  to  be  able  to  articulate  as  many  as  thirty 
words.  Leibnitz  declares  that  he  himself  heard  him  speak ;  and  the 


136  THE   SIBERIAN   DOG. 

French  academicians  add,  that,  unless  they  had  received  the  testi- 
mony of  so  great  a  man  as  this,  they  should  scarcely  have  dared  to 
report  the  circumstance. 

The  inhabitants  of  some  countries  admire  the  Dog  as  food.  In  the 
South  Sea  Islands  these  animals  are  fattened  with  vegetables,  which 
the  natives  savagely  cram  down  their  throats  when  they  will  volun- 
tarily eat  no  more.  They  are  killed  by  strangling;  and  the  extrava- 
sated  blood  is  preserved  in  cocoa-nut  shells,  and  baked  for  the  table. 
The  negroes  of  the  coast  of  Guinea  are  so  partial  to  the  flesh  of  these 
animals,  that  they  frequently  give  considerable  prices  for  them:  a 
large  Sheep  for  a  Dog  was  formerly,  and  probably  is  now,  a  common 
article  of  exchange.  Even  the  ancients  esteemed  a  young  and  fat 
Dog  to  be  excellent  eating.  Hippocrates  ranks  it  with  mutton  or 
pork ;  and  the  Komans  particularly  admired  the  flesh  of  sucking 
whelps. 

Dogs  are  found  in  a  wild  state  in  Congo,  Lower  Ethiopia,  and 
towards  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope;  in  South  and  North  America,  New 
Holland,  and  several  other  parts  of  the  world :  and  the  varieties  are, 
perhaps,  more  numerous  of  this  species,  than  of  any  other  known 
animal. 


THE  SIBERIAN  DOG. 

The  use  to  which  these  Dogs  are  peculiarly  applied,  is  the  drawing 
of  sledges  over  frozen  snow,  in  the  various  countries  where  they 

are  found,  within  the  Arctic  Circle, 
and  particularly  in  Siberia  and  Kam- 
schatka.  These  sledges  generally 
carry  only  a  single  person,  who  sits 
sideways.  The  number  of  Dogs 
usually  employed  is  five:  four  of 
them  are  yoked  two  and  two,  arid 
the  other  acts  as  leader.  The  reins 
are  fastened,  not  to  the  head,  but  to 
the  collar;  arid  the  driver  has,  there- 
fore, to  depend  principally  on  their 
obedience  to  his  voice.  Great  care  and  attention  are  consequently 
requisite  in  training  the  leader;  which,  if  steady  and  docile,  becomes 
very  valuable:  the  sum  of  forty  rubles  (or  ten  pounds)  is  no  uncommon 
price  for  one  of  them. 

The  cry  of  tagtag,  tagtag,  turns  him  to  the  right;  and  hougha, 
liougha,  to  the  left.  The  intelligent  animal  immediately  understands 
the  words,  and  gives  to  his  companions  the  example  of  obedience.  Ah, 
ah,  stops  the  Dogs;  and  'ha,  makes  them  set  off. 

The  charioteer  carries  in  his  hand  a  crooked  stick,  which  answers 
the  purpose  both  of  a  whip  and  reins.  Iron  rings  are  suspended  at 
the  ends  of  this  stick,  by  way  of  ornament,  and  to  encourage  the 


THE   SIBERIAN  DOG. 


THE   SPANIEL.  137 

Dogs  by  the  noise;  for  they  are  frequently  jingled  for  that  purpose. 
If  the  Dogs  are  well  trained,  it  is  not  necessary  for  the  rider  to  exer- 
cise his  voice:  if  he  strike  the  ice  with  his  stick,  they  will  go  to  the 
left;  if  he  strike  the  legs  of  the  sledge,  they  will  go  to  the  right;  and 
when  he  wishes  them  to  stop,  he  has  only  to  place  the  stick  between 
the  snow  and  the  front  of  the  sledge.  When  they  are  inattentive  to 
their  duty,  the  driver  chastises  them,  by  throwing  the  stick  at  them. 
The  dexterity  of  the  charioteers  in  picking  it  up  again,  is  very  remark- 
able, and  is  the  most  difficult  manoeuvre  in  this  exercise:  nor  is  it 
indeed  surprising  that  they  should  be  skilful  in  a  practice,  in  which 
they  are  so  essentially  interested;  for  the  moment  the  Dogs  find  that 
the  driver  has  lost  his  stick,  unless  the  leader  is  both  steady  and  reso- 
lute, they  set  off  at  full  speed,  and  never  stop  till  either  their  strength 
is  exhausted,  or  till  the  carriage  is  overturned  and  dashed  to  pieces. 

The  manner  in  which  these  animals  are  generally  treated,  seems 
but  ill  calculated  for  securing  their  attachment.  During  the  winter 
they  are  fed  sparingly  with  putrid  fish ;  and  in  summer  they  are 
turned  loose,  to  shift  for  themselves,  till  the  return  of  the  severe 
season  renders  it  necessary  to  the  master's  interest  that  they  should 
be  again  taken  into  custody,  and  brought  once  more  to  their  state  of 
toil  and  slavery.  Whilst  yoking  to  the  sledge,  they  utter  the  most  dis- 
mal howlings;  but,  when  every  thing  is  prepared,  a  kind  of  cheerful 
yelping  succeeds,  which  ceases  the  instant  they  begin  their  journey. 

These  animals 'have  been  known  to  perform,  in  three  days  and  a 
half  a  journey  of  almost  two  hundred  and  seventy  miles;  and  horses 
are  perhaps  not  more  useful  to  Europeans,  than  these  Dogs  are  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  frozen  arid  cheerless  regions  of  the  North.  When, 
during  the  most  severe  storm,  their  master  cannot  see  the  path  nor 
even  keep  his  eyes  open,  they  seldom  miss  their  way;  whenever  they 
do  this,  they  go  from  one  side  to  the  other,  till,  by  their  smell,  they 
regain  it ;  and  when  in  the  midst  of  a  long  journey,  as  it  often  happens, 
it  is  found  absolutely  impossible  to  travel  any  further,  the  Dogs,  lying 
round  their  master,  will  keep  him  warm,  and  defend  him  from  danger. 


THE   SPANIEL. 

It  is  not  only  in  the  sports  of  the 
field  that  the  Spaniel  is  of  use  to 
mankind;  his  fidelity  and  attach- 
ment to  those  from  whom  he  is  ac- 
customed to  receive  attentions,  have 
been  celebrated  in  almost  all  ages. 
Of  these,  there  has  perhaps  been 
recorded  no  instance  more  satisfac- 
tory than  the  following. 

Old  Daniel,  gamekeeper  to  the 
Eev.  Mr.  Corsellis,  had  reared  a 
Spaniel,  which  became  so  fond  of  him 
as  to  be  his  constant  companion  both  by  night  and  day.  Wherever 


138 


THE  SPANIEL. 


~  ^ 


the  gamekeeper  ap- 
peared, Dash  was 
never  far  distant ; 
and,  in  his  nocturnal 
excursions  to  detect 
poachers,  this  Dog 
was  of  infinite  use  to 
him.  At  these  times 
the  Dog  altogether 
neglected  the  game ; 
and  many  poachers 
were  detected  and 
caught  in  c  o  n  s  e  • 
quence  of  his  saga- 
city. 

During  the  last 
stage  of  a  consump- 
tion, which  carried 
nis  master  to  the 
grave,  Dash  unwear- 
ily  attended  th  e 
foot  of  his  bed ;  and 
when  he  died,  the 
Dog  would  not  quit 
the  body,  but  lay 
upon  the  bed  by  his 
side.  It  was  with 
difficuly  he  was 
tempted  to  eat  any  food ;  and  although,  after  the  funeral,  he  was 
taken  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Corsellis,  and  caressed  with  all  the  tender- 
ness which  so  fond  an  attachment  naturally  excited,  he  took  every 

opportunity  to  steal  back  to 
the  room  in  the  cottage  where 
the  gamekeeper  breathed  his 
last,  and  where  he  would  some- 
times remain  for  hours.  From 
this  room  he  visited  the  grave 
regularly  every  day,  for  four- 
teen days ;  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  died,  notwithstanding 
all  the  kindness  and  attention 
that  were  shown  him. 

The  celebrated  Mount  St. 
Bernard  Dogs,  which  some- 
times save  the  lives  of  travel- 
lers, is  a  variety  of  the  Spaniel. 

England  has  been  famous  for  producing  Dogs  of  this  sort,  particular 
care  having  been  taken  to  preserve  the  breed  in  its  utmost  purity ;  so 
that  notwithstanding  the  name  Spaniel  is  supposed  to  be  derived 
from  Spain,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  the  English  Spaniel  (the 


THE  6PANIEL, 


THE  WATER  SPANIEL. 


THE    SPANIEL. 


139 


MOUNT  ST.  BERNARD  SPANIEL. 


most  common  and  useful  breed)  is  indigenous.  The  fond  attachment 
and  timid  submission  of 
the  Spaniel  are  prover- 
bial; there  are  few  per- 
sons, indeed,  who  could 
not  bear  witness  to  the 
truth  of  the  following 
description  given  by  Mr. 
Bell:  "If  punished,  it 
receives  the  chastise- 
ment with  submission, 
and  looks  in  the  face  of 
its  offended  master  with 
an  expression  of  humble 
sorrow  for  having  been 
the  cause  of  his  anger ; 
and  the  instant  that  the 
punishment  is  over,  it  comes  courting  the  caresses  of  the  hand  that 
had  inflicted  the 
stripes,  and  ask- 
ing him  again  to 
be  received  into 
favour.  At  the 
slightest  look  of 
encou  ragement, 
its  joy  at  the  re- 
conciliation seems 
to  know  no  bounds 
and  is  expressed 
by  the  liveliest  in- 
dications of  de- 
light, jumping  and 
fawning  upon  the 
person  of  him  who 
had  just  before 
been  inflicting 
bodily  pain  and 
mental  distress — 
capering  round 
him,  and  barking 
loudly  with  ecsta- 
sy."  ' 

The  prevailing 
color  is  liver  and 
white ;  sometimes 
red  and  white,  or 
black  and  white ; 

and  sometimes  deep  brown,  or  black  on  the  face  and  breast,  with  a 
tan  spot  over  each  e}re. 


MOUNT  ST.  BERNARD  SPANIEL  SAVING  A  CHILD. 


140 


THE  HOUND — BLOODHOUND. 


THE  HOUND. 

The  following  anecdotes  afford  a  strong  proof  of  the  won 
derful  spirit  of  the  Hound,  in  supporting  a  continuance  of  exertion 
Many  years  since,  a  very  large  stag  was  turned  out  of  Whinfield  Park, 

in  the  county  of  Westmoreland,  and 
was  pursued  by  the  Hounds,  till,  by 
fatigue  or  accident,  the  whole  pack 
was  thrown  out,  except  two  staunch 
and  favorite  Dogs,  which  continued 
the  chase  during  the  greatest  part 
of  the  clay.  The  stag  returned 
to  the  park  from  which  he  set  out ; 
and,  as  his  last  effort,  leapt  the  wall, 
and  immediately  expired.  One  of 

the  Hounds  pursued  him  to  the  wall ;  but,  being  unable  to  get  over, 
he  lay  down,  and  almost  immediately  afterwards  died :  the  other 
was  also  found  dead  at  a  little  distance.  The  length  of  this  chase  is 
uncertain :  but,  as  they  were  seen  at  Eed-kirks,  near  Annan  in 
Scotland  (distant  by  the  post-road,  about  forty-six  miles,)  it  is  conjec- 
tured that  the  circuitous  course  they  took  could  not  have  measured 
less  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles ! 

In  the  year  1795,  in  Cambridgeshire,  on  two  Foxes  being  found,  the 
Hounds  divided,  and  fifteen  couple  and  a  half  (which  pursued  one  of 
the  foxes)  are  supposed  to  have  run  nearly  thirty  miles,  in  about  an 
hour  and  three  quarters. 


THE   BLOODHOUND. 


Bloodhounds  are 
tall,  beautifully  form- 
ed animals,  and  usu- 
ally of  a  reddish  or 
brown  color.  With  our 
ancestors  the  Blood- 
hound was  an  animal 
of  great  request ;  and 
as  he  was  remarkable 
for  the  fineness  of  his 
scent,  he  was  fre- 
quently employed  in 
recovering  game  that 
had  escaped  wounded 
from  the  hunter.  He 
would  follow,  with . 
great  certainty,  the 
footsteps  of  a  man  to 
a  considerable  dis- 
tance; and,  in  barba- 
rous and  uncivilized 
times,  when  a  thief  or 
murderer  had  fled, 


CUBAN   BLOODHOUND. 


THE   BLOODHOUND. 


141 


this  useful  creature  would  trace  him  through  the  thickest  and  most 
secret  coverts;  nor  would  he  cease  his  pursuit  till  he  had  taken  the 
felon.  For  this  reason  there  was  a  law  in  Scotland,  that  whoever  de- 
nied entrance  to  one  of  these  Dogs  in  pursuit  of  stolen  goods,  should 
be  deemed  accessary  to  the  theft.  0 

In  the  Spanish  West  India  Islands  there  are'  officers  called  chas- 
seurs, kept  in  continual 
employment.  The  bu- 
siness of  these  men  is 
to  traverse  the  country 
with  their  Dogs,  for  the 
^ 


purpose  of  pursuing 
and  taking  up  all  per- 
sons guilty  of  murder, 
or  other  crimes ;  and 
no  activity,  on  the  part 
of  the  offenders,  will 
enable  them  to  escape. 
The  following  is  a  very 
remarkable  instance 
which  happened  not 
many  years  ago. 

A  fleet  from  Jamaica, 
under  convoy  to  Great 
Britain  passing  through 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  beat 
upon  the  north  side  of 
Cuba.  One  of  the  ships, 
manned  with  foreign- 
ers, (chiefly  renegado 
Spaniards,)  in  standing 
in  with  the  land  at 
night,  was  run  on  shore. 

OHA88.UR.  The      OffiCer S'      and       the 

few  British  seamen  on 

board,  were  murdered ;  and  the  vessel  was  plundered  by  the  rene- 
gadoes.  The  part  of  the  coast  on  which  the  vessel  was  stranded 
being  wild  and  'unfrequented, 
the  assassins  retired,  with  their 
booty,  to  the  mountains;  in- 
tending to  penetrate,  through 
the  woods,  to  some  remote  settle- 
ments on  the  southern  side  where 
they  hoped  to  secure  themselves, 
and  elude  all  pursuit.  Early  in- 
telligence of  the  crime  had,  how- 
ever, been  conveyed  to  Havana. 
The  assassins  were  pursued  by 
a  detachment  of  the  Chasseurs 
del  Rey,  with  their  Dogs;  and  in 


CUBAN  BLOODHOUIO) 


142 


THE    BLOODHOUND. 


CUBAN    BLOODHOUND. 


the  course  of  a  very  few  days  they  \vere  every  one  apprehended  and 
brought  to  justice. 

The  Dogs  carried  out  by  the   Chasseurs  del  Rey,  are  all  perfectly 

broken  in.  On  coming  up  with  the 
fugitive,  they  bark  at  him  till  he 
stops:  then  they  crouch  near  him, 
terrifying  him  with  a  ferocious  growl- 
ing, if  he  attempts  to  stir.  In  this 
position  they  continue  barking,  to 
give  notice  to  the  chasseurs,  who 
come  up  and  secure  their  prisoner. 

Each  chasseur  can  only  hunt  with 
two  Dogs.  These  people  live  with 
their  Dogs,  and  are  inseparable  from 
them.  At  home  the  animals  are  kept  chained ;  and  when  walking  oat 
with  their  masters,  they  are  never  unmuzzled  nor  let  out  of  ropes,  but 
for  attack. 

Bloodhounds  were  formerly  used  in  certain  districts  lying  between 
England  and  Scotland,  that  were  much  infested  by  robbers  and  mur- 
derers ;  and  a  tax  was  laid  on  the  inhabitants,  for  keeping  and  main- 
taining a  certain  number  of  these  animals.     But  as  the  arm  of  justice 
now  extended  over  every  part  of  the  country,  and  as  there  are  now 

no  secret  recesses  where 
villany  can  be  concealed) 
their  services  in  this  respect 
are  become  no  longer  ne- 
cessary. 

Some  few  of  these  Dogs, 
howrever,  are  kept  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, and  in  the  lodges  of 
the  royal  forests ;  where 
they  are  used  in  pursuit  of 
deer  that  have  been  pre- 
viously wounded.  They 
are  also  sometimes  employ- 

ENGLISH  BLOODHOUND.  ed  in  discover! ng  deer-steal- 

ers,  whom   they  infallibly 
trace  by  the  blood  that  issues  from  the  wounds  of  their  victims. 

A  very  extraordinary  instance  of  this  occurred  in  the  New  Forest, 
in  the  year  1810,  and  was  related  to  me  by  the  Right  Hon.  G.  H.  Rose. 
A  person,  in  getting  over  a  stile  into  a  field  near  the  forest,  remarked 
that  there  was  blood  upon  it.  Immediately  afterwards  he  recollected 
that  some  deer  had  been  killed,  and  several  sheep  stolen  in  the  neigh- 
borhood :  and  that  this  might  possibly  be  the  blood  of  one  that  had 
been  killed  in  the  preceding  night.  The  man  went  to  the  nearest 
lodge  to  give  information ;  but  the  keeper  being  from  home,  he  was 
under  the  necessity  of  going  to  Rhinefield  Lodge,  which  was  at  a  con- 
siderable distance.  Toomer,  the  under-keeper,  went  with  him  to  the 
place,  accompanied  by  a  Bloodhound.  The  Dog,  when  brought  to 


THE   NEWFOUNDLAND   DOG. 


143 


AFRICAN  BLOOI  HOUND. 


the  spot,  was  laid  on  the  scent ;  and,  after  following,  for  about  a  mile, 
the  track  which  the  depredator  had  taken,  he  came  at  last  to  a  heap 
of  furze  faggots  be- 
longing to  the  family 
of  a  cottager.  The 
woman  of  the  house 
attempted  to  drive 
the  Dog  away,  but  was 
prevented ;  and,  on 
the  faggots  being  re- 
moved, a  hole  was  dis- 
covered in  the  ground, 
which  contained  the 
body  of  a  Sheep  that 
had  recently  been 
killed,  and  also  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of 
salted  meat.  The 
circumstance  which 
renders  this  account 
the  more  remarkable 
is,  that  the  Dog  was 
not  brought  to  the 
scent  until  more  than  sixteen  hours  had  elapsed  after  the  man  had 
carried  away  the  Sheep. 

Another  instance  of  the  acuteness  of  scent  in  these  Dogs,  is  related 
by  the  Hon.  Kobert  Boyle.  In  order  to  make  trial  whether  a  young 
Bloodhound  was  well  instructed, 'he  says,  that  a  person  of  quality 
caused  one  of  his  servants  to  walk  to  a  town  four  miles  distant,  and 
afterwards  to  a  market-town  three  miles  further.  The  Dog,  without 
seeing  the  man  he  was  to  pursue, 
followed  him,  by  the  scent,  to  the 
above-mentioned  places,  and  this 
notwithstanding  a  great  multitude 
of  market-people  who  went  along 
the  same  road,  and  of  travellers  who 
had  occasion  to  cross  it.  When  the 
Bloodhound  came  to  the  chief 
market-town,  he  passed  through  the 
streets  without  taking  notice  of 
the  people  there ;  nor  did  he  cease 
his  pursuit,  till  he  had  reached  the 
house  where  the  man  whom  he  sought  was  concealed. 

There  is  an  African  and  also  a  Spanish  variety  of  the  Bloodhound 


SPANISH  BLOOD  HO  UXD. 


THE   NEWFOUNDLAND   DOG. 


The  great  strength  and  docility  of  these  dogs  render  them  extremely 
useful  to  the  inhabitants  of  several  parts  of  the  island  of  Newfoundland 


144 


THE   NEWFOUNDLAND   DOG. 


NEWFOUNDLAND  DOG. 


who  employ  them  in  bringing  down  wood,  on  sledges,  from  the  interior 
of  the  country  to  the  seacoast.     Four  Newfoundland  Dogs  yoked  to  a 

sledge,  are  able,  with 
apparent  ease,  to  draw 
three  hundred  weight 
of  wood,  for  several 
miles.  Their  docility 
is  as  important  to  their 
owners  as  their 
strength ;  for  they  fre- 
quently perform  these 
services  without  a 
driver.  As  soon  as 
they  are  relieved  of 
their  load  at  the  proper 
place,  they  return  in 
the  same  order  to  the 
woods  from  which  they 
were  dispatched,  and 
where  their  labors  are 
commonly  rewarded  with  a  meal  of  dried  fish. 

In  many  places  about  Quebec,  Professor  Kalm  saw  Dogs  employed 
to  fetch  water  from  the  rivers.  He  one  day  saw  two  great  Dogs  yoked 
to  a  cart.  They  were  neatly  harnessed  like  Horses,  and  had  bits  in 
their  mouths.  In  the  cart  was  a  barrel.  The  Dogs  were  directed  by 
a  boy,  who  ran  behind  the  cart,  and  as  soon  as  they  came  to  the  river, 
they  jumped  into  it  of  their  own  accord.  When  the  barrel  was  filled, 
the  Dogs  drew  their  burden  up  the' hill  again  to  the  house  from  which 
they  came.  During  his  stay  at  Quebec,  the  professor  frequently  saw 
Dogs  employed  in  this  manner.  The  boys  that  attended  them  had 
great  whips,  with  which  they  occasionally  struck  the  Dogs  to  make 
them  go  on.  Mr.  Kalm  saw  these  Dogs  also  employed  in  drawing 
wood ;  and,  in  winter,  it  is  customary  in  Canada  for  travellers  to  yoke 
Dogs  to  sledges  that  are  made  to  hold  their  clothes,  provisions,  and 
other  necessaries.  Formerly,  before  Horses  came  much  into  use,  most 
of  the  land-carriage  of  Canada  was  performed  by  Dogs. 

These  animals  can  swim  extremely  fast,  and  with  great  ease ;  and 
their  extraordinary  sagacity  and  attachment  render  them,  in  particular 
situations,  highly  valuable. 

In  the  summer  of  1792,  a  gentlemen  went  to  Portsmouth  for  the 
benefit  of  sea-bathing.  He  was  conducted,  in  one  of  the  machines, 
into  the  water;  but,  being  unacquainted  with  the  steepness  of  the 
shore,  and  unable  to  swim,  he  found  himself,  the  instant  he  quitted 
the  machine,  nearly  out  of  his  depth.  The  state  of  alarm  into  which 
he  was  thrown,  increased  his  danger ;  and,  unnoticed  by  the  person 
who  attended  the  machine,  he  unavoidably  would  have  been  drowned, 
had  not  a  large  Newfoundland  Dog,  which  by  accident  was  standing 
on  the  shore  and  observed  his  distress,  plunged  in  to  his  assistance. 
The  Dog  seized  him  bv  the  hair,  and  conducted  him  safely  to  land. 


THE   MASTIFF. 


145 


The  gentleman  afterwards  purchased  the  Dog  at  a  high  price;  and 
preserved  him  as  a  treasure  of  equal  value  with  his  whole  fortune. 

During  a  severe  storm,  in  the  winter  of  1789,  a  ship  belonging  to 
Newcastle  was  lost  near  Yarmouth  ;  and  a  Newfoundland  Dog  alone 
escaped  to  shore,  bringing  in  his  mouth  the  captain's  pocket-book. 
He  landed  amidst  a  number  of  people,  several  of  whom  in  vain 
attempted  to  take  from  him  his  prize.  The  sagacious  animal,  as  if 
sensible  of  the  importance  of  the' charge,  which,  in  all  probability,  was 
delivered  to  him  by  his  perishing  master,  at  length  leapt  fawningly 
against  the  breast  of  a  man  who  had  attracted  his  notice  among  the 
crowd,  and  delivered  the  book  to  him.  The  Dog  immediately  after- 
wards returned  to  the  place  where  he  had  landed,  and  watched  with 
great  attention  for  all  the  things  that  came  from  the  wrecked  vessel, 
seized,  and  endeavored  to  bring  them  to  land. 

A  gentleman,  walking  by  the  side  of  the  river  Tyne,  observed,  on 
the  opposite  side,  that  a  child  had  fallen  into  the  water :  he  pointed 
out  the  object  to  his  Dog,  which  immediately  jumped  in,  swam  over, 
and  catching  hold  of  the  child  with  his  mouth,  landed  it  safely  on  the 
shore. 

Some  years  ago,  a  waterman,  whose  name  was  Carr,  laid  a  wager 
that  himself  and  his  Newfoundland  Dog,  would  both  jump  from  the 
centre  arch  of  Westminster  Bridge,  and  would  land  at  Lambeth  within 
a  minute  of  each  other.  He  jumped  off  first,  and  the  Dog  immediately 
followed  him ;  but  the  latter  not  being  in  the  secret,  and  seeing  his 
master  apparently  plunging  about  in  the  water,  seized  him  by  the  neck, 
and  dragged  him  to  shore  to  the  no  small  diversion  of  an  immense 
crowd  of  spectators. 


THE   MASTIFF. 


Mastiffs  are  peculiar  to  our 
country,  where  they  are  prin- 
cipally of  use  as  watch-dogs ; 
a  duty  which  they  discharge 
not  only  with  fidelity,  but 
frequently  with  judgment. 
Some  of  them  will  suffer  a 
stranger  to  come  into  the  en- 
closure which  they  are  ap- 
pointed to  guard,  and  will 
go  peaceably  along  with  him 
through  every  part  of  it,  so 
long  as  he  continues  to  touch 
nothing ;  but  the  moment  he 
attempts  to  lay  hold  of  any 
of  the  goods,  or  endeavors 
to  leave  the  place,  the  animal 
informs  him,  first  by  gentle 
growling,  or,  if  that  be  ineffectual,  by  harsher  means,  that  he  must 


TIIE   MASTIFF. 


146  THE   BULL-DOG. 

neither  do  mischief  or  go  away.  He  seldom  uses  violence  unless  resisted ; 
and  even  in  this  case  he  will  sometimes  seize  the  person,  throw  him 
down,  and  hold  him  there  for  several  hours,  or  until  relieved,  without 
biting  him. 

A  most  extraordinary  instance  of  memory  in  a  Mastiff  is  related  by 
M.  D'Obsonville.  This  Dog,  which  he  had  brought  up  in  India  from 
two  months  old,  accompanied  him  and  a  friend  from  Pondicherry  to 
Benglour,  a  distance  of  more  than  three  hundred  leagues.  "  Our 
journey,"  he  observes,  "occupied  nearly  three  weeks ;  and  we  had  to 
traverse  numerous  plains  and  mountains,  and  to  ford  rivers,  and  to  go 
along  several  by-paths.  The  animal  which  had  certainly  never  been 
in  that  country  before,  lost  us  at  Benglour,  and  immediately  returned 
to  Pondicherry.  He  went  directly  to  the  house  of  M.  Beylier,  then 
commandant  of  artillery,  my  friend,  and  with  whom  I  had  generally 
lived.  Now  the  difficulty  is,  not  so  much  to  know  how  the  Dog  sub- 
sisted on  the  road,  (for  he  was  very  strong,  and  able  to  procure  him- 
self food,)  but  how  he  could  so  well  have  found  his  way,  after  an  inter- 
val of  more  than  a  month!  This  was  an  effort  of  memory  greatly 
superior  to  that  which  the  human  race  is  capable  of  exerting." 

The  Mastiff  is  an  excessively  bold  and  courageous  animal.  Stow 
relates  an  instance  of  a  contest  between  three  Mastiffs  and  a  Lion,  in 
the  presence  of  King  James  the  First.  One  of  the  Dogs  being  put  into 
the  den,  was  soon  disabled  by  the  Lion,  which  took  him  by  the  head 
and  neck,  and  dragged  him  about.  Another  Dog  was  then  let  loose, 
and  was  served  in  a  similar  manner.  But  the  third,  on  being  put  in, 
immediately  seized  the  Lion  by  the  lip,  and  held  him  for  a  considerable 
time ;  till,  being  severely  torn  by  his  claws,  the  Dog  was  obliged  to 
quit  his  hold.  The  Lion,  exhausted  by  the  conflict,  would  not  renew 
the  engagement ;  but,  taking  a  sadden  leap  over  the  Dogs,  fled  for 
safety  into  the  interior  part  of  his  den. 

The  Mastiff,  as  if  conscious  of  his  superior  strength,  has  been  known 
to  chastise,  with  great  dignity,  the  impertinence  of  an  inferior.  A  large 
Dog  of  this  kind,  belonging  to  the  late  M.  Eidley,  Esq.,  of  Heaton, 
near  Newcastle,  being  frequently  molested  by  a  mongrel,  and  teased 
by  its  continual  barking,  at  last  took  it  up  in  its  mouth  by  the  back, 
and  with  great  composure  dropped  it  over  the  quay  into  the  river, 
without  doing  any  further  injury  to  an  enemy  so  contemptible. 


THE   BULL-DOG. 

When  its  energies  are  completely  roused,  this  is  doubtless  one  of 
the  fiercest,  and  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  most  courageous,  of  all 
animals.  His  valor  in  attacking  a  bull  is  well  known.  His  fury  in 
seizing,  and  his  invincible  obstinacy  in  maintaining  his  hold,  are 
truly  astonishing.  Some  years  ago,  at  a  Bull-baiting  in  the  North  of 
England,  when  that  barbarous  custom  was  more  prevalent  than  it  is 
at  present,  a  young  man,  confident  of  the  courage  of  his  Dog,  laid  a 
trifling  wager  that  he  would,  at  separate  times,  even  cut  off  all  the 


THE  TERRIER.  147 

animal's  feet ;  and  that,  after  every  successive  amputation,  he  would 
attack  the  Bull.     The  unmanly  and  horrible  experiment  was  tried  ; 


and  the  Dog,  apparently  inattentive  to  the  injury  he  had  received, 
continued  to  seize  the  Bull  with  the  same  eagerness  as  before. 


THE   TERRIER. 

There  are  few  animals  endowed  with 
more  obstinate  courage  than  the  Terrier. 
To  the  smaller  quadrupeds,  such  as  rats, 
mice,  stoats,  and  some  others,  he  seems  to 
be  the  natural  enemy,  and  attacks  them 
furiously  whenever  and  wherever  he  hap- 
pens to  see  them.  He  is  not  afraid  even 
of  the  badger,  and,  though  sometimes 
roughly  used  by  that  animal,  will  combat  TERRIER. 

him  with  determined  fortitude. 

An  anecdote  related  by  Mr.  Hope,  and  well  authenticated  by  other 
persons,  shows  also  that  the  Terrier  is  both  capable  of  resentment 
when  injured,  and  of  great  contrivance  to  accomplish  it.  A  gentle- 
man of  Whitmore,  in  Strafford shire,  used  to  go  twice  a-year  to  Lon- 
don ;  and  being  fond  of  exercise,  generally  performed  the  journey  on 
horseback,  accompanied  most  part  of  the  way,  by  a  faithful  little 
Terrier  Dog,  which,  lest  he  might  lose  it  in  London,  he  always  left  to 
the  care  of  Mrs.  Langford,  his  landlady  at  St.  Alban's ;  and,  on  his 
return  he  was  sure  to  find  his  little  companion  well  taken  care  of. 
The  gentleman  calling  one  time,  as  usual,  for  his  dog,  Mrs.  Langford 
appeared  before  him  with  a  woful  countenance : — "  Alas  !  Sir,  your 
Terrier  is  lost !  Our  great  house-dog  and  he  had  a  quarrel ;  and  the 
poor  Terrier  was  so  bitten  before  we  could  part  them,  that  I  thought 
he  could  never  have  got  the  better  of  it.  But  he  crawled  out  of  the 
yard,  and  no  one  saw  him  for  almost  a  week.  He  then  returned,  and 
brought  with  him  another  Dog,  bigger  by  far  than  ours ;  and  they 
both  together  fell  on  our  great  Dog,  and  bit  him  so  unmercifully, 
10 


148 


ENGLISH    TERRIER — SCOTCH    TERRIER. 


THE  ENGLISH  TERRIER. 


that  lie  has  scarcely  since  been  able  to  go  about  the  yard,  or  to  eat 
his  meat.  Your  Dog  and  his  companion  then  disappeared,  and  have 
never  since  been  seen  at  St.  Alban's."  The  gentleman  endeavored 
to  reconcile  himself  to  the  loss.  On  his  arrival  at  Whitmore,  how- 
ever, he  found  his  Terrier;  and,  on  inquiring  into  the  circumstances, 
was  informed  that  the  animal  had  been  at  Whitmore  and  had  coaxed 
away  the  great  Dog,  who  it  seems  had,  in  consequence,  followed  him 
to  St.  Alban's,  and  completely  avenged  his  injury. 

The  Terriers,  says  Wood,  never  grow  to  any  considerable  size. 

There  are  several  breeds  of  the  ter- 
riers, among  which  the  English 
and  Scotch  are  most  conspicuous. 
These  dogs  are  principally  used 
for  destroying  rats  or  other  vermin, 
and  are  so  courageous  that  they 
do  not  hesitate  to  unearth  the  fox 
or  the  badger.  Otters  are  also 
hunted  *by  them,  but  prove  by  no 
means  an  easy  prey,  as  their  snake- 
like  body,  sharp  teeth,  and  am- 
phibious  habits,  render  them  very 
difficult  to  seize,  and  their  tenacity 

f>    T<?  •  11       r>  ,T  1    1         ,1          " 

oi  lite  will  frequently  enable  them 
to  escape  when  the  dog  considers  them  dead.  The  Scotch  Terrier 
is  a  rough,  wiry  little  dog,  with  hair  hanging  over  its  eyes,  so  that 
those  organs  are  hardly  visible,  and  when  it  is  in  the  water  its  wetted 

hair  quite  obscures  its  vision.  There 
is  a  smaller  breed  of  these  dogs 
called  the  "  Skye  Terrier,"  whose 
principal  beauty  seems  to  consist 
in  their  ugliness. 

Terriers  are  extremely  attached 
to  their  master,  and  are  capable  of 
learning  many  amusing  tricks.  I 
had  a  terrier,  said  to  be  of  Irish 
breed,  who  had  imbibed  many  of 
the  eccentricities  of  the  Irish  char- 
acter. He  was  particularly  fond 
of  terrifying  lapdogs,  a  species  of 
animal  which  he  held  in  supreme  contempt.  On  one  occasion,  he 
met  a  very  fat  lapdog,  the  property  of  an  equally  fat  old  lady,  wad- 
dling along  the  street.  Eory  looked  at  it  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
gave  it  a  pat  which  rolled  it  over  on  its  back.  Its  mistress  imme- 
diately snatched  it  up,  and  put  it  on  her  muff,  whereupon  Kory 
erected  himself  on  his  hind-legs,  an  art  which  he  possessed  in  great 
perfection,  and  walked  along  by  her  side,  making  occasional  snatches 
at  the  lapdog.  The  terrified  old  lady  struck  at  him  with  her  boa, 
which  Rory  immediately  caught  in  his  mouth,  arid  carried  off  down 
the  street  in  an  ecstasy  of  delight,  ever  and  anon  tripping  over  it  and 
.foiling  head  over  heels.  He  had  learned  to  shut  the  door,  ring  the 


THE   SCOTCH   TERRIER. 


THE    SHEPHERDS    DOG. 


149 


bell,  bring  the  slippers,  or  put  the  cat  down  stairs,  which  he  accom- 
plished by  pushing  her  with  his  nose  down  each  successive  stair. 
During  his  residence  at  College  he  was  accustomed  to  sit,  dressed  in  a 
cap  and  gown,  at  the  breakfast  table,  where  his  deportment  was 
always  most  exemplary,  and  afforded  a  good  example  to  many  of 
the  guests. 

Poor  Rory  is  dead  now,  but  there  is  a  record  of  his  life  in  the 
"Sketches  and  Anecdotes  of  Animals,"  by  Mr.  Wood. 


THE  SHEPHERD'S  DOG. 

The  Shepherd's  Dog  is  a  rough,  shaggy  animal,  with  sharp  pointed 
ears  and  nose.  It  is  an  invaluable  assistant  to  the  shepherd,  as  it 
knows  all  its  master's 
sheep,  never  suffers 
them  to  stray,  and 
when  two  flocks  have 
mixed,  it  will  separate 
its  own  charge  with, 
the  greatest  certainty. 
It  understands  every 
look  and  gesture  of 
its  beloved  master,  and 
drives  the  flock  to  any 
place  which  he  points 
out.  This  is  the  dog 
alluded  to  by  Burns  in 
the  following  beauti- 
ful passage  : — "  Man," 
said  he,  "  is  the  god  of 

the  dog;  he  knows  no  other;  he  can  understand  no  other, 
how  he  worships  him !  with 
what  reverence  he  crouches 
at  his  feet !  with  what  love  he 
fawns  upon  him!  with  what 
dependence  he  looks  up  to 
him!  and  with  what  cheerful 
alacrity  he  obeys  him  !  His 
whole  soul  is  wrapt  up  in 
his  god  !  all  the  powers  and 
faculties  of  his  nature  are  de- 
voted to  his  service!  and 
these  powers  and  faculties  are 
ennobled  by  the  intercourse. 
Divines  tell  us  that  it  ought 
just  to  be  so  with  the  Chris- 
tian, but  the  dog  puts  the 
Christian  to  shame.7' 


THE  SHEPHERD'S  DOG. 


And  ace 


SIHTUKTID  3   I>00 


THE  GREYHOUND. 


150         THE  GREYHOUND — FOXHOUND — BEAGLE. 


THE  GREYHOUND. 

The  Greyhound  is  the  swiftest  of  all  the  Dogs,  and  is  principally 
used  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Hare,  which  amusement  is  termed  coursing. 
It  has  but  little  delicacy  of  scent,  and  hunts  almost  entirely  by  sight. 

The  Hare  endeavors  to  baffle  it  by 
making  sharp  turns,  which  the  Dog 
cannot  do  on  account  of  its  superior 
size,  and  has  therefore  to  take  a  cir- 
cuit, during  which  the  Hare  makes  off' 
in  another  direction.  The  Hare  also 
has  the  property  of  stopping  almost 
instantaneously  when  at  full  speed. 
It  puts  this  manoeuvre  into  force, 
when  it  is  nearing  its  favorite  hiding- 
place.  It  induces  the  Dog  to  spring 
upon  it,  and  then  suddenly  checks  itself.  The  Dog  is  carried  twenty 
or  thirty  yards  forward  by  its  own  momentum,  and  the  Hare  springes 
>1T  to  her  place  of  refuge. 

At  Ashborne,  in  Derbyshire,  there  is  a  public-house  sign  repre- 
senting a  black  and  white  Greyhound  chasing  a  Hare.  One  Grey- 
hound was  a  little  in  advance'  of  the  other,  and  struck  the  game  so 
forcibly  with  its  nose  that  the  Hare  was  thrown  over  its  back  Into  the 
jaws  of  the  other  Greyhound.  This  animal  has  been  known  to  exert 
rather  an  unexpected  talent,  viz  ;  retracing  a  journey  during  which 
it  had  been  a  close  prisoner. 

:<  The  celebrated  Greyhound,  Black-eyed  Susan;  was  brought  to 
Edinburgh  from  Glasgow  in  the  boot  of  a  coach,  on  the  night  of 
Wednesday,  the  13th  May,  1835.  On  the  following  Sunday  evening 
she  made  her  escape,  and  in  forty-eight  hours  reached  her  kennel, 
eight  miles  beyond  Glasgow,  being  fifty -two  miles  in  all.  The  road 
between  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh  she  had  never  travelled  on  foot, 
and  from  the  time  taken  she  cannot  have  come  direct ;  but  by  what 
route  or  process  this  animal  made  her  point  good  it  is  in  vain  to  con- 
jecture." 


THE   FOXHOUND   AND   BEAGLE. 

The  Foxhound  and  Beagle  are  not  very  dissimilar  in  form  or 
Habits.  They  both  follow  game  by  th§  scent,  and  are  used  in  hunting. 
The  Foxhound,  as  its  name  implies,  is  used  for  hunting  the  Fox,  and 
enters  into  the  sport  with  extraordinary  eagerness.  These  Dogs  are 
trained  with  great  care;  whole  books  have  been  written  on  their 
education,  and  men  are  engaged  at  high  salaries  to  train  them  to  the 
sport.  England  possesses  the  finest  breed  of  Foxhounds  in  the  world, 
and  certainly  no  expense  is  spared  to  improve  them,  as  one  kennel  is 
said  to  have  cost  nearly  twenty  thousand  pounds.  The  height  of 
the  Foxhound  is  about  twenty-two  inches. 


THE   POINTER. 


151 


THE  FOXHOUND. 


The  Beagle  is  used  principally  for  Hare  hunting.  It  is  much 
smaller  than  the  Foxhound, 
and  not  nearly  so  swift,  but 
its  scent  is  so  perfect  that 
it  follows  every  track  of 
the  flying  Hare,  unravels 
all  her  windings,  and  sel- 
dom fails  to  secure  her  at 
last.  Sportsmen  usually 
prefer  the  smallest  Beagles 
obtainable.  The  most  val- 
uable pack  of  these  Dogs 
known,  usec^to  be  carried 
to  and  from  the  field  in  a 
pair  of  panniers  slung 
across  a  Horse's  back.  Un- 
fortunately, this  pack  was  so  well  known,  that  numerous  were  the 
attempts  to  gain  possession  of  it.  One  ill-fated  evening,  as  the  Dogs 
were  returning  in  their  panniers 
after  the  day's  sport,  the  keeper 
was  decoyed  away  by  some  stra- 
tagem, and  when  he  returned,  his 
dismay  was  great  to  find  that  the 
Dogs,  panniers,  and  Horse  were  all 
missing.  No  traces  of  them  were 
discovered,  and  it  was  conjectured 
that  they  must  have  been  sold  on 
ihe  Continent 

It  is  a  common  custom  in  the 
military  schools  and  sometimes  at 
the  universities,  to  follow  the  Beagle  on  foot.  There  has  been  for 
several  years  a  society  at  Oxford,  who  thus  hunt  on  foot.  As  too 
much  time  would  be  lost  in  looking  for  a  living  Hare,  a  dead  Rabbit 
is  trailed  along  the  ground,  and  as  its  fur  has  been  rubbed  with  aniseed, 
the  Dogs  can  follow  it  easily. 


TUE  BEAQLE. 


THE   POINTEK. 

The  Pointer  is  used  by  sportsmen  to  point  out  the  spot  where  the 
game  lies.  It  ranges  the  fields  until  it  scents  the  Hare  or  Partridge 
lying  close  on  the  ground.  It  then  remains  still  as  if  carved  in  stone, 
every  limb  fixed,  and  the  tail  pointing  straight  behind  it.  In  this 
attitude  it  remains  until  the  gun  is  discharged,  reloaded,  and  the 
sportsman  has  reached  the  place  where  the  Bird  sprung.  It  then 
eagerly  searches  for  the  game,  and  brings  the  Bird  in  its  mouth."" 
There  are  many  anecdotes  of  its  intelligence,  among  which  the  fol- 
lowing is  not  the  least  interesting. 


Many  Dog-trainers  do  not  permit  the  Dog  even  to  touch  the  Bird. 


152 


THE   IRISH   GREYHOUND. 


T 


In  1829,  Mr.  J.  Webster  was  out  on  a  shooting  party  near  Dundee, 
when  a  female  Pointer,  having  traversed  the  field  which  the  sportsmen 

were  then  in,  proceeded  to  a 
wall,  and,  just  as  she  made  the 
leap,  got  the  scent  of  some  Par- 
tridges on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  wall.  She  hung  by  her 
fore-feet  until  the  sportsmen 
came  up  ;  in  which  situation, 
while  they  were  at  some  dis- 
tance, it  appeared  to  them  that 
she  had  got  her  leg  fastened 
among  the  stonesyof  the  wall, 
and  was  unable  to  extricate  her- 
self. But,  on  corning  up  to  her, 
they  found  that^this  singular 
circumstance  proceeded  from  her  caution,  lest  she  should  flush  the 
Birds,  and  that  she  had  thus  purposely  suspended  herself  in  place  of 
completing  her  leap. 

When  badly  trained,  this  Dog  is  apt  to  make  very  absurd  mistakes. 
A  young  Pointer  belonging  to  a  friend  disappointed  him  by  most 
perversely  pointing  at  a  Pig;  arid  on  another  occasion  was  discovered 
feasting  on  a  dead  Sheep  instead  of  attending  to  its  business. 


THE   POINTER. 


THE   IRISH   GREYHOUND. 

The  Irish  Greyhound  is  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  very  largest 
Dog  known.     He  was  used  in  extirpating  Wolves  from  Ireland.     This 

species  is  nearly  extinct,  only  a  very  few 
specimens  being  left. 

In  1790,  Mr.  Lambert  saw  eight  of  them 
in  the  possession  of  Lord  Altamont.  They 
were  the  sole  remnant  of  their  race,  which 
had  then  degenerated :  the  hair  was  short 
and  smooth,  brown  and  white,  or  black 
and  white.  One  of  the  largest  dogs  was 
sixty-one  inches  long  from  the  muzzle  to 
the  point  of  the  tail,  which  latter  was,  of 
itself,  seventeen  inches  and  a  half  in  length. 
The  ears  were  six  inc.hes  long  and  pendu- 
lous. The  height  from  the  toe  to  the  top 
of  the  fore  shoulders,  twenty-eight  inches  and  a  half;  the  circum- 
ference of  the  breast  thirty -live  inches,  and  of  the  belly,  twenty-six. 
All  were  good  tempered ;  and  in  former  generations  the  race  are  said 
to  have  borne  a  great  resemblance  to  the  Greyhound.  If  this  latter 
fact  is  well  authenticated,  it  throws  some  light  upon  the  progressive 
history  of  this  first  division ;  for  the  dogs  of  this  subdivision  stand 
something  intermediate  between  the  Greyhounds,  properly  so  called, 
and  the  wild  dogs;  and  so,  if  there  is  a  return  from  the  Greyhound 


THE  IRISH   GREYHOUND. 


ANECDOTES   RESPECTING  DOGS.  153 

to  the  type  of  this  subdivision,  there  might  be  a  return  in  this  to 
the  type  of  the  wild  dog. 

There  are  dogs  evidently  resembling  these  in  other  countries,  such 
as  the  large  and  rough  Greyhound  of  Kussia,  and  that  of  the  low 
lands  of  Scotland ;  but  a  particular  account  of  them  would  not  add 
much  to  the  natural  history  of  the  genus. 


THE   DALMATIAN   DOG. 

The  Dalmatian  Dog  is  of  an  elegant  form 
and  beautifully  spotted  all  over.  It  is  called 
the  Coach  from  its  fondness  for  running  under 
and  near  carriages.  It  is  of  little  use  and 
serves  merely  as  an  ornament  to  a  2,-entl email's 

•J  DALMATIAN  DOG. 

equipage. 

THE   ITALIAN   WOLF   DOG 

The  Italian  Wolf  Dog  is  a  very  large  and  powerful  animal  of  a 
beautiful  form  and  perfectly  white.  As  its  name  indicates  it  is  used 
for  protecting  the  flocks  of  the  peasantry  from  the  ravages  of  Wolves. 

ADDITIONAL   ANECDOTES    RESPECTING  DOGS. 

A  grocer  in  Edinburgh  had  a  Dog,  which  for  some  time  amused 
and  astonished  the  people  in  the  neighborhood.  A  man  who  went 
through  the  streets  ringing  a  bell  and  selling  penny  pies,  happened 
one  day  to  treat  this  Dog  with  a  pie.  The  next  time  he  heard  the 
pieman's  bell,  the  Dog  ran  to  him  with  impetuosity,  seized  him  by 
the  coat,  and  would  not  suffer  him  to  pass.  The  pieman,  who  under- 
stood what  the  animal  wanted,  showed  him  a  penny,  and  pointed  to 
his  master,  who  stood  at  the  street-door  and  saw  what  was  going  on. 
The  Dog  immediately  supplicated  his  master  by  many  humble  ges- 
tures and  looks.  The  master  put  a  penny  into  the  Dog's  mouth, 
which  he  instantly  delivered  to  the  pieman,  and  received  his  pie;  and 
this  traffic  between  the  pieman  and  the  grocer's  Dog,  continued  to  be 
daily  practised  for  many  months. 

At  a  convent  in  France,  twenty  paupers  were  served  with  a  dinner  at 
a  certain  hour  every  day.  A  Dog  belonging  to  the  convent  did  not 
fail  to  be  present  at  this  regale,  to  receive  the  scraps  which  were  now 
and  then  thrown  to  him.  The  guests,  however,  were  poor  and  hungry, 
and  of  course  not  very  wasteful ;  so  that  their  pensioner  did  little  more 
than  scent  the  feast  of  which  he  would  fain  have  partaken.  The  por- 
tions were  served  by  a  person,  at  the  ringing  of  a  bell,  and  delivered  out 
by  means  of  what  in  religious  houses  is  called  a  tour;  a  machine  like 
the  section  of  a  cask,  that,  by  turning  round  upon  a  pivot,  exhibits 
whatever  is  placed  on  the  concave  side,  without  discovering  the  person 
who  moves  it.  One  day  this  Dog,  which  had  only  received  a  few 
scraps,  waited  till  the  paupers  were  all  gone,  took  the  rope  in  his 
mouth  and  rang  the  bell.  His  stratagem  succeeded.  He  repeated  it 


154  ANECDOTES  OF   DOGS. 

the  next  day  with  the  same  good  fortune.  At  length  the  cook,  find- 
ing that  twenty-one  portions  were  given  out  instead  of  twenty,  was 
determined  to  discover  the  trick ;  in  doing  which  he  had  no  great 
difficulty ;  for,  lying  in  wait,  and  noticing  the  paupers  as  they  came 
for  their  different  portions,  and  that  there  was  no  intruder  except  the 
Dog,  he  began  to  suspect  the  truth  ;  which  he  was  confirmed  in  when 
he  saw  the  animal  continue  with  great  deliberation  till  the  visitors 
were  all  gone,  and  then  pull  the  bell.  The  matter  was  related  to  the 
community;  and  to  re  ward,  him  for''  his  ingenuity,  the  Dog  was  per- 
mitted to  ring  the  bell  every  day  for  his  dinner,  on  which  a  mess  of 
broken  victuals  was  always  afterwards  served  out  to  him. 

Mr.  C.  Hughes,  a  country  comedian,  had  a  wig  which  generally 
hung  on  a  peg  in  xme  of  his  rooms.  He  one  day  lent  the  wig  to 
a  brother  player,  and  some  time  afterwards  called  on  him.  Mr. 
Hughes  had  his  Dog  with  him,  and  the  man  happened  to  have  the 
borrowed  wig  on  his  head.  Mr.  Hughes  stayed  a  little  while  with  his 
friend ;  but,  when  he  left  him,  the  Dog  remained  behind.  For  some 
time  he  stood,  looking  full  in  the  man's  face  ;  then,  making  a  sudden 
spring,  he  leaped  on  his  shoulders,  seized  the  wig,  arid  ran  off  with  it 
as  fast  as  he  could;  and  when  he  reached  home,  he  endeavored,  by 
jumping,  to  hang  it  up  in  its  usual  place.  The  same  Dog  was  one 
afternoon  passing  through  a  field  near  Dartmouth,  where  a  washer- 
woman had  hung  out  her  linen  to  dry.  He  stopped  and  surveyed  one 
particular  shirt  with  attention ;  then  seizing  it,  he  dragged  it  away 
through  the  dirt  to  his  master,  whose  shirt  it- proved  to  be. 

In  the  year  1791,  a  person  went  to  a  house  in  Deptford,  to  take 
lodgings,  under  pretence  that  he  had  just  arrived  from  the  West 
Indies ;  and,  after  having  agreed  on  the  terms,  said  he  should  send 
his  trunk  that  night,  and  come  himself  the  next  day.  About  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  trunk  was  brought  by  two  porters,  and  was 
carried  into  a  bed-room.  Just  as  the  family  were  going  to  bed,  their 
little  house-dog,  deserting  his  usual  station  in  the  shop,  placed  himself 
close  to  the  chamber-door,  where  the  chest  was  deposited,  and  kept  up 
an  incessant  barking.  The  moment  the  door  was  opened,  the  Dog 
flew  to  the  chest,  against  which  it  scratched  and  barked  with  redoubled 
fury.  They  attempted  to  get  the  Dog  out  of  the  room,  but  in  vain. 
Calling  in  some  neighbors,  and  making  them  eye-witnesses  of  the  cir- 
cumstance, they  began  to  move  the  trunk  about;  when  they  quickly 
discovered  that  it  contained  something  that  was  alive.  Suspicion 
becoming  very  strong,  they  were  induced  to  force  it  open ;  when,  to 
their  utter  astonishment,  they  found  in  it  their  new  lodger,  who  had 
thus  been  conveyed  into  the  house  with  the  intention  of  robbing  it. 

A  Dog  that  had  been  the  favorite  of  an  elderly  lady,  discovered, 
some  time  after  her  death,  the  strongest  emotions  at  the  sight  of  her 
picture,  when  it  was  taken  down  to  be  cleaned.  Before  this,  he  had 
never  been  observed  to  notice  the  painting.  Here  was  evidently  a  case 
either  of  passive  remembrance,  or  of  the  involuntary  renewal  of  former 
impressions.  Another  Dog,  the  property  of  a  gentleman  that  died, 
was  given  to  a  friend  in  Yorkshire.  Several  years  afterwards,  a 
brother  from  the  West  Indies  paid  a  short  visit  at  the  house  where 


THE   WOLF. 


15-5 


the  Dog  then  was.  He  was  instantly  recognized,  though  an  entire 
stranger,  in  consequence,  probably,  of  a  strong  personal  likeness. 
The  Dog  fawned  upon  him,  and  followed  him  with  great  affection  to 
every  place  where  he  went. 


THE  WOLF. 

The  Wolf  is  larger,  stronger,  and  more  muscular  than  the  Dog. 
His  color  is  generally  pale  grey. 

These  animals  are  natives  of  almost  all  the  temperate  and  cold 
regions  of  the  globe; 
and  they  were  formerly 
so  numerous  in  Eng- 
land, that  King  Edgar 
commuted  the  punish- 
ment for  certain  of- 
fences into  a  requisi- 
tion of  a  certain  num- 
ber of  Wolves'  tongues 
from  each  criminal ; 
and  he  converted  a 
heavy  and  oppressive 
tax  on  one  of  the  Welsh 
princes,  into  an  annual 


tribute   of  three   hun- 
dred Wolves'  heads. 

.  It  appears  from  Hol- 

linshed,  that  Wolves  were  very  noxious  to  the  flocks  in  Scotland,  in 
1577 ;  nor  were  they  entirely  destroyed  till  about  a  century  after- 
wards, when  the  last  Wolf  fell  in  Lochabar,  by  the  hand  of  Sir  Ewen 
Cameron  of  Lochiel.  In  ancient  times,  every  Scots  baron  was  obliged, 
by  the  law,  to  hunt  the  Wolf  four  times  a  year,  attended  by  all  his 
servants ;  and  every  sheriff,  with  all  the  barons  and  freeholders  of 
his  county,  was  annually  obliged  to  have  three  great  Wolf-huntings, 
for  the  purpose  of  thinning  the  race  of  these  destructive  animals. 

When  pressed  by  hunger,  the  Wolf,  though  naturally  a  coward, 
becomes  courageous  from  necessity  :  he  then  braves  every  danger,  and 
will  venture  to  attack  even  the  horse  or  the  buffalo.  Sometimes 
whole  droves  of  Wolves  descend  upon  the  Sheep-folds ;  and,  digging 
the  earth  under  the  doors,  enter  with  dreadful  ferocity,  and  put  to 
death  every  living  creature  before  they  depart. 

"  By  wintry  famine  roused,  from  all  the  tract 
Of  horrid  mountains  which  the  shining  Alps, 
And  wavy  Apennine  and  Pyrennees 
Branch  out  stupendous  into  distant  lands, 
Cruel  as  death  !  and  hungry  as  the  grave 
Burning  for  blood !  bony,  gaunt,  and  grim 
Assembling  Wolves,  in  raging  troops,  descend  ; 
And.  pouring  o'er  the  country  bear  along, 
Keen  as  the  North  wind  sweeps  the  glossy  snow : 
All  is  their  prize." 


156 


THE    WOLF. 


Although  the  Wolf  is  the  most  gluttonous  of  quadrupeds,  devour 
ing,  when  excited  by  hunger,  even  his  own  species,  yet  his  rapacity 
does  not  exceed  his  cunning :  always  suspicious  and  mistrustful,  he 
imagines  every  thing  he  sees  is  a  snare  laid  to  betray  him.  If  he  find 
a  reindeer  tied  to  a  post,  to  be  milked,  he  dares  not  approach,  lest  the 
animal  should  be  placed  there  only  to  entrap  him ;  but  no  sooner  is 
the  deer  set  at  liberty,  than  he  instantly  pursues  and  devours  it.  Such, 


WOLV£S  ATTACKING  A  HORSE. 


however,  is  his  extreme  cowardice,  that,  should  the  deer  stand  at  bay, 
and  act  on  the  defensive,  he  is  at  once  intimidated.  Wolves  have  not 
unfrequently  been  caught  in  pit-falls,  along  with  other  beasts,  which 
their  fears,  even  in  this  confined  situation,  have  not  permitted  them  to 
attack.  Instances  have  occurred  of  peasants  falling  into  these  traps, 
and  sitting  quietly  tete-a-tete,  with  a  Wolf,  until  released  by  the 
hunter. 

So  cautious  are  these  animals  in  their  attack,  that,  in  several  parts 
of  the  continent,  if  a  man  has  to  traverse  alone  the  forests  and  wilds, 
where  they  are  prowling  in  search  of  prey,  he  can  sufficiently  defend 
fiimsolf  against  their  voracity  by  only  a  slight  rope,  and  a  bundle  of 


WOLF.  157 

straw  or  twigs  trailed  behind  him.     Dr.  Anderson  was  assured  by  a 
respectable  gentleman,  a  general  officer,  who  was  resident  in  Portugal 


WOLVES   PURSUING   A  TRAVELLER. 


more  than  thirty  years,  that  this  was  the  method  universally  prac- 
tised by  the  peasants  of  that  country,  and,  he  believed,  with  invaria 
ble  success. 

In  the  northern  parts  of  the  world,  Wolves  sometimes  wander  upon 
the  ice  of  the  sea,  in  quest  of  young  Seals,  which  they  catch  asleep 
there.  But  this  repast  frequently  proves  fatal  to  them ;  %for  the  ice, 
being  detached  from  the  shore,  carries  them  to  a  great  distance  from 
the  land  before  they  are  sensible  of  it.  It  is  said,- that,  in  some  years, 
large  districts  are  thus  delivered  from  these  pernicious  beasts. 

The  Wolf  has  great  strength,  especially  in  the  muscles  of  his  neck 
and  jaws ;  he  can  carry  a  Sheep  in  his  mouth,  and  without  difficulty 
can  run  off  with  it.  AVhen  reduced  to  extremity  by  hunger,  we  are 
told  by  Pontoppidan  that  he  will  swallow  mud,  in  order  to  allay  the 
uneasy  sensations  of  his  stomach.  His  sense  of  smelling  is  peculiarly 
strong :  he  scents  the  track  of  animals,  and  follows  it  with  great  per- 
severance. The  odor  of  carrion  is  perceptible  by  him  at  the  distance 
of  nearly  a  mile. 

Notwithstanding  the  savage  disposition  of  the  Wolf,  he  is  capable, 
when  taken  young,  of  being  tamed.  A  remarkable  instance  of  this 
was  exhibited  in  a  Wolf  belonging  to  the  late  Sir  Ash  ton  Lever:  this 
animal,  by  proper  education,  was  entirely  divested  of  the  ferocious 
character  of  its  species.  In  Eastern  countries,  and  particularly  in 
Persia,  Wolves  are  exhibited  as  spectacles  to  the  people.  When 
young,  they  are  taught  to  dance,  or  rather  to  perform  a  kind  of  wrest- 
ling, with  a  number  of  men  ;  and  Chardin  informs  us,  that  a  Wolf 
well  educated  in  dancing  is  sometimes  sold  for  five  hundred  French 
crowns.  M.  de  Buffon  brought  up  several  Wolves.  During  the  first 
year,  he  states  that  they  were,  very  docile,  and  even  caressing ;  and, 
if  well  fed,  would  neither  disturb  the  poultry,  nor  any  other  animals; 


158 


THE    WOLF. 


WOLF  HUNT. 


but,  that  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months  or  two  years,  their  natural 
ferocity  began  to  appear,  and  it  was  requisite  to  chain  them,  in  order  to 
prevent  them  from  running  off  and  doing  mischief.  One  Wolf,  till  it 
was  eighteen  or  nineteen  months  old,  he  brought  up  in  a  court-yard 
along  with  fowls,  none  of  which  it  ever  attacked ;  but,  for  its  first  es- 
say, it  killed  the  whole  in  one  night,  yet  did  not  eat  any  of  them. 

The  time  of  gestation  of  the  Wolf 
is  about  three  months  and  a  half; 
and  when  the  females  are  about  to 
bring  forth,  they  search  for  some 
concealed  place  in  the  inmost  re- 
cesses of  the  forests.  After  having 
fixed  on  the  spot,  they  make  it 
smooth  and  plain  for  a  considerable 
space,  by  tearing  up  with  their  teeth 
all  the  brambles  and  brushwood. 
They  then  prepare  a  bed  of  moss, 
in  which  they  bring  forth  five  or 


IE   WOLF   AXD   YOUNCI. 


THE   STRIPED   HYENA. 


159 


six  young-ones.  The  mother  suckles  them  for  some  weeks  ;  but  soon 
teaches  them  to  eat  flesh,  which  she  prepares  by  tearing  it  into  small 
pieces.  She  then  brings  them  Field-mice,  Hares,  Partridges,  and  Fowls, 
which  they  at  first  play  with,  and  then  kill.  About  six  weeks  after 
their  birth  the  young-ones  leave  their  den,  and  follow  the  mother, 


WOLVES  ATTACKING  A  SLEIGH-RIDING  PARTY. 


who  leads  them  abroad  to  some  neighboring  pool  to  drink ;  she  con- 
ducts them  back  again,  or,  when  danger  is  apprehended,  obliges  them 
to  conceal  themselves  elsewhere.  When  they  are  attacked,  she  de- 
fends them  with  intrepidity ;  losing,  in  this  case,  every  sense  of  danger, 
and  becoming  perfectly  furious  until  they  are  again  in  safety. 

Of  the  Wolf  there  is  nothing  valuable  but  his  skin,  which  makes  a 
warm  and  durable  fur.  His  flesh  is  so  bad,  that  it  is  rejected  with 
abhorrence  by  all  other  quadrupeds.  The  smell  of  his  breath  is  ex- 
cessively offensive ;  since,  to  appease  hunger,  he  swallows,  almost  in- 
discriminately, every  thing  he  can  find  :  corrupted  flesh,  bones,  hair, 
md  skins  half  tanned,  and  even  covered  with  lime.  In  short,  the 
Wolf  is  in  an  extreme  degree  disgusting:  his  aspect  is  savage,  his 
voice  dreadful,  his  stench  insupportable,  his  disposition  perverse,  and 
tiis  manners  brutal  and  ferocious. 


THE  STRIPED  HYENA. 


The  Striped  Hyena  is  about  the  size  of  a  large  Dog,  of  a  pale 
greyish-brown  color,  and  marked  across  with  several  distinct  blackish 
bands.  The  hair  of  its  neck  is  erect,  and  is  continued  in  a  bristly 
mane  along  the  back.  The  tail  is  short  and  very  bushy.  The  head 


160 


THE   STRIPED    HYENA. 


TUB   8TR1PJJD    HYENA. 


is  broad  and  flat,  and  the  eyes  have  an  expression  of  great  wildness 
and  ferocity. 

The  ancients  en- 
tertained many  ab- 
surd and  u  n  a  c  - 
countable  notions 
respecting  this  ani- 
mal. They  believ- 
ed that  its  neck 
consisted  of  but  one 
bone,  which  was 
without  a  joint ; 
that  it  every  year 
changed  its  sex 
that  it  could  imitate 
the  human  voice ; 
and  that  it  had -thus 
the  power  of  charm- 
ing the  shepherds, 
and  riveting  them  to  the  place  on  which  they  stood. 

Hyenas,  which  are  natives  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  Syria,  Persia,  and 
many  parts  of  Africa,  generally  inhabit  caverns  and  rocky  places ; 
prowling  about  in  the  night  to  feed  on  the  remains  of  dead  animals,  or 
on  whatever  living  prey  they  can  seize.  They  violate  the  repositories 
of  the  dead,  and  greedily  devour  the  putrid  bodies.  They  likewise 
prey  on  cattle,  and  frequently  commit  great  devastation  among  the 
flocks ;  yet,  when  other  provisions  fail,  they  are  able  to  subsist  on  the 
roots  of  plants,  and  on  the  tender  snoots  of  the  palm-trees.  They 
sometimes  assemble  in  troops,  and  follow  the  march  of  an  army,  in 
order  to  feast  on  the  dead  bodies  of  the  slain. 

The  cry  of  the  Hyena  is  very  peculiar.  It  begins  with  somewhat 
like  the  moaning  of  the  human  voice,  and  ends  in  a  noise  like  that  ot 
a  person  making  a  violent  effort  to  vomit.  His  courage  is  said  to 
equal  his  rapacity.  He  will  occasionally  act  on  the  defensive,  and  with 
great  obstinacy,  against  much  larger  animals  than  himself.  Kasmpfer 
relates,  that  he  saw  a  Hyena  which  had  put  to  flight  two  Lions;  and 
that  he  had  frequently  known  a  Hyena  to  attack  the  Ounce  and  the 
Panther.  There  is  something  in  the  aspect  of  this  animal  that  indi- 
cates a  peculiar  gloominess  and  malignity  of  disposition ;  and  its 
manners  correspond  with  its  appearance.  Instances  have,  however, 
occurred  of  the  Hyena  being  tamed.  Mr  Pennant  says,  that  he  saw 
a  Hyena  as  tame  as  a  Dog;  and  M.  de  Buffon,  that  there  was  one 
exhibited  at  Paris  that  had  been  tamed  very  early,  and  was  apparently 
divested  of  all  its  natural  ferocity.  In  Barbary,  Mr.  Bruce  assures  us 
that  he  has  seen  the  Moors,  in  the  day-time,  take  these  animals  by  the 
ears  and  haul  them  along,  without  their  offering  any  other  resistance 
than  that  of  drawing  back. 

Mr.  Bruce  locked  up  a  Goat,  a  Kid,  and  a  Lamb,  all  day  with  a  Bar- 
bary Hyena,  when  it  was  fasting,  and  in  the  evening  he  found  each  of 
the  animals  aliv7e  and  unhurt;  but,  on  repeating  an  experiment  of  this 


THE    STRIPED    HYENA.  161 

x 

kind  at  night,  the  Hyena  ate  up  a  young  Ass,  a  Goat,  and  a  Fox,  all  before 
morning.  In  Barbary,  the  Hyenas  seem  to  lose  their  courage,  and  to 
fly  from  man  by  day ;  but  in  Abyssinia,  they  often  prowl  about  even  in 
the  open  day,  and  attack  with  savage  fury  every  animal  they  meet  with. 
"  These  creatures,"  says  Mr.  Bruce,  "  were  a  general  scourge  to  Abys- 
sinia, in  every  situation,  both  of  the  city  and  the  field ;  and  they  seemed 
to  surpass  even  the  sheep  in  number.  From  evening  till  the  dawn  of 
day,  the  town  of  Gondar  was  full  of  them.  Here  they  sought  the  dif- 
ferent pieces  of  slaughtered  carcasses  which  this  cruel  and  unclean 
people  were  accustomed  to  expose  in  the  streets  without  burial. 
Many  a  time  in  the  night,  when  the  king  had  kept  me  late  in  the 
palace,  on  going  across  the  square  from  the  king's  house,  I  have  been 
apprehensive  lest  they  should  bite  me  in  the  leg.  They  grunted  in 
great  numbers  around  me,  although  I  was  surrounded  with, several 
armed  men,  who  seldom  passed  a  night  without  wounding  or  slaughter- 
ing some  of  them.  One  night  in  Maitsha,  being  very  intent  on  an 
observation,  I  heard  something  pass  behind  me  towards  the  bed  ;  but 
on  looking  round,  could  perceive  nothing.  Having  finished  what  I 
was  then  about,  I  went  out  of  my  tent,  resolving  directly  to  return ; 
this  I  immediately  did,  and  in  so  doing  perceived  two  large  blue  eyes 
glaring  at  me  in  the  dark.  I  called  my  servant  to  bring  a  light ;  and 
we  found  a  Hyena  standing  near  the  head  of  the  bed,  with  two  or 
three  large  bunches  of  candles  in  his  mouth.  To  have  fired  at  him, 
would  have  been  at  the  risk  of  breaking  my  quadrant  or  other  furni- 
ture ;  and  he  seemed,  by  keeping  the  candles  steadily  in  his  mouth, 
to  wish  at  that  time  for  no  other  prey.  As  his  mouth  was  full,  and  he 
had  no  claws  to  tear  with,  I  was  not  afraid  of  him ;  and  with  a  pike, 
stuck  him  as  near  the  heart  as  I  could.  It  was  not  until  I  had  done 
this  that  he  showed  any  sign  of  fierceness;  but  upon  feeling  his 
wound,  he  dropped  the  candles,  and  endeavored  to  run  up  the  shaft 
of  the  spear  to  arrive  at  me,  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  draw  a  pistol 
from  my  girdle  and  shoot  him ;  and  nearly  at  the  same  time  my  ser- 
vant cleft  his  skull  with  a  battle-axe.  In  a  word  the  Hyenas  were 
the  plague  of  our  lives,  the  terror  of  our  night- walks,  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  Mules  and  Asses,  which  above  every  thing  else,  are  their 
favorite  food." 

At  Dar-fur,  a  kingdom  in  the  interior  of  Africa,  the  Hyenas  come 
in  herds  of  six,  eight,  and  often  more,  into  the  villages  at  night,  and 
carry  off  with  them  whatever  they  are  able  to  seize.  They  will  kill 
Dogs  and  Asses,  even  within  the  enclosures  of  the  houses ;  and  they 
always  assemble  wherever  a  dead  Camel  or  other  animal  is  thrown, 
and,  on  these  occasions,  acting  in  concert,  they  will  drag  it  to  a  pro- 
digious distance :  nor  are  they  greatly  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  men, 
or  by  the  report  of  fire-arms.  Mr.  Brown  was  told,  that  whenever 
any  one  of  these  animals  was  wounded,  its  companions  always  tore  it 
to  pieces  and  devoured  it. 

A  remarkable  peculiarity  in  the  Hyena  is,  that  when  he  is  first  dis- 
lodged from  cover,  or  obliged  to  run,  he  always,  for  a  considerable 
distance,  appears  lame;  and  sometimes  to  such  a  degree  as  to  induce 
the  spectators  to  suppose  that  one  of  his  hind  legs  is  broken ;  but 


HY£NA   COUNTERFEITING   LAMENESS. 


162  THE   STRIPED   HYAENA. 

\ 

after  running  some  time  this  affection  goes  off,  and  he  escapes  swiftly 

away.  The  neck,  likewise,  is  so  stiff,  that 
in  looking  behind,  or  in  snatching  ob- 
liquely at  any  object,  he  is  obliged  to 
move  his  whole  body,  somewhat  in  the 
manner  of  a  hog. 

The  mode  of  hunting  these  animals 
in  Barbary  is  somewhat  extraordinary. 
A  party  of  ten  or  twelve  persons,  accom- 
panied by  as  many  Dogs  of  various  kinds, 
goto  a  cavern  which  they  have  previously 
ascertained  to  be  the  haunt  of  a  Hyena.  One  of  the  party  then  strips 
himself  naked,  and  taking  in  one  hand  the  end  of  a  rope,  with  a  noose 
to  it,  he  advances  gradually  into  the  cave,  at  the  same  time  speaking 
gently  and  in  an  insinuating  tone,  pretending  to  fascinate  the  Hyena 
by  words.  When  he  reaches  the  animal,  he  strokes  him  down  the 
back,  which  appears  to  soothe  him.  He  then  dexterously  slips  the 
noose  round  his  neck,  and,  by  pulling  the  rope,  indicates,  to  those  on 
the  outside  of  the  cave,  and  who  hold  the  other  end,  that  it  is  fixed. 
Having  thrown  a  cloth  over  the  eyes  of  the  Hyena.,  he  immediately 
retires  behind,  and  the  men  pull  the  rope  from  without,  whilst  he 
urges  the  animal  forward.  When  they  have  dragged,  him  to  the 
mouth  of  the  cave,  he  is  attacked  and  destroyed  by  the  dogs.  This  is 
an  operation  which,  if  the  rope  break,  is  attended  with  danger  to  the 
man  who  enters  the  cave ;  but  he  is  always  furnished  with  a  dagger 
or  large  knife,  for  the  purpose  of  defending  himself,  in  case  of  attack. 
There  are  other  modes  of  hunting  these  stupid  animals,  particularly  in 
the  night,  either  by  dogs  or  with  guns.  In  the  day  time  they  never 
come  out  of  their  den,  but  sit  at  the  further  end  of  it,  staring  with 
their  eyes  fixed.  Mr.  Jackson,  by  whom  this  account  is  related,  says 
that,  in  Barbary,  the  Hyenas  are  not  very  ferocious ;  that,  not  being 
afraid  of  man,  they  neither  attack  nor  seek  to  avoid  him.  In  the 
Southern  Atlas,  he  states  that  he  has  seen  them  led  about  even  by 
boys ;  a  rope  being  fastened  round  the  animal's  neck,  and  on  each  side 
a  communicating  rope  being  attached  to  it,  three  or  four  yards  long, 
and  held  by  a  boy. 

Hyenas  are  to  be  seen  in  most  of  the  exhibitions  of  wild  beasts  in 
Great  Britain.  In  confinement  they  become  excessively  savage  and 
ferocious.  Their  jaws  are  much  stronger  than  those  of  the  generality 
of  their  tribe.  Some  years  ago  there  was  one  at  Exeter  'Change  about 
six  months  old,  so  very  tame  that  he  was  occasionally  suffered  to  come 
out  of  his  den,  and  run  about  the  exhibition-room.  This  animal 
would  allow  even  strangers  to  approach  and  pat  him,  without  exhibit- 
ing any  symptoms  whatever  of  displeasure;  and  he  seemed  fond  of 
playing  with  any  of  the  dogs  that  happened  to  come  into  the  room. 
Still,  however,  there  was  a  considerable  degree  of  sullenness  and  ill- 
nature  in  his  disp'osition,  which,  with  his  age,  appeared  every  day  to 
increase.  After  having  been  at  Exeter  'Change  about  two  months, 
he  was  sold  to  Mr.  Tennant  of  Pentonville,  a  dealer  in  animals.  This 
person,  with  only  a  string  fixed  to  the  animal's  collar,  suffered  him 


THE   SPOTTED   HYAENA.  163 

wice  or  thrice  to  go  out  with  him  into  the  fields.  He  was  soon  after- 
wards sold  to  the  owner  of  a  caravan,  for  the  purpose  of  exhibition  in 
the  country.  From  the  unusual  confinement  in  this  caravan,  his  dis- 
position almost  immediately  became  fierce,  and  he  would  no  longer 
admit  of  the  approach  and  caresses  of  the  visitors.  Indeed,  he  did  not 
long  survive  this  change  of  life,  but  gradually  pined  away  till  he  died. 

The  late  Mr.  John  Hunter,  the  surgeon,  had  at  Earl's  Court,  a 
Hyena,  about  eighteen  months  old,  that  was  so  tame  as  to  admit 
strangers  to  approach  and  touch  him.  After  Mr.  Hunter's  death,  the 
animal  was  sold  to  a  travelling  exhibitor  of  animals.  For  a  few  months 
previously  to  his  being  carried  into  the  country,  he  was  lodged  in  the 
Tower.  The  keeper  of  the  Tower  informed  me  that  he  there  con- 
tinued tolerably  gentle ;  so  much  so,  as  to  allow  a  person  who  knew 
him  to  enter  the  den  and  handle  him.  When,  however,  he  was  con- 
fined in  the  caravan,  he  soon  exhibited  symptoms  of  ferocity  equal  to 
those  of  the  most  savage  Hyenas ;  and  he  was  at  last  killed  by  a  tiger, 
the  partition  of  whose  den  from  his  own  he  had  torn  down  by  the 
enormous  strength  of  his  jaws. 

The  Hyena,  in  confinement,  is  allowed  about  four  pounds  weight 
of  food  in  the  day ;  and  he  laps  about  three  pints  of  water.  The  value 
of  a  full-grown  Hyena  for  exhibition,  is  from  ten  to  thirty  pounds. 


THE   SPOTTED  HYENA,  OK  TIGER-WOLF 

The  Spotted  Hyena  has  a  considerable  resemblance  to  the  former 
species ;  but  is  larger  and  the  body  is  marked  with  numerous  roundish 
black  spots.  The 
face  and  upper  part 
of  the  head  are 
black ;  and  along 
the  neck  extends 
an  upright  black 
mane.  The  ground- 
color of  the  body 
is  reddish  brown. 

Natives  of  several 
parts  of  Africa,  but 
particularly  numer- 
ous at  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  these 
animals  are  described  to  be  in  the  greatest  degree  cruel,  mischievous, 
and  formidable.  They  have  frequently  been  known  to  enter  the  huts 
of  Hottentots  in  search  of  prey;  and  from  these  they  sometimes  carry 
off  even  children.  A  Spotted  Hyena  entered  a  Negro's  house  on  the 
coast  of  Guinea,  and  laid  hold  of  a  girl;  and,  notwithstanding  her 
utmost  resistance,  he  threw  her  on  his  back,  holding  her  fast  by  one 
of  the  legs,  and  was  making  off  with  her,  when  the  men,  whom  the 
screams  of  the  girl  had  roused  from  sleep,  came  to  her  relief.  The 
beast  dropped  her,  and  made  his  escape. 
11 


THE   SPOTTED   HYEJfA. 


164  THE   SPOTTED   HYENA. 

Great  numbers  of  these  animals  attend  almost  every  dark  night 
about  the  shambles  at  the  Cape,  to  carry  away  the  filth  and  offal  left 
there  by  the  inhabitants ;  and  they  are  allowed  to  do  this  without 
molestation.  The  dogs,  too,  with  which  at  other  times  they  are  in 
continual  enmity,  do  not  now  molest  them ;  and,  on  these  occasions,  it 
has  been  remarked  that  the  Hyenas  are  seldom  known  to  do  any  im- 
portant mischief.  Thunberg  informs  us,  that  they  are  so  excessively 
bold  and  ravenous,  as  sometimes  to  eat  the  saddle  from  under  the 
traveller's  head,  and  to  gnaw  the  shoes  on  his  feet,  while  he  is  sleeping 
in  the  open  air. 

They  utter  the  most  horrid  yells  in  the  night,  while  prowling  about 
for  prey.  During  the  day-time,  they  remain  concealed  in  holes  in  the 
ground,  or  in  clefts  of  rocks ;  and  in  the  night  they  frequently  descend 
upon  the  sheep-folds,  in  which,  if  these  be  not  well  defended  by  dogs, 
they  commit  terrible  ravages.  Some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape 
pretend  that  the  Hyena  has  the  power  of  imitating  the  cries  of  other 
animals,  and  that,  by  this  means,  it  often  succeeds  in  decoying  lambs, 
calves,  and  sheep  from  the  folds.  They  even  assert,  that  a  party  of 
Hyenas  half  flying  and  half  defending  themselves,  will  sometimes 
decoy  the  whole  of  the  dogs  from  a  farm  to  follow  them  to  a  distance ; 
while  their  companions  have  an  opportunity  of  issuing  from  their 
retreats,  and  carrying  off  sufficient  booty  before  the  dogs  can  return 
to  prevent  them. 

Every  kind  of  animal  substance  is  prize  to  them;  and  the  gluttony 
and  filthy  habits  of  these  beasts,  seem  a  kind  interference  of  Provi- 
dence, urging  them  to  consume  those  dead  and  corrupt  bodies,  which 
in  hot  climates  might,  otherwise,  seriously  affect  the  health  and  com- 
forts of  the  people. 

Dr.  Sparrman  relates  a  story  of  the  Spotted  Hyena,  for  the  truth 
of  which  he  does  not  altogether  vouch ;  but  which  is  so  diverting, 
that  I  shall  make  no  apology  for  introducing  it.  One  night,  after  a 
feast  near  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  an  intoxicated  trumpeter  was  car- 
ried out  of  doors  to  cool  and  sober  him.  The  scent  of  this  man  soon 
attracted  a  Tiger- wolf  to  the  spot.  The  animal  threw  him  on  his  back, 
and  carried  him  off  towards  Talbot  Mountain,  thinking  him  a  corpse, 
and  consequently  a  fair  prize.  In  the  meantime,  however,  the  drunken 
musician  awaked ;  and  sufficiently  sensible  to  know  the  danger  of  his 
situation,  he  sounded  an  alarm  with  the  trumpet,  which  he  carried 
fastened  to  his  side.  The  beast,  as  may  easily  be  imagined,  was  in  his 
turn  not  less  frightened,  and  immediately  ran  away.  Another  writer 
observes,  that  any  person  but  a  trumpeter,  would,  in  such  a  situation, 
have  doubtless  furnished  the  animal  with  a  supper. 

The  strength  of  the  jaws  of  the  Spotted  Hyena  is  so  great,  that  it  is 
enabled  to  break  in  pieces,  without  difficulty,  even  the  hardest  bones. 
In  confiement  this  animal  is  usually  fed  with  such  bones  as  are  the 
refuse  of  other  animals;  and  these  are  all  perfectly  digested  in  his 
stomach. 

The  following  is  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  enormous  powers  of 
.these  animals.  The  den  of  a  Spotted  Hyena  in  the  Tower  wanted 
jome  repairs.  These  the  carpenter  completed  by  nailing  on  the  floor 


THE   JACKAL. 


165 


a  thick  oak  plank,  seven  or  eight  feet  in  length,  with  at  least  a  dozen 
nails,  each  longer  than  the  middle  finger  of  the  hand.  At  one  end  of 
this  plank  there  was,  however,  a  small  piece  left  that  stood  up  higher 
than  the  rest ;  and  the  man,  not  having  a  proper  chisel  with  him  to 
cut  it  off,  returned  to  his  shop  for  one.  During  his  absence  some  per- 
sons came  in  to  see  the  animals,  and  the  Hyena  was  let  down  by  the 
keeper  from  the  other  part  of 
his  den.  He  had  scarcely  been 
in  the  place  an  instant,  before 
he  espied  the  piece  that  was 
left  at  the  end  of  the  plank, 
and,  seizing  it  in  his  teeth,  he 
tore  the  plank  completely  up, 
drawing  every  nail. 

This  very  animal  was,  how- 
ever, much  more  gentle  than 
most  of  the  individuals  of  the 
former  species.  The  keeper 
could  venture  to  pat  and  caress 
him,  and  even  to  enter  his 
cage  at  all  times,  except  when 
he  was  feeding.  This  Hyena 
did  not  pay  the  same  respect 

to  animals  that  came  in   his  VII.LOSE  HYENA. 

way.     A   soldier   who   some 

time  before  had  visited  the  Managerie,  brought  along  with  him  a 
terrier  dog.  The  man  absurdly  held  him  up  to  the  den  of  the  Hyena  ; 
and  on  seeing  the  animal,  the  dog  was  irritated,  barked  at  him,  and 
in  his  rage  thrust  his  head  between  the  bars.  The  furious  beast 
sprung  upon  him,  dragged  him  into  the  den,  and  almost  in  an  instant 
devoured  him.  A  third  kind  of  Hyena,  the  Villose,  is  so  called 
from  the  roughness  of  its  coat. 


THE   JACKAL. 

The  body  of  the  Jackal  has  a  great  resemblance  to  that  of  the  Fox 
the  head,  however,  is  shorter,  the 
nose  blunter,  and  the  legs  longer. 
The  tail  is  thickest  in  the  middle, 
tapers  to  a  point,  and  tipped  with 
black.  The  hair,  which  is  long  and 
coarse,  is  of  a  tawny  color,  and  yel- 
lowish on  the  belly.  The  length  of 
the  body  is  about  thirty  inches,  and 
of  the  tail  eleven. 

In  their  general  habits  and  econ- 
omy these  animals  are  much  allied 
to  the  dog.  When  caught  young 
they  soon  become  domestic,  attach 
themselves  to  mankind,  wag  their  tails  when  pleased,  and  distinguish 


166  THE   JACKAL. 

their  masters  from  other  persons.  They  love  to  be  fondled  and  pat 
ted  with  the  hand,  and  when  called  by  name  will  leap  on  a  table  or 
chair.  They  readily  eat  from  the  hand,  drink  as  dogs  do,  by  lapping ; 
and  are  fond  of  playing  with  dogs.  Although  carnivorous  in  a  wild 
state,  they  will  eagerly  eat  bread. 

In  the  forests  of  their  native  countries,  the  hot  and  temperate  parts 
of  Asia  and  Africa,  these  animals  associate  in  packs  of  from  fifty  to 
two  hundred ;  and,  like  hounds,  hunt,  during  the  night,  in  full  cry. 
They  devour  poultry  and  lambs,  ravage  the  streets  of  villages  and 
the  gardens  near  towns,  and  are  said  even  to  destroy  children  that  are 
left  unprotected.  They  are  so  bold  and  courageous  that  they  will 
sometimes  enter  the  tent  of  a  traveller  while  he  is  asleep,  and  steal 
away  any  thing  that  is  eatable.  If  animal  prey  be  not  to  be  found, 
they  will  feed  on  roots  and  fruit.  In  this  case,  the  most  infected  car- 
rion comes  not  amiss  to  them.  They  greedily  disinter  the  dead,  and 
devour  the  most  putrid  bodies ;  on  which  account  the  graves,  in  many 
countries,  are  made  of  great  depth.  They  also  attend  caravans,  and 
follow  armies,  to  feast  on  the  remains  of  the  dead. 

In  the  night  their  howlings  (for  their  voice  is  naturally  a  howl)  are 
dreadful;  and  when  not  far  distant,  these  are  so  horribly  loud,  that 
persons  can  with  difficulty  hear  each  other  speak.  Dillon  says,  that 
their  voice  resembles  the  cries  of  many  children  of  different  ages 
mixed  together;  when  one  commences,  the  whole  pack  immediately 
afterwards  join  in  concert.  During  the  day-time  they  are  silent. 
All  the  animals  of  the  forest  are  roused  by  the  cries  of  the  Jackal; 
and  the  Lion  and  other  beasts  of  prey,  by  a  kind  of  instinct  attend  to 
these,  cries  as  a  signal  for  the  chase,  and  seize  such  timid  animals  as 
fly  from  the  noise.  From  this  circumstance  it  is  that  the  Jackal  has 
obtained  the  appellation  of  the  Lion's  Provider.  Jackals  burrow  in 
the  earth ;  and  leave  their  habitations  during  the  night  only,  to  range 
for  prey.  The  females  breed  once  a-year,  and  produce  from  six  to 
eight  young-ones  at  a  birth. 

Such,  nearly,  is  the  account  given  to  us  by  Mr.  Pennant :  that  of 
M.  de  Buffon  is  very  different.  He  says,  that  these  are  stupid  and 
voracious  animals,  and  extremely  difficult  to  be  tamed ;  and  that  with 
one,  which  he  kept  for  nearly  a  year,  neither  caresses  nor  food  would 
soften  its  disposition.  It  would  not  allow  any  one  to  touch  it,  and 
attempted  to  bite  all  persons  indiscriminately.  When  suffered  to  be 
at  liberty,  nothing  could  prevent  it  from  leaping  on  the  tables,  and  car- 
rying off  every  eatable  it  could  lay  hold  of.  This  writer  also  informs 
us,  that  whenever  the  Jackal,  in  a  wild  state,  meets  with  travellers,  it 
stops  to  reconnoitre  them,  without  any  symptoms  of  fear;  and  that, 
in  its  excessive  voracity,  if  nothing  better  lies  in  its  way,  it  will  even 
eat  the  leather  of  harness,  or  boots  and  shoes. 

Whenever  any  of  these  creatures  begin  to  utter  their  cry,  all  the 
rest  do  the  same :  so  that  when  one  of  them  has  entered  into  a  house 
to  steal,  and  hears  his  companions  at  a  distance,  he  cannot  refrain  from 
adding  his  voice  to  the  number,  and  is  thus  sometimes  detected. 


THE  BARBARY  JACKAL — THE  FOX.  16' 


THE  BARB  ART  JACKAL,  OR  THALEB. 

The  Barbary  Jackal  is  about  the  size  of  the  common  Fox,  and  is 
of  a  brownish  fawn-color.  From  behind  each  ear  runs  a  black  line, 
which  divides  into  two,  extending  downward  along  the  neck.  The 
tail  is  bushy,  and  surrounded  by  three  dusky  rings. 

These  are,  in  every  respect,  the  most  adroit  and  active  animals 
imaginable.  They  do  not,  like  the  common  Jackal,  associate  in  packs, 
but  always  live  singly.  They  will  venture  to  approach,  even  in  the 
open  day,  the  houses  near  which  they  have  their  subterraneous  abode  ; 
and,  carefully  concealed  beneath  the  shelter  of  thick  bushes,  will  fre- 
quently creep,  without  noise,  to  the  out-houses,  surprise  the  poultry, 
carry  off  their  eggs,  and  leave  no  traces  of  their  exploits,  but  the  de- 
vastations themselves. 

The  cunning  of  these  animals  is  pleasingly  depicted  in  the  follow- 
ing narration  of  M.  Sonnini :  uOne  day,  as  I  was  meditating  in  a 
garden  in  Egypt,  I  stopped  near  a  hedge.  A  Thaleb,  hearing  no  noise, 
was  coming  through  the  hedge  towards  me ;  and,  when  he  had  cleared 
himself,  was  just  at  my  feet.  On  perceiving  me,  he  was  seized  with 
such  surprise,  that  he  remained  motionless  for  some  seconds,  without 
even  attempting  to  escape,  his  eyes  fixed  steadily  on  me.  Perplexity 
was  painted  in  his  countenance,  with  a  degree  of  expression  of  which 
I  could  not  have  supposed  him  susceptible,  and  which  denoted  great 
delicacy  of  instinct.  On  my  part,  I  was  afraid  to  move,  lest  I  should 
put  an  end  to  this  situation,  which  afforded  me  much  pleasure.  At 
length,  after  he  had  taken  a  few  steps,  first  towards  one  side  and  then 
the  other,  as  if  so  confused  as  not  to  know  which  way  to  get  off,  and 
keeping  his  eyes  still  turned  towards  me,  he  retired ;  not  running, 
but  stretching  himself  out,  or  rather  creeping  with  a  slow  step,  setting 
down  his  feet  one  after  another  with  singular  precaution.  He  seemed 
so  fearful  of  making  a  noise  in  his  flight,  that  he  held  up  his  large 
tail,  almost  in  an  horizontal  line,  that  it  might  neither  drag  on  the 
ground  nor  brush  against  the  plants.  On  the  other  side  of  the  he«dge 
I  found  the  fragments  of  his  meal ;  it  had  consisted  of  a  bird  of  prey, 
great  part  of  which  he  had  devoured." 

The  Barbary  Jackal  is  one  of  the  prettiest  of  quadrupeds ;  and  per- 
haps would  be  one  of  the  most  amiable,  if  his  tricks,  and  his  talents 
for  depredation,  did  not  bear,  greatly  too  much,  the  marks  of  knavery. 


THE   FOX. 

The  Fox  is  a  native  of  almost  every  quarter  of  the  globe;  and  is 
of  so  wild  and  savage  a  nature,  that  it  is  impossible  fully  to  tame  him. 
He  is  esteemed  the  most  sagacious  and  crafty  of  all  beasts  of  prey. 
The  former  quality  he  shows  in  his  mode  of  providing  for  himself  an 
asylum,  where  he  retires  from  pressing  dangers,  dwells,  and  brings  up 
his  young ;  and  his  craftiness  is  discovered  by  his  schemes  to  catch 
lambs,  geese,  hens,  and  all  kinds  of  small  birds. 


168 


THE   FOX. 


When  it  is  possible  for  him  conveniently  to  do  so,  the  Fox  forms 
his  burrow  near  the  border  of  a  wood,  in  the  neighborhood  of  some 

^irm  or  v^aoe-  He  there 
listens  to  the  crowing  of  the 
Cocks,  and  the  cries  of  the 

••£»w«*!2m^V''          P°^7-     He  scents  them  at 

a  distance ;  he  chooses  his 
time  with  judgment ;  he  con- 
ceals his  road,  as  well  as  his 
design  ;  he  slips  forward  with 
caution,  sometimes  even  trail- 
ing his  body ;  and  seldom 
makes  a  fruitless  expedition. 
If  he  can  leap  the  wall,  or 
creeps  in  underneath,  he  ravages  the  court-yard,  puts  all  to  death,  and 
retires  softly  with  his  prey  ;  which  he  either  hides  under  the  adjacent 
herbage,  or  carries  off  to  his  kennel.  He  returns  in  a  few  minutes 
for  more;  which  he  carries  off  or  conceals  in  the  same  manner,  but 
in  a  different  place.  In  this  way  he  proceeds  till  the  progress  of  the 
sun,  or  some  movements  perceived  in  the  house,  warn  him  that  it  is 
time  to  suspend  his  operations,  and  to  retire  to  his  den.  He  plays 
the  same  part  with  the  catchers  of  Thrushes,  Woodcocks,  and  other 
Birds.  He  visits  their  nets  and  birdlime  early  in  the  morning,  and 
carries  off  successively  the  Birds  which  are  entangled,  concealing 
them  in  different  places,  especially  by  the  sides  of  highways,  in  the 
furrows,  and  under  the  herbage  of  brush-wood,  where  they  are  some- 
times left  two  or  three  days,  but  where  he  has  no  difficulty  in  finding 
them  when  he  is  in  need.  He  hunts  the  young  Hares  in  the  plains ; 
seizes  old  ones  in  their  seats;  digs  out  Eabbits  in  the  warrens;  dis- 
covers the  nests  of  Patridges  and  Quails,  and  seizes  the  mothers  on 
their  eggs ;  and  destroys  a  vast  quantity  of  game.  The  Fox  is  an 
exceedingly  voracious  animal ;  and,  when  other  food  fails  him,  he 
makes  war  against  Eats,  Field-Mice,  Serpents,  Lizards,  Toads,  and 
Moles.  Of  these  he  destroys  great  numbers ;  and  this  is  the  only 
service  that  he  appears  to  do  to  mankind.  When  urged  by  hunger, 
he  will  also  eat  roots  or  insects  ;  and  the  Foxes  near  the  sea  coast  will 
devour  Crabs,  Shrimps,  or  Shell-Fish.  In  France  and  Italy,  these 
animals  do  incredible  mischief  by  feeding  on  grapes,  of  which  they  are 
excessively  fond. 

We  are  told  by  M.  de  Buffon,  that  the  Fox  is  so  fond  of  honey, 
that  he  sometimes  attacks  Bee-hives,  and  the  nests  of  Wasps,  for  the 
sake  of  what  he  can  there  find  to  eat ;  and  that  he  frequently  meets 
with  so  harsh  a  reception,  as  to  oblige  him  to  retire,  in  order  that  he 
may  roll  on  the  ground  and  crush  those  that  are  stinging  him :  but, 
having  thus  freed  himself  from  his  troublesome  companions,  he  in- 
stantly returns  to  the  charge,  and  at  length  obliges  them  to  forsake 
their  combs,  and  leaves  these  to  him  as  the  reward  of  his  victory. 
When  urged  by  excessive  hunger,  he  will  even  devour  carrion.  M 
de  Buffon  xme  evening  suspended  on  a  tree,  at  the  height  of  nine  feet 
some  meat,  bread,  and  bones.  The  Foxes  had  severe  exercise  during 


FOX  AT  A  RABBIT  BURROW. 


THE   FOX.  169 

the  night ;  for  next  morning  the  earth  all  around  was  beaten,  by  their 
jumping,  as  smooth  as  a  barn-floor. 

The  Fox  exhibits  much  cunning  in 
digging  young  Eabbits  out  'of  their 
burrows.  He  does  not  enter  the  holes  ; 
for  in  this  case,  he  would  have  to  dig 
several  feet  through  the  ground,  under 
the  surface  of  the  earth :  but  lie  fol- 
lows the  scent  of  them  above,  till  he 
cornes  to  the  end,  where  they  lie ; 
and  then  scratching  up  the  earth,  he 
descends  immediately  upon  and  devours  them. 

This  animal  prepares  for  himself  a  convenient  den,  in  which  he 
lies  concealed  during  the  greatest  part  of  the  day.  This  is  so  con- 
trived as  to  afford  the  best  possible  security  to  its  inhabitant ;  being 
situated  under  hard  ground,  the  roots  of  trees,  or  in  the  crevices  of 
rocks,  and  being  also  furnished  with  proper  outlets,  through  which 
he  may  escape  in  case  of  necessity. 

The  Fox,  in  this  country,  is  an  object  of  diversion  in  the  chase. 
When  he  finds  himself  pursued,  he  generally  makes  towards  his 
hole  ;  and,  penetrating  to  the  bottom,  lies  there  till  a  Terrier  is  sent 
in  to  him.  If  his  den  be  among  rocks  or  under  the  roots  of  trees,  he 
is  safe ;  for  the  Terrier  is  no  match  for  him  there,  and  he  cannot  be 
dug  out  by  his  enemies.  When  the  retreat  to  his  kennel  is  cut  off) 
his  stratagems  and  shifts  to  escape  are  as  surprising  as  they  are  various. 
He  retreats  to  the  woody  parts  of  the  country,  and  prefers  the  paths 
that  are  most  embarrassed  with  thorns  and  briers.  He  runs  in  a 
direct  line  before  the  Hounds,  and  at  no  great  distance  from  them; 
and,  if  hard-pushed,  seeks  the  low,  wet  grounds,  as  though  conscious 
that  the  scent  does  not  lie  so  well  there  as  in  other  places.  When 
overtaken  he  becomes  obstinately  desperate,  and  bravely  defends 
himself  against  the  teeth  of  his  adversaries,  even  to  the  last  gasp. 

Dr.  Goldsmith  relates  a  remarkable  instance  of  parental  affection  i"; 
this  animal.  A  female  Fox  that  had,  as  it  should  seem,  but  one  cul 
was  unkennelled  by  a  gentleman's  hounds  near  Chelmsford,  and  hotly 
pursued.  The  poor  animal,  braving  every  danger  rather  than  leave 
her  cub  behind  to  be  worried  by  the  dogs,  took  it  up  in  her  mouth, 
and  ran  with  it  in  this  manner  for  several  miles.  At  last,  taking  her 
way  through  a  farmer's  yard,  she  was  assaulted  by  a  mastiff;  and  was 
at  length  obliged  to  drop  her  cub,  which  was  taken  up  by  the  farmer. 
And  we  are  happy  to  add,  that  the  affectionate  creature  escaped  the 
pursuit,  and  got  off  in  safety.  A  female  Fox  was  hunted  near  St. 
Ives,  during  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and  with  a  cub,  about  a  fort- 
night old,  all  the  time  in  her  mouth;  but  this  she  was  at  length  obliged 
to  leave  to  the  ferocity  of  her  pursuers. 

Of  all  animals,  the  Fox  has  the  most  bright  and  significant  eye, 
He  is  remarkably  playful;  but,  like  all  savage  creatures  half  reclaimed, 
will  bite,  on  the  least  offence,  even  those  with  whom  he  is  most  familiar. 
He  languishes  when  deprived  of  liberty;  and,  if  kept  too  long  in  a 
domestic  state,  generally  at  last  dies  of  melancholy. 


170  THE    ARCTIC   FOX. 

The  females  seldom  produce  young-ones  more  than  once  in  the  year ; 
and  the  usual  number  is  from  three  to  six.  If  the  mother  perceive 
that  the  place  of  her  retreat  is  discovered,  she  carries  off  her  cubs,  one 
by  one,  to  a  more  secure  habitation.  'The  young  ones  are  brought 
forth  blind,  like  puppies,  and  are  of  a  darkish  brown  color.  Foxes 
grow  till  they  are  eighteen  months  old,  and  live  thirteen  or  fourteen 
years.  During  winter,  these  animals  make  an  almost  continual  yelp- 
ing; but  in  summer,  when  they  shed  their  hair,  they  are  for  the  most 
part  silent. 


THE   ARCTIC   FOX. 

The  Arctic  Fox  is  smaller  than  the  Common  Fox,  and  of  a  bluish- 
grey  color,  which  sometimes  changes  to  white.  The  hair  is  very  thick, 

long,  and  soft. 
The  nose  is 
sharp,  and 
the  ears  short 
and  almost 
hid  in  the  fur. 
The  tail  is 
shorter,  but 
more  bushy, 
than  that  of 

Ft0™ 
Steller,  the 

T«  A*™  FO*.  Eussian    tra- 

veller, has 

given  us  an  ample  and  most  entertaining  account  of  the  habits  of  life 
and  manners  of  the  Arctic  Fox.  This  account  appears,  indeed,  to 
be  much  exaggerated ;  but  we  know  not  how  to  contradict  a  professed 
statement  of  fects,  to  which  a  respectable  writer  informs  us  that  he  was 
an  eye-witness. 

"During  my  unfortunate  abode  (says  he)  on  Behring's  Island,  I  had 
but  too  many  opportunities  of  studying  the  nature  of  these  animals, 
which  far  exceed  the  Common  Fox  in  impudence,  cunning,  and 
roguery.  They  forced  themselves  into  our  habitations  by  night  as 
well  as  by  day,  stealing  all  that  they  could  carry  off;  even  things  that 
were  of  no  use  to  them,  such  as  knives,  sticks,  and  clothes.  They 
were  so  ingenious  as  to  roll  down  our  casks  of  provisions,  and  then 
to  steal  the  meat  out  with  such  skill,  that,  at  first,  we  could  not  bring 
ourselves  to  ascribe  the  theft  to  them.  While  employed  in  stripping 
an  animal  of  its  skin,  it  has  often  happened  that  we  could  not  avoid 
stabbing  two  or  three  Foxes,  from  their  rapacity  in  tearing  the  flesh 
out  of  our  hands.  If  we  buried  this  flesh  ever  so  carefully,  and  even 
added  stones  to  the  weight  of  earth  that  was  upon  it,  they  not  only 
(bund  it  out,  but  with  their  shoulders  pushed  away  the  stones.  If,  in 
(  rder  to  secure  it,  we  put  any  animal  on  the  top  of  a  high  post  in  the 


THE   ARCTIC   FOX.  171 

air,  they  either  dug  up  the  earth  at  the  bottom  of  the  post,  and  thus 
tumbled  the  whole  down,  or  one  of  them  climbed  up,  and  with  in- 
credible artifice  and  dexterity  threw  down  what  was  upon  it. 

"They  watched  all  our  motions,  and  accompanied  us  in  whatever 
we  were  about  to  do.  If  the  sea  threw  up  an  animal  of  any  kind,  they 
devoured  it  before  we  could  arrive  to  rescue  it  from  them :  and  if  they 
could  not  consume  the  whole  of  it  at  once,  they  trailed  it  off  in  portions 
to  the  mountains,  where  they  buried  it  under  stones  before  our  eyes, 
running  to  and  fro  as  long  as  anything  remained  to  be  conveyed  away. 
While  this  was  doing,  others  stood  on  guard,  and  watched  us.  If  they 
saw  any  one  coming  at  a  distance,  the  whole  troop  would  combine  at 
once,  and  begin  digging  all  together  in  the  sand,  till  even  a  Beaver  or 
Sea-bear  in  their  possession  would  be  so  completely  buried  under  the 
surface,  that  not  a  trace  of  it  could  be  seen.  In  the  night-time,  when 
we  slept  in  the  field,  they  came  and  pulled  off  our  night-caps,  and  stole 
our  gloves  from  under  our  heads,  with  the  Beaver-coverings,  and  the 
skins  that  we  lay  upon.  In  consequence  of  this,  we  always  slept  with 
our  clubs  in  our  hands,  that  if  they  awoke  us  we  might  drive  them 
away  or  knock  them  down. 

"  Whenever  we  made  a  halt  to  rest,  they  gathered  around  us,  and 
played  a  thousand  tricks  in  our  view,  and  when  we  sat  still,  they 
approached  us  so  near  that  they  gnawed  the  thongs  of  our  shoes.  If 
we  lay  down  as  if  intending  to  sleep,  they  came  and  smelt  at  our 
noses,  to  find  whether  we  were  dead  or  alive.  On  our  first  arrival, 
they  bit  off  the  noses,  fingers,  and  toes  of  our  dead,  while  we  were 
preparing  the  grave ;  and  they  thronged  in  such  a  manner  about  the 
infirm  and  sick,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  we  could  keep  them  offl 

"  Every  morning  we  saw  these  audacious  animals  patrolling  about 
among  the  Leonine  Seals  and  Sea-bears,  that  were  lying  on  the  strand ; 
smelling  at  such  as  were  asleep,  to  discover  whether  some  one  of  them 
might  not  be  dead :  if  that  happened  to  be  the  case,  they  proceeded 
to  dissect  him  immediately;  and  soon  afterwards  were  all  at  work  in 
dragging  the  parts  away.  Because  the  Seals  sometimes  in  their  sleep 
overlaid  their  young-ones,  the  Foxes  every  morning  examined  the 
whole  herd,  one  by  one,  as  if  conscious  of  this  circumstance,  and 
immediately  dragged  away  the  dead  cubs  from  their  dams. 

"As  they  would  not  suffer  us  to  be  at  rest  either  by  night  or  day,  we 
became  so  exasperated  against  them,  that  we  killed  them,  young  and 
old,  and  harassed  them  by  every  means  we  could  devise.  When  we 
awoke  in  the  morning,  there  always  lay  two  or  three  that  had  been 
knocked  on  the  head  in  the  preceding  night;  and  I  can  safely  affirm, 
that,  during  my  stay  upon  the  island,  I  killed  above  two  hundred  of 
these  animals  with  my  own  hands.  On  the  third  day  after  my  arrival, 
I  knocked  down  with  a  club,  and  within  the  space  of  three  hours, 
upwards  of  seventy  of  them,  and  made  a  covering  to  my  hut  with 
their  skins.  They  were  so  ravenous,  that  with  one  hand  we  could 
hold  to  them  a  piece  of  flesh,  and  with  a  stick  or  axe  in  the  other 
sould  knock  them  down. 

"Like  the  Common  Foxes,  these  animals  were  the  most  sleek  and 
full  of  hair  in  the  months  of  October  and  November.  In  January 


172 


THE   ARCTIC  FOX. 


and  February  their  hair  was  extremely  thick.  In  April  and  May  they 
began  to  shed  their  coat ;  in  the  two  following  months  they  had  only 
wool  upon  them,  and  appeared  as  if  they  went  in  waistcoats.  In  June 
they  produced  their  cubs,  nine  or  ten  at  a  brood,  in  holes  and  clefts 
of  the  rocks.  They  were  so  fond  of  their  offspring,  that  to  scare  us 
away  from  them,  they  barked  and  yelled  like  Dogs ;  by  which  they 
betrayed  their  covert ;  but  no  sooner  did  they  perceive  that  their  re- 
treat was  discovered,  than  (unless  they  were  prevented)  they  dragged 
the  young  ones  away  in  their  mouths,  and  endeavored  to  conceal  them 
in  some  more  secret  place. 

"  In  heavy  falls  of  snow,  these  animals  buried  themselves  in  that 

substance,  and  there 
lay  as  long  as  it 
continued  a  suffi- 
cient depth.  They 
were  able  to  swim 
across  the  rivers 
with  great  agility. 
Though  at  this  time 
they  were  found  in 
immense  numbers 
on  Beh ring's  Island, 
they  had  probably 
|  been  conveyed  thi- 
ther on  the  drift-ice 
from  the  continent ; 
and,  having  been 
afterwards  nourish- 
ed by  the  area  t  q  uan- 


tity  of  animal  substances  thrown  ashore  by  the  sea,  they  had  become 
thus  enormously  multiplied." 

We  are  informed  by  Mr.  Crantz,  that  the  Arctic  Foxes  exert  a  very 
extraordinary  degree  of  cunning  in  their  mode  of  feeding  on  fish. 
They  go  into  the  water,  and  make  a  splash  with  their  feet,  in  order  to 
disturb  the  fish ;  and  when  these  come  up,  they  immediately  seize 
them.  Charlevoix,  apparently  alluding  to  this  species,  says  that  they 
exert  an  almost  incredible  degree  of  cunning  in  entrapping  the  differ- 
ent kinds  of  water-fowl.  They  advance  a  little  way  into  the  water ; 
and  afterwards  retire,  playing  a  thousand  antics  on  the  banks.  The 
fowl  approach;  and  on  their  coming  near,  the  Fox  ceases,  that  he 
may  not  alarm  them,  only  moving  about  his  tail  very  gently ;  the 
birds  are  said  to  be  so  foolish  as  to  come  up  and  peck  at  this,  when 
he  immediately  springs  round  upon  them,  and  seldom  misses  his  aim. 

These  animals,  which  are  natives  only  of  the  Arctic  regions  near 
the  Polar  Circle,  and  of  the  islands  in  the  Frozen  and  Eastern  Ocean, 
are  eagerly  pursued  for  the  sake  of  their  skins :  the  fur  of  which  is 
light  and  warm,  but  not  durable.  They  have  at  times  appeared  in  such 
vast  numbers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hudson's  Bay,  that  four  hundred 
of  them  have  been  killed  or  taken  in  different  ways,  between  the 
months  of  December  and  March.  The  Greenlanders  sometimes  eat 


THE   CAT    TRIBE — THE    LION.  173 

the  flesh  of  the  Arctic  Fox,  which  they  prefer  to  that  of  the  hare 
They  also  make  buttons  of  the  skins ;  and,  splitting  the  tendons,  use 
them  instead  of  thread. 

Among  the  numerous  varieties  of  the  Fox,  are  the  Black,  Three- 
colored,  Yellow,  Cape,  and  Cross  Fox,  all  having  a  general  resem- 
blance in  their  form  and  habits. 


OF  THE  CAT  TKIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

ALL  the  animals  belonging  to  this  tribe  have  six  fore-teeth,  the  inter 

mediate  ones  of  which 
are  equal.  They  have 
also  three  grinders  on 
each  side  in  both  jaws. 
The  tongue  is  furnish- 
ed with  rough,  sharp 
prickles,  that  point 
backwards ;  and  the 
claws  are  retractile,  or 
capable  of  being 
drawn  back  so  as  not 
to  touch  the  ground  : 
a  necessary  provision 
.to  keep  them  from 
being  dulled  while 
walking;  for,  being 

GROUP  OP  ANIMALS  OP  THE  CAT  KIN'D.  ,        °  7.    .   '  , 

their    principal    wea- 
pons, as  well  of  offence  as  defence,  they  are  both  hooked  and  sharp. 

This  tribe  of  animals  is  ferocious,  and  tolerably  swift  of  foot.  They 
hunt  for  their  prey  chiefly  in  the  night,  and  seize  it  by  surprise ;  lying 
in  wait  till  it  comes  within  their  reach,  and  then  springing  suddenly 
forward  upon  it  at  one  leap.  While  their  prey  is  in  sight,  they  fre- 
quently move  their  tails  from  side  to  side,  keeping  at  the  same  time 
their  eyes  steadily  fixed  on  the  object.  They  never  adopt  vegetable 
food,  except  from  necessity.  Most  of  them  are  very  agile  in  climbing 
trees ;  and  have  the  remarkable  property,  of  alighting  on  their  feet 
whenever  they  are  thrown  or  fall  from  a  height,  by  which  means  the 
clanger  usually  attendant  on  such  accidents  is  often  prevented.  The 
females  produce  a  considerable  number  of  young-ones  at  a  birth. 


THE   LION. 

The  length  of  this  animal  is  from  six  to  eight  feet ;  and  his  tail, 
which  is  terminated  by  a  tuft  of  hair,  is  alone  about  four  feet  long. 
The  general  color  of  his  body  is  a  pale  tawny,  inclined  to  white 
beneath.  The  claws  are  retractile ;  not  into  sheaths,  but  into  the  inter- 
vals between  the  toes,  by  means  of  a  particular  articulation  of  the  last 
joint.  The  last  bone  but  one,  by  bending  itself  outward,  gives  place 


174 


THE    LION. 


to  the  last,  which  is  only  articulated  to  it ;  and  to  which  the  claw  is 

fastened  so  as  to 
bend  itself  up- 
ward and  side- 


ways, more 
easily  than 
downward.  So 
that  the  bone 
which  is  at  the 
end  of  every 
toe  being  al- 
most continu- 
ally bent  up- 
ward, the  point 
which  rests  up- 
on the  ground 
is  not  the  ex- 
tremity of  the 
toe,  but  the 
node  of  the 
articulation  of 

the  last  two  bones ;  and  thus,  in  walking,  the  claws  remain  elevated  and 
retracted  between  the  toes.  This  admirable  structure  is  not  found  in 
the  great  toe,  whose  last  joint  bends  only  downward,  because  this  toe 
does  not  naturally  rest  upon  the  ground,  being  considerably  smaller 
than  the  others. 

The  Lion  is  a  native  of  both  Africa  and  Asia. 

The  form  of  the  Lion  is  strikingly  bold  and  majestic.     His  large 
head,  and  shaggy  pendent  mane,  his  strength  of  limb,  and  formidable 


A  CAPE  UOX, 


countenance,  exhibit  a  picture  of  terrific  grandeur  which  no  words  can 
describe. 


THE    LION. 


175 


His  strength  is  so  prodigious,  that  a  single  stroke  of  his  paw  is  suffi- 
cient to  break  the  back  of  a  Horse ;  and  one  sweep  with  his  tail  will 
throw  a  strong  man  to  the  ground.  Kolben  says,  that,  when  he 
comes  up  to  his  prey,  he  always  knocks  it  down  dead,  and  seldom 
bites  it  till  the  mortal  blow  has  been  given :  this  blow  he  generally 
accompanies  with  a  tremendous  roar. 

A  Lion  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  was  once  seen  to  take  a  Heifer 


LION   DRAGGING!  A  LARGE  A:HMAL. 


in  his  mouth;  and  though  that  animal's  legs  dragged  on  the  ground, 
yet  he  seemed  to  carry  her  off  with  as  much  ease  as  a  Cat  does  a  Eat ; 
he  likewise  without  difficulty  leaped  over  a  broad  ditch  with  her. 
Two  yeomen  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  being  on  a  hunting-party  with 
several  Hottentots,  near  Bosheismans-river,  they  perceived  a  Lion 
dragging  a  Buffalo  from  the  plain  to  a  wood  upon  a  neighboring  hill. 
They,  however,  soon  forced  him  to  quit  his  prey,  in  order  to  make  a 
prize  of  it  themselves ;  and  found  that  he  had  had  the  sagacity  to  take 
out  the  buffalo's  large  and  unwieldy  entrails,  in  order  to  be  able  the 
more  easily  to  escape  with  the  fleshy  part  of  the  carcass.  And  as  soon 
as  he  saw,  from  the  skirts  of  the  wood,  that  the  Hottentots  had  begun 
to  carry  off  the  flesh  to  the  wagons,  he  frequently  peeped  out  upon 
them,  and  probably  with  no  little  mortification. 

The  Lion,  unless  provoked  •  or  extremely  hungry,  does  not  attack 
any  animal  openly ;  but,  when  roused  by  famine,  he  is  said  to  fear  no 
danger,  and  to  be  repelled  by  no  resistance.  The  method  in  which  he 
takes  his  prey,  is,  almost  always,  to  spring  or  throw  himself  upon  it, 
with  one  vast  bound,  from  the  place  of  his  concealment:  yet,  if  ho 
chance  to  miss  his  leap,  he  will  not  (as  the  Hottentots  invariably 


176  THE   LION. 

assured  Dr.  Sparrman)  follow  his  prey  any  further ;  but,  as  though  he 
were  ashamed,  turning  round  towards  the  place  where  he  lay  in  ambush, 
he  slowly,  and  step  by  step,  measures  the  exact  length  between  the 
two  points,  as  if  to  find  how  much  too  short,  or  how  much  beyond  the 
mark,  he  had  taken  his  leap.  From  all  the  most  credible  accounts 
that  Dr.  Sparrman  could  collect  concerning  the  Lion,  as  well  as  from 
what  he  himself  saw,  he  concludes  that  this  beast  is  a  great  coward ; 
or,  at  least,  is  deficient  in  courage  proportionate  to  his  strength :  on 
the  other  hand,  however,  he  sometimes  shows  an  unusual  degree  of 
intrepidity,  of  which  the  following  is  an  instance. 

A  Lion  had  broken  into  a  walled  enclosure  for  cattle,  and  had  done 
considerable  damage.  The  people  belonging  to  the  farm  were  well 
assured  that  he  would  come  again  by  the  same  way.  In  consequence 
of  this,  they  stretched  a  rope  directly  across  the  entrance,  to  which 
several  loaded  guns  were  fastened  in  such  a  manner,  that  they  must 
necessarily  discharge  themselves  into  the  Lion's  body  as  soon  as  he 
should  push  against  the  cord  with  his  breast. .  But  the  Lion,  which 
came  before  it  was  dark,  having  probably  some  suspicions  respecting 
the  cord,  struck  it  away  with  his  foot ;  and  without  betraying  the 
least  alarm  in  consequence  of  the  reports  made  by  the  loaded  pieces, 
went  fearlessly  on,  and  devoured  the  prey  he  had  left  untouched 
before. 

Though  the  Lion  generally  springs  upon  his  prey  from  some  lurk- 
ing-place, yet  there  have  been  instances  where  he  has  deviated  from 
this  mode  of'  attack.  Dr.  Sparrman  has  mentioned  an  instance;  a 
Hottentot,  perceiving  that  he  was  followed  by  a  Lion,  and  concluding 
that  the  animal  only  waited  the  approach  of  night  to  make  him  his 
prey,  began  to  consider  what  was  the  best  mode  of  providing  for  his 
safety ;  and  at  length  he  adopted  the  following.  Observing  a  piece  of 
broken  ground  with  a  precipitate  descent  on  one  side,  he  sat  down  by 
the  edge  of  it;  and  found,  to  his  great  joy,  that  the  Lion  also  made  a 
halt,  and  kept  at  a  distance  behind  him.  As  soon  as  it  grew  dark, 
the  man,  sliding  gently  forward,  let  himself  down  a  little  below  the 
edge  of  the  steep ;  and  held  up  his  cloak  and  hat  on  his  stick,  at  the 
same  time  gently  moving  them  backward  and  forward.  The  Lion, 
after  a  while,  came  creeping  towards  the  object;  and,  mistaking  the 
cloak  for  the  man  himself,  made  a  spring  at  it,  and  fell  headlong  down 
the  precipice. 

One  of  the  Namaaqua  Hottentots;  endeavoring  to  drive  his  master's 
cattle  into  a  pool  of  water,  enclosed  between  two  ridges  of  rock,  espied  a 
huge  Lion  crouching  in  the  midst  of  the  pool.  Terrified  at  the  unex- 
pected sight  of  such  a  beast,  which  seemed  to  have  its  eyes  fixed  upon 
him,  he  instantly  took  to  his  heels.  In  doing  this,  he  had  presence 
of  mind  enough  to  run  through  the  herd ;  concluding  that,  if  the  Lion 
should  pursue,  he  would  seize  upon  the  first  beast  that  presented 
itself.  In  this,  however,  he  was  mistaken.  The  Lion  broke  through 
the  herd,  in  pursuit  of  the  Hottentot;  who,  on  turning  round,  and 
perceiving  that  the  monster  had  singled  him  out,  breathless  and  half 
dead  with  fear,  scrambled  up  one  of  the  tree-aloes,  in  the  trunk 
of  which  had  luckily  been  cut  a  few  steps,  the  more  readily  to  come 


THE    LION.  177 

at  some  birds'-nests  that  the  branches  contained.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment the  Lion  made  a  spring  at  him  ;  but,  missing  his  aim,  the  animal 
fell  upon  the  ground.  In  surly  silence  he  walked  round  the  tree, 
casting  at  times  a  dreadful  look  towards  the  poor  Hottentot,  who  had 
crept  behind  the  nests.  It  is  here  requisite  to  observe,  that  these 
nests  belong  to  a  small  bird  called  the  Sociable  Grosbeak,  that  lives  in 
a  state  of  society  with  the  rest  of  its  species,  constructing  a  whole  re- 
public of  nests  in  one  clump,  and  under  one  cover.  One  of  these  col- 
lections of  nests  sometimes  extends  through  a  space  ten  feet  in  diame- 
ter, and  contains  a  population  of  several  hundred  individuals.  It  was 
under  the  cover  of  one  of  these  structures  that  the  Hottentot  screened 
himself  from  the  view  of  the  Lion.  Having  remained  silent  and  mo- 
tionless for  a  great  length  of  time,  he  ventured  to  peep  over  the  side 
of  the  nest,  hoping  that  the  Lion  had  departed;  when,  to  his  astonish- 
ment and  terror,  his  eyes  met  those  of  the  animal,  which,  as  the  man 
afterwards  expressed  himself,  "flashed  fire  at  him."  In  short,  the 
Lion  laid  himself  down  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  and  did  not  move  from 
the  place  for  four-and-twenty  hours.  At  the  end  of  this  time,  becom- 
ing parched  with  thirst,  the  beast  went  to  a  spring  at  some  distance, 
in  order  to  drink.  The  Hottentot  now,  with  trepidation,  ventured  to 
descend;  and  ran  off  to  his  home,  which  was  not  more  than  a  mile 
distant,  as  fast  as  his  feet  could  carry  him,  and  he  arrived  there  in 
safety.  The  perseverance  of  the  Lion  was  such,  that,  it  appeared 
afterwards,  he  returned  to  the  tree,  and,  finding  the  man  had  descended, 
hunted  him  by  the  scent  to  within  three  hundred  paces  of  his 
dwelling. 

If  we  did  not  know  somewhat  of  the  natural  disposition  of  this 
stately  animal,  we  should  feel  a  great  degree  of  terror  in  seeing  the 
keepers  of  wild  beasts  play  with  him,  pull  out  his  tongue,  and  even 
chastise  him,  as  they  sometimes  do.  He  seems  to  bear  all  with,  good- 
nature; and  we  very  rarely  have  instances  of  his  revenging  these 
unprovoked  and  wanton  insults.  The  Lion  is  frequently  bred  up 
with  domestic  animals,  and  is  seen  to  play  innocently  and  familiarly 
among  them  ;  and  if  it  ever  happen  that  his  natural  ferocity  returns, 
it  is  seldom  exerted  against  his  benefactors.  The  following  anecdotes 
afford  very  sufficient  proofs  of  the  gratitude  and  affection  of  this  animal. 

In  the  reign  of  king  James  the  First,  Mr.  Henry  Archer,  a  watch- 
maker in  Morocco,  had  two  whelps  given  him,  which  had  been  stolen 
not  long  before  from  a  Lioness  near  Mount  Atlas.  They  were  a  male 
and  female  ;  and,  till  the  death  of  the  latter,  were  kept  together  in  the 
emperor's  garden.  He  afterwards  had  the  male  constantly  in  his  bed- 
room, till  it  grew  as  tall  as  a  large  mastiff-dog;  and  the  animal  was 
perfectly  tame  and  gentle  in  its  manners.  Being  about  to  return  to 
England,  he  reluctantly  gave  it  to  a  Marseilles  merchant,  who  pre- 
sented it  to  the  French  king,  by  whom  it  was  sent  as  a  present  to  the 
King  of  England,  and  was  kept  in  the  Tower.  A  person  of  the 
name  of  Bull,  who  had  been  a  servant  to  Mr.  Archer,  went  by  chance 
with  some  friends  to  see  the  animals  there.  The  beast  recognized 
him  in  a  moment;  and,  by  his  whining  voice  and  motions,  ex- 
pressive of  anxiety  for  him  to  come  near,  fully  exhibited  the  strongest 


178  THE    LION. 

symptoms  of  joy  at  meeting  with  a  former  friend.     Bull  equally  re 

joiced,  ordered  the  keeper  to  open 
the  gate,  and  he  went  in.  The 
Lion  fawned  upon  him  like  a  dog, 
licking  his  feet,  hands,  and  face; 
and  skipping  and  tumbling  about, 
to  the  astonishment  of  all  the  spec- 
tators. When  the  man  left  the 
place,  the  animal  bellowed  aloud, 
and  shook  his  cage  in  an  ecstasy 
of  sorrow  and  rage ;  and  for  four 
LION  AND  KEEPER.  days  afterwards  refused  to  take 

any  nourishment. 

About  the  year  1650,  when  the  plague  raged  at  Naples,  Sir  George 
Davis,  the  English  Consul  there,  retired  to  Florence.  One  day,  from 
curiosity,  he  went  to  visit  the  Grand-duke's  dens.  At  the  further  end 
of  the  place,  in  one  of  the  dens,  lay  a  Lion,  which  the  keepers,  during 
three  whole  years,  had  not  been  able  to  tame,  though  all  the  art  and 
gentleness  imaginable  had  been  used.  Sir  George  no  sooner  appeared 
at  the  gate  of  the  den,  than  the  Lion  ran  to  him  with  all  the  indica- 
tions of  transport  that  he  was  capable  of  expressing.  He  reared  him- 
self up  and  licked  his  hand,  which  this  gentleman  put  in  through  the 
iron  grate.  The  keeper,  affrighted,  pulled  him  away  by  the  arm,  en- 
treating him  not  to  hazard  his  life,  by  venturing  so  near  the  fiercest 
creature  of  his  kind  that  had  ever  entered  those  dens.  Nothing, 
however,  would  satisfy  Sir  George ;  but  in  spite  of  all  the  keeper  said 
to  him,  he  would  go  into  the  den.  The  instant  he  entered,  the  Lion 
threw  his  paws  upon  his  shoulders,  licked  his  face,  and  ran  about  the 
place,  fawning,  and  as  full  of  joy  as  a  dog  would  have  been  at  the 
sight  of  his  master. 

An  account  of  this  interview  between  the  Lion  and  the  stranger  was 
soon  afterwards  communicated  to  the  Grand-duke.  He  sent  for  Sir 
George,  and  received  from  him  the  following  account  of  what  had 
seemed  so  strange :  "  The  captain  of  a  ship  from  Barbary  gave  me 
this  Lion,  when  quite  a  whelp.  I  brought  him  up  tame;  but  -when  I 
thought  him  too  large  to  run  about  the  house,  I  built  a  den  for  him 
in  my  court-yard:  from  that  time  he  was  never  permitted  to  be  loose, 
except  when  brought  into  the  house  to  be  exhibited  to  my  friends. 
When  he  was  five  years  old,  he  did  some  mischief,  by  pawing  and 
playing  with  people  in  his  frolicsome  moods ;  having  one  day  griped 
a  man  a  little  too  hard,  I  ordered  him  to  be  shot,  for  fear  of  myself 
incurring  the  guilt  of  what  might  happen :  on  this,  a  friend,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  then  at  dinner  with  me,  begged  him  as  a  present.  How 
he  came  here  I  know  not."  The  Duke  informed  Sir  George  that  the 
Lion  had  been  given  to  him  by  the  very  person  on  whom  Sir  George 
had  bestowed  him. 

An  instance  of  recollection  and  attachment  occured  not  many  years 
since,  in  a  Lion  belonging  to  the  Duchess  of  Hamilton.  It  is  thus  re- 
lated by  Mr.  Hope :  "  One  day  I  had  the  honor  of  dining  with  the 
Duchess  of  Hamilton.  After  dinner,  the  company  attended  her 


THE    LION.  179 

grace  to  see  a  Lion  fed  that  she  had  in  the  court.  While  we  were  ad- 
miring the  fierceness  of  the  animal,  and  teasing  him  with  sticks  to 
make  him  abandon  his  prey  and  fly  at  us,  the  porter  came  and  in- 
formed the  duchess  that  a  serjeant  with  some  recruits  at  the  gate, 
begged  to  see  the  Lion.  Her  grace,  with  great  condescension  and 
good-nature,  asked  permission  of  the  company  to  admit  the  travellers. 
They  were  admitted  at  the  moment  the  Lion  was  growling  over  his 
prey.  The  serjeant,  advancing  to  the  cage,  called,  'Nero,  Nero,  poor 
Nero,  don't  you  know  me?'  The  animal  instantly  turned  his  head 
to  look  at  him ;  then  rose  up,  left  his  prey,  and  came,  wagging  his 
tail,  to  the  side  of  the  cage.  The  man  put  his  hand  upon  him,  and 
patted  him :  telling  us,  at  the  same  time,  that  it  was  three  years  since 
they  had  seen  each  other;  and  that  the  care  of  the  Lion  on  his  pas- 
sage from  Gibraltar  had  been  committed  to  him,  and  he  was  happy  to 
see  the  poor  beast  show  so  much  gratitude  for  his  attentions.  The 
Lion,  indeed,  seemed  perfectly  pleased  :  he  went  to  and  fro,  rubbing 
himself  against  the  place  where  his  benefactor  stood,  and  licking  the 
Serjeant's  hand  as  he  held  it  out  to  him.  The  man  wanted  to  go  into 
the  cage  to  him;  but  was  prevented  by  the  company,  who  were  not 
altogether  convinced  that  it  would  be  safe  for  him  to  do  so." 

M.  Felix,  the  keeper  of  the  animals  in  Paris,  some  years  ago  brought 
two  Lions,  a  male  and  female,  to  the  national  menagerie.  About  the 
beginning  of  the  following  June,  he  was  taken  ill,  and  could  no  longer 
attend  the  Lions ;  and  another  person  was  under  the  necessity  of  per- 
forming this  duty.  The  male,  sad  and  solitary,  remained  from  that 
moment  constantly  seated  at  the  end  of  his  cage,  and  refused  to  take 
food  from  the  stranger,  whose  presence  was  hateful  to  him,  and  whom 
he  often  menaced  by  bellowing.  The  company  even  of  the  female 
seemed  now  to  displease  him ;  and  he  paid  no  attention  to  her.  The 
uneasiness  of  the  animal  afforded  a  belief  that  he  was  really  ill ;  but 
no  one  dared  to  approach  him.  At  length  Felix  recovered ;  and,  with 
intention  to  surprise  the  Lion,  he  crawled  softly  to  the  cage,  and 
showed  only  his  face  between  the  bars :  the  Lion,  in  a  moment,  made 
a  bound,  leaped  against  the  bars,  patted  him  with  his  paws,  licked  his 
hands  and  face,  and  trembled  with  pleasure.  The  female  also  ran  to 
him ;  but  the  Lion  drove  her  back,  and  seemed  angry ;  and,  fearful 
that  she  should  snatch  any  favors  from  Felix,  a  quarrel  was  about  to 
take  place ;  but  Felix  entered  the  cage  to  pacify  them.  He  caressed 
them  by  turns,  and  was  afterwards  frequently  seen  between  them.  He 
had  so  great  a  command  over  these  animals,  that  whenever  he  wished 
them  to  separate  and  retire  to  their  cages,  he  had  only  to  give  the 
order;  when  he  had  a  desire  that  they  should  lie  down,  and  show 
strangers  their  paws  or  throats,  on  the  least  sign  they  would  throw 
themselves  on  their  backs,  hold  up  their  paws  one  after  another,  open 
their  throats,  and,  as  a  recompense,  obtain  the  favor  of  licking  his  hand. 

A  Lion  and  Lioness  which  had  been  brought  over  together  from 
Africa,  about  twenty  years  ago,  were  kept  in  the  same  den  at  Exeter 
'Change  in  London.  They  were  each  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
were  attended  by  a  Negro  who  had  reared  them  from  whelps,  and  had 
come  over  along  with  them.  They  permitted  this  man  to  enter  their 
12 


180 


THE    LION. 


den,  and  would  fawn  upon  and  play  round  him,  like  kittens.     He 
frequently  had  a  table  in  their  den,  with  pipes  and  glasses ;  and,  sitting 

down  there,  would 
quietly  smoke  his  pipe 
If,  on  these  occasions, 
their  frolics  were  too 
boisterous,  he  had  only 
to  stamp  his  foot,  and 
by  his  countenance  to 
express  his  displeasure, 
and  they  would  imme- 
diately cease,  and  qui- 
etly lie  down  by  his 
side.  But  it  was  not 
at  all  times  that  even 
this  man  would  ven- 
ture himself  with  them. 
If  they  were  irritated 
by  the  spectators,  as, 
through  mere  wanton- 
ness, they  sometimes 
were,  he  always  refused 
to  enter  their  den ;  and 
it  is  not  recollected 
that  he  ever  did  this 
whilst  they  were  feed- 
ing. When  the  man  left 
Exeter  'Change,  the  fe- 
male pined  away,  and 
soon  afterwards  died. 

We  are  assured,  from 
numberless  authorities, 
that  the  anger  of  this 
animal  is  noble,  that  his  courage  is  magnanimous,  and  his  disposition 
grateful.  He  has  been  often  seen  to  despise  contemptible  enemies, 
and  pardon  their  insults  when  it  was  in  his  power  to  have  punished 
them.  He  has  been  known  to  spare  the  lives  of  such  creatures  as 
were  thrown  to  be  devoured  by  him,  to  live  peaceably  with  him,  to 
afford  them  part  of  his  sustenance,  and  sometimes  even  to  want  food 
himself  rather  than  deprive  them  of  that  life  which  his  generosity  had 
spared.  Some  years  ago,  a  Dog  was  put  into  the  cage  of  a  Lion  in  the 
menagerie  at  the  Tower,  for  his  food.  The  stately  animal,  however, 
spared  its  life ;  and  they  lived  together  for  a  considerable  time  in  the 
same  den,  in  the  most  perfect  harmony,  and  appeared  to  have  a  great 
affection  for  each  other.  The  Dog  had  sometimes  the  impudence  to 
growl  at  the  Lion,  and  even  to  dispute  with  him  the  food  which  was 
thrown  to  them.  The  noble  animal,  however,  was  never  known  to  chas- 
tise the  impertinent  conduct  of  his  little  companion ;  but  usually  suffered 
it  to  eat  quietly  till  it  was  satisfied,  before  he  began  his  own  repast. 
A  Lioness,  some  years  ago,  in  the  Museum  of  the  Jardin  des  Plantes 


LIOX  IN  MEJTAGEIUE. 


THE    LION. 


181 


at  Paris,  permitted  a  Dog  to  live  in  her  den,  and  was  excessively  fond 
of  it.  She  seemed  both  pleased  and  gratified  by  its  caresses,  was 
attentive  to  all  its  wants,  and  was  unhappy  whenever  it  was  removed 
from  her  sight. 

A  Lion,  about  three  months  old,  was,  in  1787,  caught  in  one  of  the 
forests  of  Senegal ;  and  Pelle- 
tau,  the  director  of  the  African 
company  in  that  colony,  under- 
took to  superintend  the  ani- 
mal's education.  The  mildness 
of  his  physiognomy,  and  the 
unusual  gentleness  of  his  dis- 
position, rendered  this  Lion  a 
great  favorite  with  all  persons 
who  saw  him.  Sensible  of  the 
good  treatment  that  he  receiv- 
ed, he  seemed,  on  all  occasions, 
highly  delighted  wtih  the  car- 
esses and  attentions  of  his 
friends,  and  was,  in  most  res- 
pects, as  tractable  as  any  do- 
mestic animal  could  be.  Such 
was  his  love  of  society,  that  he 
was  always  delighted  to  be  in 
a  room  where  many  persons 
were  assembled :  and  what  was 
very  extraordinary,  he  lived  in 
perfect  harmony,  and  was  at  all 
times  on  the  best  terms,  with  the  other  animals,  of  every  species,  that 
were  kept  in  his  master's  house.  He  slept  in  the  same  place  with  Sheep, 
Dogs,  Cats,  Monkeys,  Geese,  Ducks,  &c.  When  he  was  about  eight 
months  old,  two  whelps  were  littered  by  a  Terrier  on  his  bed.  This 
new  family  excited  a  most  lively  interest  in  the  Lion ;  and  if  he  had 
been  the  parent  of  the  little  animals,  he  could  not  have  displayed  to 
them  an  attachment  more  tender  than  that  which  was  now  remarked 
in  him.  One  of  the  whelps  died ;  his  affection  was  redoubled  towards 
the  other ;  and  this  affection  appeared  to  regulate  all  his  movements. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  months,  the  Lion,  with  his  little  companion, 
was  embarked  for  France.  It  was  feared  that  the  change  of  situation 
and  habits  would  have  had  such  influence  as  to  render  him  in  some 
degree  ferocious.  This,  however,  was  not  the  case ;  for  he  could  at  all 
times  be  allowed,  without  danger,  to  range  at  liberty  in  the  vessel. 
He  was  landed  at  Havre,  and,  attended  by  his  faithful  Dog,  was,  with 
only  a  cord  attached  to  his  collar,  conducted  thence  to  Versailles.  On 
the  death  of  the  Dog,  which  took  place  some  little  time  after  their 
arrival  at  Versailles,  he  seemed  to  be  very  disconsolate  and  miserable ; 
and  it  was  thought  necessary  to  supply  the  loss  of  his  companion  by 
putting  into  his  den  another  animal  of  the  same  species.  The  second 
Dog,  terrified  at  the  sight  of  so  tremendous  a  beast,  immediately 
endeavored  to  conceal  himself;  .and  the  Lion,  surprised  by  the  noise, 


LION,   LIONESS   AND  WHELPS. 


182 


THE    LION. 


struck  the  Animal  with  one  of  his  fore-paws,  and  killed  it  on  the  spot 
Fie  did  not,  however,  attempt  to  devour  it.  A  third  Dog  was  put  into 
his  den,  and  lived  with  him  for  some  years  afterwards. 


ME..  GUMMING    HUNTING  THE  LION  IN   AFEICA. 


But  although  Lions  have  suffered  Dogs  to  live  in  the  same  den 
with  them,  no  instances  have  occurred,  at  least  in  England,  of  their 
allowing  so  great  a  privilege  to  any  other  animals.  A  Lion  called 
Young  Hector,  not  long  ago  in  the  Tower,  had  been  some  days  ill, 
when  (to  try  the  experiment)  a  live  Babbit  was  put  into  his  den.  It 
was  suffered  to  remain  there  uninjured  one  whole  night  and  the  next 
day ;  and  some  hopes  began  to  be  entertained  that  it  would  be  per- 
mitted to  share  the  apartment  with  the  noble  animal  in  quiet.  But 
on  the  morning  following  the  second  night,  it  was  found  dead.  The 
Lion  had  not  attempted  to  devour  it,  for  the  skin  was  not  lacerated; 
but  when  this  was  stripped  off,  there  were  on  each  side  of  the  body 
the  evident  marks  of  his  teeth.  In  another  instance,  a  Cat  had 
accidentally  crept  among  the  straw  of  his  bed-place ;  but  the  moment 
he  discovered  her,  he  sprang  upon  and  destroyed  her. 

In  the  Museum,  at  Paris,  one  of  the  Lionesses  littered  three  times. 
At  the  first  litter  she  produced  nine,  at  the  second  three,  and  at  the 
third  two  young- ones.  The  parents,  which  were  about  equal  in  age, 
and  probably  were  of  the  same  litter,  had  been  caught  together,  when 
somewhat  more  than  a  year  old,  in  a  trap,  made  in  a  wood,  in  th 
North  of  Africa.  They  lived  happily  together,  were  extremely 
gentle,  and  exhibited  great  affection  toward  each  other.  None  of 
the  young-ones  had  at  first  either  a  mane,  or  tuft  at  the  end  of  their 
tail :  and  we  ar6  assured  that  these  do  not  begin  to  appear  till  the 


THE    LION. 


183 


animals  are  three  years  or  three  years  and  a  half  old.  Their  coat- 
was  somewhat  woolly,  and  of  a  confused  color  between  grey  and  red. 
They  had  several  little  brown  transverse  strokes  on  the  upper  part 
of  their  back.  As  they  increased  in  size,  these  by  degrees  disap- 
peared ;  and  with  a  more  regular  proportion  of  limbs,  the  hair  as- 
sumed nearly  the  color  of  that  of  the  old  animals.  A  Lion  and 
Lioness  in  the  Menagerie  at  Exeter  'Change,  had  there  three  litters, 
one  in  May,  1818,  another  in  May  following,  and  the  third  in 
January,  1820.  The  most  celebrated  Lion  hunters  of  modern  time 
are  M.  Gerard  and  Mr.  Cummings,  one  in  the  North  and  the  other  in 


MR.  CUMMIXG  ATTACKING!   FOUR   LIOKS, 


the  South  part  of  Africa.  Mr.  Gumming  on  one  occasion  encountered 
four  Lions  and  attacked  them  without  hesitation. 

The  Lions  in  the  French  Museum  begin  to  roar  at  day -break.  They 
continue  this  noise  for  six  or  seven  minutes;  and  recommence  it  after 
feeding,  for  about  the  same  length  of  time.  At  other  times  they  are 
seldom  heard  ;  except  to  announce  some  change  of  weather,  or  when 
their  keeper  has  been  long  absent.  In  a  state  of  nature,  the  Lion 
seldom  leaves  his  den  except  during  the  night;  but  in  the  Museum 
tLe  animals,  being  shaded  from  the  too  glaring  light  of  the  sun,  are, 
on  the  contrary,  always  most  active  in  the  clay. 

The  Lions  in  the  Tower  of  London  generally  begin  to  roar  in  the 
evening,  just  before  the  night  closes.  They  usually  do  this  at  the 
approach  of  rainy  weather;  and  much  more  on  Sunday  than  any 
other  days,  from  their  .being  then  left  almost  entirely  by  themselves. 

In  the  den  adjoining  to  that  in  which  the  before-mentioned  Lioness 
of  the  French  Museum  was  placed,  there  was  another  female,  which 
had  been  caught  in  the  interior  of  Africa,  at  a  much  greater  distance 


184 


THE    LION. 


from  the  habitations  of  men  than  places  from  which  any  others  in  the 
Museum  had  been  brought.  According  to  the  account  of  Felix 
Cassel,  the  principal  keeper,  who  travelled  into  Africa  to  collect 
animals,  she  came  from  the  borders  of  the  Great  Desert.  She  was 
ferocious  in  the  extreme,  and  all  the  care  and  attention  of  the  keepers 

have  not  hither- 
to in  the  least 
degree  softened 
her  natural  dis- 
position. This 
circumstance 
seems  to  con- 
firm the  opinion 
of  Buffon  and 
some  other  na- 
turalists ;  who 
assert  that  Lions 
possess  greater 
strength  and  fe- 
rocity, accord- 
ing as  they  are 
removed  from 
the  haunts  of 
man  ;  and  that 
the  most  for- 
midable charac- 
ter is  to  be  ex- 
pected in  those 
that  frequent 
only  the  burn- 
ing and  sandy 
deserts  of  the 
interior  pf  Asia 
and  Africa. 

Mr.  Brow  n 
tells  us,  that 
while  he  was 
resident  at  Dar 
Fur,  in  Africa, 
h  e  purchased 
two  Lions,  one 
of  which  was 
only  four 

months  old.  By  degrees,  he  rendered  the  latter  animal  so  tame  that  it 
acquired  most  of  the  habits  of  a  Dog.  It  satiated  itself  twice  a-week 
with  the  offal  of  the  butchers,  and  then  commonly  slept  for  several 
hours  successively.  When  food  was  given  to  these  animals,  they 
were  not  only  furious  to  each  other,  but  to  any  one  who  approached 
them :  excepting,  however,  when  they  were  fed,  Mr.  Brown  never 
saw  them  disagree,  nor  exhibit  any  signs  of  ferocity  towards  man- 


M.  CERAKD  .SHOOTING   A  LIOM. 


THE   TIGER. 


185 


kind.     The  Sultan  of  Dah  Fur  had  also  two  tame  Lions,  which  theii 
attendant  always  brought  into  the  market  to  be  fed. 

The  roaring  of  the  Lion  when  in  quest  of  prey,  resembles  the 
sound  of  distant  thunder ;  and  being  re-echoed  by  the  rocks  and 
mountains,  appals  the  whole  race  of  animals,  and  puts  them  to  a  sud- 
den flight ;  but  he  frequently  varies  his  voice  into  a  hideous  scream 
or  yell.  The  tradition  that  these  animals  are  terrified  at  the  crowing 
of  a  Cock  is  not  founded  in  fact. 

The  Lion  is  commonly  said  to  devour  as  much  at  once  as  will 
serve  him  for  two  or  three  days ;  and,  in  confinement,  he  is  usually 
allowed  about  four  pounds  weight  of  raw  flesh  for  his  daily  subsist- 
ence. His  teeth  are  so  powerful,  that  he  can  break  the  bones  of 
animals  with  perfect  ease,  and  he  often  swallows  them  along  with  the 
flesh.  His  tongue  is  fur-  tttfufr 

nished  with  reversed  prick-  mr^t 

11  T  CW'     C**V 

les,  so  large  and  strong  as 
to  be  capable  of  lacerating 
the  skin.  When  he  is  en- 
raged, or  in  want  of  food, 
his 
tail 

with  considerable  violence 
against  his  back  and  sides. 
In  this  state,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Cape  assert,  that 
it  is  certain  death  to  any 
person  who  happens  unfor- 
tunately to  approach  him; 
but  when  his  inane  and  tail 
are  at  rest,  and  the  animal  is  in  a  placid  humor,  travellers  may  in 
general  pass  near  him  with  safety. 

The  Lioness  is  smaller  than  the  Lion,  and  destitute  of  a  mane. 
She  brings  forth  her  young-ones  in  the  most  sequestered  places,  and 
produces  four  or  five  at  a  litter,  which,  at  their  first  appearance,  are 
about  the  size  of  a  small  Pug-Dog. 

Kolben,  who  was  some  time  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  who 
seems,  unaccountably,  to  have  been  more  partial  to  the  flesh  of  rapa- 
cious animals  than  that  of  most  others,  says  that  the  Lion  is  frequently 
eaten  at  the  Cape,  and  that  the  flavor  is  excellent,  being  much  like 
that  of  venison. 


he   erects  and    shakes 
mane,    and    beats   his 


LION  ENRAGED. 


THE   TIGER. 

The  Tiger  is  about  the  same  size  as  the  Lion.  His  head  and  body 
are  smooth,  of  a  brownish  or  tawny  yellow  color,  with  long  trans- 
verse stripes. 

He  is  a  native  of  various  parts  both  of  Africa  and  Asia,  but  is 
principally  found  in  India  and  the  Indian  islands. 

At  the  same  time  that  he  is  the  most  beautiful,  the  Tiger  is  cer- 


186 


THE    TIGER. 


tainly  one  of  the  most  ferocious  of  quadrupeds.   •  Indeed,  so  sangui 
nary  is  his  disposition,  that  there  is  no  animal,  however  strong  and 

powerful,  that  he 
will  not  venture 
to  attack.  Such 
furious  combats 
have  taken  place 
between  the  Lion 
and  Tiger,  that  in 
some  instances 
both  animals  have 
been  known  t  o 
perish,  rather  than 
give  up  the  con 
test. 

He  commits  the 
most  lamentable 
ravages    among 
THE  TIGER.  flocks   and  herds, 

in    the     countries 

where  he  resides  ;  and  neither  the  sight  nor  the  opposition  of  man 
has  any  power  to  make  him  desist.  When  undisturbed  in  seizing 
an  animal,  he  plunges  his  head  into  its  body,  and  drinks  large 
draughts  of  blood,  the  sources  of  which  are  generally  exhausted  before 
his  thirst  is  appeased. 

The, muscular  strength  of  the  Tiger  is  excessively  great.  We  are 
assured,  that  a  peasant  in  the  East  Indies  had  a  Buffalo  fallen  into  a 
quagmire  ;  and  that  while  he  went  to  call  for  assistance,  an  immense 
Tiger  came  and  drew  out  the  animal,  on  which  the  united  efforts  of 
several  men  had  been  of  no  avail.  When  the  people  returned,  the 
first  object  they  beheld  was  the  Tiger,  with  the  Buffalo  thrown  over 
his  shoulder :  he  was  carrying  it  away,  with  the  feet  upwards,  towards 
his  den.  As  soon,  however,  as  he  saw  the  men,  he  let  fall  his  prey, 
and  instantly  fled  to  the  woods ;  but  he  had  previously  killed  the 
Buffalo,  and  sucked  its  blood. 

The  method  of  the  Tiger's  seizing  his  prey  is,  by  concealing  himself 
from  view,  and  springing  upon  it  with  a  horrible  roar.  His  cry,  in 
the  act  of  springing  on  his  victim,  is  said  to  be  hideous  beyond 
expression ;  and  we  are  told  that,  like  the  Lion,  if  he  misses  his  object, 
he  walks  away  without  repeating  the  attempt.  When  he  can  securely 
attack  mankind,  he  is  said  to  prefer  them  to  any  other  prey ;  but  he 
seldom  makes  an  open  attack  upon  any  creature  that  is  capable  of 
resistance. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  a  company,  seated  under  the 
shade  of  some  trees,  near  the  banks  of  a  river  in  Bengal,  were  alarmed 
by  the  unexpected  sight  of  a  Tiger,  preparing  for  its  fatal  spring; 
when  a  lady,  with  almost  unexampled  presence  of  mind,  unfurled  a 
large  umbrella  in  the  animal's  face.  The  extraordinary  and  sudden 
appearance  of  this  so  confounded  him,  that  he  instantly  retired,  and 
thus  gave  the  party  an  opportunity  of  escape. 


THE    TIGER. 


187 


The  fatal  accident  which  some  years  ago  occurred  in  the  East  Indies 
must  still  be  fresh  in  the  memories  of  all  who  have  read  the  dreadful 


TIGER  ATTACKING   A   BUFFALO. 


description  that  was  given  by  an  eye-witness  of  the  scene.  We  went 
(says  the  narrator)  on  shore  on  Sangar  Island,  to  shoot  deer;  of  which 
we  saw  innumerable  tracks,  as  well  as  of  Tigers.  We  continued  our 
diversion  till  nearly  three  o'clock ;  when,  sitting  down  by  the  side  of 
a  jungle  to  refresh  ourselves,  a  roar  like  thunder 'was  heard,  and  an 
immense  Tiger  seized  on  one  of  the  party,  Mr.  Monro,  the  son  of  Sir 
Hector  Monro,  Bart.,  and  rushed  again  into  the  jungle,  dragging  him 
through  the  thickest  bushes  and  trees,  every  thing  giving  way  to  its 
monstrous  strength ;  a  Tigress  accompanied  his  progress.  The  united 
agonies  of  horror,  regret,  and  fear,  rushed  at  once  upon  us.  I  fired  at, 
the  Tiger ;  he  seemed  agitated.  My  companion  fired  also ;  and  in  a  few 
moments  after  this,  our  unfortunate  friend  came  up  to  us,  bathed  in 
blood.  Every  medical  assistance  was  vain;  and  he  expired  in  the  space 
of  twenty -four  hours,  having  received  such  deep  wounds  from  the  teeth 
and  claws  of  the  animal,  as  rendered  his  recovery  hopeless.  A  large 
fire,  consisting  of  ten  or  twelve  whole  trees,  was  blazing  near  us  at 
the  time  this  accident  took  place,  and  ten  or  more  of  the  natives  were 
with  us.  The  human  mind  ,can  scarcely  form  any  idea  of  this  scene  of 
horror.  We  had  but  just  pushed  our  boat  from  the  shore,  when  the 


188  THE    TIGER. 

Tigress  made  her  appearance,  almost  raging  mad,  and  remained  on  the 
sand  all  the  while  we  continued  in  sight. 

Near  the  borders  of  Tartary,  Tigers  are  very  frequent :  and  in  so 
populous  an  empire  as  China,  it  would  seem  impossible  for  them  to 


TIGER  IN  A  JUNGLE. 


have  remained  till  the  present  day  unextirpated.  In  the  northern 
roads,  hundreds  of  travellers  are  sometimes  seen  with  lanterns  carried 
before  them,  to  secure  them  from  the  attack  of  these  ravenous  animals. 
In  some  parts  of  India,  Tigers  are  particularly  fatal  to  wood-cutters 
and  laborers  about  the  forests ;  and  they  have  been  known  to  swim  to 
boats  at  anchor  at  a  little  distance  from  the  shore,  and  snatch  the  men 
from  on  board.  In  Java  they  are  so  much  dreaded,  that  when  any 
person  of  consequence  goes  out  into  the  country,  he  has  with  him  men 
who  blow  incessantly  a  kind  of  small  French  "horns,  the  shrill  sound 
of  which  frightens  these  creatures  away.  The  hunting  of  Tigers  is  a 
favorite  amusement  with  some  of  the  Eastern  Princes ;  who  go  in 
search  of  them,  attended  by  considerable  bodies  of  men,  well-mounted, 
and  armed  with  lances.  As  soon  as  the  animals  are  roused,  they  are 
instantly  attacked  on  all  sides,  with  pikes,  arrows,  and  sabres,  and  are 
presently  destroyed.  This  diversion  is,  however,  always  attended  with 
danger ;  for  if  the  Tiger  feels  himself  wounded,  he  seldom  retreats 
without  sacrificing  one  of  the  party  to  his  vengeance.  There  are  men 
who,  covered  with  a  coat  of  mail,  or  even  armed  only  with  a  shield,  a 
poniard,  and  a  short  ci miter,  will  dare  to  attack  these  blood-thirsty 
animals  singly,  and  fight  with  them,  life  for  life ;  for,  in  combats  of 
this  nature,  there  is  no  other  alternative  than  to  vanquish  or  to  fall. 

The  roar  of  the  Tiger,  which  is  chiefly  heard  during  the  night,  is 
said  to  be  exceedingly  dreadful.  In  begins  by  intonations  and  inflec- 
tions, deep,  melancholy,  and  slow :  presently  it  becomes  more  acute : 
then,  the  animal  suddenly  exerting  himself,  utters  a  violent  cry,  inter- 
rupted by  long,  tremulous  sounds,  which  make  a  distrart'ng  impression 
upon  the  mind. 


THE    TIGER. 


189 


The  Tiger,  if  taken  young,  may,  for  a  short  time  at  least,  till  his 
ferocity  comes  with  his  age,  be  in  some  measure  domesticated,  and 
rendered  mild  and  playful.  A  beautiful  young  Tiger,  brought  in  the 
Pitt  East  Indiaman  from  China,  in  the  year  1790,  was  so  far  domesti- 
cated as  to  admit  of  every  kind  of  familiarity  from  the  people  on  board 
the  ship.  It  seemed  to  be  quite  harmless,  and  was  as  playful  as  a 
kitten.  It  frequently  slept  with  the  sailors  in  their  hammocks ;  and 
would  suffer  two  or  three  of  them  to  repose  their  heads  on  its  back,  as 
upon  a  pillow,  while  it  lay  stretched  out  upon  the  deck.  In  return 
for  this  indulgence,  it  would,  however,  now  and  then  steal  their  meat. 
Having  one  day  stolen  a  piece  of  beef  from  the  carpenter,  he  followed 
the  animal,  took  the  meat  out  of  its  mouth  and  beat  it  severely  for  the 
theft;  which  punishment  it 
suffered  with  all  the  patience 
of  a  Dog.  It  would  fre- 
quently run  out  on  the  bow- 
sprit; climb  about  the  ship 
like  a  cat;  and  perform 
many  other  tricks,  with  an 
agility  that  was  truly  aston- 
ishing. There  was  a  Dog  on 
board,  with  which  it  would 
often  play  in  the  most  di- 
verting manner  imaginable. 
This  animal  was  taken  on 
board  the  ship  when  it  was 
only  a  month  or  six  weeks 
old,  and  arrived  in  England 
before  it  had  quite  completed 
its  first  year.  On  its  arrival  it  was  presented  to  the  king,  and  was 
afterwards  deposited  in  the  Tower  of  London.  It  even  there  con- 
tinued to  be  perfectly  good-natured,  and  was  in  no  instance  known  to 
be  guilty  of  any  savage  or  mischievous  tricks. 

In  the  year  1801,  one  day  after  this  Tiger  had  been  fed,  his  keeper 
put  into  the  den  to  him  a  small,  rough,  black  Terrier  puppy,  a  female. 
The  beast  suffered  it  to  remain  uninjured,  and  soon  afterwards  became 
so  much  attached  to  it,  as  to  be  restless  and  unhappy  whenever  the 
animal  was  taken  away  to  be  fed.  On  its  return,  the  Tiger  invariably 
expressed  the  greatest  symptoms  of  delight,  always  welcoming  its 
arrival  by  gently  licking  over  every  part  of  its  body.  In  one  or  two 
instances,  the  Terrier  was  left  in  the  den,  by  mistake,  during  the  time, 
the  Tiger  had  his  food.  The  Dog  sometimes  ventured  to  eat  with  him, 
but  the  Tiger  generally  appeared  dissatisfied  with  this  liberty.  After 
a  residence  with  the  Tiger  of  several  months,  the  Terrier  was  removed 
to  make  way  for  a  little  female  Dutch  Mastiff.  It  was,  however, 
thought  advisable,  before  the  Terrier  was  taken  away,  to  shut  up  the 
Mastiff  for  three  or  four  days  among  the  straw  of  the  Tiger's  bed,  to 
take  off,  if  possible,  any  smell  that  might  be  offensive  to  the  animal. 
The  exchange  was  made  soon  after  the  animals  had  been  fed ;  the 
Tiger  seemed  perfectly  satisfied  with  his  new  companion,  and  imme- 


TOUNO   TIGER. 


190  THE    TIGER. 

diately  began  to  lick  it,  as  he  had  before  done  the  Terrier.  The  Dog 
seemed  at  first  in  considerable  alarm  with  so  formidable  an  inmate, 
but  in  the  course  of  the  day  he  became  perfectly  reconciled  to  his  situa- 
tion. This  diminutive  creature  the  Tiger  would  suffer  to  play  with 
him,  with  the  greatest  good  nature.  I  have  myself  seen  it  bark  at 
him,  and  bite  him  by  the  foot  and  mouth,  without  his  expressing  the 
least  displeasure.  .When  the  Dog,  in  its  frolic,  seized  his  foot,  he 
merely  lifted  it  up  out  of  its  mouth,  and  seemed  otherwise  heedless  of 
its  attacks. 

Strange  Dogs  were  several  times  put  into  the  Tiger's  den  after  his 
feeding,  and  he  in  no  instance  attempted  to  injure  them.  Mr.  Cross, 
the  keeper  of  Exeter  'Change,  and  who  formerly  had  the  care  of  the 
animals  in  the  Tower,  informed  me  that  he  could  himself  have  ven- 
tured in  safety  into  the  den.  The  ship-carpenter,  who  came  over  with 
the  Tiger,  came  to  the  Tower  to  see  him.  The  animal,  though  they 
had  been  separated  more  than  two  years,  instantly  recognized  a  former 
acquaintance,  rubbed  himself  backwards  and  forwards  against  the 
grating  of  his  den,  and  appeared  highly  delighted.  Notwithstanding 
the  urgent  request  that  he  would  not  expose  himself  to  so  much 
danger,  the  man  begged  to  be  let  into  the  den,  and  with  so  much 
entreaty,  that  he  was  at  last  suffered  to  enter.  The  emotions  of  the 
animal  seemed  roused  in  the  most  grateful  manner.  He  rubbed  him- 
self against  him,  licked  his  hands,  fawned  upon  him  like  a  Cat,  and  in 
no  respect  attempted  to  injure  him.  The  man  remained  there  two  or 
three  hours ;  and  he  at  last  began  to  fancy  there  would  be  some  diffi- 
culty in  getting  out  alone.  Such  was  the  affection  of  the  animal 
towards  his  former  friend,  and  so  close  did  he  keep  to  his  person,  as 
to  render  his  escape  by  no  means  so  easy  as  he  had  expected.  With 
some  care,  however,  he  got  the  Tiger  beyond  the  partition  of  the  two 
dens,  and  the  keeper,  watching  his  opportunity,  closed  the  slide,  and 
separated  them. 

At  Exeter  'Change,  Mr.  Cross  succeeded  in  having  a  young  Tiger 
and  a  Lioness  kept  in  the  same  cage.  They  were  each  so  tame,  that, 
although  nearly  eighteen  months  old,  the  keeper  could  without  danger 
go  into  the  cage,  and  play  with  them  as  he  would  have  done  with 
two  Dogs. 

The  Tigress,  like  the  Lioness,  produces  four  or  five  young-ones  at 
a  litter.  In  a  wild  state  she  is  at  all  times  furious;  but  her  rage  rises 
to  the  utmost  extremity  when  robbed  of  her  offspring.  She  then 
braves  every  danger,  and  pursues  her  plunderers  with  a  degree  of 
ferocity  which  is  indescribable.  In  India  the  Tiger  is  hunted  by  the 
native  princes  mounted  on  Elephants  and  attended  by  a  numerous 
train  of  hunters. 

The  skin  of  the  Tiger  is  in  great  esteem  in  all  the  eastern  countries ; 
and  particularly  in  China,  where  the  mandarins  cover  their  seats  of 
justice  with  it.  It  is  also  applied  to  many  ornamental  and  usful 
purposes.  The  Indian  physicians  attribute  medical  virtues  to  various 
parts  of  the  Tiger's  body. 


THE   PANTHER. 


191 


THE   PANTHER. 


THE  PANTHER. 

The  length  of  the  Panther  is  usually  more  than  six  feet,  exclusive 
of  the  tail,  which  is  about  three  feet  long.  The  color  of  the  upper 
parts  of  the  body  is  bright 
tawny-yellow,  with  numer- 
ous black,  roundish,  or  some- 
what annular  marks,  several 
of  which  have  in  the  centre 
of  each  a  black  spot.  The 
under  parts  of  the  body  are 
white. 

Tn  nearly  all  its  habits  of 
life  the  Panther  resembles 
the  Tiger.  Like  that  fero- 
cious beast,  he  lurks  in  am- 
bush amongst  bushes  or  ver- 
dure, on  the  borders  of  the 
forests,  and  springs  with  a 
sudden  and  tremendous  leap  on  such  animals  as  pass  by.  So  prompt, 
so  rapid,  and  so  well-timed  are  his  movements,  that  few  escape.  In 
vain  may  the  wretched  victim  seek  for  refuge  even  in  the  trees:  the 
Panther,  notwithstanding  the  size  and  the  weight  of  his  body,  still 
pursues,  with  an  agility  which  seems  almost  incredible,  and  there 
dispatches  his  victim. 

The  Panther  has  none  of  the  noble  qualities  of  the  Lion.  His  thirst 
for  blood  is  insatiable;  and  his  ferocity  is  such,  that  even  when  subju- 
gated and  in  the  power  of  man,  he  seems  rather  to  be  subdued  than 
tamed. 

One  of  these  animals  which  was  seen  by  M.  de  BufFon,  had,  he 
says,  a  ferocious  countenance,  and  a  restless  eye:  his  motions  were 
precipitate,  and  his  cry  similar  to  that  of  an  enraged  Dog,  but  more 
strong  and  harsh.  This  individual,  like  nearly  all  those  that  are 
brought  into  Europe,  was  a  native  of  Barbary,  and  was  taken  in  the 
forests  adjacent  to  Mount  Atlas. 

The  mode  adopted  to  destroy  the  Panther  is  usually  this.  A  bait, 
consisting  of  a  piece  of  flesh,  is  suspended  on  a  tree,  in  the  immediate 
neighborhood  of  which  the  hunter  has  previously  erected  a  hut  for  his 
own  concealment.  The  smell  of  the  flesh  attracts  the  animal  to  the 
spot,  and,  whilst  he  is  in  the  act  of  seizing  it,  the  hunter  shoots  him, 
with  an  aim  so  correct  as  almost  always  to  wound  him  mortally.  On 
the  following  day,  and  not  before,  he  ventures  to  issue  from  his  hiding- 
place,  and,  by  means  of  a  Dog  trained  for  the  purpose,  tracks  the  animal 
to  his  retreat.  If  he  be  still  alive,  the  Dog  inevitably  falls  a  sacrifice 
to  his  rage,  and  his  cries  give  warning  to  the  hunter  to  retreat  from 
similar  danger ;  but  if  he  be  dead,  which  most  commonly  is  the  case, 
the  man  seizes  upon  his  prize  unmolested. 

An  instance  is  recorded  by  Poiret.  of  a  Moor  who  was  pursued  by  a 
wounded  Panther.  He  says,  that  the  man  escaped  only  by  the  strata- 


192 


THE   OUNCE — HUNTING   LEOPARD. 


gem  of  throwing  a  part  of  his  clothes  upon  a  bush  as  he  passed  by  it. 
These  the  animals  snrang  upon  and  tore  into  a  thousand  fragments. 


THE   OUNCE. 

The  Ounce  is  much  smaller  than  the  Panther:  its  body  seldom 

exceeds  the  length  of  about  three 
feet  and  a  half.  The  hair  is  long 
and  somewhat  shaggy.  Its  color 
is  a  tawny  white,  with  numerous 
irregular  black  marks.  The  length 
of  the  tail  is  about  three  feet. 

The  inhabitants  of  several  pro- 
vinces of  Persia,  tame  the  Ounce, 
for  the  purpose  of  employing  it  in 
the  chase.  In  the  hot  climates  of 
Asia  Dogs  are  rarely  to  be  found, 
unless  they  have  been  transported 
thither  from  Europe;  and  even  in 
this  case  they  soon  lose  not  only 
their  voice,  but  their  faculty  of 
hunting. 

The  scent  of  the  Ounce  is  inferior 
to   that  of  the   Dog,  and   he   con- 
sequently hunts  almost  wholly  by  the  eye ;  but  so  perfect  are  all  his 
other  faculties,  that  he  is  infinitely  more  expeditious  in  the  killing  of 
game  than  any  number  of  Dogs  could  possibly  be. 

Some  of  these  animals  are  so  small,  that  the  Persians  are  able  to 
carry  them  on  horseback,  upon  small  leathern  pads  made  for  the  pur- 
pose ;  and  they  are  so  gentle  towards  those  who  are  accustomed  to 
attend  and  feed  them,  that  they  will  without  difficulty  suffer  them- 
selves to  be  handled  and  caressed.  The  horseman  no  sooner  perceives  a 
Gazelle  or  an  Antelope  within  proper  distance,  than  he  makes  the  Ounce 
descend ;  and,  if  the  animal  be  at  all  expert  in  his  business,  he  generally 
is  enabled  to  seize  his  prey  by  the  neck  in  five  or  six  leaps. 


THE   HUNTING  LEOPARD. 

The  "Hunting  Leopard  is  about  the  height  of  a  large  Greyhound  ; 
of  a  light  tawny  brown  color,  marked  with  numerous  circular  black 
spots.  The  legs  and  tail  are  long.  Its  form  is  more  lengthened  than 
that  of  the  Tiger,  and  the  chest  is  narrower. 

This  is  an  Indian  animal,  is  likewise  frequently  tamed,  and  is  used 
in  the  chase  of  Antelopes.  -It  is  carried  in  a  kind  of  small  wagon, 
chained  and  hooded,  lest,  on  approaching  the  herd,  it  should  be  too 
precipitate,  or  should  not  make  choice  of  a  proper  animal.  When  first 
unchained,  it  does  not  immediately  spring  towards  its  prey;  but  winds, 


THE   LEOPARD. 


195 


with  the  utmost  caution,  along  the  ground,  stopping  at  intervals,  and 

carefully  concealing  itself  until  a 

favorable  opportunity  offers:  it 

then   darts   on    the  herd   with 

astonishing  swiftness,  and  over- 

takes them  by  the  rapidity  of 

its  bounds.     If,  however,  in  its 

first  attempt,  which  consists  of 

five    or  six    amazing  leaps,   it 

does   not   succeed,   it   loses   its 

breath;   and,  finding  itself  un- 

equal in  speed,  stands  still  for  a  j 


etly  returns  to  its  keeper. 


THE   LEOPARD. 

This  animal  is  about  four  feet  in  length ;  of  a  yellowish  color,  and 
marked  with  numerous  annular  spots.  The  tail  is  about  two  feet  and 
a  half  long.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  Senegal,  Guinea,  and  most  parts 
of  Africa. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  Leopard  is  ferocious  and  cruel.  His 
eye  is  restless,  his  countenance  forbidding,  and  all  his  motions  are 
short  and  preci- 
pitate. In  his 
general  habits 
h  e  resembles 
the  Panther;  he 
lies  in  ambush 
for  prey,  and 
thence  springs 
upon  and  de- 
vours  almost 
every  species  of 
animal  which 
he  has  the 
strength  to  over- 
c  o  m  e.  Occa- 
sionally these 
beasts  have 
been  known  to 
descend  in  great 

numbers  from  their  lurking-places,  and  commit  dreadful  slaughter 
among  the  numerous  herds  of  cattle  which  graze  in  the  plains. 

In  the  year  1708,  if  we  may  believe  the  account  recorded  by  Kolben, 
a  male  and  female  Leopard,  with  three  young-ones,  entered  a  sheep- 
fold  at  the  Cape.     They  killed  nearly  a  hundred  Sheep,  and  regaled 
themselves  with  the  blood.     When  the*  old  ones  were  satiated,  thej 
13 


THE  LEOPARD. 


196 


THE    PUMA. 


tore  a  carcass  into  three  pieces,  and  gave  one  of  these  to  each  of  their 
offspring.   They  then  took  each  a  whole  Sheep ;  and,  thus  laden,  began 

to  move  off.  Having, 
however,  been  observ- 
ed, they  were  way-laid 
on  their  return,  and 
the  female  and  three 
young-ones  killed ;  but 
the  male  effected  his 
escape.  The  same  wri- 
ter also  informs  us,  that 
the  Leopard  will  not 
eat  carrion,  nor  deign 
to  touch  what  has  been 
killed  by  any  other 
beast. 

The  Negroes  take 
these  animals  by  means 
of  pitfalls  covered 
slightly  over  with  hurdles,  on  which  a  piece  of  flesh  is  placed  as  a  bait. 
They  are  not,  however,  employed  in  the  chase,  like  the  Ounce  or  the 
Hunting  Leopard. 

The  late  Sir  Ashton  Lever  had  a  Leopard,  which  he  kept  in  a  cage 
at  Leicester  House.  It  had  become  so  tame,  as  always  to  seem  highly 
pleased  by  caresses  and  attention,  purring  and  rubbing  its  sides  against 
the  cage  like  a  Cat.  Sir  Ashton  gave  it  to  the  royal  menagerie  in  the 
Tower;  where  a  person,  before  acquainted  with  it,  saw  it  after  an 
interval  of  more  than  a  year,  notwithstanding  which  it  appeared  in- 
stantly  to  recognize  him,  and  began  as  usual  to  renew  its  caresses. 

The  flesh  of  the  Leopard,  says  Kolben,  is  white  and  well-tasted,  and 
eats  much  better  than  the  finest  veal !  It  is  both  nourishing  and  deli- 
cious; that  of  the  young  is  as  tender  as  a  chicken!  The  skins  are 
brought  into  Europe,  where  they  are  in  great  estimation :  some  of  the 
most  beautiful'of  them  sell  for  more  than  ten  guineas  each. 


LEOPARD  LYING  IX  AMBUSH. 


THE   PUMA,  OR  SOUTH  AMERICAN  LION. 

The  length  of  the  body  of  the  Puma  is  about  five  feet,  and  its  height 

two  feet  and  a  half;  and  its  tail  is 
about  two  feet  long.  The  head  is 
round,  and  the  ears  are  short.  Its 
color  is  a  pale,  brownish  red,  some- 
what darker  in  some  parts  than  in 
others.  The  under  parts  are  white. 
By  the  Spaniards  of  Peru  and 
Chili  this  animal  has  been  denomi- 
nated the  Lion  of  South  America ; 

and  in  its  color,  its  voice,  and  general  shape,  except  that  it  is  desti- 
tute of  mane  it  is  not  altogether  unlike  that  animal. 


THE   PUMA. 


197 


The  Puma  inhabits  the  thickest  forests,  and  the  most  inaccessible 
ountains,  from  which  it  makes  incursions  into  the  plains  to  attack 


THB  PUMA  WITH  ITS  PREY. 


domestic  animals,  particularly  Horses,  whose  flesh  it  prefers  to  that  of 
any  other.  In  the  mode  of  seizing  its  prey  it  resembles  the  Cat :  it 
approaches  by  crawling  along  upon  its  belly;  it  glides  softly  through 
the  shrubs  and  bushes,  conceals  itself  in  ditches,  or,  if  it  show  itself  it 
assumes  a  mild  and  fawning  appearance.  But  all  this  time  it  is  only 
watching  a  favorable  opportunity  to  seize  the  animal  which  it  has 
marked  for  its  victim :  at  one  ]eap  it  fastens  itself  upon  the  back  of 
its  prey,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  tears  it  to  pieces.  It  then  sucks,  the 
blood,  devours  the  flesh  of  the  breast,  and  carries  the  remainder  of  the 
carcass  into  the  nearest  wood,  where  it  conceals  it  with  the  leaves  and 
boughs  of  trees,  in  order  to  eat  it  at  leisure. 

It  is  a  common  practice  for  the  husbandmen  of  Chili  to  fasten  two 
of  their  horses  together  in  the  fields ;  and  whenever  the  Puma  finds 
them  in  this  situation,  Molina  informs  us,  that  it  kills  one  and  drags 
it  away,  and  compels  the  other  to  follow,  by  striking  it  from  time  to 
time  with  its  paw.  The  favorite  haunts  of  the  Puma  are  the  streams 
to  which  animals  usually  repair  to  drink :  here  it  conceals  itself  upon 
a  tree,  and  scarcely  ever  fails  of  seizing  one  of  them.  The  horses, 
however,  have  an  instinctive  dread 'of  these  places,  and  even  when 
pressed  by  thirst,  they  approach  them  with  great  caution,  carefully 
examining  on  every  side  to  discover  if  there  be  danger.  Cows  defend 
themselves  against  these  animals.  As  soon  as  one  of  them  appears, 
they  range  themselves  in  a  circle  round  their  calves,  and  with  their 
horns  turned  toward  the  assailant,  await  his  attack,' and  not  unfre- 
quently  destroy  him. 

All  such  animals  that  have  not  young-ones,  attempt,  at  the  approach 
of  the  Puma,  to  save  themselves  by  flight.  The  ass  alone,  from  want 
of  speed,  is  compelled  to  defend  himself  with  his  heels,  and  frequently 
proves  successful.  But  should  the  Puma  leap  upon  his  back,  the  ass 


198 


THE    JAGUAR. 


immediately  throws  himself  upon  the  ground,  or  runs  with  all  his 
force  against  the  trunks  of  trees  ;  and  thus  endeavors  to  free  himself 
from  his  assailant. 

The  Puma  is  naturally  a  coward,  and  the  appearance  of  even  a 
woman  or  a  child  is  sufficient  to  make  him  fly  and  abandon  his  prey. 
He  is  hunted  with  dogs  trained  for  the  purpose,  and  when  hard 
pressed,  either  leaps  upon  a  tree,  seeks  an  asylum  on  a  rock,  or  placing 
himself  against  the  trunk  of  some  large  tree,  defends  himself  in  a 
furious  manner. 

In  captivity  the  Puma  loses  much  of  his  savage  nature,  and  may  be 
rendered  almost  as  gentle  as  a  domestic  animal.  A  Puma  mentioned 
in  the  supplementary  volumes  of  M.  de  Buffon,  would  suffer  himself  to 
be  patted  with  the  hand  ;  and  children  were  frequently  known  to 
mount  astride  upon  his  back,  without  his  exhibiting  the  slightest 
symptoms  of  resentment.  Mr.  Keen  the  actor,  when  in  London,  had 
generally  in  his  house  a  Puma,  belonging  to  Mr.  Cross,  then  proprietor 
of  the  menagerie  of  Exeter  'Change.  The  animal  was  sometimes  intro- 
duced into  the  room  when  he  had  company ;  and  by  many  persons  was 
considered  to  be  a  Lion. 


THE   JAGUAR,    OR   SOUTH   AMERICAN  TIGER. 

The  Jaguar  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  Wolf,  of  a  brownish  yellow 

color,  variegated 
on  the  upper  parts 
of  the  body  with 
streaks,  and  open 
oblong  spots  or 
markings  of 
black.  The  thighs 
and  legs  also  have 
black  spots,  but 

/,-.t    >*-»£^?£itti^J^aF^z^x£aB^-<^~^^-'^^-^^!^&mixr\,'3iLvti*'?4n  WlLIlC 


whitish.  The  tail 
is  about  two  feet 
and  a  half  in 
length. 

It   is   a   native 
of  Brazil,  and   several   other   parts  of  South   America. 

The  Jaguar  has  most  of  the  habits,  and  nearly  all  the  propensities 
of  the  Puma.  He  is  so  strong  and  voracious,  that  he  is  able  to  seize 
and  carry  off  a  Sheep  or  Deer  with  the  utmost  facility ;  and  yet  he  is 
so  cowardly,  that  he  may  sometimes  be  put  to  flight  by  a  shout.  Cows 
and  Horses  are  not  always  secure  from  his  attack.  These  animals,  as 
he  is  unable  to  drag  them  to  his  retreat  in  the  forests,  he  tears  to 
pieces  on  the  spot,  and  satiates  himself  with  their  blood.  Thp 


THE   JAGUAR.  199 

strongest  of  wild  Boars  he  is  able  to  overthrow  by  a  single  stroke  of 


JAGUAR  WAITING  FOB  DEER. 


his  paw.  Few  of  the  American  animals  are  a  match  for  the  Jaguar, 
except  the  enormous  Serpents,  which  frequent  the  savannahs;  and 
these,  it  is  currently  stated,  by 
entwining  themselves  round 
his  body,  are  able  to  strangle 
and  destroy  him. 

The  Jaguar  is  not  an  indo- 
lent animal,  as  some  writers 
have  asserted.  He  constantly 
attacks  Dogs ;  often  commits 
great  devastation  among  flocks, 
and,  in  the  deserts,  is  formid- 
able even  to  men.  In  a  journey 
made  by  M.  Sonnini,  through 
the  forests  of  Guiana,  he  and 


HUNTING  THE  JAGUAR. 


200 


THE    CAPE    CAT. 


his  party  were  tormented  by  one  of  these  beasts,  for  three  successive 
nights  ;  and  yet  the  animal  avoided  all  the  attempts  that  were  made  to 

destroy  him.  But  finding 
that  large  fires  were  con- 
stantly kept  up,  he  at  last 
left  them,  venting  a  dismal 
howl  at  his  departure. 

The  power  which  these 
animals  have  of  ascending 
trees  is  very  remarkable.  M. 
Sonniui  states,  that  he  has 
seen  marks  of  the  claws  of 
a  Jaguar,  on  the  smooth  bark 
of  a  tree,  which  was  between 
forty  and  fifty  feet  in  height,  and  which  had  not  a  single  branch 
except,  at  the  top.  He  says  that  it  was  easy  to  remark  the  efforts  the 
animal  had  made  :  although  he  had  pierced  through  the  bark,  deeply 
into  the  wood,  he  had  evidently  slipped  more  than  once ;  but  he  had 
surmounted  every  difficulty,  and,  attracted  no  doubt  by  some  prey 
which  was.peculiarly  alluring,  had  attained  the  summit. 


HUNTER  SURPRISED   BT  JAGUAR. 


THE   CAPE   CAT 

The  Cape  Cat  is  of  a  bright  tawny  color,  and  marked  on  the  back 

with  oblong  black  streaks,  and  in 
the  other  parts  of  the  body  with 
blotches  of  the  same.  A  skin,  mea- 
sured by  Mr.  Pennant,  was  found  to 
measure  three  feet,  from  the  nose  to 
the  tail. 

These  elegant  animals,  which,  in 
size,  are  considerably  larger  than  the 
domestic  Cat,  are  found  wild  among 
ji  the  mountains  near  the  Cape  of  Good 
-  Hope.  In  the  places  adjacent  to  their 
retreat,  they  are  very  destructive  to 
Eabbits,  young  Antelopes,  Lambs, 
and  even  to  all  the  feathered  race.  In  disposition,  however,  they 
are  by  no  means  so  fierce  as  the  generality  of  their  tribe  ;  and,  when 
caught  young,  may  be  easily  rendered  tame  and  domestic. 

In  the  year  1795,  when  Dr.  Forster  was  at  the  Cape,  he  saw  one  of 
these  animals,  which  was  about  nine  months  old.  He  says  that  its 
manners  and  economy  seemed  perfectly  analogous  to  those  of  our 
domestic  Cats.  It  ate  fresh  raw  meat,  and  appeared  very  much  to 
attach  itself  to  its  feeders  and  benefactors.  After  Dr.  Forster  had 
fed  it  a  few  times,  it  followed  him  like  a  tame  Cat.  It  was  fond  of 
being  stroked  and  caressed ;  rubbed  its  head  and  back  against  the 
person's  clothes  who  fed  it,  and  seemed  desirous  of  being  noticed ; 
and  it  purred  in  the  same  manner  as  domestic  Cats  do  when  they  are 
pleased. 


THE  CAPE  CAT. 


THE   WILD   CAT. 


201 


THE   WILD   CAT. 


This  animal  lias  a  larger  head  and  stronger  limbs  than  the  domestic 
Cat.     Its  color  is  a  pale  yellowish-gray,  with  dusky  stripes ;  those  on 


THE  WILD  CAT. 


the  back  running  length-wise,  and  those  on  the  sides  transversely  and 
in  a  curved  direction.  The  tail  is  shorter  than  in  the  domestic  kinds, 
and  is  barred  with  dusky  rings. 

The  manners  of  the  Wild  Cat  are  nearly  allied  to  those  of  the 
Lynx,  and  to  those  of  several  others  of  the  larger  species  of  its  tribe. 
It,  may,  with  propriety,  be  denominated  the  British  Tiger,  since  it 
is  by  far  the  fiercest  and  most  destructive  beast  that  is  found  in 
England. 


202 


THE   DOMESTIC   CAT. 


These  animals  are  sometimes  cauglit  in  traps,  and  sometimes  killed 
with  guns.  It  is,  however,  dangerous  to  merely  wound  them,  for  in 
this  case  they  haVe  sometimes  been  known  to  attack  the  assailant ; 
and  their  strength  is  so  great  as  to  render  them  no  despicable  enemy. 
At  Barnboro',  a  village  between  Doncaster  and  Barnsley,  in  York- 
shire, there  is  a  tradition  extant  of  a  serious  conflict  that  once  took 
place  between  a  Man  and  a  Wild  Cat.  The  inhabitants  say,  that  the 
fight  commenced  in  an  adjacent  wood,  and  that  it  was  continued 
thence  into  the  porch  of  the  church.  I  do  not  recollect  in  what 
manner  it  is  reported  to  have  begun;  but  they  state  that  it  ended 
fatally  to  both  combatants.  A  rude  painting  in  the  church  com- 
memorates the  event;  and  the  accidentally  natural  red  tinge  of  some 
of  the  stones,  is  considered  as  stains  of  blood  still  remaining. 

Wild  Cats  breed  in  hollow  trees,  and  usually  produce  four  young- 
ones  at  a  litter.  They  are  yet  found  in  several  of  the  mountainous 
districts  of  Scotland  and  Ireland ;  and  occasionally  amongst  the 
woods  that  border  the  lakes  of  the  North  of  England.  In  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  places  which  they  inhabit,  they  often  make  destructive 
havoc  among  Lambs  and  poultry 


THE   DOMESTIC   CAT. 


The   manners   and   disposition   of  the  Cat  seems  to   be  entirely 
changed  by  education;  and,  although  it  does  not  exhibit  towards 

mankind  the  affection 
of  the  Dog,  yet  it  is  by  no 
means  destitute  either 
of  gentleness  or  grati- 
tude. These  animals 
are  not,  like  the  Bog, 
attached  to  our  persons: 
their  chief  attachment 
seems  to  be  to  the  houses 
in  which  they  have  been 
brought  up.  Instances 
are  not  uncommon  of 
Cats  having  returned, 
of  their  own  accord,  to 
the  place  from  which 
they  have  been  carried  ; 
though  at  the  distance 
of  many  miles,  and 
even  across  rivers, 
where  they  could  not 
possibly  have  had  any 
knowledge  either  of  the  road,  or  of  the  direction  that  would  lead 
them  to  it.  This  local  attachment  may  perhaps  arise  from  their 
having  been  acquainted,  in  their  former  habitations,  with  all  the 
retreats  of  the  Mice,  and  the  passages  and  outlets  of  the  house  ;  and 


THE  DOMESTIC   CAT. 


THE   DOMESTIC   CAT. 


203 


THE  DOMESTIC  CAT. 


from  the  disadvantages  which  they  must  experience  in  these  particu- 
lars by  changing  their  residence. 

Few  animals  exhibit  more  maternal  tenderness,  or  show  a  greater 
love  for  their  off- 
spring, than  the 
Cat.  The  assiduity 
with  which  she 
attends  them,  and 
the  pleasure 
which  she  seems 
to  take  in  all  their 
playful  tricks,  af-  j 
f  o  r  d  a  grateful 
entertainment  to 
every  observer  of 
nature.  She  has 
also  been  known 
not  only  to  nurse 
with  tenderness 
the  offspring  of 
different  individu- 
als of  her  own  species,  but  even  those  of  other  kinds  of  animals. 

A  friend  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  White  of  Selborne,  had  a  little  helpless 
Leveret  brought  to  him,  which  the  servants  fed  with  milk  from  a 
spoon ;  and  about  the  same  time  his  Cat  kittened,  and  her  young- 
ones  were  destroyed.  The  Hare  was  soon  lost ;  and  was  supposed  to 
have  been  killed  by  some  Dog  or  Cat.  About  a  fortnight  afterwards, 
as  its  owner  was  sitting  in  his  garden,  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  he 
observed  his  Cat,  with  tail  erect,  trotting  towards  him,  and  calling 
with  little  short  inward  notes  of  complacency,  (such  as  these  animals 
use  towards  their  Kittens,)  to  something  gambolling  after  her,  which 
proved  to  be  the 
Leveret,  that  the 
Cat  had  nourished 
with  her  milk,  and 
continued  to  sup- 
port with  great 
affection.  Thus 
was  a  gramanive- 
rous  animal  nur- 
tured by  a  carni- 
vorous and  preda- 
cious one !  This 
strange  affection 
in  the  Cat  was 
probably  o  c  c  a  - 
sioned  by  those 
tender  maternal 
feelings,  which  the 
loss  of  her  Kittens 


CAT  A!(D  KITTEN. 


204  THE   DOMESTIC   CAT. 

had  awakened ;  and  by  the  complacency  and  ease  she  had  derived 
from  having  her  teats  drawn,  when  too  much  distended  with  milk. 
From  habit,  she  became  as  much  delighted  with  this  foundling,  as 
if  it  had  been  her  real  offspring. 

A  boy  (Mr.  White  says)  brought  to  him  three  young  Squirrels 
jvhich  had  been  taken  from  their  nest.  These  little  creatures  he  put 
under  a  Cat  that  had  recently  lost  her  Kittens  ;  and  he  found  that  she 
nursed  and  suckled  them  with  the  same  assiduity  and  affection  as  if 
they  had  been  her  own  progeny.  So  many  persons,  however,  went 
to  see  the  little  Squirrels  suckled  by  a  Cat,  that  the  foster-mother 
became  jealous  of  her  charge,  and  in  pain  for  tbeir  safety ;  and  there- 
fore hid  them  over  the  ceiling,  where  one  of  them  died. 

Some  years  ago  a  sympathy  of  this  nature  took  place,  in  the  house 
of  Mr.  James  Greenfield,  of  Maryland,  between  a  Cat  and  a  Rat.  The 
Cat  had  Kittens,  to  which  she  frequently  carried  Mice,  and  other  small 
animals  for  food ;  and  among  the  rest  she  is  supposed  to  have  carried 
them  a  young  Eat.  The  Kittens,  probably  not  being  hungry,  played 
with  it;  and  when  the  Cat  gave  suck  to  them,  the  Eat  likewise 
sucked  her.  This  having  been  observed  by  some  of  the  servants,  Mr. 
Greenfield  was  informed  of  it.  He  had  the  Kittens  and  Eat  brought 
down  stairs  and  put  on  the  floor ;  and  in  carrying  them  off,  the  Cat 
was  remarked  to  convey  away  the  young  Eat  as  tenderly  as  she  did 
any  of  the  Kittens.  This  experiment  was  repeated  as  often  as  any 
company  came  to  the  house,  till  a  great  number  of  persons  had  become 
eye-witnesses  of  the  extraordinary  affection. 

Cats,  by  means  of  their  whiskers,  seem  to  possess  something  like  an 
additional  sense ;  these  have,  perhaps,  some  analogy  to  the  antennae 
of  moths  and  butterflies.  They  consist  not  only  of  long  hairs  on  the 
upper  lip,  but  also  of  four  or  five  long  hairs  standing  up  from  each 
eye-brow,  and  two  or  three  on  each  cheek ;  all  which,  when  the  ani- 
mal erects  them,  make,  with  their  extremities,  so  many  points  in  the 
periphery  of  a  circle,  equal,  at  least,  in  extent,  to  the  circumference  of 
their  own  bodies.  With  this  instrument,  it  is  supposed  that,  by  a  little 
experience,  they  can  at  once  discover  whether  any  aperture  among 
hedges  or  shrubs  (in  which  animals  of  this  genus  live  in  their  wild 
state)  is  large  enough  to  admit  their  bodies ;  to  them  a  matter  of  the 
greatest  consequence,  whether  pursuing  or  pursued.  They  have  like- 
wise the  power  of  erecting  and  bringing  forward  the  whiskers  on  their 
lips ;  which  probably  is  for  the  purpose  of  feeling  whether  a  dark  hole 
be  permeable  or  not. 

It  is  generally  supposed  that  Cats  are  able  to  see  in  the  dark  ;  but, 
although  this  is  not  absolutely  the  case,  it  is  certain  than  they  can  see 
with  much  less  light  than  most  other  animals ;  owing  to  the  peculiar 
structure  of  their  eyes,  the  pupils  of  which  are  capable  of  being  con- 
tracted or  dilated  in  proportion  to  the  degree  of  light  by  which  they 
are  affected.  In  the  day-time,  the  pupil  of  the  Cat's  eye  is  perpetually 
contracted,  and  sometimes  into  a  mere  line;  for  it  is  with  difficulty 
that  this  animal  can  see  by  a  strong  light :  but  in  the  twilight  the  pupil 
resumes  its  natural  roundness,  and  the  animal  enjoys  perfect  vision. 

In  order  to  preserve  their  fur  clean,  Cats  wash  their  faces,  and 


THE  ANGORA  CAT. 


205 


CAT  AND   KITTENS. 


generally  quite  behind  their  ears,  every  time  they  eat.  As  they  can 
not  lick  those  places  with  their  tongues,  they  first  wet  the  inside  of 
their  leg  with  the  saliva,  and  then 
repeatedly  rub  them  over  with  it. 
This  Dr.  Darwin,  whimsically  enough, 
esteems  an  act  of  reasoning;  "be- 
cause," he  says,  "a  means  is  used 
to  produce  an  effect ;  which  means 
seem  to  be  acquired  by  imitation, 
like  the  greater  part  of  human  arts." 

The  fur  of  the  Cat,  being  generally 
clean  and  dry,  readily  yields  electric  ij 
sparks  when  rubbed ;  and,  if  a  clean 
and  perfectly  dry  Domestic  Cat  be 
placed,  in  frosty  weather,  on  a  stool 

with  glass  feet,  or  be  insulated  by  any  other  means,  and  rubbed  for  a 
little  time  in  contact  with  the  wire  of  a  coated  vial,  the  vial  will 
become  charged. 

No  experiment  can  be  more  beautiful  than  that  of  sitting  a  Kitten, 
for  the  first  time,  before  a  looking-glass.  The  animal  appears  sur- 
prised and  pleased  with  the  resemblance,  and  makes  several  attempts 
to  touch  its  new  acquaintance;  and,  at  length,  finding  its  efforts  fruit- 
less, it  looks  behind  the  glass,  and  appears  astonished  at  the  absence 
of  the  figure.  It  again  views  itself,  and  tries  to  touch  the  image  with 
its  foot,  suddenly  looking  at  intervals  behind  the  glass.  It  then 
becomes  more  accurate  in  its  observations ;  and  begins,  as  it  were,  to 
make  experiments,  by  stretching  out  its  paw  in  different  directions ; 
and  when  it  finds  that  these  motions  are  answered  in  every  respect  by 
the  figure  in  the  glass,  it  seems,  at  length,  to  be  convinced  of  the  real 
nature  of  the  image. 

The  following  curious  fact  in  the  natural  history  of  the  Cat,  is 
related  by  Dr.  Anderson,  in  his  Eecreations  in  Agriculture :  a  Cat 
belonging  to  Dr.  Coventry,  the  ingenious  Professor  of  Agriculture  in 
Edinburg,  had  no  blemish  at  its  birth,  but  lost  its  tail  by  accident 
when  its  was  young.  This  Cat  had  many  litters  of  Kittens  ;  and  in 
every  litter  there  was  one  or  more  that  wanted  the  tail,  either  wholly 
or  in  part. 

"A  Cat,"  says  Browne,  in  his  Natural  History  of  Jamaica,  "is  a 
very  dainty  dish  among  the  Negroes." 


THE  ANGORA  CAT. 

When  M.  Sonnini  was  in  Egypt,  he  had  an  Angora  Cat  in  his  pos- 
session for  a  long  time.  It  was  entirely  covered  with  long  silky  hairs ; 
its  tail  formed  a  magnificent  plume;  which  the  animal  elevated,  at 
pleasure,  over  its  body.  Not  one  spot,  nor  a  single  dark  shade,  tar- 
nished the  dazzling  whiteness  of  it  coat.  Its  nose  and  lips  were  of  a 
delicate  rose-color.  Two  large  eyes  sparkled  in  its  round  head ;  one 
of  which  was  a  light  yellow,  and  the  other  a  fine  blue  color. 


206  THE   LYNX. 

This  beautiful  animal  had  even  more  loveliness  of  manners,  than 
grace  in  its  attitude  and  movements.  With  the  physiognomy  of  good- 
ness, she  possessed  a  gentleness  truly  interesting.  How  ill  soever  any 
one  used  her,  she  never  attempted  to  advance  her  claws  from  their 
sheaths.  Sensible  to  kindness,  she  licked  the  hand  which  caressed, 
and  even  that  which  tormented  her.  On  a  journey,  she  reposed  tran- 
quilly on  the  knees  of  any  of  the  company,  for  there  was  no  occasion 
to  confine  her ;  and  if  M.  Sonnini,  or  any  other  person  whom  she 
knew,  was  present,  no  noise  whatever  gave  her  the  least  disturbance. 

In  M.  Sonnini's  solitary  movements,  she  chiefly  kept  by  his  side ; 
she  interrupted  him  frequently  in  the  midst  of  his  labors  or  medita- 
tions, by  little  caresses  extremely  affecting;  and  generally  followed 
him  in  his  walks.  During  his  absence,  she  sought  and  called  for  him 
incessantly,  with  the  utmost  inquietude  ;  and,  if  it  was  long  before  he 
reappeared,  she  would  quit  his  apartment,  and  attach  herself  to  the 
person  of  the  house  where  he  lived ;  for  whom,  next  to  himself,  she 
entertained  the  greatest  affection.  She  recognized  his  voice  at  a  dis- 
tance ;  and  seemed  on  each  fresh  meeting  with  him  to  feel  increased 
satisfaction.  Her  gait  was  frank,  and  her  look  as  gentle  as  her 
character. 

"  This  animal,"  says  M.  Sonnirii,  "  was  my  principal  amusement  for 
several  years.  How  was  the  expression  of  her  attachment  depicted 
upon  her  countenance !  How  many  times  have  her  tender  caresses 
made  me  forget  my  troubles,  and  consoled  me  in  my  misfortunes !  My 
beautiful  and  interesting  companion,  however,  at  length  perished. 
After  several  days  of  suffering,  during  which  I  never  forsook  her,  her 
eyes,  constantly  fixed  on  me,  were  at  length  extinguished ;  and  her 
loss  rent  my  heart  with  sorrow." 


THE   LYNX. 

The  Lynx  is  four  feet  in  length,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  which  mea- 
sures about  six  inches.  The  ears  rue  erect,  and  have  a  long  pencil  of 
black  hair  at  the  tip.  The  fur  is  long  and  thick.  The  upper  parts  of 
the  body  are  of  a  pale  gray  color,  with  a  reddish-tinge,  and  obscurely 
marked  with  small  dusky  spots.  The  uader  parts  are  white. 

This  animal  is  proverbial  for  his  piercing  sight.  The  ancients  even 
went  so  far  as  to  believe  that  he  could  see  through  stone  walls.  For  us, 
however,  it  is  sufficient  to  know  that,  probably,  there  is  no  beast 
existing  which  is  able  to  discover  its  prey  at  so  great  a  distance  as  the 
Lynx. 

*Most  of  the  northern  parts  of  Europe,  of  Asia  and  America,  are 
subject  to  the  depredations  of  these  voracious  and  destructive  animals. 
They  prefer  cold  to  temperate  climates ;  are  seldom  found  in  the 
open  plains;  but,  like  the  Tiger,  Leopard,  and  Panther,  conceal 
themselves  in  the  thick  shelter  of  woods  and  forests.  Their  voice  is 
not  easily  distinguished  from  that  of  the  AVolf. 

The  Lynx  is  able  to  pursue  his  prey  even  into  the  branches  of  the 
highest  trees.  Neither  the  wild  Cat,  the  Martin,  the  Ermine,  nor 


THE   LYNX. 


207 


even  the  Squirrel,  can  escape  him.     He  also  unrelentingly  seizes  upon 
and  destroys v  the  Stag,  the  Eoe-Buck,  and  the  Hare.     When  Sheep 


happen  to  be  folded  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  retreat,  he  will  scratch 
his  way  through  the  earth,  under  the  doors  of  the  fold ;  and,  if  not 
checked  by  the  presence  of  the  shepherd,  will  commit  the  most  hor- 
rible devastations. 

Such  is  the  native  fe- 
rocity of  the  Lynx,  that 
it  is  considered  impossi- 
ble to  tame  and  subdue 
him.  In  a  state  of  cap- 
tivity, on  the  slightest 
irritation  or  insult,  he  ex- 
presses his  maglignity 
by  a  kind  of  snarling 
scream. 

The  fur  of  the  Lynx 
is  thick  and  soft;  and, 
when  of  a  pale  or  whitish 
color,  with  the  spots  tol- 
erably distinct,  is  ex- 
tremely valuable.  The 
Russians  sell  the  skins  of 
Lynxes  to  the  Chinese,  at  a  rate  from  about  fifteen  shillings  to  five 
or  six  pounds  each,  exclusive  of  the  fore-feet,  which  are  also  valuable 
and  sold  separately. 


LYNX   ATTACKING  MOOSE  DEER. 


208 


THE   CARACAL — OCELOT — WEASEL   TRIBE. 


THE   CARACAL. 

The  Caracal  is  found  in  most  parts  of  Asia  and  Africa.     It  derives 

its  name  from  the  black  tips  of  its 
ears,  which  render  it  a  very  conspi- 
cuous animal.    It  is  one  of  the  group 
of  the  Lynxes,  and  is  generally  sup- 
Y/  posed  to  be  the  animal  referred  to  by 
/^several    ancient   authors   under   the 


name  of  Lynx.  It  lives  on  the  smaller 
quadrupeds  and  Birds,  which  it  pur- 
sues even  to  the  tops  of  the  trees. 
There  are  no  records  of  its  being 
tamed,  as  in  every  instance  when 
confined  it  snarls  at  those  who  ap- 
proach its  cage.  The  length  of  its 
body  is  about  two  feet  and  its  height  about  fourteen  inches. 


THE  CARACAL. 


THE  OCELOT  WITE  ITS   PREY 


THE   OCELOT. 

The  Ocelot,  one 
of  the  Tiger-Gats,  is 
a  native  of  Mexico 
.  and  Peru.  Its  height 
$  is  about  eighteen 
inches,  and  its  length 
about  three  feet.  It 
is  a  most  beautiful 
animal,  and  is  easily 
tamed.  When  in  a 
wild  state  it  lives 
principally  on  Mon- 
keys, which  it  takes 
by  stratagem. 


OF  THE 'WEASEL   TRIBE. 

THESE  animals  have,  in  each  jaw,  six  sharp  cutting-teeth,  and 
the  canine-teeth  somewhat  longer ;  a  long  and  slender  body,  with, 
short  legs ;  a  sharpened  visage ;  and  in  most  species,  a  longish  tail. 
In  some  animals  of  this  tribe  the  tongue  is  smooth ;  and  in  others,  it 
is  furnished  with  prickles  that  point  backwards. 

These  are  all  carnivorous  animals.  From  their  slender  and  length- 
ened bodies,  short  legs,  and  the  very  free  motion  in  every  direction, 
permitted  by  the  loose  articulations  of  the  spine,  they  are  well  formed 
for  pursuing  their  prey  into  the  deepest  recesses.  Constituted  by 


THE   ICHNEUMON.  209 

nature  to  subsist  on  animals,  many  of  which  have  great  strength  and 
courage,  the  Weasels  possess  an  undaunted  and  ferocious  disposition. 
The  species  are  extremely  numerous. 


THE   ICHNEUMON. 

The  length  of  the  Ichneumon,  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  end 
of  the  tail,  is  from  twenty-four  to  forty-two  inches,  of  which  the  tail 
occupies  nearly  half.  Its  color  is  pale  reddish-gray,  each  hair  being 
mottled  with  brown  or  mouse-color.  The  eyes  are  of  a  bright  red  ; 
the  ears  almost  naked,  small,  and  rounded ;  and  the  nose  is  long  and 
slender.  The  tail  is  very  thick  at  the  base ;  and  gradually  tapers 
towards  the  point,  where  it  is  slightly  tufted.  'The  hair  is  hard  and 
coarse,  and  the  legs  are  short. 

The  estimation  in  which  this  animal  is  held,  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Egypt,  and  other  hot  climates,  is  so  great,  that  it  was  formerly  ranked 
among  their  deities.  The  natural  enemy  of  serpents  and  other  nox- 
ious reptiles  that  infest  these  countries,  it  unsparingly  attacks  them 
whenever  it  has  an  opportunity.  It  combats,  without  dread,  that 
most  fatal  of  all  serpents,  the  Cobra  di  Capello.  The  eggs  of  Croco- 
diles it  digs  out  of  the  sand,  and  devours ;  and  it  even  kills  great 
numbers  of  young  Crocodiles. 

The  Ichneumon  is  frequently  domesticated,  and  kept  in  houses, 
where,  in  destroying  Eats  and  Mice,  it  is  found  more  useful  than  a 
Cat.  It  is  easily  tamed,  is  very  active,  and  springs  with  great  agility 
on  its  prey.  It  will  slide  along  the  ground  almost  like  a  Serpent. 
It  sits  upright  to  eat,  uses  its  fore-feet,  and  catches  at  any  thing  that 
is  flung  to  it.  The  Ichneumon  is  a  great  enemy  to  poultry,  and  will 
feign  itself  dead  to  attract  them  within  its  reach ;  and  the  address 
with  which  it  seizes  a  Serpent  by  the  throat,  is  very  remarkable. 

Fouche  d'  Obsonville  had  an  Ichneumon  very  young,  which  he 
brought  up.  He  fed  it  at  first  with  milk;  and  afterwards  with  baked 
meat  mixed  with  rice.  It  soon  became  even  tamer  than  a  Cat ;  for 
it  would  come  to  him  when  called,  and  would  even  follow  him  into 
the  fields  without  attempting  to  escape. 

One  day  M.  d'  Obsonville  brought  to  this  animal  a  small  "Water- 
Serpent  alive,  being  desirous  of  ascertaining  how  his  instinct  would 
lead  him  to  act  against  a  creature  with  which  he  was  hitherto  totally 
unacquainted.  His  first  emotion  seemed  to  be  astonishment  mixed 
with  anger,  for  his  hair  became  erect ;  but  in  an  instant  afterward,  he 
slipped  behind  the  reptile,  and  with  astonishing  agility  leaped  upon  its 
head,  seized  it,  and  crushed  it  between  his  teeth.  This  essay,  and  new 
aliment,  seemed  to  have  awakened  in  the  Ichneumon  his  innate  and 
destructive  voracity,  which,  till  then,  had  given  way  to' the  gentleness 
he  had  acquired  from  his  education.  M.  D'Obsonville  had  in  his  yard 
several  curious  kinds  of  fowls,  among  which  the  animal  had  been 
brought  up,  and  which,  till  then,  he  had  suffered  to  live  unmolested 
and  indeed  unregarded  *  but,  a  few  days  after  this  he  strangled 
every  one  of  them. 


210  THE    STRIATED   WEASEL,    OR    SKUNK. 

Jn  a  wild  state,  the  Ichneumon  is  said  to  frequent  principally  the 
banks  of  rivers;  and  in  times  of  flood  to  approach  the  higher  grounds 
and  inhabited  places,  in  quest  of  prey.  He  is  reported  to  swim  and 
dive  occasionally,  in  the  manner  of  an  Otter  ;  and  to  continue  beneath 
the  water  for  a  great  length  of  time.  When  he  sleeps,  he  folds  him- 
self up  like  a  ball,  and  is  not  easily  awaked.  Ichneumons  are  short- 
lived, and  grow  very  rapidly.  In  northern  climates,  they  cannot, 
without  difficulty,  be  either  reared  or  preserved.  Whatever  care  be 
taken,  the  frosts  incommode  them,  and  they  generally  soon  fall  victims 
to  the  change. 


THE   STRIATED  WEASEL,   OR  SKUNK. 

The  length  of  this  animal,  from  the  nose  to  the  tail,  is  about  eigh- 
teen inches  ;  and  of  the  tail  fourteen  inches.  The  upper  parts  of  the 

body  are  variegated  or  striped  with 
black  and  white.  The  neck  and  legs 
are  very  short.  The  tail  is  clad,  to- 
wards its  extremity,  with  long,  whitish 
hair. 

This  is  one  of  three  or  four  species 
of  Weasel,  natives  of  America,  whose 
only  mode  of  defence  against  their  ene- 
mies (and  it  is  a  perfectly  secure  one)  is 
to  emit  from  their  bodies  a  vapor  so 
THE  SKUNK.  fetid,  that  few  animals  can  bear  to  come 

within    its   influence.      Cattle  that  are 

near  are  so  alarmed,  as  to  utter  the  most  dreadful  bellowings.  Dogs 
are  indeed  sometimes  trained  to  hunt  them  ;  but,  in  order  to  relieve 
themselves,  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  frequently  thrusting  their 
noses  into  the  earth.  The  odor  may  be  perceived  to  an  amazing 
distance  ;  and  so  abominable  is  it,  that  provisions  tainted  by  it  can 
never  afterwards  be  rendered  eatable.  When  a  Striated  Weasel  is 
irritated  or  killed  near  a  dwelling,  the  whole  place  becomes  infected  ; 
the  clothes,  provisions,  and  all  the  rooms  are,  in  a  few  minutes,  so 
saturated  with  the  vapor,  that  no  one  can  live  in  or  use  them  for  a 
longtime  afterwards.  Clothes,  although  several  times  washed,  soakecl, 
and  dried  in  the  sun,  retain  their  smell  sometimes  for  weeks. 

Professor  Kalm  says,  that  a  Striated  Weasel  being  one  day  per- 
ceived in  its  cave,  a  woman,  unthinkingly,  attacked  and  killed  it. 
The  whole  place  was  in  a  moment  rilled  with  such  a  dreadful  stench, 
that  the  woman  was  taken  ill,  and  continued  so  for  several  days;  and 
the  provisions  were  so  infected,  that  they  were  all  thrown  away. 

It  appears  that  these  animals  are,  in  some  degree,  attached  to  the 
society  of  mankind.  They  approach  without  apprehension,  and  boldly 
enter  the  country  houses  to  search  for  eggs,  passing  fearlessly,  even 
through  the  midst  of  Dogs,  which,  instead  of  attacking  them,  generally 
run  away  at  their  approach.  The  husbandmen  themselves  dislike  to 
shoot  them  on  such  occasions,  lest  they  should  fail  of  killing  them, 


THE  HONEY  WEASEL,  OR  KATEL. 


211 


and  be  assailed  by  their  nauseous  stench.     In  order  to  free  themselves 
from  such  unwelcome  visitors,  they  have  recourse  to  stratagem.     Some 


DOQ  DRIVEN  OFF  BY  THE  ODOR  OF  A  SKUNK. 


of  the  company  begin  by  caressing  the  animal,  until  an  opportunity 
offers  for  one  of  them  to  seize  it  by  the  tail  and  hold  it  suspended ;  and 
in  this  position  it  may  be  killed  without  either  difficulty  or  danger. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear,  these  animals  are  sometimes  domestica- 
ted ;  and  as  they  never  emit  their  fetor  except  when  alarmed  or  irri- 
tated, they  are  not  dreaded  in  this  state.  In  February,  1820,  there 
was  one  exhibited  in  the  Menagerie  at  Exeter  'Change  London. 


THE  HONEY  WEASEL,  OB  KATEL. 

From  the  nose  to  the  tail,  the  Eatel  measures  about  two  feet.     Ita 
back  is  cinereous ;  and  along  the  sides  runs  a  light-grey  stripe  that 
divides  this  from  the  belly,  which  is  black.     The  legs  are  short;  and 
the  claws  long,  and  formed  for  burrowing. 
14 


212 


THE   RATEL. 


Formed  by  nature  to  be  the  adversary  of  Bees,  and  the  unwelcome 
visitor  of  their  habitations,  the  Ratel  is  endued  with  a  particular  faculty 

of  discovering  and  attacking  them 
within  their  entrenchments.  As  a 
man  placed  at  the  mast-head,  can 
most  easily  descry  a  sail  or  land  at 
a  great  distance  in  the  evening ;  so, 
probably,  this  time  of  the  day  is 
most  convenient  for  the  Ratel  to 

__        look  out  for  his  food.  Towards  sun- 

THE"BATEL.  ""  set  he  issues  from  his  hole.     Near 

this  he  sits  upright,  and  holds  one 

of  his  paws  before  his  e}res,  in  order  to  modify  the  rays  of  the  sun, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  procure  a  distinct  view  of  the  object  of  his 
pursuit:  and  when,  in  consequence  of  peering  thus  on  each  side  of  his 
paw,  opposite  to  the  sun,  he  sees  any  Bees  fly,  he  knows  that  they  are 
proceeding  straight  to  their  habitation,  and  consequently  takes  care 
to  keep  in  the  same  direction  in  order  to  find  them.  He  has,  besides, 
the  sagacity  to  follow  the  Guculus  Indicator,  a  little  bird,  which  flies 
on,  with  a  peculiar  and  alluring  note,  and  guides  him  to  the  Bees' - 
nests. 

The  Ratel  is  a  native  of  the  Caps  of  Good  Hope,  and  his  hide  is  so 
thick  and  tough  that  there  is  scarcely  any  way  of  destroying  him  but 
by  beating  him  about  the  head,  or  plunging  a  knife  into  his  body. 
The  shortness  of  his  legs  will  not  permit  him  to  make  his  escape  by 
flight  when  pursued  by  hounds.  He  is,  however,  sometimes  able  to 
extricate  himself  from  them  by  biting  and  scratching  them  in  a  most 

terrible  manner;  while 
on  the  other  hand,  he 
is  well  defended  from 
the  assaults  of  their 
teeth  by  the  toughness 
of  his  hide.  For,  when 
a  Hound  endeavors  to 
bite  him,  it  can  lay 
hold  only  on  this  part, 
which  instantly  sepa- 
rates from  the  Ratel's 
body  or  flesh,  like  a 
sack.  Even  when  laid 
hold  of  by  the  hind 
part  of  the  neck,  and 
near  his  head,  this 
animal  can,  as  it  were, 

turn  round  in  his  skin,  and  bite  his  enemy.  It  is  a  remarkable  cir- 
cumstance, that  such  a  number  of  Hounds  as  would  be  able  collec- 
tively to  tear  in  pieces  a  Lion  of  moderate  size,  are  sometimes  obliged 
;to  leave  the  Ratel  dead  only  in  appearance.  Is  it  not  probable  that 
the  Creator,  who  seems  to  have  destined  the  Ratel  for  the  destruction 
of  Bees,  may  have  bestowed  on  it  a  hide  so  much  tougher  than  those 


RATEL  ATTACKING   A  \VILD   BEE'S  NEBT. 


THE   CIVET.  213 

he  has  given  to  other  animals  of  the  Viverra  kind,  for  the  purpose  of 
defending  it  from  the  stings  of  these  insects  ? 

Those  Bees'-nests  that  are  built  in  trees,  are  in  no  danger  whatever 
from  the  attacks  of  this  animal.  In  the  first  transports  of  his  rage  at 
having  sought  after  such  in  vain,  he  gnaws  the  trunks  of  the  trees; 
and  these  marks  are  sure  indications  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  country, 
that  a  Bees'-nest  is  to  be  found  there. 


THE   CIVET. 

The  Civet  is  somewhat  more  than  two  feet 
about  half  the  length  of  its  body.  The 
ground  color  is  yellowish  ash-grey, 
beautifully  marked  with  large  black- 
ish or  dusky  spots.  The  hair  is  coarse ; 
and,  along  the  back,  it  stands  up,  so 
as  to  form  a  sort  of  mane.  The  body 
is  thickish ;  and  the  nose  sharp,  and 
black  at  the  tip.  Three  black  stripes 
proceed  from  each  ear,  and  end  at  the  THE  CIVET 

throat  and  shoulders. 

It  is  an  inhabitant  of  several  parts  both  of  Africa  and  India. 

There  are  few  animals  more  active  and  nimble  than  the  Civet ;  it 
jumps  about  like  a  Cat,  in  the  most  animated  manner,  and  runs  with 
wonderful  speed.  The  Civet  feeds  on  small  animals,  but  particularly 
on  birds,  which  it  takes  by  surprise;  and  it  sometimes  commits  depre- 
dations among  poultry,  when  it  can  steal  unperceived  into  a  farm-yard. 
It  is  a  very  voracious  animal.  One  that  M.  Barbot  had  at  Guadaloupe 
was  accidentally  kept  without  food  for  a  whole  day ;  the  animal  on 
the  ensuing  morning,  gnawed  his  way  through  the  cage  in  which  he 
was  kept,  came  into  the  room  where  M.  Barbot  was  writing,  and,  star- 
ing about  with  sparkling  eyes  for  a  few  seconds,  made  a  leap  of  five 
or  six  feet  at  a  Parrot,  that  was  perched  on  a  piece  of  wood  put  into 
the  wall  for  the  purpose:  before  his  master  could  run  to  the  relief  of 
the  bird,  the  Civet  had  torn  off  its  head. 

This  animal  is  remarkable  for  the  production  of  the  drug  called 
civet,  sometimes  erroneously  confounded  with  musk.  This  is  a  sub- 
stance which  is  found  in  a  large  double  glandular  receptacle,  situated 
at  a  little  distance  beneath  the  tail.  The  Dutch  keep  at  Amsterdam 
great  numbers  of  Civets,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  the  drug  from 
them.  When  a  sufficient  time  for  the  secretion  has  been  allowed,  one 
of  these  animals  is  put  into  a  long  wooden  cage,  so  narrow  that  it  can- 
not turn  itself  round.  The  cage  being  opened  by  a  door  behind,  a 
small  spoon,  or  spatula,  is  introduced  through  the  orifice  of  the  pouch, 
which  is  carefully  scraped.  This  operation  is  performed  twice  or  thrice 
a- week ;  and  the  animal  is  said  always  to  produce  the  most  civet,  after 
being  irritated.  The  quantity  also  depends  in  a  great  measure  on  the 
quality  of  the  nourishment  which  it  takes,  and  the  appetite  with 


214 


THE  MARTIN. 


which  it  eats.    In  confinement,  its  favorite  food  is  boiled  meat,  eggs, 
birds,  and  small  animals,  and  particularly  fish. 

There  is  a  Civet  in  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  at  Paris,  which  has  been 
there  several  years.  Its  odor  is  at  all  times  very  powerful,  but 
unusually  so  whenever  it  is  irritated.  It  sleeps  with  its  body  rolled 
round,  and  its  head  between  its  legs.  This  posture  it  seldom  changes 
either  in  the  night  or  day ;  and  it  sleeps  so  soundly,  that  it  cannot  be 
roused  without  severe  blows. 

With  respect  to  the  civet  procured  from  Amsterdam,  it  is  less  adul- 
terated, and  therefore  held  in  higher  estimation,  than  that  imported 
from  India  or  the  Levant.  Its  average  value  in  Holland  is  about 
fifty  shillings  an  ounce ;  but  this  is  subject  to  considerable  fluctuation. 
The  substance  is  accounted  best  when  new;  of  a  whitish  color,  a  good 

consistence,  and  of  a  strong,  disagree- 
able smell.  This  perfume  is  exces- 
sively powerful ;  but  in  small  quanti- 
ties it  is  more  pleasant  than  musk,  to 
which  it  bears  some  resemblance. 

In  a  native  state  these  animals  are 
found  in  Guinea  and  the  central  parts 
of  Africa.  They  inhabit  only  arid 
and  sandy  countries,  and  never  frequent 
such  as  are  humid  and  shady.  A  spe- 
cies of  the  Civet  is  found  in  Java  with 
a  long  pointed  tail. 


JAVANESE  CIVET. 


THE   COMMON  MARTIN  AND   PINE   MAKTIN. 

These  animals  are  each  about  eighteen  inches  long.  They  are  of  a 
dark  chesnut  color  on  the  upper  parts.  The  Common  Martin  is  white 
on  the  throat  and  breast ;  and  the  Pine  Martin  yellow. 

They  are  natives  of  Great  Britain ;  and  of  various  parts  both  of  the 
old  and  new  continent. 

The  general  retreats  of  the  Martin 
and  Pine  Martin  are  the  hollows  of 
decayed  trees,  so  high  up,  and  in 
other  respects  so  situated,  as  to  afford 
them  perfect  security.  The  place 
adopted  for  the  nest  of  a  Squirrel  is 
generally  preferred  to  any  other. 
Of  this  the  Martin  dispossesses  the 
ingenious  architect  by  killing  him. 
The  new  tenant  now  enlarges  the 
dimensions  of  its  habitation,  lines 
it  with  softer  materials,  and,  in 
this  secure  retreat,  produces  its 


TITE  MARTIN. 


young. 

The  courage  of  the  Martin  is  so  great,  that  it  will  attack  animals 
much  larger  and  stronger  than  itself.     In  a  wild  state  it  is  sometimes 


THE   MARTIN. 


215 


very  ferocious ;  but  it  may  be  rendered  tame  and  docile.  Gesner 
says,  he  kept  a  Pine  Martin  which  was  extremely  playful  and  enter- 
taining. It  used  to  go  to  the  houses  of  the  neighbors,  and  it  always1 
returned  home  when  it  wanted  food.  It  was  particularly  fond  of  a 
Dog  with  which  it  had  been  bred  up;  and  would  play  with  him  as 
Oats  do,  lying  on  its  back,  and  pretending  to  bite  him.  M.  de  Buffon 
jiad  one,  which,  though  it  had  lost  its  ferocity,  did  not,  however,  dis- 
cover any  marks  of  attachment,  and  continued  so  wild  as  to  require 
being  chained.  It  frequently  escaped  from  its  confinement.  At  first 
it  returned,  after  some  hours'  absence,  but  without  appearing  pleased ; 
tie  time  of  absence  of  each  succeeding  elopement  gradually  increased, 
and  at  last  it  took  a  final  departure.  During  its  confinement,  it  some- 
times slept  for  two  days  without  intermission. 

These  animals  have  a  musky  smell,  which  to  many  persons  is  very 
agreeable.  Their  cry  is  sharp  and  piercing;  but  is  never  uttered 
except  when  in  pain  or  distress.  Their  principal  food  consists  of 
rats,  mice,  and  other  small  quadupeds ;.  of  poultry,  and  game :  they 
are  also  remarkably  fond  of  honey. 

The  female  produces  three  or  four  }7oung-ones  at  a  litter,  which 
soon  arrive  at  a  state  of  maturity.  She  is  able  to  afford  them  but  a 
small  quantity  of  milk;  but  she  compensates  for  this  defect,  by  bring- 
ing to  them  eggs  and  live  birds  in  abundance ;  and  she  thus  early 
accustoms  them  to  a  life  of  carnage  and  plunder.  As  soon  as  the 
young-ones  are  able  to  leave  the  nest,  she  leads  them  through  the 
woods ;  where  they  begin  to  seize  on  their  prey,  and  to  provide  food 
for  themselves. 

Pine  Martins  are  hunted  in  the  North  for  the  sake  of  their  furs, 
which  are  held  in 
great  estimation: 
the  most  valuable 
part  is  that  which 
extends  along  the 
back.  In  England 
these  are  used  to 
line  the  robes  of 
magistrates,  and  for 
several  other  pur- 
poses. They  form 
a  considerable  arti- 
cle of  commerce ; 
above  twelve  thou- 
sand being  annu- 
ally imported  into 
England  from  Hud- 
son's Bay,  and  more 
than  thirty  thou- 
sand from  Canada. 
Among  the 

American  varieties  of  the  Martin  is  the  Fisher,  found  in  Canada  and 
New  England,  much  detested  by  trappers  for  robbing  their  traps. 


PINE  MARTIN. 


216 


THE   SABLE. 


FISHER  ATTACKING  A  HARE. 


THE   SABLE. 

This  animal  is  about  eighteen  inches  in  length ;  and,  in  its  general 

shape,  has  a  great  resemblance  to  the  Martin.     The  head  is  longish, 

and  the  muzzle  somewhat  sharpened.    Its  color  is  a  deep  glossy  brown. 

It  is  a  native  of  North  America,  Siberia,  Kamtschatka,  andvAsiatic 

Russia. 

Sables  frequent  the  banks  of  rivers,  and  the  thickest  parts  of  the 
woods.  They  live  in  holes  under  the  ground,  and  especially  under 
the  roots  of  trees ;  but  they  sometimes  make  their  nests  (consisting 

of  moss,  small  twigs,  and  grass)  in 
the  hollows  of  trees.  In  winter 
they  live  on  berries  of  different 
kinds ;  but  in  summer-time,  before 
these  are  ripe,  they  devour  Hares, 
Weasels,  Ermines,  and  other  small 
animals.  They  are  sprightly  and 
active  creatures ;  and  are  able,  with 
wonderful  agility,  to  leap  from  tree 
to  tree,  in  the  pursuit  of  Squirrels  and  Birds. 

Two  of  these  animals  which  had  been  in  some  measure  domesticated, 
are  described  by  M.  Gmelin.  He  says,  that  whenever  they  saw  a  Cat, 
they  would  rise  on  their  hind  feet  to  prepare  for  combat.  In  the 
night,  they  were  extremely  restless  and  active;  but  during  the  day, 
and  particularly  after  eating,  they  generally  slept  so  sound  for  half 
an  hour,  or  an  hour,  that  they  might  be  pushed,  shaken,  and  even 
pricked  without  being  awakened. 


THE  SABLE. 


THE   POLECAT.  217 

The  skin  of  the  Sable  is  more  valuable  than  that  of  any  other 
animal  of  equal  size.  One  of  these  skins,  not  more  than  four  inches 
broad,  has  sometimes  been  valued  at  as  high  a  rate  as  fifteen  pounds; 
but  the  general  price  is  from  one  pound  to  ten  pounds,  according  to 
the  quality.  The  Sable's  fur  is  different  from  all  others,  in  the  hair 
turning  with  equal  ease  either  way.  The  bellies  of  Sables,  which  are 
sold  in  pairs,  are  about  two  fingers  in  breadth ;  and  are  tied  together 
in  bundles  of  forty  pieces,  which  are  sold  at  from  one  to  two  pounds 
a  bundle.  The  tails  are  sold  by  the  hundred,  at  from  four  to  eight 
pounds. 

The  manner  in  which  the  natives  of  Kamtschatka  catch  these 
animals  is  very  simple.  They  follow  the  track  of  the  Sable,  in  snow- 
shoes,  till  they  have  detected  his  covert,  which  is  generally  a  burrow 
in  the  earth.  As  soon  as  the  little  creature  is  aware  of  his  pursuers, 
he  escapes  into  some  hollow  tree.  This  the  hunters  surround  with  a 
net,  and  then  they  either  cut  it  down,  or  force  the  animal  by  fire  and 
smoke  to  abandon  his  retreat,  when  he  falls  into  the  net  and  is  killed. 
The  tree  in  which  a  Sable  is  lodged,  they  sometimes  surround  with 
Dogs  trained  for  the  purpose;  and  then,  making  a  running  noose  on  a 
strong  cord,  they  find  means  to  get  the  creature's  head*  into  the  snare, 
and  thus  haul  him  down  an  easy  prey. 

The  chase  of  the  Sable,  during  the  more  barbarous  periods  of  the 
Russian  empire,  was  the  principal  task  of  the  unhappy  exiles  who 
were  banished  into  Siberia;  and  who,  as  well  as  the  soldiers  sent 
there,  were  obliged  to  furnish,  within  a  given  time,  a  certain  quantity 
of  furs:  but  as  Siberia  is  now  become  more  populous,  the  Sables 
have,  in  a  great  measure,  quitted  this  part  of  the  country,  and  retired 
further  to  the  north  and  east,  into  the  desert  forests  and  mountains. 


THE   POLECAT,   OR  FITCHET. 

The  length  of  the  Polecat,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  is  about  seventeen 

inches ;  and  of  the  tai]  three  inches. 
In  shape  this  animal  resembles  the 
Martin.  The  ears  are  short,  and 
tipped  with  white.  The  tail  is 
covered  with  longish  hair.  The 
general  color  is  a  deep  chocolate, 
__  nearly  approaching  to  black. 

THE  POLECAT.  The  Polecat  is  not  afraid  of  the  pre- 

sence of  mankind,  but  approaches 

with  confidence  our  dwellings,  mounts  to  their  roofs,  and  often  resides 
in  barns,  hay-lofts,  or  other  places  that  are  not  much  frequented. 
Thence  he  issues,  under  the  shadow  of  night,  to  commit  his  depreda- 
tions on  eggs  and  poultry.  He  is  exceedingly  agile,  and  runs  very 
fast.  In  the  act  of  running,  his  belly  seems  to  touch  the  ground; 
but,  in  preparing  to  jump,  the  animal  arches  his  back  very  much,  and 
by  this  means  the  projectile  force  of  his  body  is  greatly  increased. 
In  farm-yards,  the  Polecat  makes  less  noise  but  commits  more  mis- 


218  THE   FERRET. 

chief  than  the  Martin.  If,  deterred  by  the  narrowness  of  the  entrance, 
he  cannot  convey  the  fowls  away,  he  is  said  to  eat  the  brain  on  the 
spot,  and  to  carry  off  the  heads  to  his  place  of  concealment,  leaving 
the  bodies  behind. 

In  Lorraine,  and  some  of  the  adjacent  cantons,  Polecats  are  very 
numerous ;  and  consequently  there,  as  elsewhere,  they  commit  great 
havoc  in  the  poultry -yards.  Yet,  says  M.  Sonnini.  such  are  the 
superstitious  prejudices  in  their  favor,  that  the  inhabitants  will  on  no 
account  attempt  to  destroy  them.  They  pretend  that  Polecats  never 
commit  any  damage  in  the  dwellings  where  they  reside ;  thus,  at  the 
same  time  that  they  know  and  acknowledge  their  voracious  disposi- 
tion, they  believe  that  the  animals  entertain  a  singular  respect  for 
hospitality. 

The  Polecat,  during  summer,  generally  lives  in  woods,  thick  brakes, 
or  about  Kabbit- warrens.  Here,  if  he  cannot  find  ready-made  a  hole 
that  suits  him,  he  forms  for  himself,  in  the  ground,  a  retreat  not 
usually  more  than  two  yards  in  length,  which  if  possible,  he  contrives 
to  end  among  the  roots  of  some  large  tree.  Issuing  thence,  he  often 
commits  surprising  depredations  on  game  and  Eabbits.  A  single 
family  of  Polecats,  left  undisturbed,  are  sometimes  sufficient  to  destroy 
a  whole  warren.  It  is  asserted  that  these  animals  are  so  fond  of 
honey,  that,  in  winter,  when  the  Bees  are  weakened  by  the  rigors  of 
the  season,  they  have  been  known  to  attack  the  hives,  and  voraciously 
to  devour  their  contents. 

That  the  Polecat  will  sometimes  prey  upon  Fish,  is  a  circumstance 
that  was  known  to  several  of  the  old  writers  on  Natural  History,  and 
is  noticed  both  by  Aldrovandus  and  Johnston.  A  curious  fact,  illus-, 
trative  of  this  propensity,  is  recorded  in  Bewick's  History  of  Quad- 
rupeds. During  a  severe  storm,  a  Polecat  was  tracked  in  the  snow, 
from  the  side  of  a  rivulet  to  its  hole,  at  some  distance.  On  examining 
this  hole,  it  was  found  to  contain  eleven  eels,  the  fruits  of  some  of 
the  animal's  nocturnal  excursions. 

The  smell  of  the  Polecat  is  proverbially  fetid,  the  animal  being 
furnished,  like  several  others  of  its  tribe,  with  certain  receptacles  for 
secreting  a  thickish  fluid,  which  has  a  peculiarly  strong  and  offensive 
odor.  When  the  Polecat  is  heated  or  enraged,  the  stench  is  some- 
times perceptible  to  a  considerable  distance.  Notwithstanding  this, 
its  fur  is  both  beautiful  and  valuable.  The  skins  taken  from  animals 
killed  in  winter,  are  the  most  valuable. 

The  female  Polecats  produce  their  young-ones,  from  three  to  six  in 
number,  in  the  beginning  of  summer.  This  is  usually  done  either  in 
or  near  the  out-house  of  some  farm.  Like  the  Martins,  these  animals 
do  not  suckle  them  long,  but  soon  accustom  them  to  animal  food. 


THE   FERRET. 

The  Ferret  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  Polecat.     Its  eyes  are 
red ;  and  the  general  color  of  its  body  a  dingy  but  pale  yellow. 
Great  as  is  the  general  resemblance,  in  their  manners  and  habits, 


THE   COMMON   WEASEL. 


219 


between  the  Ferret  and  the  Polecat,  it  is  evident  that  they  are  of 
distinct  species.  The  Ferret  is  a  native 
of  Africa,  and  has  been  imported  into 
Europe  for  the  purpose  of  being  em- 
ployed in  driving  Rabbits  from  their 
burrows.  Although  easily  tamed  and 
rendered  docile,  these  animals  are  ex- 
ceedingly irascible  ;  and,  if  at  all  pro- 
voked, will  inflict  very  severe  wounds 
with  their  teeth.  Their  smell  is  strong  and  offensive. 

Ferrets  are  generally  kept  in  casks  or  chests,  well  supplied  with 
hay  or  straw ;  on  which  they  sleep  almost  through  the  whole  day. 
The  females  usually  produce  six  or  seven  young-ones  at  a  litter. 
These  are  -blind  for  a  month ;  and,  after  two  months,  are  sufficiently 
old  to  be  employed  in  the  Rabbit  warrens.  They  ought  not  to  be 
fed  immediately  before  they  are  used  in  the  burrows  ;  because,  in  this 
case,  they  become  indolent  and  may  not  hunt.  It  is  also  necessary 
that,  in  this  operation,  they  should  be  muzzled,  in  order  that  they 
may  not  satiate  their  appetite  in  the  holes ;  for,  after  having  sucked 
the  blood  of  the  Rabbits,  they  will  often  fall  asleep,  and  continue 
under  ground  for  many  hours. 

A  mixed  breed,  between  the  Ferret  and  the  Polecat,  is  sometimes 
used  by  the  warreners,  and  is  considered  in  some  respects  preferable 
to  the  whole-bred  Ferret. 


THE  COMMON  WEASEL. 


THE   COMMON  WEASEL. 

The  length  of  the  Weasel,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  is  about  seven 
inches;  and  its  height  is  not  more  than 
two  and  a  half.  The  color  of  its  upper 
parts  is  a  pale  reddish  brown  ;  and  its 
breast  and  belly  are  white ;  but  on 
each  side,  below  the  corners  of  the 
mouth,  there  is  a  brown  spot.  The 
ears  are  small  and  rounded,  and  the 
eyes  black. 

The  Weasel  is  a  beautiful  and  active  little  animal,  well  known  to 
husbandmen  and  farmers  in  almost  every  part  of  Great  Britain.  It 
lives  chiefly  in  cavities  under  the  roots  of  trees,  and  in  the  banks  of 
rivulets  ;  from  which  it  issues,  at  the  approach  of  evening,  to*commit 
its  depredations ;  and  there  is  no  creature  of  its  size,  more  destructive 
to  young  Birds,  Poultry,  or  Rabbits,  than  this.  It  also  sucks  eggs 
with  great  avidity.  In  this  operation,  it  begins  by  making  a  small 
hole  at  one  end,  from  which  it  licks  out  the  yolk,  leaving  the  shell 
behind;  whereas  Rats,  and  some  other  animals,  drag  the  egg  out  of 
the  nest,  and  either  make  a  large  hole  in  it  or  break  it  to  pieces.  By 
this  circumstance  the  attacks  of  the  Weasel  may  always  be  distin- 
guished from  those  of  a  Rat. 

M.  de  BufFon  supposed  the  Weasel  to  be  untameable ;  but  Made- 


220  THE   COMMON   WEASEL. 

moiselle  de  Laistre,  in  a  letter  written  to  him  on  this  subject,  gives  a 
very  pleasing  account  of  the  education  and  manners  of  a  Weasel 
which  she  took  under  her  protection.  This  she  fed  with  fresh  meat 
and  milk,  the  latter  of  which  it  was  very  fond  of.  It  frequently  ate 
from  her  hand,  and  seemed  to  be  more  delighted  with  this  mode  of 
feeding  than  any  other.  "If  I  pour  some  milk  into  my  hand,  (says 
this  lady,)  it  will  drink  a  good  deal ;  but  if  I  do  not  pay  it  this  com- 
pliment, it  will  scarcely  take  a  drop.  When  satisfied  it  generally 
goes  to  sleep.  My  chamber  is  the  place  of  its  residence;  and  I  have 
found  a  method  of  dispelling  its  strong  smell  by  perfumes.  By  day, 
it  sleeps  in  a  quilt,  into  which  it  gets  by  an  unsewn  place  which  it 
has  discovered  on  the  edge :  during  the  night,  it  is  kept  in  a  wired 
box  or  cage;  which  it  always  enters  with  reluctance,  and  leaves  with 
pleasure.  If  it  be  set  at  liberty  before  my  time  of  rising,  after  a 
thousand  little  playful  tricks,  it  "gets  into  my  bed,  and  goes  to  sleep 
in  my  hand  or  on  .my  bosom.  If  I  am  up  first,  it  spends  a  full  half- 
hour  in  caressing  me;. playing  with  my  fingers  like  a  little  Dog, 
jumping  on  my  bead  and  on  my  neck,  and  running  round  on  my 
arms  and  body,  with  a  lightness  and  elegance  which  I  have  never 
found  in  any  other  animal.  If  I  present  my  hands  at  the  distance  of 
three  feet,  it  jumps  into  them  without  ever  missing.  .  It  exhibits  great 
address  and  cunning  to  compass  its  ends,  and  seems  to  disobey  cer- 
tain prohibitions  merely  through  caprice.  During  all  its  actions,  it 
seems  solicitous  to  divert,  and  to  be  noticed ;  looking,  at  every  jump, 
and  at  every  turn,  to  see  whether  it  be  observed  or  not.  If  no  notice 
be  taken  of  its  gambols,  it  ceases  them  immediately,  and  betakes 
itself  to  sleep  :  and  even  when  awakened  from  the  soundest  sleep,  it 
instantly  resumes  its  gaiety,  and  frolics  about  in  as  sprightly  a  man- 
ner as  before.  It  never  shows  any  ill-humor,  unless  when  confined, 
or  teased  too  much ;  in  which  case  it  expresses  its  displeasure  by  a 
sort  of  murmur,  very  different  from  that  which  it  utters  when  pleased. 

"  In  the  midst  of  twenty  people,  this  little  animal  distinguishes  my 
voice,  seeks  me  out,  and  springs  over  every  body  to  come  at  me.  His 
play  with  me  is  the  most  lively  and  caressing  imaginable.  With  his 
two  little  paws  he  pats  me  on  the  chin,  with  an  air  and  manner 
expressive  of  delight.  This  and  a  thousand  other  preferences,  show 
that  his  attachment  to  me  is  real.  When  he  sees  me  dressed  for  going 
out,  he  will  not  leave  me,  and  it  is  not  without  some  trouble  that  I  can 
disengage  myself  from  him ;  he  then  hides  himself  behind  a  cabinet 
near  the  door,  and  jumps  upon  me  as  I  pass,  with  so  much  celerity 
that  I  often  can  scarcely  perceive  him. 

"  He  seems  to  resemble  a  squirrel  in  vivacity,  agility,  voice,  and  his 
manner  of  murmuring.  During  the  summer,  he  squeaks  and  runs 
about  all  night  long ;  but  since  the  commencement  of  the  cold  weather 
I  have  not  observed  this.  Sometimes,  when  the  sun  shines  while  he 
is  playing  on  the  bed,  he  turns  and  tumbles  about  and  murmurs  for 
a  while. 

"  From  his  delight  in  drinking  milk  out  of  my  hand,  into  which  I 
pour  a  very  little  at  a  time,  and  his  custom  of  sipping  the  little  drops 
and  edges  of  the  fluid,  it  seems  probable  that  he  drinks  dew  in  the 


THE   COMMON   WEASEL.  221 

same  manner.  He  seldom  drinks  water,  and  then  only  for  want  of 
milk,  and  with  great  caution ;  seeming  only  to  refresh  his  tongue  once 
or  twice,  and  even  to  be  afraid  of  that  fluid.  During  the  hot  weather, 
it  rained  a  good  deal.  I  presented  to  him  some  rain-water  in  a  dish, 
and  endeavored  to  make  him  go  into  it,  but  could  not  succeed.  I  then 
wetted  a  piece  of  linen  cloth  in  it,  and  put  it  near  him ;  and  he  rolled 
upon  it  with  extreme  delight. 

"  One  singularity  in  this  charming  animal  is  his  curiosity.  It  is 
impossible  to  open  a  drawer  or  a  box,  or  even  to  look  at  a  paper,  but 
lie  will  examine  it  also.  If  he  get  into  any  place  where  I  am  afraid 
of  permitting  him  to  stay,  I  take  a  paper  or  a  book,  and  look  atten- 
tively at  it ;  on  which  he  immediately  runs  upon  my  hand,  and  sur- 
veys with  an  inquisitive  air  whatever  I  happen  to  hold.  I  must 
further  observe,  that  he  plays  with  a  young  Cat  and  Dog,  both  of  con- 
siderable size ;  getting  about  their  necks,  backs,  and  paws,  without 
their  doing  him  the  least  injury." 

According  to  the  account  given  by  M.  de  Buffon,  the  method  of 
taming  these  creatures  is  to  stroke  them  gently  over  the  back ;  and  to 
threaten,  and  even  beat  them  when  they  attempt  to  bite. 

The  motion  of  the  Weasel  consists  of  unequal  leaps ;  and  it  can 
spring  several  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  a  remarkably  active  animal, 
and  it  will  run  up  a  wall  with  such  facility,  that  no  place  is  secure 
from  it.  It  is  useful  to  the  farmer  in  ridding  him  of  Eats  and  Mice, 
which  it  will  pursue  into  their  holes  and  there  kill ;  but  its  depreda- 
tions are  not  altogether  confined  to  these  pernicious  animals,  as  it  also 
frequently  destroys  young  poultry  and  Pigeons.  It  seizes  its  prey  near 
the  head,  but  seldom  eats  it  on  the  spot ;  and  often  destroys  Moles  in 
their  habitations.  We  are  told  that  when  the  Weasel  pursues  the 
Hare,  that  timid  creature  is  terrified  into  a  state  of  absolute  imbecility; 
and  gives  itself  up  without  the  least  resistance,  making,  at  the  same 
time,  the  most  piteous  outcries. 

A  story  is  related,  that  an  Eagle  having  seized  a  Weasel,  mounted 
into  the  air  with  it,  and  was  soon  afterwards  observed  to  be  in  great 
distress.  The  Weasel  so  far  extricated  himself,  as  to  be  able  to  bite 
the  Eagle  very  severely  in  the  neck ;  which  presently  brought  the  bird 
to  the  ground,  and  gave  the  Weasel  an  opportunity  of  escaping. 

The  female  produces  her  young-ones  in  the  spring  of  the  year;  and 
prepares  for  them  a  bed  of  straw.  Aldrovandus  tells  us,  that  when 
she  suspects  they  will  be  stolen,  she  carries  them  in  her  mouth  from 
place  to  place,  changing  her  retreat  even  several  times  a-day.  M.  de 
Buffon  informs  us,  that,  in  his  neighborhood,  a  Weasel  with  three 
young-ones  was  taken  out  of  the  body  of  a  Wolf,  that  had  been  hung 
up  on  a  tree  by  the  hind-feet.  The  Wolf  was  in  a  state  of  putrefac- 
tion ;  and  the  Weasel  had  made  a  nest  of  leaves  and  herbage  in  the 
thorax. 

Among  other  curious  particulars  respecting  this  animal,  it  has  been 
observed,  that,  when  asleep,  its  muscles  are  in  a  state  of  such  extreme 
flaccidity,  that  it  may  be  taken  up  by  the  head,  and  several  times 
swung  backward  and  forward,  like  a  pendulum,  before  it  will  awake. 


222 


THE   STOAT — GENET — OTTER. 


THE   STOAT,  OB  ERMINE. 

In  northern  climates  this  animal  is  brown  in  summer,  and  white  in 
the  winter.  In  the  former  of  these  states  it  is  denominated  Stoat,  and 
in  the  latter  Ermine.  The  tip  of  its  tail,  however,  continues  always 
black.  Its  habits  of  life  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Weasel. 


THE   GENET. 

The  Genet  slightly  resembles  the 
Cat,  particularly  in  its  spots,  and  the 
power  of  climbing  trees.  It  inhabits 
Africa,  and  is  not  unfrequently  found 
in  the  south  of  France.  At  Constan- 
tinople it  is  domesticated,  and  keeps 
the  houses  free  from  Eats  and  Mice, 
which  are  said  to  be  unable  to  endure 
its  scent,  but  it  is  much  more  pro- 
bable that  it  frees  the  houses  from  mice  by  devouring  them. 


OF  THE  OTTERS  IN  GENERAL. 

OTTERS  have  in  each  jaw,  six  sharpish  cutting  teeth ;  the  lower  ones 


of  which  do  not  stand  in  an  even  line  with  the  rest,  but  two  are  placed 
somewhat  within  the  others.     The  canine  teeth  are  rather  longer  than 
the  other  teeth.     All  the  animals  of  this  tribe  have  webbed  feet. 
There  are  about  eight  ascertained  species  of  Otters.     These  animals 


THE   COMMON   OTTER.  223 

differ  much  from  the  Weasels  in  their  habits.  They  live  almost  con- 
stantly in  the  water,  from  which  they  principally  derive  their  food. 
Their  bodies  are  very  long,  and  their  legs  short.  They  burrow  and 
form  dwellings  in  the  banks  of  rivers  and  lakes,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  situations  where  they  find  their  prey. 


THE   COMMON   OTTEE. 

This  animal  is  about  two  feet  in  length,  from  the  nose  to  the  inser- 
tion of  the  tail ;  and  the  length  of  the  tail  is  nearly  sixteen  inches.  Its 
legs  are  short,  but  strong  and  muscular.  The  head  is  broad,  oval,  and  flat 
on  the  upper  part ;  and  the  body  is  long  and  round.  The  legs  are  so 
placed  as  to  be  capable  of  being  brought  into  a  line  with  the  body, 
and  of  performing  the  office  of  fins.  The  toes  are  connected  by  webs. 
The  general  color  of  the  body  is  a  deep  brown. 

The  habitation  of  the  Otter  is  almost  always  made  in  the  bank  of  a 
river  or  brook,  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  which  he  can  be  fur- 
nished with  a  plentiful  supply  of  food.  In  forming  his  habitation, 
this  animal  exhibits  great  sagacity.  He  burrows  under  ground  in  the 
bank,  and  always  makes  the  entrance  of  his  hole  under  water,  working 
upward  towards  the  surface  of  the  earth ;  and,  before  he  reaches  the 
top,  he  provides  several  holts  or  lodges,  that  in  case  of  high  floods  he 
may  have  a  retreat,  and  then  make  a  minute  orifice  for  the  admission 
of  air.  It  is  further  observed,  that,  the  more  effectually  to  conceal  his 
retreat,  he  contrives  to  make  this  little  air-hole  in  the  midst  of  some 
thick  bush. 

In  some  parts  of  North  America,  Otters  are  seen  in  winter  at  a  dis- 
tance from  any  apparent  open  water,  both  in  woods  and  on  plains ; 
but  it  is  not  known  what  leads  them  to  such  situations.  If  pursued, 
when  among  the  woods  where  the  snow  is  light  and  deep,  they  imme- 
diately dive,  and  make  considerable  way  under  it;  but  they  are  easily 
traced  by  the  motion  of  the  snow  above  them,  and  soon  overtaken. 
The  Indians  track  them  in  the  snow,  and  with  clubs  kill  great  num- 
bers of  them. 

These  creatures  are  sometimes  frolicsome  and  playful:  and  one  of 
their  favorite  pastimes  is,  to  get  on  a  high  ridge  of  snow,  bend  their 
fore-feet  backward,  and  slide  down  the  side  of  it,  sometimes  to  the 
distance  of  twenty  yards  or  upwards. 

Otters,  though  naturally  of  a  ferocious  disposition,  may,  if  taken 
young  and  properly  educated,  be  completely  tamed.  The  training 
of  them,  however,  requires  both  assiduity  and  perseverance:  but  their 
activity  and  use,  when  taught,  sufficiently  repay  this  trouble ;  and  few 
animals  are  more  beneficial  to  their  masters.  The  usual  method  is 
first  to  teach  them  to  fetch,  in  the  same  way  as  dogs  are  taught ;  but, 
as  they  are  not  so  docile  as  the  dog,  so  it  requires  more  art  and  expe- 
rience to  instruct  them.  They  are  first  taught  to  take  in  their  mouths 
a  truss  made  of  leather,  and  stuffed  with  wool,  of  the  shape  of  a  fish ; 
to  drop  it  at  a  word  of  command ;  to  run  after  it  when  thrown  forward, 
and  to  bring  it  (o  their  master.  Real  fish  are  next  employed  ;  which 


224  THE   COMMON   OTTER 

are  thrown  dead  into  the  water,  and  which  they  are  taught  to  fetch. 
From  dead  fish  they  are  led  to  living  ones,  till  at  last  they  are  perfectly 
instructed  in  the  whole  art  of  fishing.  An  Otter  thus  educated  is  a 
very  valuable  animal ;  he  will  catch  fish  enough  to  sustain  not  only 
himself  but  a  whole  family.  "I  have  seen  (says  Dr.  Goldsmith)  an 
Otter  go  to  a  gentleman's  pond  at  the  word  of  command,  drive  the  fish 
into  a  corner,  and,  seizing  upon  the  largest  of  the  whole,  bring  it  offj 
and  give  it  to  his  master." 

We  are  informed,  in  Mr.  Bewick's  History  of  Quadrupeds,  that  a 
person  of  the  name  of  Collins,  who  lived  at  Kilmerston,  near  Wooler, 
in  Northumberland,  had  a  tame  Otter,  which  followed  him  wherever 
he  went.  He  frequently  took  it  to  fish  in  the  river ;  and,  when  satia- 
ted, it  never  failed  to  return  to  him.  One  day,  in  the  absence  of  Col- 
lins, the  Otter,  being  taken  out  to  fish  by  hie  son,  instead  of  returning 
as  usual,  refused  to  come  at  the  accustomed  call,  and  was  lost.  The 
father  tried  every  means  in  his  power  to  recover  the  animal,  and,  after 
several  day's  search,  being  near  the  place  where  his  son  had  lost  it, 
and  calling  it  by  name,  to  his  inexpressible  joy  it  came  creeping  to  his 
feet,  and  showed  manjr  marks  of  affection  and  attachment. 

Some  years  ago,  James  Campbell,  near  Inverness,  had  a  young  Otter, 
which  he  brought  up  and  tamed.  It  would  follow  him  wherever  he 
chose;  and,  if  called  by  its  name,  would  immediately  obey.  When 
apprehensive  of  danger  from  dogs,  it  sought  the  protection  of  its  mas- 
ter, and  would  endeavor  to  spring  into  his  arms  for  security.  It  was 
frequently  employed  in  catching  fish,  and  would  sometimes  catch 
eight  or  .ten  salmon  in  a  day.  If  not  prevented,  it  always  made  an 
attempt  to  break  the  fish  behind  the  fin  next  the  tail.  When  tired,  it 
would  refuse  to  fish  any  longer,  and  was  then  rewarded  with  as  much 
as  it  could  devour.  Having  satisfied  its  appetite  it  always  coiled 
itself  round,  and  fell  asleep ;  in  which  state  it  was  generally  carried 
home.  The  same  Otter  fished  both  in  the  sea  and  in  fresh  water. 

Another  person  who  kept  a  tame  Otter,  suffered  it  to  follow  him 
with  his  dogs.  It  was  very  useful  to  him,  by  going  into  the  water, 
and  driving  trout  and  other  fish  towards  his  net.  It  was  remarkable, 
that  Dogs  accustomed  to  Otter-hunting  were  so  far  from  giving  it  the 
least  molestation,  that  they  would  not  even  hunt  any  Otter  while  this 
one  remained  with  them. 

In  a  wild  state,  when  an  Otter  has  caught  a  fish,  he  immediately 
drags  it  ashore,  and  devours  the  head  and  upper  parts,  leaving  the 
remainder  of  the  body ;  and  when  domesticated,  he  will  eat  no  fish 
except  such  as  are  perfectly  fresh ;  but  will  prefer  bread,  milk,  &c. 
This  animal  generally  hunts  against  the  stream  ;  and,  when  several 
Otters  are  fishing  at  the  same  time,  they  are  frequently  heard  to  utter 
a  sort  of  loud  whistle  to  each  other,  as  if  by  way  of  signal.  When 
two  of  them  (as  sometimes  happens)  are  hunting  a  salmon,  one  stations 
itself  above,  and  the  other  below  the  place  where  the  fish  is;  and  they 
continue  to  chase  it,  till  becoming  perfectly  wearied  out,  it  surrenders 
itself  a  quiet  prey.  The  Otter,  when  it  hunts  singly,  has  two  modes 
of  taking  its  prey.  The  first  is  by  pursuing  it  from  the  bottom  up- 
ward ;  this  is  principally  done  with  the  larger  fish  ;  whose  eyes  being 


THE    SEA   OTTER. 


225 


placed  so  as  not  to  see  under  them,  the  animal  attacks  them  by  sur- 
prise from  below,  and  seizing  them  by  the  belly,  drags  them  away. 
The  other  mode  is  by  hunting  them  into  some  corner  of  a  pond  or 
lake,  and  there  seizing  them.  The  latter,  however,  can  only  be  prac- 
tised in  water  where  there  is  no  current,  and  on  the  smaller  fish ;  for 
it  would  be  impossible  to  force  the  large  ones  out  of  deep  water. 

Female  Otters  produce  four  or  five  young-ones  at  a  birth,  and  these 
in  the  spring  of  the  year.  Where  there  have  been  ponds  near,  a 
gentleman's  house,  instances  have  occurred  of  their  littering  in  cellars 
or  drains.  The  male  utters  no  noise  when  taken,  but  the  female 
sometimes  emits  a  shrill  squeak. 

Otters  are  generally  caught  in  traps  placed  near  their  landing-places, 
and  carefully  concealed  in  the  sand.  When  hunted  by  Dogs,  the  old 
ones  defend  themselves  with  great  obstinacy.  They  bite  severely, 
and  do  not  readily  quit  their  hold. 

In  the  Northern  parts  of  America,  these  animals  change  their  color 
in  winter  to  white,  like  most  of  the  other  Arctic  animals ;  and  it  is 
not  till  late  in  the  spring  that  they  resume  their  brown  summer  dress. 

The  flesh  of  the  Otter  is  exceedingly  rank  and  fishy;  so  much  so, 
that  the  Eomish  church  permit  the  use  of  it  as  food  on  maigre-days. 
In  the  kitchen  of  the  Carthusian  convent  near  Dijon,  M.  Pennant  saw 
one  of  these  animals  cooked  for  the  dinner  of  the  religious  of  the  rigid 
order;  who  by  their  rules  are  prohibited,  during  their  whole  lives, 
the  eating  of  flesh. 


THE   SEA   OTTER. 

The  whole  length  of  the  Sea  Otter  is-  generally  about  four  feet,  of 
which  the  tail  occupies 
thirteen  inches.  The 
fur  is  soft,  and  of  a  deep 
glossy  black  color.  The 
ears  are  small  and 
erect,  and  the  whiskers 
long  and  white.  The 
legs  are  short  and  thick, 
the  hinder  ones  some- 
what resembling  those 
of  a  Seal.  The  weight 
of  the  largest  Sea  Ot- 
ters is  from  seventy  to 
eighty  pounds. 

In  their  general  habits  of  life,  these  animals  are  harmless  and  inof- 
fensive ;  and,  toward  their  offspring  they  exhibit  a  degree  ot  attach- 
ment  which  is  extremely  interesting.  They  will  never  desert  them ; 
they  will  even  starve  themselves  to  death  on  being  robbed  of  them, 
and  strive  to  breathe  their  last  on  the  spot  where  their  young-ones 
have  been  destroyed.  The  Sea  Otters  live  in  pairs,  and  are  very  con- 
stant to  each  other.  They  often  carry  their  young-ones  between  their 


THE  SEA  OTTER. 


226  THE   BEAR    TRIBE. 

teeth,  and  fondle  them,  frequently  flinging  them  up  and  catching  them 
again  in  their  paws.  Before  these  can  swim,  the  parents  will  take 
them  in  their  fore-feet,  and  swim  about  with  them  upon  their  backs. 

Sea  Otters  swim  sometimes  on  their  sides ;  and  at  other  times  on 
their  backs,  or  in  an  upright  position.  They  are  very  sportive,  em- 
brace each  other,  and  seem  to  kiss.  When  attacked,  they  make  no 
resistance,  but  endeavor  to  save  themselves  by  flight:  if,  however, 
they  be  closely  pursued,  and  can  see  no  means  of  escape,  they  scold 
and  grin  like  an  angry  Cat.  On  receiving  a  blow  they  lie  on  their 
side,  draw  up  their  hind-legs  together,  cover  their  eyes  with  their 
fore-paws,  and  thus  seem  to  prepare  themselves  for  death.  But  if. 
hey  are  fortunate  enough  to  escape  their  pursuer,  and  reach  the  sea, 
they  deride  him  with  various  diverting  tricks;  at  one  time  swimming 
upright  in  the  water,  and  jumping  over  the  waves,  holding  their  fore- 
paws  over  their  eyes,  as  if  to  shade  them  from  the  sun  while  looking 
out  for  their  enemy ;  then  lying  flat  on.  their  backs ;  and  afterwards 
throwing  their  young-ones  down  into  the  water  and  fetching  them 
up  again. 

The  skins  of  Sea  Otters  are  of  great  value,  and  have  long  formed  a 
considerable  article  of  export  from  Kussia.  They  are  sold  to  the 
Chinese  at  the  rate  of  eighty  or  a  hundred  rubles  each.  The  trade 
for  this  fur  at  Nootka  had,  not  many  years  ago,  nearly  produced  a 
war  between  Great  Britain  and  Spain. 

These  animals  are  found  on  the  coast  of  Kamtschatka,  and  in  the 
adjacent  islands,  as  well  as  on  the  opposite  coasts  of  America ;  but 
they  are  confined  within  a  very  few  degrees  of  latitude. 


OF  THE  BEAK  TEIBE. 

THE  Bears  have  six  front  teeth  in  each  jaw.  The  two  lateral  ones 
of  the  lower  jaw  are  longer  than  the  rest,  and  lobed  with  smaller  or 
secondary  teeth  at  their  internal  bases.  There  are  five  or  six  grinders 
on  each  side;  and  the  canine  teeth  are  solitary.  The  tongue  is  smooth, 
and  the  snout  prominent.  The  eyes  are  furnished  with  a  nictitating 
or  winking  membrane. 

The  Bears  are  animals,  for  the  most  part,  of  large  size,  and  great 
muscukr  powers.  They  are  seldom  found  in  any  other  than  moun- 
tainous or  thinly-inhabited  countries.  During  the  winter,  several  of 
the  species  lie  concealed  in  holes  in  the  ground,  and  in  a  torpid  state. 

Some  of  the  species  are  able  to  use  their  fore-feet  as  hands,  in  con- 
veying food  to  their  mouth,  or  in  seizing  hold  of  objects.  From  the 
length  and  sharpness  of  their  claws,  huge  and  unwieldy  as  they  may 
seem,  these  animals  are  able  to  climb  trees  in  search  of  prey,  or  to 
escape  the  pursuit  of  their  enemies. 


THE   COMMON    BEAR. 


227 


THE   COMMON  BEAR. 

The  Bear  is  a  savage  and  solitary  animal,  that  lives  in  the  most 
retired  and  unfrequented  parts  of  the  forests.  He  passes  the  greatest 
part  of  the  win- 
ter in  his  den,  jf^ 
in  a  state  of  re-  ^ 
pose  and  absti-  ~| 
nence.  During 
this  period  it  is 
that  the  females 
bring  forth  their 
young-ones, 
which  are  gene- 1 
rally  two  in  nurn-  ;) 
ber.  When  these  r 
animals  retire! 
into  their  places^ 
of  concealment,^ 
they  are  always 
fat  and  in  high 
condition ;  a  n  d 
when  they  make 
their  first  appear- 
ance in  the  spring 

they  are,  on  the  contrary,  excessively  lean  and  emaciated.  In  conse- 
quence of  this,  a  general,  though  absurd  notion  prevails,  that  they  are 
enabled  to  live  through  the  winter  by  sucking  their  paws.  They  are 
fond  of  honey,  and  often  attack  bee-hives  to  obtain  it. 

The  Common  Bears,  which  are  not  only  inhabitants  of  Europe,  but 
of  various  parts  of  the  East  Indies,  vary  much  in  color.  Some  are 
brown,  others  black,  and  others  gray.  The  Brown  kinds  live  chiefly 
on  vegetables ;  and  the  Black  ones,  in  a  great  measure,  on  animal 
food,  such  as  Lambs,  Kids,  and  even  Cattle.  "We  are  informed  that 
the  Black  Bears  are  so  remarkably  attached  to  each  other,  that  the 
hunters  never  dare  to  fire  at  a  young-one,  while  the  parent  is  on  the 
spot;  for,  if  the  cub  happen  to  be  killed,  she  becomes  so  enraged,  that 
she  will  either  avenge  herself,  or  die  in  the  attempt.  If,  on  the  con- 
trary, the  mother  should  be  shot,  the  cubs  will  continue  by  her  side 
long  after  she  is  dead,  exhibiting  the  most  poignant  affliction.  A  few 
years  ago,  in  Hungary,  a  man  had  nearly  lost  his  life,  by  firing  at  a 
young  Bear  in  the  presence  of  its  mother;  for  she  ran  at  him,  and  by 
one  blow  with  her  paw,  brought  off'  a  great  part  of  his  scalp. 

Bears  are  so  numerous  at  Kamtschatka,  that  they  are  often  seen 
roaming  about  the  plains  in  great  companies ;  and  they  would  infal- 
libly have  long  since  exterminated  all  the  inhabitants,  were  they  not 
here  much  more  tame  and  gentle  than  the  generality  of  their  species 
are  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  In  spring,  they  descend  in  multi- 
tudes from  the  mountains  to  the  mouths  of  the  rivers,  for  the  purpose 
15 


228 


THE   COMMON    BEAR. 


of  catching  fish.  If  there  be  plenty  of  this  food,  they  eat  nothing  bu!; 
the  heads  of  the  fish  ;  and  when,  at  any  time,  they  find  the  fishermen's 
nets,  they  dexterously  drag  them  out  of  the  water,  and  empty  them 
of  their  contents. 

When  a  Kamtschadale  espies  a  Bear,  he  endeavors  to  conciliate  its 
friendship  at  a  distance,  accompanying  his  gestures  by  courteous 
vvords.  The  Bears  are  indeed  so  familiar  here,  that  the  women  and 


BEAR  BUSTING  IN  WINTEE. 


girls,  when  gathering  roots  and  herbs,  or  turf  for  fuel,  in  the  midst 
of  a  whole  drove  of  these  animals,  are  never  disturbed  by  them  in 
their  employment ;  and  if  any  of  the  Bears  come  up  to  them,  it  is 
only  to  eat  something  out  of  their  hands.  They  have  never  been 
known  to  attack  a  man,  except  when  suddenly  roused  from  sleep. 
This  humane  character  of  the  Kamtschadale  Bear,  procures  him, 
however,  no  exemption  from  the  persecutions  of  mankind.  His  great 
•utility  is  a  sufficient  instigation  to  the  avarice  of  man,  to  declare 
eternal  war  against  him.  Armed  with  a  spear  or  club,  the  Kamt- 
schadale goes  in  quest  of  the  peaceful  animal,  in  his  retreat ;  who, 
:meditating  no  attack,  and  intent  only  on  defence,  gravely  takes  the 
faggots  which  his  persecutor  presents  to  him,  and,  with  them,  himself 
chokes  up  the  entrance  to  his  den.  The  mouth  of  the  cavern  being 
•thus  closed,  the  hunter  breaks  a  hole  through  the  top,  from  which  he 
transfixes  his  defenceless  foe. 

The  modes  that  are  adopted  by  the  inhabitants  of  different  coun- 
tries, for  the  taking  or  destroying  of  Bears,  are  very  various.  Of 
these,  the  following  appears  to  be  the  most  remarkable.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  well-known  partiality  of  these  animals  for  honey,  the 


THE   COMMON    BEAR  229 

Russians  sometimes  fix  to  those  trees  where  bees  are  hived,  a  heavy 
log  of  wood,  at  the  end  of  a  long  string.  When  the  unwieldy  crea-* 
ture  climbs  up  to  get  at  the  hive,  he  finds  himself  interrupted  by  the 
log;  he  pushes  it  aside,  and  attempts  to  pass  it;  but,  in  returning,  it 
hits  him  such  a  blow,  that  in  a  rage  he  flings  it  from  him  with  greater 
force,  which  makes  it  return  with  increased  violence ;  and  he  some- 
times continues  this,  till  he  is  either  killed,  or  falls  from  the  tree. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  name  a  species  of  animals,  except  the  Sheep, 
so  variously  serviceable  to  man  after  its  death,  as  the  Bear  is  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Kamtschatka  Of  the  skin  they  make  beds,  covertures, 
caps  and  gloves,  and  collars  for  their  sledge-dogs.  Those  who  go  upon 
the  ice  for  the  capture  of  marine  animals,  make  their  shoe-soles  of  the 
same  substance,  which  thus  never  slip  upon  the  ice.  The  fat  of  the 
Bear  is  held  in  great  estimation,  as  a  savory  and  wholesome  food,  and, 
when  rendered  fluid  by  heat,  it  supplies  the  place  of  oil.  The  flesh  is 
esteemed  a  great  delicacy.  The  intestines,  when  cleansed  and  pro- 
perly scraped,  are  worn  by  the  fair  sex,  as  masks  to  preserve  their  faces 
from  the  effects  of  the  sunbeams ;  which  here,  being  reflected  from 
the  snow,  are  otherwise  found  to  blacken  the  skin.  The  Russians  of 
Kamtschatka  make  of  these  intestines  window-panes,  which  are  as 
clear  and  transparent  as  those  made  of  Muscovy-glass.  Of  the 
shoulder-blades  are  made  sickles  for  cutting  grass;  and  the  heads 
and  haunches  are  hung  up  by  these  people,  as  ornaments  or  trophies, 
on  the  trees  around  their  dwellings. 

The  Kamtschadales  also  owe  infinite  obligations  to  the  Bears,  for 
the  little  progress  they  have  hitherto  made,  as  well  in  the  sciences,  as 
even  in  the  polite  arts.  They  confess  themselves  indebted  to  these 
animals  for  all  their  knowledge  of  physic  and  surgery:  by  observing 
what  herbs  the  Bears  apply  to  the  wounds  they  have  received,  and 
what  methods  they  pursue  when  languid  and  disordered,  this  people 
have  acquired  a  knowledge  of  most  of  those  simples  to  which  they 
have  recourse,  either  as  external  or  internal  applications.  But  the 
most  singular  circumstance  of  all  is,  that  they  admit  the  Bears  to  'be 
their  dancing-masters;  and,  in  what  they  call  the  Bear-dance,  every 
gesture  and  attitude  of  these  animals  is  so  faithfully  portrayed,  as 
to  afford  sufficient  indications  to  whom  they  are  indebted  for  this 
acquirement.  All  their  other  dances,  in  many  particulars,  are  similar 
to  the  Bear-dance;  and  those  attitudes  are  considered  to  approach 
nearest  to  perfection,  which  most  resemble  the  motions  of  the  Bear. 

If  the  uses  of  the  Bear  be  so  various  to  the  Kamtschadales,  not  less 
general  is  that  of  his  fine  and  warm  fur  to  persons  of  the  higher 
classes  in  Russia.  A  light  black  Bear-skin  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
fortable and  costly  articles  in  the  winter  wardrobe  of  a  man  of  fashion, 
at  Petersburg  or  Moscow. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Bear,  though  not  without  difficulty,  may 
be  rendered  tame  and  docile;  arid  he  has  then,  at  least,  the  appear- 
ance of  being  mild  and  obedient  to  his  master.  He  may  be  taught  to 
perform  various  tricks,  to  entertain  the  multitude ;  but  great  cruel- 
ties are  practised  on  the  wretched  beast,  in  training  him  for  the  pur- 
pose of  this  absurd  exhibition. 


230 


THE   COMMON   BEAR. 


In  the  supplementary  writings  of  M.  de  Buffon,  and  notes  of  M. 
Sonnini,  there  is  an  interesting  account  of  some  Bears  that  were 


HUNTEE  IJf  A  BEAU'S  DEX. 


brought  up  in  a  semi-domestic  state  at  Berne,  in  Switzerland.  The 
animals  were  kept  in  large  square  places,  dug  out  of  the  earth,  and 
lined  at  the  sides  and  the  bottom  with  stones.  Dens  of  masonry  were 
formed  in  them,  under  the  ground  of  the  sides,  having  their  pave- 
ment on  a  level  with  that  of  the  open  space.  These  dens  were  each 
divided  by  a  wall,  and  an  iron  grate,  the  latter  of  which  was  let  down 
from  above.  In  the  middle  of  each  square  there  was  left  in  the  pave- 
ment, a  hole  sufficiently  large  to  admit  a  tree  of  considerable  size 
being  placed  upright  in  it.  There  was  likewise,  in  each  square,  a 
large  trough  filled  with  fresh  water. 

It  was  in  1740,  that  two  Bears,  very  young,  were  first  taken  there 
from  Savoy.  When  these  animals  had  been  there  about  six  years,  the 
female  began  to  produce  young-ones.  At  the  first  litter,  she  had  only 
one ;  and  afterwards  she  produced  from  one  to  three,  but  never  more 
than  this  number.  When  first  produced,  although  they  were  by  no 
means  ugly  animals,  they  were  very  unlike  their  parents  both  in  shape 
and  color.  Their  body  was  nearly  round,  and  their  snout  somewhat 
sharp-pointed :  they  were  of  a  yellow  color  with  a  white  neck.  They 
continued  blind  for  four  weeks.  At  first  they  were  about  eight  inches 
long  from  the  muzzle  to  the  base  of  the  tail :  by  the  end  of  three 
months,  they  measured  fourteen  or  fifteen  inches ;  and  their  hair  was 


THE  AMERICAN    BEAR.  231 

then  about  an  inch  long.  Before  they  were  full  grown,  they  cast  all 
their  white  and  yellow  hair,  and  assumed  a  perfectly  brown  coat. 

The  squares  in  which  these  animals  were  first  kept,  having  been  in 
the  middle  of  the  town,  it  was  found  necessary  to  fill  them  up,  and  to 
place  the  Bears  in  others  that  were  made  between  the  ramparts.  The 
above-mentioned  two  animals  were  consequently  separated,  whilst  they 
were  conveyed  into  their  new  apartment.  When  they  again  met,  they 
appeared  in  raptures;  they  raised  themselves  upright,  and  embraced 
each  other  with  the  greatest  delight. 

These  animals  were  very  fond  of  climbing  into  their  tree,  which  was 
a  green  larch,  placed  there  every  year  in  the  month  of  'M.a.y.  They 
would  frequently  amuse  themselves  by  breaking  pieces  off  the  branches, 
particularly  after  the  tree  was  newly  planted.  Their  food  was  gener- 
ally rye-bread,  cut  into  large  pieces,  and  soaked  in  warm  water.  They 
were  also  fond  of  fruit;  and  whenever  the  country  people,  which  was 
sometimes  the  case,  brought  unripe  fruit  to  the  market,  the  officers  of 
the  police  had  orders  to  seize  such,  and  throw  it  to  the  Bears.  The 
animals,  however,  seemed  on  the  whole  to  prefer  greens  and  other 
esculent  vegetables  to  most  kinds  of  food. 

Two  of  the  Bears  that  had  been  brought  up  in  one  of  the  open  squares 
at  Berne,  were  carried  into  France,  and  placed  in  one  of  the  narrow 
lodges  in  the  Menagerie  of  the  Museum  at  Paris,  where  they  had  scarcely 
space  enough  to  turn  themselves  round.  The  animals,  thus  cooped 
up,  were  fed  on  bread,  fruit,  and  vegetables ;  but  they  appeared  to 
suffer  much  from  the  confined  space,  which  till  then  they  had  been 
entirely  unused  to.  When  they  were  first  brought  to  this  menagerie, 
it  was  found  very  difficult  to  make  them  leave  the  cage  in  which  they 
had  been  carried.  They  obstinately  persisted  in  remaining  there.  To 
no  purpose  were  various  forcible  means  attempted;  and  in  vain  were 
numerous  living  animals  placed  before  them,  in  the  hope  of  enticing 
them  out.  They  continued  immovable;  and  it  was  not  till  after  many 
hours  of  useless  trial,  that  a  living  duck,  placed  at  a  little  distance, 
tempted  them  to  come  forth. 

The  natural  disposition  of  these  Bears  was  gross;  but  they  were  by 
no  means  either  mischievous  or  savage  animals.  They  knew  the  voice 
of  their  keeper;  and,  at  all  times,  showed  sufficient  docility  and  obe- 
dience to  his  commands. 


THE  AMERICAN  BEAR. 

The  American  Bear  differs  from  the  European  species,  principally 
in  being  smaller ;  and  in  having  a  more  lengthened  head,  more  pointed 
nose,  and  longer  ears.  The  hair  is  also  more  smooth,  black,  soft,  and 
glossy.  The  cheeks  and  throat  are  of  a  yellowish-brown  color. 

In  several  of  the  northern  districts  of  America  these  Bears  are 
found  in  considerable  numbers  ;  occasionally  migrating  southward  in 
quest  of  food. 


232 


THE   AMERICAN    BEAR 


AMERICAN   BE\r 


At  this  time  they  are  always  very  lean;  as  they  do  not  leave  the  north 

until  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow. 

In  the  coun- 
try near  the 
Mississippi,  the 
Bears  seldom 
venture  to  any 
great  distance 
from  the  banks 
of  that  river; 
but  on  each 
side,  they  have 
in  winter  such 
beaten  path  s, 
that  persons  un- 
acquainted with 
them  w  o  u  1  d 
mistake  these 
for  the  tracks 
of  men.  M.  du 
Pratz,  when  at 

a  distance  of  nearly  two  hundred  miles  from  any  human  dwelling,  was 

for  a  while  de- 
ceived  by  a 
bear's  track:  he 
thought  that 
thousands  o  f 
men  must  have 
walked  along 
it  bare-footed. 
Upon  inspec- 
tion, however, 
he  found  that 
the  prints  of  the 
feet  were  short- 
er than  those 
of  a  man,  and 
that  at  the  end 
of  each  toe  there 
?was  the  i  rap  res  - 
of  a  claw. 


ult  is  proper 
(he  says)  to  ob- 
serve, that  in 
those  paths  the 
Bear  does  not 
pique  himself 


TRAVELLER  FALLING   OUT  *ITn  A  BEAR. 


and    will   yield 

the  way  to  nobody;  therefore,  it  is  prudent  for  a  traveller  not  to  fall 
out  witb  him  for  such  a  trifling  affair." 


THE   AMERICAN   BEAR. 


233 


About  the  end  of  December,  from  the  abundance  of  fruits  they 
find  in  the  Ssouthwestern  States,  the  Bears  become  so  fat  and 
lazy  that  they  can  scarcely  run.  At  this  time  they  are  hunted  by 
the  American  Indians.  The  nature  of  the  chase  is  generally  this:  the 
Bear  chiefly  adopts  for  his  retreat  the  hollow  trunk  of  an  old  cypress- 
tree;  which  he  climbs,  and  then  descends  into  the  cavity  from  above 


TH.K    HEAR. 


The  hunter,  whose  business  it  is  to  watch  him  into  this  recreat,  climbs 
a  neighboring  tree,  and  seats  himself  opposite  to  the  hole.  In  one  hand 
he  holds  his  gun,  and  in  the  other  a  torch,  which  he  darts  into  the 
cavity.  Frantic  with  rage  and  terror,  the  Bear  makes  a  spring  from 
his  station ;  but  the  hunter  seizes  the  instant  of  his  appearance,  and 
shoots  him. 

The  pursuit  of  these  animals  is  a  matter  of  the  first  importance  to 
some  of  the  Indian  tribes,  and  is  never  undertaken  without  much  cere- 
mony. A  principal  warrior  gives  a  general  invitation  to  all  the 
hunters.  This  is  followed  by  a  strict  fast  of  eight  days,  in  which  they 
totally  abstain  from  food ;  but  during  which,  the  day  is  passed  in 
continual  song.  This  is  done  to  invoke  the  spirits  of  the  woods  to 
direct  the  hunters  to  the  places  where  there  are  abundance  of  Bears, 
They  even  cut  the  flesh  in  divers  part  of  their  bodies,  to  render  the 
spirits  more  propitious.  They  also  address  themselves  to  the  manes  of 
the  beasts  slain  in  the  preceding  chases,  and  implore  these  to  direct 
them  in  their  dreams  to  an  abundance  of  game.  The  chief  of  the  hunt 
now  gives  a  great  feast,  at  which  no  one  dares  to  appear  without  first 
bathing.  At  this  entertainment,  contrary  to  their  usual  custom,  they 


234 


THE   TTHITE,   OR   POLAR   BEAR. 


eat  with  great  moderation.  The  master  of  the  feast  touches  nothing; 
but  is  eraplo3*ed  in  relating  to  the  guests  ancient  tales  of  feats  in 
former  chases;  and  fresh  invocations  to  the  manes  of  the  deceased 
Bears  conclude  the  whole. 

They  then  sally  forth,  equipped  as  if  for  war,  and  painted  black; 
and  they  proceed  on  their  way  in  a  direct  line,  not  allowing  rivers, 
marshes,  nor  any  other  impediments  to  stop  their  course,  and  driving 
before  them  all  the  beasts  they  find.  When  they  arrive  at  the  hunting- 
ground,  they  surround  as  large  a  space  as  they  can ;  and  then  contract 
their  circle,  searching  at  the  same  time  every  hollow  tree,  and  every 
place  capable  of  being  the  retreat  of  a  Bear:  and  they  continue  the 
same  practice  till  the  chase  is  expired. 

As  soon  as  a  Bear  is  killed,  a  hunter  puts  into  his  mouth  a  lighted 
pipe  of  tobacco,  -and  blowing  into  it,  fills  the  throat  with  the  smoke, 
conjuring  the  spirit  of  the  animal  not  to  resent  what  they  are  about  to 
do  to  its  body,  nor  to  render  their  future  chase.s  unsuccessful.  As  the 
beast  makes  no  reply,  they  cut  out  the  string  of  the  tongue,  and  throw 
it  into  the  fire.  If  it  crackle  and  shrivel  up,  (which  it  is  almost  sure 
to  do,)  they  accept  this  as  a  good  omen;  if  not,  they  consider  that  the 
spirit  of  the  beast  is  not  appeased,  and  that  the  chase  of  the  next  year 
will  be  unfortunate. 

The  flesh  of  the  American  Bear  is  said  to  taste  like  pork.  Dr. 
Brickell  ate  some  at  a  planter's  house  in  North  Carolina,  and  mistook 
it  for  excellent  pork  ;  but  such  are  the  prejudices  to  which  mankind 
are  subject,  that  the  next  day,  being  undeceived,  and  invited  to  partake 
of  a  similar  dish,  he  felt  so  much  disgust  that  he  was  not  able  to 
taste  it. 


THE  WHITE,    OR   POLAR   BEAR. 


THE  WHITE  BEAR. 


polar  regions,  are  truly  astonishing. 


The  length  of  this  ani- 
mal is  sometimes  nearly 
twelve  feet.  It  differs 
from  the  Common  Bear 
in  having  its  head  and 
neck  of  a  more  length- 
ened form,  and  the  body 
longer  in  proportion  to 
its  bulk.  The  ears  and 
eyes  are  small ;  and  the 
teeth  extremely  large. 
The  hair  is  long,  coarse, 
and  white ;  and  its  limbs 
of  great  strength.  The 
tips  of  the  nose  and  claws 
are  perfectly  black. 

The  immense  numbers 
of  these  animals,  in  the 
They  are  not  only  seen  on  the 


THE   WHITE,    OR  POLAR    BEAR. 


235 


land,  but  often  on  ice-floats  several  leagues  at  sea.  They  are  some- 
times transported  in  this  manner  to  the  very  shores  of  Iceland  ;  where 
they  no  sooner  land,  than  all  the  natives  are  in  arms  to  receive  them. 
It  occasionally  happens,  that  when  a'  Greenlander  and  his  wife  are 
paddling  out  at  sea,  by  coming  too  near  an  ice-float,  a  White  Bear 
unexpectedly  jumps  into  their  boat ;  and  if  he  does  not  overset  it,  sits 
calmly  where  he  first  alighted,  and  like  a  passenger  suffers  himself  to 
be  rowed  along.  It  is  probable  that  the  Greenlander  is  never  very 
fond  of  his  unwieldly  guest:  however,  he  makes  a  virtue  of  necessity, 
and  hospitably  rows  him  to  shore. 

The  Polar  Bears  are  animals  of  tremendous  ferocity.  Barentz,  in 
his  voyage  in  search  of  a  North  East  Passage  to  China,  had  the  most 
horrid  proofs  of  their  ferocity  in  the  island  of  Nova  Zembla :  they 
attacked  his  seamen,  seizing  them  in  their  mouths,  carrying  them  oft 
with  the  utmost  ease,  and  devouring  them  even  in  the  sight  of  theii 
comrades. 

Not  many  years  ago,  the  crew  of  a  boat  belonging  to  a  ship  in  the 

Whale-fishery  shot  at 
a  Bear  at  a  little  dis- 
tance, and  wounded 
it.  The  animal  imme- 
diately set  up  a  dread- 
ful howl,  and  ran 
along  the  ice  towards 
the  boat.  Before  he 
reached  it,  a  second 
shot  was  fired,  which 
hit  him.  This  served 
but  to  increase  his 
fury.  He  presently 
swam  to  the  boat,  and, 
in  attempting  to  get 
on  board,  placed  one 

of  his  fore  feet  upon  the  gunnel ;  but  a  sailor,  having  a  hatchet  in  his 
hand,  cut  it  off.  The  animal,  however,  still  continued  to  swim  after 
them  till  they  arrived  at  the  ship ;  and  several  shots  were  fired  at 
him,  which  took  effect:  but  on  reaching  the  ship,  he  immediately 
ascended  the  deck ;  and  the  crew,  having  fled  into  the  shrouds,  he 
was  pursuing  them  thither,  when  a  shot  laid  him  dead  upon  the  deck. 
The  usual  food  of  these  animals  consist  of  Seals,  Fish,  and  the 
carcasses  of  Whales ;  but  when  on  land  they  prey  on  Deer  and  other 
animals.  They  likewise  eat  various  kinds  of  berries,  which  they 
happen  to  find.  The  following  story  of  the  sagacity  of  these  animals 
in  searching  for  prey,  is  inserted  from  the  works  of  the  Hon.  Eobert 
Boyle :  "  An  old  sea  captain  told  me  that  the  White  Bears  in  or 
about  Greenland,  notwithstanding  the  coldness  of  the  climate,  have 
an  excellent  nose;  and  that  sometimes,  when  the  fisherman  had  dis- 
missed the  carcass  of  a  Whale,  and  left  it  floating  on  the  waves,  three 
or  four  leagues  from  the  shore,  whence  it  could  not  be  seen,  these 
animals  would  stand  as  near  the  water  as  they  could,  and  raising 


SAILORS  AND  WHITE  BEAR. 


236 


THE   WHITE,    OR   POLAR    BEAR. 


themselves  on  their  hind  legs,  would  loudly  snuff  in  the  air,  and, 
with  the  paws  of  their  fore-legs,  drive  it  as  it  were  against  their  snouts ; 

and  when  they  were  satis- 
fied whence  the  odor 
came,  would  cast  them- 
selves into  the  sea,  and 
swim  directly  towards 
the  Whale." 

During  the  summer, 
these  animals  reside 
chiefly  on  the  ice-islands ; 
and  frequently  swim  from 
one  to  another.  They 
lodge  in  dens  formed  in 
the  vast  masses  of  ice ; 
and  on  these  they  breed, 
producing  about  two 
young-ones  at  a  birth. 
About  the  end  of  March 
they  bring  these  out,  and 
immediately  bend  their 
course  towards  the  sea. 

When  the  masses  of 
ice  are  detached  by  strong 
winds  or  currents,  the 
Bears  often  allow  them- 
selves to  be  carried  along 
with  them  ;  and  as  they 
can  neither  regain  the 
land,  nor  abandon  the 
ice  on  which  they  are  embarked,  they  often  perish  in  the  open  sea. 
The  affection  between  the  parent  and  the  young  is  so  great,  that 
they  will  sooner  die  than  desert  each  other  in  distress.  "  While  the 
Carcase  Frigate,  which  went  out  some  years  ago  to  make  discoveries 
towards  the  North  Pole,  was  locked  in  the  ice,  early  one  morning  the 
man  at  the  mast-head  gave  notice  that  three  Bears  were  making  their 
way  very  fast  over  the  frozen  ocean,  and  were  directing  their  course 
towards  the  ship.  They  had,  no  doubt,  been  invited  by  the  scent  of 
some  blubber  of  a  Walrus  that  the  crew  had  killed  a  few  days  before  ; 
which  had  been  set  on  fire,  and  was  burning  on  the  ice  at  the  time  of 
their  approach.  They  proved  to  be  a  she  Bear  and  her  two  cubs ; 
but  the  cubs  were  nearly  as  large  as  the  dam.  They  ran  eagerly  to 
the  fire,  and  drew  out  of  the  flames  part  of  the  flesh  of  the  Walrus, 
that  remained  unconsumed,  and  ate  it  voraciously.  The  crew  from 
the  ship  threw  upon  the  ice  great  lumps  of  the  flesh  of  the  Sea-Horse, 
which  they  had  still  remaining.  These  the  old  Bear  fetched  away 
singly,  laid  every  lump  before  her  cubs  as  she  brought  it,  and  divid- 
ing it,  gave  to  each  a  share,  reserving  but  a  small  portion  to  herself. 
As  she  was  fetching  away  the  last  piece,  the  sailors  levelled  their 
muskets  at  the  cubs,  and  shot  them  both  dead ;  and  in  her  retreat 


POLAR  BEAR  OX   AX  IC2BERO. 


THE    WHITE,    OR    POLAR    BEAR.  237 

they  wounded  the  dam,  but  not  mortally.  It  would  have  drawn  tears 
of  pity  from  any  but  unfeeling  minds,  to  have  marked  the  affectionate 
concern  expressed  by  this  poor  beast  in  the  last  moments  of  her 
expiring  young-ones.  Though  she  was  herself  dreadfully  wounded, 
and  could  but  just  crawl  to  the  place  where  they  lay,  she  carried  the 
lump  of  flesh  she  had  fetched  away,  as  she  had  done  others  before, 
tore  it  in  pieces,  and  laid  it  before  them ;  and,  when  she  saw  that  they 
refused  to  eat,  she  laid  her  paws  first  upon  one,  and  then  upon  the 
other,  and  endeavored  to  raise  them  up  :  all  this  while  it  was  pitiful 
to  hear  her  moan.  When  she  found  she  could  not  stir  them,  she 
went  off)  and  when  she  had  got  to  some  distance,  she  looked  back 
and  moaned.  Finding  this  to  no  purpose,  she  returned,  and,  smelling 
round  them,  began  to  lick  their  wounds.  She  went  off  a  second  time 
as  before;  and,  having  crawled  a  few  paces,  looked  again  behind  her, 
and  for  some  time  stood  moaning.  But  still  her  cubs  not  rising  to 
follow  her,  she  returned  to  them  again  ;  and,  with  signs  of  inexpres- 
sible fondness,  went  round,  pawing  them  and  moaning.  Finding  at 
last  that  they  were  cold  and  lifeless,  she  raised  her  head  towards  the 
ship,  and  uttered  a  growl  of  despair,  which  the  murderers  returned 
with  a  volley  of  musket-balls.  She  fell  between  her  cubs,  and  died 
licking  their  wounds." 

Mr.  Hearne  says  that  the  males  of  this  species  are,  at  a  certain 
time  of  the  year,  so  much  attached  to  their  mates,  that  he  has  often 
seen  one  of  them,  when  a  female  was  killed,  come  and  put  his  paws 
over  her,  and  in  this  position  suffer  himself  to  be  shot  rather  than 
quit  her. 

During  the  winter  these  animals  retire  and  bed  themsslves  deep  in 
the  snow,  or  under  the  fixed  ice  of  some  eminence ;  and  here  they 
pass,  in  a  state  of  torpidity,  the  long  and  dismal  Arctic  night,  and 
reappear  only  with  the  return  of  the  sun. 

The  Polar  Bear  has  a  great  dread  of  heat.  An  animal  of  this 
species  described  by  Professor  Pallas,  would  not  stay  in  its  house  in 
the  winter,  although  at  Krasnojarsk  in  Siberia,  where  the  climate  is 
very  cold ;  and  it  seemed  to  experience  great  pleasure  in  rolling  itself 
on  the  snow.  A  Polar  Bear  that  was  kept  in  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History  in  Paris,  suffered  excessively  during  the  hot  weather.  The 
keepers,  throughout  the  year,  were  obliged  to  throw  upon  it  sixty  or 
seventy  pails  of  water  a-day,  to  refresh  it.  This  animal  was  fed  only 
with  bread,  of  which  it  daily  consumed  no  more  than  about  six 
pounds,  notwithstanding  which  it  became  very  fat.  It  is  not  known 
to  what  age  these  animals  live. 

White  Bears  are  sometimes  found  in  Iceland ;  but  not  being  natives 
of  that  island,  they  are  supposed  to  float  thither  from  the  opposite  coast 
of  Greenland,  on  some  of  the  huge  masses  of  ice  that  are  detached  from 
those  shores.  After  so  long  an  abstinence  as  they  must  necessarily 
undergo  in  the  voyage,  they  are  reduced  by  hunger  to  attack  even 
men,  if  they  should  come  in  their  way.  But  Mr.  Horrebow  informs 
us,  that  the  natives  are  always  able  to  escape  their  fury,  if  they  can 
only  throw  in  their  way  something  to  amuse  them.  A  glove  (he  say o) 
is  sufficient  for  this  purpose ;  for  the  Bear  will  not  stir  till  he  has 


238 


THE   GRIZZLY    BEAR. 


turned  every  finger  of  it  inside  out ;  and,  as  these  animals  are  not 
very  dexterous  with  their  paws,  this  takes  up  some  time,  and  in  the 
mean  while  the  person  makes  his  escape. 


HUNTER  COMBATTING   GRIZZLY   BEAR. 


Some  writers  have  said,  that  the  Grizzly  Bear  will  run  away  if  he 
comes  across  the  scent  of  men.  This,  my  informant,  who  is  a  practical 
man,  strenuously  denies,  and  states  that  the  man  is  more  likely  to  run 
away  from  the  bear,  than  the  bear  from  the  man.  The  American 
Indians  fear  it  so  much,  that  a  necklace  of  its  claws,  which  may  only 
be  worn  by  the  individual  who  destroyed  the  bear,  is  a  decoration 
entitling  the  wearer  to  the  highest  honors.  These  formidable  claws 
are  five  inches  long,  and  cut  like  so  many  chisels,  so  that  the  Indian 
of  former  days,  armed  only  with  bow,  spear,  and  knife,  fully  deserved 
honor,  for  overcoming  so  savage  and  powerful  a  brute.  Since  the 
introduction,  of  fire-arms,  the  Grizzly  Bear  affords  a  rather  easier 
victory,  but  even  to  one  armed  with  all  advantage  of  rifle  and  pistols, 
the  fight  is  sure  to  be  a  severe  one,  for  when  the  Bear  is  once 
wounded,  there  is  no  attempt  to  escape,  but  life  is  pitted  against  life. 
Before  the  hunter  commences  the  struggle  he  must  have  considerable 
confidence  in  his  presence 'of  mind,  for  everyone  knows  how  the 
least  tremor  of  hand  or  eye,  causes  a  rifle  ball  to  wander  far  from  its 
intended  path,  and  a  ball  that  does  not  penetrate  a  vital  part  only 
serves  to  irritate  the  bear. 

Sometimes,  it  is  said,  after  a  party  of  hunters  have  been  combating 
one  of  these  Bears,  it  is  impossible  to  find  four  square  inches  of  sound 
skin  in  the  animal's  body,  a  ball  through  the  brain,  or  heart,  appear 
ing  to  be  the  only  safety  on  the  part  of  the  hunter. 


THE   GLUTTON. 


239 


When  a  traveller  is  passing  through  a  part  of  the  country  where  he 
is  likely  to  fall  in  with  these  animals,  he  provides  himself  with  a 


HUNTER  PURSUED  BT   GRIZZLY   BEAR. 


quantity  of  meat  strongly  impregnated  with  some  perfume.  If  a  Bear 
sees  the  traveller,  and  charges  him,  he  throws  down  a  small  piece  of 
his  prepared  meat.  The  bear  stops  and  snuffs  at  it,  and  is  dubious 
about  it  for  some  time,  but  at  last  finishes  by  eating  it.  During  the 
time  in  which  he  is  undecided,  the  traveller  has  gained  considerable 
ground,  and  by  a  repetition  of  the  same  ruse,  either  tires  the  Bear 
out,  or  meets  with  a  sufficient  body  of  friends  to  render  him  inde- 
pendent of  the  animal. 

It  is  rather  singular  that  this  Bear  has  the  power  of  moving  each 
claw  separately,  as  we  move  our  fingers.  It  is  able  to  overcome  and 
carry  off  the  enormous  Bison,  and  to  dig  a  pit  in  which  to  bury  it. 


THE   GLUTTON 

The  length  of  the  Glutton  is  three  feet;  exclusive  of  the  tail,  which 
measures  about  one  foot.  The  top  of  the  head,  and  the  whole  of  the 
back,  as  well  as  the  muzzle  and  feet,  are  of  a  blackish  brown  color. 
The  sides  are  dusky,  and  the  tail  is  the  color  of  the  body. 

The  most  remarkable  circumstance  relative  to  the  economy  of  these 
animals,  is  the  stratagem  which  they  adopt  for  the  purpose  of  alluring 
and  seizing  upon  their  prey.  We  are  informed  that  they  climb  into 
trees  in  the  neighborhood  of  herds  of  deer,  and  carry  along  with  them 
a  considerable  quantity  of  a  kind  of  moss  to  which  the  deer  are 
partial.  As  soon  as  any  of  the  herd  happens  to  approach  the  tree, 


240 


THE   GLUTTON. 


GLUTTON  WAITING  FOB   DEER. 


the  Glutton  throws  down  the  moss.  If  the  deer  stop  to  eat,  the  Glut- 
ton instantly  darts  upon  its  back ;  and,  after  fixing  himself  firmly 
between  the  horns,  tears  out  its  eyes :  which  torments  the  animal  to 
such  a  degree,  that  either  to  end  its  torments,  or  to  get  rid  of  its  cruel 
enemy,  it  strikes  its  head  against  the  trees  till  it  falls  down  dead. 
The  Glutton  divides  the  flesh  of  the  deer  into  convenient  portions, 
and  conceals  them  in  the  earth  for  future  provisions.  When  the 
voracious  animal  has  once  firmly  fixed  himself  by  the  claws  and 
teeth,  it  is  impossible  to  remove  him.  In  vain  does  the  unfortunate 
stag  seek  for  safety  in  flight:  and  if  it  do  not  kill  itself,  its  enemy 
soon  brings  it  to  the  ground  by  sucking  its  blood,  and  gradually  de- 
vouring its  body. 

Gluttons  feed  also  on  hares,  mice,  birds,  and  even  on  putrid  flesh  ; 
and  it  is  absurdly  asserted  by  the  Norwegians,  that  they  carry  their 
voracity  to  such  an  extent,  as  to  be  obliged  to  relieve  themselves  by 
squeezing  their  over-swollen  bodies  between  two  trees.  If  this  creature 
seize  a  carcass,  even  bigger  than  himself,  he  will  not  desist  from  eat- 
ing so  long  as  there  is  a  mouthful  left. 

When  the  Glutton  is  attacked,  he  makes  a  stout  resistance;  for, 
with  his  teeth,  he  will  tear  even  the  stock  from  a  gun,  or  break  in 
pieces  the  trap  in  which  he  is  caught.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  is 


THE   WOLVERINE. 


241 


capable  of  being  rendered  tame,  and  of  learning  many  entertaining 
tricks. 

In  a  state  of  nature,  he  suffers  men  to  approach  him  without  ex- 
hibiting the  least 
signs  of  fear,  and 
even  without  any 
apparent  wish  to 
avoid  them.  This 
may  be  the  effect 
of  living  in  desert 
countries ;  gene- 
rally out  of  the 
sight,  and  re- 
moved from  the 
attacks  of  men. 

The  Glutton  is 
hunted  for  the 
sake  of  his  skin, 
which  is  very 
valuable.  The 
Kamtschadales  so 

much  esteem  it,  that  they  say  the  heavenly  beings  wear  garments 
made  of  no  other  fur  than  this ;  and  they  would  describe  a  man  as 
most  richly  attired,  if  he  had  on  the  skin  of  a  Glutton.  The  women 
ornament  their  hair  with  the  white  paws  of  this  animal,  which  they 
esteem  an  elegant  addition  to  their  dress. 

Gluttons  are  found  in  all  the  countries  bordering  upon  the  northern 
ocean.  They  are  also  natives  of  various  parts  of  Canada,  and  of  the 
country  around  Hudson's  Bay. 


THE  GLDTTON  AND  DEBR. 


THE   WOLVERINE. 

The  Wolverine  resembles  the  Wolf  in  size,  and  the  Glutton  in  the 
figure  of  its  head.  Both  the  upper  and  under  parts  of  the  body  are 
of  a  reddish  brown  color :  the  sides  are  yellowish  brown ;  and  a 
band  of  this  color  crosses  the  back  near  the  tail,  which  is  long  and 
of  a  chesnut  color.  The  face  is  black.  The  legs  are  strong,  thick, 
short,  and  black :  and  the  soles  of  the  feet  are  covered  with  hair. 

These  animals  are  not  uncommon  in  the  northern  regions  of 
America. 

The  pace  of  this  animal  is  very  slow ;  but  their  sagacity,  strength, 
and  acute  scent,  make  to  them  ample  amends  for  this  defect.  They 
burrow  in  the  ground ;  and  are  said  to  be  extremely  fierce  and 
savage.  They  are  also  possessed  of  great  courage  and  resolution. 
A  Wolverine  has  been  known  to  seize  on  a  deer  that  an  Indian  had 
killed ;  and  though  the  Indian  advanced  within  twenty  yards,  he  still 
refused  to  abandon  his  capture,  and  even  suffered  himself  to  be  shot 
upon  the  body  of  the  fallen  animal.  Wolverines  have  also  been 
known  to  take  a  deer  from  a  wolf,  before  the  latter  had  time  to  begin 


242 


THE    WOLYERINE. 


WOLVERINE   ATTACKING  DEER. 


his  repast  after  killing  it.  Indeed  their  amazing  strength,  and  the 
length  and  sharpness  of  their  claws,  render  them  capable  of  making 
a  formidable  resistance  against  every  animal  of  their  own  country. 

As  a  proof  of  their  surprising  strength,  it  is  related  that,  some  years 
ago,  there  was  a  Wolverine  at  Churchill,  on  Hudson's  Bay,  that  over- 
set the  greater  part  of  a  pile  of  wood  which  measured  upwards  of 
seventy  yards  round,  and  contained  a  whole  winter's  firing:  this  he 
did,  to  get  at  some  provisions  that  had  been  hidden  there  by  the  Com- 
pany's servants,  when  going  to  the  factory  to  spend  the  Christmas  holi- 
days. This  animal  had  for  several  weeks,  been  observed  lurking 
about  the  neighborhood  of  their  tent ;  and  had  committed  many  depre- 
dations on  the  game  caught  in  their  traps  and  snares,  and  eaten  many 
of  the  Foxes  that  had  been  killed  by  guns  set  for  the  purpose,  but 
he  was  too  cunning  to  be  caught.  The  people  thought  they  had 


THE  RACCOON.  243 

adopted  an  effectual  mode  of  securing  their  provisions,  by  tying  them 
up  in  bundles,  and  placing  these  on  the  tops  of  the  wood  pile.  They 
did  not  imagine  that  the  Wolverine  would  even  have  found  out  where 
they  were ;  much  less  that  he  could  have  got  at  them  if  he  had  dis- 
covered them.  To  their  astonishment,  however,  when  they  returned, 
they  found  the  greater  part  of  the  pile  overthrown.  The  wood  was 
very  much  scattered  about;  and  it  was  imagined,  that  in  the  animal's 
attempting  to  carry  off  his  booty,  some  of  the  provisions  had  fallen 
down  into  the  heart  of  the  pile,  and  that  rather  than  lose  half  his  prize, 
he  had  been  at  the  trouble  of  doing  this.  The  bags  of  flour,  oatmeal, 
and  peas,  though  of  no  use  to  him,  he  had  torn  to  pieces,  and  their 
contents  were  found  scattered  about  on  the  snow;  but  every  bit  of 
animal  food,  consisting  of  beef,  pork,  bacon,  venison,  salted  geese,  and 
partridges,  he  had  either  eaten  or  carried  away. 


THE   KACCOOST. 

The  color  of  this  animal  is 
grey ;  and  its  head  is  shaped 
somewhat  like  that  of  a  Fox. 
The  face  is  white ;  and  the 
eyes,  which  are  large,  are  sur- 
rounded by  a  black  band,  from 
which  a  dusky  stripe  runs 
along  the  nose.  The  tail  is 
very  bushy,  and  is  annulated 
with  black.  The  back  is  some- 
what arched ;  and  the  fore-legs 

are    shorter   than    the    others.  THE  RACCOON. 

The  length  of  the  Raccoon  is 

about  two  feet,  from  the  nose  to  the  tail ;  and  the  tail  is  about  a  foot 
long. 

The  Raccoon  is  a  native  of  North  America,  and  of  several  of  the 
West  India  islands,  where  it  inhabits  the  hollows  of  trees.  Its  food 
consists  principally  of  maize,  sugar-canes,  and  various  kinds  of  fruit. 
It  is  also  supposed  to  devour  birds,  and  their  eggs.  When  near  the 
shores,  these  animals  live  much  on  shell-fish,  and  particularly  on 
oysters.  We  are  told  that  they  will  watch  the  opening  of  the  shell, 
dexterously  put  in  their  paw,  and  tear  out  the  contents ;  sometimes, 
however,  the  oyster  suddenly  closes,  catches  the  thief,  and  detains  him 
till  he  is  drowned  by  the  return  of  the  tide.  They  feed  likewise  on 
crabs,  in  the  taking  of  which  they  exhibit  much  cunning.  Brickell, 
who  relates  these  circumstances,  says,  that  the  Raccoon  will  stand 
by  the  side  of  a  swamp,  and  hang  its  tail  into  the  water;  that  the 
Crabs,  mistaking  this  for  food,  lay  hold  of  it,  and  as  soon  as  the  beast 
feels  them  pinch,  he  pulls  them  out  with  a  sudden  jerk,  and  devours 
them.  A  species  of  Land-Crab,  found  in  holes  of  the  sand  in  North 
Carolina,  are  frequently  the  food 'of  the  Raccoon.  He  catches  them 
by  putting  one  of  his  fore-paws  into  the  ground,  and  hauling  them  out, 
16 


244 


THE   RACCOON. 


RACCOON  IN  A  TREE. 


The  Raccoon  is  an  active  and  sprightly  animal,  but  has  a  singularly 

oblique  gait  in  walking.  His  sharp 
claws  enable  him  to  climb  trees  with 
great  facility,  and  he  ventures  to  run 
even  to  the  extremities  of  the  branches. 
He  is  easily  tamed,  and  is  then  good-na- 
tured and  sportive ;  but  is  almost  con- 
stantly in  motion,  and  is  as  mischiev- 
ous as  a  monkey.  He  sits  upright 
to  eat,  and  carries  food  to  his  mouth 
in  his  paws.  He  feeds  chiefly  by 
night,  and  sleeps  during  the  greatest 
part  of  the  day. 

M.   Blanquart  des   Salines  had   a 
Eaccoon,  of  which   he    gave   to   M. 

do  Buffon  the  following  particulars  : — Before  it  came  into  his  possession 
it  had  always  been  chained.  In  this  state  of  captivity  it  was  very 
gentle,  but  exhibited  little  attachment  to  any  one.  The  chain  of  this 
Raccoon  was  sometimes  broken,  and  on  such  occasions  liberty  rendered 
him  insolent.  He  took  possession  of  an  apartment,  which  he  would 
allow  none  to  enter ;  and  it  was  with  some  difficulty  that  he  could 
again  be  reconciled  to  bondage.  "When  permitted  to  be  loosed  from 
confinement,  however,  he  would  express  his  gratitude  by  a  thousand 
caressing  gambols.  But  this  was  by  no  means  the  case  when  he 
effected  his  own  escape.  He  would  then  roam  about,  sometimes  for 
three  or  four  days  together,  upon  the  roofs  of  the  neighboring  houses; 
descend  during  the  night,  into  the  court-yards ;  enter  the  hen-roosts, 
strangle  all  the  poultry,  and  eat  only  their  heads.  His  chain  rendered 
him  more  circumspect,  but  by  no  means  less  cruel.  When  he  was  in 
confinement,  he  employed  every  artifice  to  make  the  fowls  grow 
familiar  with  him :  he  permitted  them  to  partake  of  his  victuals ;  and 
it  was  only  after  having  inspired  them  with  the  greatest  notions  of 
security,  that  he  would  occasionally  venture  to  seize  one  of  them,  and 
tear  it  in  pieces.  Some  young  Cats  met  with  a  similar  fate. 

He  used  to  open  oysters  with  wonderful  dexterity.  His  sense  of 
touch  was  exquisite ;  for,  in  all  his  operations,  he  seldom  used  either 
his  nose  or  his  eye.  He  would  pass  an  oyster  under  his  hind  paws ; 
then,  without  looking  at  it,  search  with  his  fore  paws  for  the  weakest 
part ;  there,  sinking  his  claws,  he  would  separate  the  shells,  and  leave 
not  a  vestige  of  the  fish.  Whatever  dry  food  he  ate,  he  used  (as 
indeed  the  whole  species  do)  to  soften,  or  rather  dilute,  in  water,  by 
immersing  it  in  the  vessel  that  contained  the  water  given  for  him  to 
drink. 

He  was  extremely  sensible  of  ill-treatment.  A  servant,  one  day, 
gave  him  several  lashes  with  a  whip ;  and  the  man  could  never  after- 
wards accomplish  a  reconciliation.  Neither  eggs,  nor  fish,  of  which 
he  was  exceedingly  fond,  could  appease  his  resentment.  At  the 
approach  of  this  servant,  he  always  flew  into  a  rage ;  his  eyes  kindled, 
he  endeavored  to  spring  at  the  man,  uttered  the  most  dolorous  cries, 
aod  rejected  every  thing  that  was  presented  to  him,  till  the' man  went 


THE  BADGER.  245 

away.  This  animal  disliked  children ;  their  crying  irritated  him,  and 
he  made  every  effort  to  spring  -upon  them.  A  small  Dog  of  which  he 
was  fond,  he  chastised  severely  when  it  barked  too  loud. 

According  to  Linnaeus,  the  Raccoon  has  a  great  antipathy  to  hog's 
bristles,  and  is  much  disturbed  at  the  sight  of  a  brush.  The  female 
produces  two  young-ones  at  a  birth,  which  commonly  takes  place 
about  the  month  of  May. 

This  animal  is  hunted  for  the  sake  of  his  fur ;  which  is  used  by  the 
hatters,  and  is  considered  as  next  in  value  to  that  of  the  Beaver:  it  is 
used  also  in  linings  for  garments.  The  skins,  when  properly  dressed, 
are  made  into  gloves,  and  upper-leathers  for  shoes.  The  Negroes  fre- 
quently eat  the  flesh  of  the  Kaccoon,  and  are  very  fond  of  it. 


THE   BADGER. 

The  general  length  of  the  Badger  is  about  two  feet  and  a  half;  and 
of  the  tail,  six  inches.  Its  body  and  legs  are  thick.  The  eyes  and 
ears  are  small ;  and  the  claws  of  the  fore-legs  long  and  straight.  This 
animal  is  of  a  uniform  grey  color  above,  and  on  the  under  parts  entirely 
black.  The  face  is  white ;  and  along  each  side  of  the  head  runs  a 
black  pyramidal  stripe,  which  includes  the  eyes  and  ears.  The  hair 
is  coarse,  and  the  teeth  and  claws  are  peculiarly  strong. 

The  Badger  is  not  only  well  known  in  England,  but  is  occasionally 
found  in  all  the  temperate  parts  of  Europe. 

Although  in  itself  a  harmless  and  inoffensive  animal,  living  prin- 
cipally on  roots,  fruit,  and  other  vegetable  food,  the  Badger  has  been 
furnished  with  such  weapons,  that  few  creatures  can  attack  it  with 
impunity.  The  address  and  courage  with  which  this  animal  defends 
himself  against  beasts  of  prey,  have  caused  him  to  be  frequently 
baited  with  Dogs,  as  a  popular  amusement.  Though  naturally  of  an 
indolent  disposition,  he  now  exerts  the  most  vigorous  efforts,  and  fre- 
quently inflicts  desperate  wounds  on  his  adversaries.  The  skin  is  so 
thick  and  loose,  as  not  only  to  resist  the  impressions  of  the  teeth,  but 
also  to  suffer  him,  even  when  within  their  gripe,  to  turn  round  and 
bite  them  in  their  most  tender  parts.  In  this  manner  does  he  resist 
repeated  attacks,  both  of  men  and  Dogs,  from  all  quarters ;  till,  over- 
powered with  numbers,  and  enfeebled  by  wounds,  he  is  at  last  com- 
pelled to  submit. 

The  Badger  inhabits  woody  places,  the  clefts  of  rocks,  or  burrows 
which  he  forms  under  the  ground.  He  is  a  very  cleanly  animal,  and 
keeps  his  subterraneous  mansion  exceedingly  neat.  He  continues  in 
his  habitation  during  the  day,  and  does  not  make  his  appearance 
abroad  till  the  evening.  At  times,  from  indulging  in  indolence  and 
sleep,  he  becomes  excessively  fat.  During  the  severe  weather  of 
winter  he  remains  in  a  torpid  state  in  his  den,  sleeping  on  a  com- 
modious bed  formed  of  dried  grass.  Under  the  tail  there  is  a  recep- 
tacle, in  which  is  secreted  a  white  fetid  substance,  that  constantly 
exudes  through  the  orifice,  and  thus  gives  him  a  most  unpleasant 
smell. 


24G 


THE    BADGER 


THE   BADGER. 


These  animals  are  not  known  to  do  any  other  mischief  to  mankind, 
than  by  scratching  and  rooting  up  the  ground,  in  search  of  food. 
This  is  always  performed  during  the  night ;  and  from  this  arises  one 
of  the  modes  usually  practised  of  taking  them.  Their  den  is  dis- 
covered ;  and  when  they  are  abroad  in  the  night,  a  sack  is  fastened  at 
the  mouth.  One  person  remains  near  the  hole  to  watch ;  while  another 
beats  round  the  fields  with  a  Dog,  in  order  to  drive  them  home.  As 
soon  as  the  man  at  the  hole  hears  that  a  Badger  has  run  in  for  refuge, 
he  immediately  seizes  the  mouth  of  the  sack,  ties  it,  and  carries  it  off. 
Sometimes  these  animals  are  caught  by  means  of  steel  traps,  placed  in 
their  haunts. 

They  live  in  pairs ;  and  produce,  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  four  or 
five  young-ones.  If  caught  before  they  are  grown  up,  they  may  be 
tamed.  The  skin  of  the  Badger,  dressed  with  the  hair  on,  is  used  for 
various  purposes ;  and  the  hairs  are  made  into  brushes  for  painters. 
The  flesh  when  the  animals  are  well  fed,  makes  excellent  hams  and 
bacon 


COATI-MONDI — THE   KINKAJOU. 


247 


THE    COATI-MONDI. 

The  peculiarly  long  snout  of  the 
COATIS  distinguishes  them  at  once  from 
the  Raccoons,  which  they  resemble  in 
some  other  respects.  Their  snout  is 
very  movable,  and  it  is  of  great  use  to 
them  in  routing  out  the  worms  and 
insects  which  they  dig  up.  The  nostrils 
are  placed  on  a  sort  of  disk  at  the  end 
of  the  snout,  and  give  the  whole  head 
a  most  extraordinary  aspect.  The  Coatis 
live  upon  birds,  eggs,  insects,  and  worms, 
and  sometimes  they  will  eat  roots. 
They  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits,  spending  most 
sleep,  rolled  up  in  a  ball.  In  descend- 
ing a  tree  they  walk  with  their  heads 
downward,  like  the  Cat,  which,  how- 
ever, they  surpass  in  activity.  These 
animals  inhabit  the  warmer  parts  of 
America,  but  do  not  appear  to  be  much 
sought  after  by  hunters.  The  Brown 
Coati-mondi  is  the  species  represented 
in  the  engraving;  there  is  another  spe- 
cies, the  Bed  Coati. 


THE  COATI-MOKDI. 


of   the  day  in 


COAT:-MOXDI  CATCIil.NU  A  BIRD. 


THE    KIXKAJOU. 

The  Kinkajou  is  also  an  inhabitant  of  South  America.  It  is  not 
unlike  the  Coati  in  its  habits,  but  is  more  active,  as  it  possesses  a  pre- 
hensile tail,  which  it  uses  in  the 
same  way  that  the  Spider  Monkeys 
use  theirs.  The  tongue  of  the  Kin- 
kajou is  capable  of  being  inserted 
into  crevices,  and  drawing  out  any 
insects  that  may  be  lying  concealed 
beyond  the  reach  of  its  paws.  The 
Spanish  missionaries  give  it  the 
name  of  Honey  Bear,  because  it  is 
a  great  devastator  of  the  nests  of 

the  Wild  Bee,  using  its  long  tongue  to  lick  the  honey  out  of  the  cells. 
When  in  captivity  it  is  very  tame  and  gentle,  and  will  play  with  an 
acquaintance  as  a  Cat  will.  It  displays  great  address  in  capturing 
Flies  and  other  insects  with  its  tongue,  and  it  is  amusing  to  watch  how 
its  eyes  gleam  directly  that  a  fly  settles  within  its  reach.  During  the 
earlier  part  of  the  day  it  will  not  move,  but  towards  dusk  it  becomes 
very  brisk  and  animated,  climbing  about  its  cage,  and  swinging  from 
the  top  bars  by  its  tail  and  hind  paws. 


THE   KINKAJOU. 


248 


THE    VIRGINIAN  OPOSSUM 


OF  THE  OPOSSUMS  IN  GENERAL 

THESE  animals  are  furnished  with  an  external  abdominal  pouch 
They  have  ten  front  teeth  in  the  upper,  and  eight  in  the  lower  jaw . 

of  the  former  of  these 
the  two  middle  ones 
are  the  longest,  but  of 
the  latter  the  middle 
ones  are  broader  and 
very  short.  The  canine- 
teeth  are  long,  and  the 
grinders  indented.  Tha 
tongue  is  somewhat 
rough. 

We  now  come  to  a 
race  of  quadrupeds,  so 
^  singular  in  their  con- 
formation, and  so  ex- 
traordinary in  their 
.  habits,  as,  at  their  first 
i/  discovery,  to  have  ex- 
cited the  general  sur- 
prise and  admiration  of 
mankind.  The  females 
of  most  of  the  species 
are  furnished  with  ab- 
dominal pouches,  for  the  protection  and  preservation  of  their  offspring. 
Hence  they  are  called  Marsupial  animals.  In  some  of  these  there  are 
two,  in  others  three,  distinct  cavities,  which  can  be  shut  or  opened  at 
pleasure.  In  these  pouches  the  young-ones  remain,  hanging  to  the 
nipples,  till  they  are  large  enough  to  run  about  and  provide  food  for 
themselves.  The  Opossums  are  animals  principally  confined  to  the 
New  Continent,  and  only  one  species  has  yet  been  discovered  as  a 
native  of  Europe. 


THE   OPOSSUM. 


THE   VIRGIXIAX   OPOSSUM. 

The  Virginian  Opossum  is  about  the  size  of  a  small  Cat :  from  the 

upright  growth  of  its  fur,  however,  it 
appears  to  be  much  thicker.  Its 
general  color  is  dingy  white.  The 
head  is  long  and  sharpened,  and  the 
mouth  wide.  The  tail  is  about  a  foot 
long ;  prehensile ;  hairy  at  its  origin, 
but  afterwards  covered  with  a  scaly 
skin,  which  gives  it  somewhat  the 
appearance  of  a  Snake.  The  legs 
are  short,  and  blackish ;  and  all  the 


TIRG1XIA   OPOSSUM   \VITII   A   DIRD. 


THE   VIRGINIAN    OPOSSUM 


249 


toes  (except  tne  interior  ones,  which  fire  flat  and  rounded,  with  nails 
like  those  of  the  Monkey  tribe)  are  armed  with  sharp  claws. 

From  the  formation  of  the  feet  of  these  animals,  which,  in  some 
respects,  are  like  those  of  the  Monkeys,  it  is  evident  that  their  motions, 
on  the  ground,  must  be  constrained  and  awkward.  In  recompense, 
however,  for  this  apparent  defect,  they  are  able  to  ascend  trees  with 
wonderful  agility.  Here,  by  the  help  of  their  tail,  which  is  so  mus- 
cular and  flexile  as  to  admit  of  being  coiled  round  the  branches,  they 
are  more  active  than  most  other  quadrupeds.  Sometimes  they  will 
continue  for  a  considerable  while  together  with  their  bodies  suspended, 
and  on  watch  for  prey.  At  other  times,  like  Monkeys  and  Squirrels, 
they  will  leap  from  tree  to  tree,  in  pursuit  of  food,  or  to  escape  from 
their  enemies. 

If  an  Opossum  be  pursued  and  overtaken,  it  will  feign  itself  dead 
till  the  danger  is  over ;  and,  says  M.  du  Pratz,  it  will  not,  when  seized 
in  this  condition,  exhibit  signs  of  life,  though  even  placed  on  a  red- 
hot  iron ;  and  when  there  are  any  young-ones  in  the  pouch  of  a  female, 
she  will  suffer  both  herself  and  them  to  be  roasted  alive  rather  than 
she  will  give  them  up.  These  creatures  never  move  till  their  assailant 
is  either  gone  to  a  distance,  or  has  concealed  himself;  on  which  they 
endeavor  to  scramble,  with  as  much  expedition  as  possible,  into  some 
hole  or  bush.  They  are  so  very  tenacious  of  life,  that,  in  North  Caro- 
lina, there  is  a  well-known  adage,  "  If  a  Cat  has  nine  lives,  the  Opossum 
has  nineteen." 

Although,  says  M.  de  BufYon,  these  animals  are  carnivorous,  and 
even  greedy  of 
blood,  which  they 
suck  with  avidity, 
they  also  feed  upon 
reptiles,  insects,  su- 
gar-canes, potatoes, 
roots,  and  the 
leaves  and  the  bark 
o  f  trees.  Being 
neither  wild  n  o  r 
ferocious,  they  are 
easily  tamed;  and, 
in  a  domestic  state, 
are  by  no  means 


nice   in   regard   to 
their  food.     Their 
smell   is    offensive, 
somewhat   resemb- 
ling that  of  a  Fox.     When  two  or  more  Opossums  are  kept  in  the 
same  place,  they  almost  continually  employ  themselves  in  licking  each 
other;  and  whenever  they  are  fondled  by  any  person,  they  make  a 
purring  noise,  not  unlike  that  of  a  Cat. 

In  a  wild  state,  when  the  female  is  about  to  litter,  she  chooses  a 
place  in  the  thick  bushes,  at  the  foot  of  some  tree.  Assisted  by  the 
male,  she  there  collects  together  a  quantity  of  fine,  dry  grass ;  this 


VIRGINIAN   OPOSSUM  CATCHIXO  A  LIZARD. 


250 


KANGAROOS   IN  GENERAL. 


is  loaded  upon  her  belly,  and  the  male  drags  her  and  her  burden  to 
the  nest,  by  her  tail.  She  produces  from  four  to  six  young-ones  at  a 
time.  As  soon  as  these  come  into  the  world,  they  retreat  into  her 
pouch  or  false  belly,  blind,  naked,  and  exactly  resembling  little 
foetuses  ;  and  fasten  themselves  to  the  teats.  Some  travellers  assert, 
that,  at  this  period  of  their  existence,  they  are  not  bigger  than  a  large 
fly ;  a  fact,  says  M.  de  Buffbn,  not  so  much  exaggerated  as  might  be 
imagined,  since  he  had  himself  seen  in  an  animal  of  a  species  resem- 
bling the  Opossum,  young-ones  sticking  to  the  teats  that  were  not 
larger  than  beans.  They  fasten  themselves  as  closely  to  the  teats  as 
if  they  grew  there  ;  and  they  continue  to  adhere,  apparently  inani- 
mate, till  they  arrive  at  some  degree  of  perfection  in  shape,  and 
obtain  their  sight,  strength,  and  hair;  after  which  they  undergo  a 
sort  of  second  birth.  From  that  time  they  use  the  pouch  merely  as 
an  asylum  from  danger.  The  mother  carries  them  about  with  the 
utmost  affection,  and  they  may  frequently  be  seen  sporting  in  and  out 
of  this  secure  retreat.  Whenever  they  are  surprised,  and  have  not 
time  to  retire  into  the  pouch,  it  is  said,  that  they  will  adhere  to  the 
tail  of  their  parent,  and  thus  still  endeavor  to  escape  with  her. 

The  American  Indians  spin  the  hair  of  the  Opossum,  and  dye  it 
red;  and  then  weave  it  into  girdles,  and  other  parts  of  their  dress 
The  flesh  of  these  animals  is  white,  and  well-tasted,  and  is  preferred 
by  the  Indians  to  pork :  that  of  the  young-ones  eats  very  much  like 
sucking-pig. 


OF  THE  KANGAROOS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Kangaroos  have  six  front  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  emarginated ; 


THE  GREAT  KANGAROO. 


251 


and  two  in  the  lower,  very  large,  long,  and  sharp,  pointing  forward. 
There  are  five  grinders  on  each  side  in  both  jaws,  distant  from  the 
other  teeth.  The  fore-legs  are  short,  and  the  hinder  ones  very  long ; 
and  in  the  female  there  is  an  abdominal  pouch,  containing  the  teats. 

In  their  being  furnished  with  an   abdominal  pouch  for  the  pro- 
tection of  their  offspring,  these  animals  are  allied  to  the   Opossums. 
But   in  other  respects,  both  of  structure  and  appearance,   they  are- 
widely  different.     The  tail  of  the  Kangaroos  is  so  strong  and  muscu- 
lar, as  occasionally  to  serve  almost  the  purpose  of  an  additional  leg. 

Only  three  species  have  as  yet  been  ascertained    all  of  which  are 
natives  of  New  Holland. 


THE   GREAT   KANGAROO. 

These  animals  have  frequently  been  known  to  measure  as  much  as 
nine    feet    in    length, 
from    the   tip    of    the 
nose  to  the  end  of  the 
tail ;    and  to  weigh  a 
hundred   and 
pounds.      They 


fifty 
are 

slender  about  the  up- 
per parts,  and  gradu- 
ally increase  in  thick- 
ness as  far  as  the  loins. 
The  fore-legs  are  sel- 
dom more  than  about 
nineteen  inches  in 
length;  whilst  the  hin- 
der ones  are  sometimes 
three  feet  and  a  half 
long.  The  hind  legs, 
which  are  perfectly 
bare  and  callous  be- 
neath, are  very  strong ; 
and,  when  sitting  erect, 
the  animal  rests  on  the 
whole  of  their  length. 
The  claws  are  only 
three  in  number;  the 
middle  one  greatly  ex- 
ceeds the  others  in 
length  and  strength ; 
but  the  inner  one  is  of 
a  peculiar  structure ;  at  first  sight  it  appears  to  be  single,  but  on 
further  inspection  it  is  seen  to  be  divided  down  the  middle,  and  even 
through  the  ball  of  the  toe  belonging  to  it. 

It  was  in  the  year  1770  that  this  very  singular  species  of  quadruped 
was  originally  discovered  in  New  Holland,  by  some  of  the  persons 


THE  GREAT  KANGAROO. 


THE    GREAT    KANGAROO. 


HUNTING   THE   KANGAKOO   ON   HORSEBACK. 


who  accompanied  Captain  Cook  in  his  first  circumnavigation  of  the 
world.  From  the  general  form  and  structure  of  the  Kangaroo,  there 
can  be  little  doubt  that  its  chief  progressive  motion  must  be  by  leaps  • 
in  these  exertions  it  has  been  seen  to  exceed  twenty  feet  at  a  time,  and 
this  so  often  repeated  as  almost  to  elude  the  swiftness  of  the  fleetest 
greyhound ;  and  it  is  able  with  ease  to  bound  over  obstacles  nine 
feet  or  more  in  height. 

Kangaroos  have  vast  strength 
in  their  tail.  This  they  occasionally 
use  as  a  weapon  of  defence ;  for 
they  are  able  to  strike  with  it  so 
violent  a  blow,  as  even  to  break  a 
man's  leg.  But  this  is  not  their 
only  weapon,  for  when  hunted,  as 
they  sometimes  are,  with  grey- 
hounds, they  use  both  their  claws 
and  teeth.  On  the  hounds'  seizing 
them,  they  turn,  and  catching  hold 
with  the  nails  of  the  fore-paws, 
strike  the  Dog  with  the  claws  of 
their  hind  feet,  and  sometimes 
lacerate  his  body  in  a  very  shocking  manner. 

The  Kangaroo  generally  feeds  standing  on  its  four  feet,  in  the  manner 
of  other  quadrupeds ;  and  it  drinks  by  lapping.  In  a  state  of  captivity, 


KANGAROO  LEAPING. 


THE    GREAT  KANGAROO. 


253 


HUNTING  TEE  KANGAROO  WITH  DOCS. 

it  has  a  trick  of  sometimes  springing  forward,  and  kicking,  in  a  forcible 
manner,  with  its  hind-feet ;  during  which  action  it  rests  or  props  itself 
on  the  base  of  its  tail. 

These  animals  have  the  singular  faculty  of  separating,  to  a  consider 
able  distance,  the  two  long  fore-teeth  of  their  upper-jaw.  The  female 
seldom  produces  more  than  one  young-one  at  a  birth :  and  so  exceed- 
ingly diminutive  is  this  at  its  first  exclusion,  that  it  scarcely  exceeds 
an  inch  in  length,  and  weighs  but  twenty-one  grains.  It  is  received 
into  the  abdominal  pouch  of  the  mother,  though  its  mouth  is  merely 
a  round  hole,  just  large  enough  to  receive  the  point  of  the  nipple. 
The  mouth,  however,  gradually  extends  with  age,  till  it  is  capable  of 
receiving  the  whole  nipple,  which  then  lies  in  a  groove  formed  in  the 
middle. of  the  tongue.  At  this  period  of  its  growth,  feeble  as  it  is 
in  othsr  respects,  its  fore-paws  are  comparatively  large  and  strong, 
andtho  claws  extremely  distinct,  to  facilitate  the  motion  of  the  little 


254 


THE   GREAT   KANGAROO. 


animal  during  its  residence  in  the  pouch :  the  hind-legs,  which  are 
afterwards  to  become  very  long  and  stout,  are  now  both  shorter  and 


KANGAROO   AT   BAT. 


smaller  than  the  others.  The  young-one  continues  to  reside  in  the 
pouch  till  it  has  nearly  attained  its  maturity.  It  occasionally  creeps 
out  for  exercise  or  amusement ;  and  even  after  it  has  quitted  this 
maternal  retreat,  it  often  runs  into  it  for  shelter,  on  the  least  indica- 
tion of  danger. 

Kangaroos  live  in  burrows  under  the  ground,  and  subsist  on  veget- 
able substances,  and  chiefly  on  grass.  In  their  native  state  they  are 
said  to  feed  in  herds,  thirty  or  forty  together ;  and  some  individual  of 
the  herd  is  generally  observed  to  be  stationed,  apparently  on  the  watch, 
at  a  distance  from  the  rest.  They  seem  to  be  nocturnal  animals.  Their 
eyes  are  furnished  with  nictitating  or  winking  membranes,  situated  at 
the  interior  angle,  and  caoable  of  being  extended  at  pleasure  entirely 
over  the  ball. 


THE   WOMBAT DASYURUS. 


255 


HUNTING  THE   SMALL  KANGAROO. 


Several  Kangaroos  have  been  kept  in  England,  and  particularly  in 
the  royal  domains  at  Eichmond.  These  have  produced  young-ones : 
and  we  have  reason  to  suppose  that  there  would  be  little  difficulty  in 
naturalizing  the  species  in  this  country. 

Nearly  all  the  quadrupeds  of  Australia  are  marsupial.  We  have 
space  for  only  a  few  of  them  ;  and  first, 


THE   WOMBAT. 


The  Wombat  is  a  sluggish  animal, 
burrowing  under  ground  and  sleep- 
ing in  the  day  time.  At  night  it 
seeks  its  food,  which  consists  entirely 
of  vegetable  matter.  Its  flesh  is  said 
to  be  palatable ;  and  it  is  easily  do- 
mesticated. 


THE   WOMBAT. 


THE   DASYURUS. 

The  Dasyurus,  says  a  French  writer, 
is  the  Fox  of  Australia,  He  is  carni- 
vorous and  extremely  voracious.  It 
lives  on  birds,  insects,  and  even  reptiles. 
It  lives  in  cavities  of  the  rocks  near 
the  settlements  of  Australia  in  the  day- 
time, and  sallies  forth  to  make  dread- 


DASTUEUS    CAUGHT  IN   A   TF.AP. 


256 


THE   ECHIDNA — SOOTY   TAPOA. 


THE  DASYTJRUS. 


ful  ravages  on  the  poultry  yards.     There  are  several  species  of  Dasy- 
urus,  one  of  which  is  not  larger  than  a  Eat. 


IHB  ECHIDNA. 


THE   ECHIDNA. 

Externally  the   Echidna  resem- 
bles   a    Hedge-hog.     The  Austra- 
lians  call   him    the    Spring    Hog. 
_|  His  long  tongue,  used  in  catching 
=^j^  Flies  and  other  insects,  reminds  us 
of    the    Ant-eater.       His    strong 
nails  are  used  in  burrowing  in  the 
ground. 


THE   SOOTY  TAPOA. 

The  Sooty  Tapoa  is  another  specimen  of  the  marsupial  animals  of 
Australia.  He  has  a  prehensile  tail,  like  the  Opossum,  and  lives 
chiefly  in  trees,  seeking  his  prey  by  night.  Its  food  is  chiefly  veget- 
able ;  and  its  flesh,  like  that  of  the  Kangaroo,  is  considered  excellent 
eating.  It  remains  at  rest  in  the  day-time,  and  its  period  of  activity 
is  in  the  night. 


THE  YAPAK — PHALMANGER — MOLE. 


257 


THE  YAPAK. 

The  Yapak  is  marsupial.  It 
is  a  sort  of  South  American 
Otter.  Its  body  is  a  foot  in 
length.  It  lives  near  the  water, 
and  feeds  on  fish.  It  has  a 
long  tail,  scaly,  like  that  of  a 
Rat.  Its  fur,  of  a  yellowish- 
grey  color,  is  of  some  of  value. 
It  is  found  in  Columbia  and 
Central  America. 


THE    YAPAK. 


THE   PHALANGER. 


TH8  PHALANGER. 


The  Phalanger  is  a  slender,  awk- 
ward-looking animal  of  the  marsu- 
pial tribe,  with  strong  hind  and 
small,  weak  fore  legs,  short  ears,  and 
ash -colored  fur. 


OF  MOLES  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  the  upper  jaw  the  Moles  have  six  unequal  front  teeth,  and  in  the 
lower  jaw  eight.  There  is  one  canine-tooth  on  each  side,  in  both  jaws, 
the  upper  ones  of  which  are  the  largest ;  there  are  also  seven  grinders 
above,  and  six  below. 

The  animals  of  the  present  tribe  are  easily  distinguished  from  all 
other  quadrupeds.  Their  body  is  thick,  and  somewhat  cylindrical ; 
and  their  snout  formed  like  that  of  a  hog,  for  rooting  in  the  ground 
in  search  of  worms  and  the  larvae  or  grubs  of  insects,  their  principal 
food.  The  fore-feet  are  strong,  and  well-calculated  for  digging  those 
subterraneous  retreats  in  which  they  entirely  reside.  They  have  no 
external  ears;  and  the  eyes  are  very  small  and  completely  hidden  in 
the  fur.  There  are  seven  species. 


THE   COMMON   MOLE. 


The  Mole  is  an  animal  so  well  known,  that  any  particular  descrip- 
tion of  its  shape  and  dimensions  is  unnecessary. 

Destined  by  its  Creator  to  seek  a  subsistence  under  the  surface  of 
the  ground,  the  fore-legs  of  the  Mole,  which  are  very  short,  and  exces- 
sively strong  and  broad,  are  situated  outward,  and  furnished  with  large 


258  THE    COMMON    MOLE. 

claws,  by  means  of  which  it  is  enabled  to  work  away  the  earth  from 

before  it  with  the  utmost  ease.  Its 
hind-feet,  which  are  much  smaller 
than  the  others,  are  calculated  for 
throwing  back  the  mould  during  its 
subterraneous  progress.  The  snout 

also  is  .slender,  strong,  and   tencli- 

TUE  COMMON  MOLE.  nous ;  and   there  is  no  appearance 

of  a  neck.     The  general  length  of 
this  animal  is  between  five  and  six  inches. 

The  eyes  of  the  Mole  are  exceedingly  small ;  so  much  so,  that  many 
persons  have  doubted  whether  they  were  intended  for  distinct  vision, 
or  only  to  afford  the  animal  so  much  sensibility  of  the  approach  of 
light,  as  sufficiently  to  warn  it  of  the  danger  of  exposure.  They  have, 
however,  been  proved  to  contain  every  property  that  is  requisite  to 
distinct  sight.  The  faculty  of  hearing  is  said  to  be  possessed  by  the 
Mole  in  a  very  eminent  degree ;  and  if  at  any  time  the  animal  emerges 
from  its  retreat,  it  is  "by  this  means  enabled  instantly  to  disappear  on 
the  approach  of  danger. 

The  females,  about  the  month  of  April,  produce  four  or  five  young- 
ones  ;  and  the  habitations  in  which  these  are  deposited,  are  constructed 
with  peculiar  care  and  intelligence.  The  parent  animals  begin  their 
operations  by  raising  the  earth  and  forming  a  tolerably  high  arch. 
They  leave  partitions,  or  a  kind  of  pillars,  at  certain  distances ;  beat 
and  press  the  earth  ;  interweave  it  with  the  roots  of  plants ;  and  render 
it  so  hacd  and  solid,  that  the  water  cannot  penetrate  the  vault.  They 
then  elevate  a  little  hillock  under  the  principal  arch ;  and  lay  upon  it 
herbs  and  leaves,  as  a  bed  for  their  young.  In  this  situation  they  are 
above  the  level  of  the  ground,  and  consequently  above  the  reach  of 
ordinary  inundations.  They  are  at  the  same  time  defended  from  rain 
by  the  large  vault  that  covers  the  internal  hillock.  This  hillock  is 
pierced  on  all  sides  with  sloping  holes,  which  descend  still  lower,  and 
serve  as  subterraneous  passages  for  the  mother  to  issue  from  her  habi- 
tation in  quest  of  food  for  herself  and  her  offspring.  These  by-paths 
are  beaten  and  firm ;  they  extend  about  twelve  or  fifteen  paces,  and 
issue  from  the  principal  mansion  like  rays  from  a  centre. 

In  summer,  the  Mole  descends  to  low  and  flat  land ;  and  generally 
makes  choice  of  meadows  for  the  place  of  its  residence,  because  there 
it  finds  the  earth  fresh  and  soft  to  dig  through.  If  the  weather  con- 
tinues long  dry,  it  repairs  to  the  borders  of  ditches,  the  banks  of  rivers 
and  streams,  and  places  contiguous  to  hedges. 

This  animal  seldom  forms  its  gallery  more  than  five  or  six  inches 
under  the  surface.  In  the  act  of  doing  this,  it  scrapes  the  earth  before 
it  on  one  side,  till  the  quantity  becomes  too  great  for  it  to  labor  onward 
with  ease.  It  then  works  towards  the  surface,  and  by  pushing  with 
its  head,  and  scratching  with  its  nervous  paws,  gradually  raises  the 
mould,  and  thus  produces  those  small  hillocks  so  common  in  our  fields. 
After  getting  rid  of  the  earth  in  this  manner,  it  proceeds  forward,  and 
continues  its  labor  as  before ;  and  a  person  may  easily  discover  how 
many  Moles  are  contained  in  a  certain  space  of  ground,  by  counting 


THE   COMMON   MOLE.  259 

the  newly-raised  Mole-hills,  which  have  no  communication  with  each 
other. 

Moles,  like  Beavers  and  some  other  quadrupeds,  live  in  pairs;  and 
so  lively  and  reciprocal  an  attachment  subsists  between  them,  that 
they  seem  to  disrelish  all  other  society.  In  their  dark  abodes,  they 
enjoy  the  placid  habits  of  repose  and  of  solitude ;  they  also  have 
the  art  of  securing  themselves  from  injury,  of  almost  instantaneously 
making  an  asylum  or  habitation,  and  of  obtaining  a  plentiful  subsist- 
ence. 

The  operations  of  the  Mole  are  chiefly  to  be  observed  in  grounds 
where  the  soil  is  loose  and  soft.  During  the  summer-time,  these 
animals  run  in  search  of  food  in  the  night  among  the  grass ;  and  thus 
frequently  become  the  prey  of  Owls.  They  exhibit  much  art  in  the 
skinning  of  Worms;  this  they  always  do  before  they  eat  them;  strip- 
ping off  the  skin  from  end  to  end,  and  squeezing  but  all  the  contents 
of  the  body. 

When  Moles  are  first  caught,  either  by  digging  or  otherwise,  they 
utter  a  shrill  scream,  and  prepare  for  defence  by  exerting  the  strength 
of  their  claws  and  teeth.  They  are  said  to  be  very  ferocious  animals; 
and  sometimes  to  tear  and  eat  one  another.  In  a  glass  case,  in  which 
a  Mole,  a  Toad,  and  a  Yiper  were  enclosed,  the  Mole  has  been  known 
to  dispatch  the  other  two,  and  to  devour  a  great  part  of  each. 

The  following  is  a  remarkable  instance  of  the  exertions  which  a  Mole 
is  able  to  make  in  crossing  even  broad  waters:  "  On  visiting  the  Loch 
of  Clunie,  (says  Arther  Bruce,  Esq.,  in  the  Linnean  Transactions,)  I 
observed  in  it  a  small  island  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
yards  from  the  nearest  land,  measured  to  be  so  upon  the  ice.  Upon 
this  island,  Lord  Airly,  the  proprietor,  has  a  castle  and  a  small  shrub- 
bery. I  remarked  frequently  the  appearance  of  fresh  mole-casts  or 
hills.  I  for  some  time  took  them  for  those  of  the  Water-Mouse ;  and 
one  day  asked  the  gardener  if  it  was  so.  No,  he  said,  it  was  the  Mole ; 
and  that  he  had  caught  one  or  two  lately.  Five  or  six  years  ago  he 
caught  two  in  traps ;  and  for  two  years  after  this  he  had  observed  none. 
But  about  four  years  ago,  coming  ashore  one  summer's  evening  in  the 
dusk  he  and  another  person  (Lord  Airly 's  butler)  saw  at  a  short 
distance,  upon  the  smooth  water,  some  animal  paddling  to  the  island. 
They  soon  closed  with  this  feeble  passenger;  and  found  it  to  be  a  Mole 
that  had  been  led  by  a  most  astonishing  instinct,  from  the  nearest 
point  of  land,  to  take  possession  of  this  desert  island." 

People  in  general  are  not  aware  of  the  great  mischief  that  is  occa- 
sioned in  fields  and  gardens  by  these  animals.  We  are  informed  by 
M.  de  Buffon,  that,  in  the  year  1740,  he  planted  about  sixteen  acres 
of  land  with  acorns,  the  greater  part  of  which  were  in  a  short  time 
carried  away  by  the  Moles  to  their  subterraneous  retreats.  In  many 
of  these  were  found  half  a  bushel  of  acorns,  and  in  some  even  a  bushel. 
M.  de  Buffon,  after  this,  caused  a  great  number  of  iron  traps  to  be 
constructed;  and  by  these,  in  less  than  three  weeks,  he  caught  1300 
Moles.  To  this  instance  of  devastation  we  may  add  that,  in  the  year 
1742,  Moles  were  so  numerous  in  some  parts  of  Holland,  that  one 
farmer  caught  between  five  and  six  thousand. 
17 


260 


THE   COMMON    MOLE. 


The  following  is  Dr.  Darwin's  description  of  the  habitations  of  these 
animals,  and  of  the  usual  modes  in  which  they  are  caught. — "  The 
Moles  (observes  this  writer)  have  cities  underground ;  which  consist  of 
houses,  or  nests,  where  they  breed  and  nurse  their  young.  Communi- 
cating with  these  are  wider  and  more  frequented  streets,  made  by  the 
perpetual  journeys  of  the  male  and  female  parents ;  as  well  as  many 
other  less  frequented  alleys  or  by-roads,  with  many  diverging  branches, 
which  they  daily  extend,  to  collect  food  for  themselves  or  their  progeny 

"  These  animals  are  most  active  in  the  vernal  months,  during  the 
time  of  their  courtship ;  and  many  burrows  are  at  this  time  made  in  the 
earth,  for  their  more  easily  meeting  with  each  other.  And  though 
Moles  are  commonly  esteemed  to  be  blind,  yet  they  appear  to  have 
some  perception  of  light,  even  in  their  subterraneous  habitations; 
because  they  begin  their  work  as  soon  as  it  is  light,  and  consequently  be- 
fore the  warmth  of  the  sun  can  be  supposed  to  affect  them.  Hence  one 
method  of  destroying  them  consists  in  attending  to  them  early  before  sun- 
rise. At  that  time  the  earth  or  the  grass  may  frequently  be  seen  to  move 
over  them ;  arid,  with  a  small,  light  spade,  their  retreat  may  be  cut  off 
by  striking  this  into  the  ground  behind  them,  and  immediately  dig- 
ging them  up. 

"The  Mole  suckles  four  or  five,  and  sometimes  six  young-ones; 
which  are  placed  considerably  deeper  in  the  ground  than  the  common 
runs;  and  the  mole-hills  near  them  are  consequently  larger,  and 
generally  of  a  different  color  from  the  others.  These  nests  are  to  be 
dug  up ;  having  first  intercepted  the  road  between  them  and  the  mole- 
fcills  in  the  vicinity,  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  inhabitants. 

"The  next  im- 
portant circum- 
stance is,  to  dis- 
cover which  are 
the  frequented 
streets,  and  which 
the  by-roads;  for 
the  purpose  of  set- 
ting subterraneous 
traps.  This  is  ef- 
fected by  making  a 
mark  on  every 
new  mole-hill,  by  a 
light  pressure  of 
the  foot;  and  the 
next  morning  ob- 
serving whether  a 
Mole  has  again 
passed  that  wa;y 
and  obliterated  the 
foot-mark.  This 
These  foot-marks 


THE  MOLB  EAT 


is  to  be  done  for  two  or  three  successive  mornings. 

should  not  be  deeply  impressed ;  lest  the  animal  be  alarmed  on  his 


THE   STAR-NOSED   MOLE — CAPE   MOLE. 


261 


return,  and  thus  induced  to  form  a  new  branch  of  road  rather  than 
open  the  obstructed  one. 

"  The  traps  are  then  to  be  set  in  the  frequented  streets,  so  as  to  fit 
nicely  the  divided  canal.  They  consist  of  a  hollow  semi-cylinder  of 
wood ;  with  grooved  rings  at  each  end,  in  which  are  placed  nooses  of 
horsehair,  fastened  loosely  by  a  peg  in  the  centre,  and  stretched  above- 
ground  by  a  bent  stick.  When  the  Mole  has  passed  half-way  through 
one  of  these  nooses,  and  removes  the  central  peg  in  his  progress,  the 
bent  stick  rises  by  its  elasticity,  and  strangles  him." 

The  Mole  Rat  is  a  singular-looking  animal,  between  a  Mole  and  a 
Water  Eat,  frequent- 
ing marshy  places, 
and  burrowing  in  the 
ground,  and  having 
no  external  appear- 
ance of  eyes. 

THE  STAR-NOSED 
MOLE. 


The  Star-Nosed 
Mole  is  so  called  from 
a  star-shaped  cartila- 
ginous process  at  the 
extremity  of  the  nose. 
It  has  a  long  bushy 
tail ;  but  in  other  re- 
spects resembles  the 
Common  Mole.  1 1 
is  usually  found  in 
North  America. 


THE  STAR-XOSED  MOLE. 


THE   CAPE   MOLE. 


The  Cape  Mole  is 
found  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope.  It 
resembles  the  Com- 
mon Mole  in  its  form 
and  habits ;  but  it  has 
attracted  the  particu- 
lar attention  of  natu- 
ralists by  the  iridis- 
cent  colors  of  its  fur. 
It  is  like  shot  silk, 
changing  from  green 
to  copper  color  like 
the  neck  of  a  Dove. 


THE  CAPS  MOLE. 


262          THE  SHREW  MOUSE — WATER  SHREW. 


THE  SHREW  MOUSE. 

This  pretty  little  animal  is  very  like  the  Common  Mouse,  but  is 
easily  distinguished  from  it  by  the  length  of  the  nose,  which  is  used 
for  grubbing  up  the  earth  in  search  of  earth-worms  and  insects. 

The  reader  must  not  imagine  that  the  Shrew  has  any  connection 
with  the  true  Mice.  It  belongs  to  an  entirely  different  class  of  animals, 
its  teeth  being  sharp  and  pointed,  not  unlike  those  of  the  Mole  and  the 
Hedgehog,  whereas  those  of  the  Mouse  are  broad  and  chisel-shape  like 
the  teeth  of  the  Rabbit. 

A  peculiar  scent  is  diffused  from  these  animals,  which  is  possibly 
the  reason  why  the  Cat  will  not  eat  them,  although  she  will  readily 
destroy  them. 

Many  species  of  Shrews  are  known,  inhabiting  various  countries. 
There  are,  besides  the  common  species,  the  Oared  and  the  Water 
Shrew,  all  three  inhabiting  England.  The  formation  of  their  hair  as 
seen  under  a  powerful  microscope,  is  very  beautiful,  but  quite  distinct 
from  the  hair  of  the  Mouse  or  Eat.  In  the  autumn,  numbers  of  these 
little  animals  may  be  seen  lying  dead,  but  what  causes  this  destruction 
is  not  known. 

This  is  one  of  the  numerous  animals  that  have  suffered  by  false 
reports,  and  have  been  treated  with  great  cruelty  on  account  of  those 
fables.  Eustics  formerly  believed  that  the  poor  little  harmless  crea- 
ture paralyzed  their  cattle  by  running  over  them,  and  that  the  only 
way  to  cure  the  diseased  animal  was  to  place  a  bough  of  shrew-ash  on 
the  injured  part.  The  shrew-ash  was  made  by  boring  a  hole  into  an 
ash-tree,  and  then  plugging  up  in  the  hole  a  living  Shrew  Mouse.  By 
the  same  process  of  reasoning  a  Shrew  cut  in  half,  and  placed  on  a 
wound  supposed  to  be  caused  by  its  bite,  was  considered  a  certain 
remedy. 


THE  WATER   SHREW. 

The  Water  Shrew  frequents  brooks  and  clear  running  ditches,  in 

the  banks  of  which  it  lives.  It  swims  and 
dives  with  great  ease,  and  when  under 
water  appears  as  if  it  had  been  speckled 
over  its  entire  surface  with  silver,  from 
the  bubbles  of  air  which  adhere  to  its 
fur.  It  eats  the  grubs  of  various  aquatic 
insects,  digging  them  out  of  the  muddy 
banks  with  its  snout.  It  is  not  very  com- 
mon, but  I  have  seen  numbers  of  them 
inhabiting  a  brook  near  Little  Hinton  in 

OKO.P  OP  ™.  SHB^VS.  Wiltshire,  and ^often patched  their  elegant 

movements  and  gambols  through  the  water. 

Its  localities  may  be  discovered  by  searching  for  its  "runs,"  which 
are  like  those  of  the  Common  Water  Eat,  but  much  smaller. 


THE   COMMON    HEDGEHOG. 


263 


OF  URCHINS  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  animals  have  two  front  teeth  above  and  below;  of  which 
those  in  the  upper  jaw  are  distant,  and  those  of  the  lower  are  placed 
near  together.  On  each  side  there  are  canine  teeth ;  in  the  upper  jaw 
five,  and  in  the  lower  three.  There  are  also  four  grinders  on  each 
side,  both  above  and  below;  and  the  body  is  covered  on  the  upper 
parts  with  spines.  The  tail  and  feet  are  very  short ;  and  the  snout  is 
somewhat  cartilaginous. 

Urchins  are  animals  usually  of  small  size.  There  are  seven  known 
species.  Of  these,  one  is  a  native  of  South  America,  four  are  found 
in  the  East  Indies,  one  in  Siberia,  and  the  other,  the  Common  Hedge- 
hog, is  a  native  of  Europe.  They  feed,  for  the  most  part,  on  roots, 
worms,  and  insects,  which  they  dig  out  of  the  ground  by  their  muzzle 
or  snout.  None  of  the  species  are  carnivorous. 


THE   COMMON  HEDGEHOG. 

The  usual  residence  of  these  animals,  which  are  natives  of  most 
of  the  temperate  parts  both  of 
Europe  and  Asia,  is  in  the 
hedge-rows  or  thickets.  Dur- 
ing the  day-time  they  lie  con- 
cealed in  their  holes,  and  at 
night  wander  about  in  search 
of  food,  which  consists  chiefly 
of  fallen  fruit,  roots,  and  insects. 
Naturalists  have  alleged  that 
they  enter  gardens ;  where  they 
mount  trees,  and  descend  with 
pears,  apples,  or  plums,  stuck 
upon  their  spines.  This,  how- 
ever, is  a  mistake;  for,  when 
kept  in  a  garden,  they  never 
attempt  to  climb  trees;  nor  even  to  stick  fallen  fruit  upon  their 
spines.  They  also  are  undeservedly  reproached  with  sucking  cattle 
and  injuring  their  udders;  for  the  smallness  of  their  mouths  renders 
this  altogether  impossible. 

The  habits  of  these  animals  are,  in  many  respects,  interesting.  In 
the  month  of  June,  1782,  says  a  correspondent  in  the  Gentleman's 
Magazine,  a  full-grown  Hedgehog  was  put  into  a  small  yard,  in  which 
was  a  border  of  shrubs  and  annuals.  In  the  course  of  a  few  days  he 
formed,  beneath  a  small  holly -tree,  a  hole  in  the  earth,  sufficiently 
large  to  receive  his  body.  After  a  while  a  smajl  shed  was  built  for 
him,  in  the  corner  of  the  yard,  and  filled  with  straw ;  but  the  animal 
would  not  quit  his  former  habitation  until  it  was  covered  with  a  stone. 
He  then  took  possession  of  the  shed,  and,  everv  morning,  carried 


THE  COMMON  HEDGEHOG. 


264  THE   COMMON   HEDGEHOG. 

leaves  from  a  distant  part  of  the  border  to  stop  its  mouth.  His 
principal  food  was  raw  meat  and  mice.  Of  the  latter  he  would  eat 
six  at  a  time,  but  never  more ;  and,  although  these  were  thrown  to 
him  dead,  he  bit  them  all  on  the  neck,  before  he  began  to  eat  any. 
He  would  also  eat  snails  with  their  shells ;  but  would  leave  any  thing 
for  milk,  which  he  lapped  exceedingly  slow.  To  this,  even  if  set  six . 
or  eight  yards  distant  from  his  shed,  he  would  almost  always  come 
out  half  an  hour  before  his  usual  time.  If  the  person  who  usually 
fed  him,  neglected  to  do  so  he  would  follow  him  along  the  yard  ;  and, 
if  the  door  was  open,  he  would  even  go  into  the  house.  If  meat  was 
put  near  the  mouth  of  his  shed,  in  the  day-time,  he  would  sometimes 
pull  it  in  and  eat  it.  As  the  weather  became  colder,  he  carried  more 
leaves  into  his  shed ;  and  sometimes  he  would  not  come  out  for  two 
or  three  days  successively.  About  the  end  of  November  he  died ; 
from  want  of  food,  as  was  supposed,  but,  most  probably,  from  the 
severity  of  the  weather. 

Mr.  White  observed,  that  the  manner  in  which  the  Hedgehogs  ate 
the  roots  of  the  plantain  in  his  grass  walks  was  very  curious.  With 
their  upper  jaw,  which  is  much  longer  than  the  lower,  they  bored 
under  the  plant ;  and  gnawed  the  root  off  upwards,  leaving  the  tuft  of 
leaves  untouched.  In  this  respect  they  were  serviceable,  as  they  thus 
destroyed  a  troublesome  weed ;  but  they  in  some  measure  defaced  the 
walks,  by  digging  in  them  small  round  holes. 

The  Hedgehog  has  a  very  uncommon  mode  of  defending  itself 
from  the  attacks  of  other  animals.  Being  possessed  of  little  strength 
or  agility,  he  neither  attempts  to  fly  from,  nor  to  assail  his  enemies; 
but  erects  his  spines,  and  rolls  himself  up  like  a  ball,  exposing  no 
part  of  his  body  that  is  not  covered  with  these  sharp  weapons.  He 
will  not  unfold  himself  unless  thrown  into  water :  and  the  more  he  is 
frightened  or  harassed,  the  closer  he  shuts  himself  up.  While  in 
this  state,  most  dogs,  instead  of  biting  him,  stand  off  and  bark,  not 
daring  to  seize  him  ;  and,  if  they  attempt  it  once,  their  mouths  are  so 
pricked  with  his  spines,  that  it  is  with  difficulty  they  can  be  prevailed 
upon  to  do  it  a  second  time.  He  is  easily  taken ;  for  he  neither 
attempts  to  escape,  nor  to  defend  himself  by  any  other  means  than 
this. 

This  animal,  which  may,  in  some  degree,  be  rendered  domestic, 
has  been  frequently  introduced  into  houses,  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
stroying those  troublesome  insects,  the  cock-roaches  and  beetles, 
which  it  pursues  and  devours  with  great  avidity. 

A  gentleman,  whose  kitchen  in  London  was  infested  with  black- 
beetles,  was  recommended  to  put  a  Hedgehog  in  it.  He,  consequently, 
had  one  brought  there  which  had  been  caught  in  his  garden  in  the 
country.  At  fir^t  it  was,  he  says,  very  sulky,  and  continued  folded 
up ;  but,  after  a  while,  hunger  compelled  it  to  open  itself,  in  search 
of  food  ;  and  it  ate  very  heartily  of  apples  and  bread  soaked  in  rnilk : 
it  also  sucked  with  great  eagerness,  the  milk  out  of  its  platter.  In  a 
little  time  it  became  so  far  domesticated  as  not  to  fear  either  cats  or 
dogs :  and  even  to  take  its  food  out  of  the  hand  of  any  one  who 
offered  it.  This  animal  was  usually  kept  in  an  upright  basket,  and, 


THE   COMMON   HEDGEHOG.  265 

when  the  family  were  going  to  bed,  it  was  customary  to  bring  out 
the  basket  and  put  it  into  the  kitchen.  The  Hedgehog  then  crawled 
up  the  side ;  and  having  by  that  means,  tipped  it  down,  he  crawled 
out,  and  began  sharply  to  look  around  for  his  soaked  bread  and  pan 
of  milk.  Having  tasted  this  with  great  apparent  delight,  he  used, 
immediately,  to  run  under  a  closet-door  in  the  kitchen,  which  he  chose 
as  a  place  of  retreat.  Finding  all  safe,  he  returned  and  retreated 
many  times,  until  he  had  finished  his  supper.  He  was,  in  like  manner, 
supplied  in  the  day-time,  and,  in  similar  manner,  would  throw  down 
his  basket  and  wander  about  for  food.  If,  at  night,  there  was  much 
talking ;  if  the  candles  were  put  too  near,  or  if  he  perceived  himself 
to  be  closely  observed,  he  ran  to  his  lurking-place,  until  the  lights 
were  removed  and  the  room  became  quiet.  This  Hedgehog  continued, 
for  a  long  time  in  perfect  health ;  and  he  grew  so  fat  that,  after  a  little 
while,  it  was  with  difficulty  he  could  squeeze  himself  under  the  closet- 
door.  By  his  good  services  he  well  merited  his  board  and  lodging, 
for  scarcely  one  beetle  was  left  in  the  house  ;  and  it  is  supposed  that 
he  also  destroyed  the  mice. 

In  the  year  1799,  there  was  a  Hedgehog  in  the  possession  of  a  Mr. 
Sample  of  the  Angel  Inn  at  Felton,  in  Northumberland,  which  per- 
formed the  duty  of  a  turn-spit,  as  well,  in  every  respect,  as  the  dog  of 
that  denomination.  It  ran  about  the  house  as  familiarly  as  any  other 
domestic  quadruped,  and  displayed  an  obedience  till  then  unknown 
in  this  species  of  animals. 

At  the  commencement  of  winter  the  Hedgehog  wraps  itself  up  in  a 
warm  nest  of  moss,  dried  grass,  and  leaves ;  and  sleeps  out  the  rigors 
of  that  season.  It  is  frequently  found  so  completely  encircled  with 
herbage,  that  it  resembles  a  ball  of  dried  leaves  ;  but  when  taken  out, 
and  placed  before  a  fire,  it  soon  recovers,  from  its  torpidity.  The 
female  produces  four  or  five  young-ones  at  a  birth ;  which  are  soon 
covered  with  prickles,  like  those  of  the  parent  animal.  The  nest 
formed  for  the  young  ones  is  large,  and  is  composed  principally 
of  moss. 

The  Hedgehog  is  occasionally  an  article  of  food,  and  is  said  to  be 
very  delicate  eating.  The  skin  was  used  by  the  ancients  for  the  pur- 
pose of  a  clothes-brush. 


CURES. 


IN  this  order  the  animals  are  furnished  with  two  remarkably  large 
and  long  front  teeth  in  each  jaw :  but  have  no  canine  teeth.  Their  feet 
have  claws,  and  are  formed  both  for  bounding  and  running. 


OF  THE  PORCUPINES  IN  GENERAL. 

The  Porcupines  have  two  front  teeth,  cut  obliquely,  in  each  jaw;  and 
eight  grinders.  They  have  four  toes  on  the  fore,  and  five  on  the  hind- 
er feet ;  and  the  body  is  covered  with  spines  intermixed  with  hair. 

To  superficial  observers,  the  animals  belonging  to  this  tribe  would 
seem  entitled  to  a  place  with  the  Hedgehogs;  but  they  have  no  further 
similitude  to  these,  than  in  the  spiny  covering  of  their  bodies.  None 
of  the  species  are  supposed  to  be  carniverous. 


THE  COMMON  PORCUPINE. 

The  general  length  of  the  Porcupine  is  about  two  feet  from  the  head 

to  the  extremity  of 
the  tail.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  body  are 
covered  with  strong 
spines,  each  of  which 
is  variegated  with 
black  and  white  rings. 
The  head,  belly,  and 
legs  are  covered  with 
strong  dusky  bristles, 
intermixed  with  softer 
hairs:  on  the  top  of 
the  head,  these  are 
very  long,  and  curved 
backward,  somewhat 
like  a  crest. 

The    strong     and 
sharp    spines    with 

which  the  upper  parts  of  the  body  of  the  Porcupine  are  covered,  and 
which  measure  from  nine  to  fifteen  inches  in  length,  are  complete 
quills,  and  want  only  the  vane  to  constitute  real  feathers.     The  animal 
has  the  power  of  elevating  or  depressing  them  at  will ;  and  when  he 
walks  they  make  a  rattling  noise  by  striking  against  each  other. 
Whenever  these  animals  are  irritated  or  offended,  they  stamp  forcibly 
(266) 


THE  COMMOX  PORCUPINE. 


THE   COMMON   PORCUPINE.  267 

on  the  ground  with  their  hind  feet,  somewhat  in  the  manner  of  Rab- 
bits. In  this  act  they  shake  all  their  quills,  but  more  particularly 
those  about  the  tail ;  and  at  the  same  time  they  exert  their  voice,  which 
is  a  kind  of  grunting  noise. 

It  has  been  asserted  by  credulous  travellers,  that  Porcupines,  when 
provoked,  dart  their  quills  at  the  object  of  their  rage.  This  opinion, 
however,  has  been  fully  refuted  by  many  accurate  naturalists,  who 
have  taken  pains  to  inquire  into  the  matter.  The  usual  method  of 
defence  adopted  by  these  animals,  is  to  recline  on  one  side;  and,  at  the 
approach  of  their  enemy,  to  rise  up  quickly  and  gore  him  with  the 
erected  prickles  of  the  opposite  side.  It  is  also  stated,  that,  when  the 
Porcupine  meets  with  Serpents,  against  which  he  carries  on  a  perpet- 
ual war,  he  closes  himself  up  like  a  ball,  concealing  his  head  and  feet, 
and  then  rolls  upon  and  kills  them  with  his  bristles,  without  running 
any  risk  of  being  wounded  himself.  M.  Le  Yaillaiit  says,  that,  owing 
to  some  pernicious  quality  in  the  quills,  one  of  his  Hottentots,  who  had 
received  a  wound  in  the  leg  from  a  Porcupine,  was  ill  for  upwards  of 
six  months.  He  also  informs  us  that  a  gentleman  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  in  teasing  one  of  these  animals,  received  a  wound  in  the  leg, 
which  nearly  occasioned  the  loss  of  his  limb;  and  notwithstanding 
every  possible  care,  he  suffered  severly  from  it  for  more  than  four 
months,  during  one  of  which  he  was  confined  to  his  bed.  When  the 
Porcupine  casts  its  quills,  it  sometimes  shakes  them  off  with  so  much 
force,  that  they  fly  to  the  distance  of  a  few  yards,  and  even  bend  their 
points  against  any  hard  -substance  they  happen  to  strike.  It  may 
have  been  this  circumstance  which  gave  rise  to  the  report  of  the  Porcu- 
pine darting  its  quills  against  an  enemy. 

This  animal  is  a  native  of  Africa,  India,  and  the  Indian  Islands ; 
and  is  said  sometimes  to  be  found  even  in  Italy  and  Sicily  and  Brazil. 
It  inhabits  subterraneous  retreats,  which  it  forms  into  several 
compartments ;  leaving  two  holes,  one  for  an  entrance,  and  the  other, 
in  case  of  necessity  to  retreat  by.  It  sleeps  during  the  day,  and  makes 
its  excursions  for  food  (which  consists  principally  of  fruits,  roots,  and 
vegetables)  in  the  night.  Although  able  to  support  hunger  for  a 
great  length  of  time,  and  apparently  without  inconvenience,  it  always 
eats  with  a  voracious  appetite.  In  the  gardens  near  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  these  creatures  do  much  damage.  When  they  have  once 
made  a  path  through  a  fence,  they  alwa}^s  enter  by  the  same  path, 
so  long  as  it  continues  open ;  and  this  gives  the  inhabitants  an  oppor- 
tunity of  destroying  them.  When  a  breach  is  discovered,  they  place 
a  loaded  gun  in  such  a  manner  that  the  muzzle  will  be  near  the 
animal's  breast,  when  he  is  devouring  a  carrot  or  turnip  that  is 
connected  by  a  string  with  the  trigger. 

In  its  manners  the  Porcupine  is  harmless  and  inoffensive.  It  is 
never  the  aggressor,  and,  when  pursued,  it  climbs  the  first  tree  it  can 
reach,  where  it  remains  till  the  patience  of  its  adversary  is  exhausted, 
If,  however,  it  be  roused  to  self-defence,  even  the  Lion  dares  not  venture 
to  attack  it. 

In  confinement,  none  of  these  animals  appear  to  have  any  particular 
attachment  to  their  keeper.  They  will  eat  bread  or  roots  out  of 


268  THE   AGOUTI. 

his  hand,  or  suffer  him  to  lead  them  about  by  a  string  fastened  to 

their  collar.  One  that  was  exhibited  in 
the  Tower  of  London  some  years  ago, 
would  even  allow  its  keeper  to  take  it  up 
under  his  arm :  bat  to  do  this  without 
wounding  himself  with  its  spines,  re- 
quired considerable  dexterity,  since  it 
was  -^rst  necessary  to  close  these  to  the 
animal's  body,  by  sweeping  his  arm 
PORCUPINE.  along  tae  direction  in  which  they 

grew. 

Porcupines  usually  sleep  in  the  day-time,  and  become  awake  and 
active  towards  evening.  Their  teeth  are  peculiarly  sharp  and  strong ; 
and  they  gnaw  the  wood-work  of  their  dens  so  much,  that  if  there 
was  not  much  iron  about  the  sides  and  corners,  they  would  soon 
escape.  M.  Bosman,  when  on  the  coast  of  Guinea,  put  a  Porcupine 
into  a  strong  tub,  in  order  to  secure  him;  but,  in  the  course  of  one 
night,  he  ate  his  way  through  the  staves,  even  in  a  place  where  they 
were  considerably  bent  outward,  and  escaped. 

The  late  Sir  Ashton  Lever  had  a  live  Porcupine,  which  he  frequently 
turned  out  on  the  grass  behind  his  house,  to  play  with  a  tame  hunting 
Leopard  and  a  large  Newfoundland  Dog.  As  soon  as  they  were  let 
loose,  the  Leopard  and  Dog  began  to  pursue  the  Porcupine,  which 
always  at  first  endeavored  to  escape  by  flight ;  but,  on  finding  that 
ineffectual,  he  would  thrust  his  head  into  some  corner,  making  a 
snorting  noise,  and  erecting  his  spines.  With  these  his  pursuers 
pricked  their  noses,  till  they  quarrelled  between  themselves,  and  thus 
gave  him  an  opportunity  to  escape. 

The  period  of  gestation  in  the  female  is  about  seven  months,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  she  produces  one  or  two  young-ones  at  a  birth, 
which  she  suckles  about  a  month.  These  she  defends  with  the  utmost 
resolution  against  all  assailants,  and  she  will  rather  be  killed  than 
suffer  herself  to  be  deprived  of  them. 

In  the  stomach  of  the  Porcupine,  bezoar  stones  are  frequently  found. 
These  are  composed  of  hair,  which  has  concreted  with  the  juices  of 
the  stomach  :  they  have  one  layer  over  another,  so  that  they  consist 
of  several  rings  of  different  colors.  Professor  Thunberg  says,  he  has 
seen  them  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg. 

The  quills  of  the  Porcupine  are  used  by  the  Indians  to  adorn  many 
curious  articles  of  dress  and  furniture;  the  neatness  and  elegance  of 
which  would  not  disgrace  more  enlightened  artists.  These  people 
dye  them  of  various  beautiful  colors,  cut  them  into  slips,  and  embroider 
with  them  their  baskets,  belts,  &c.,  in  a  great  variety  of  ornamental 
figures.  The  flesh  is  frequently  eaten  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope. 

THE  AGOUTI. 

The  AGOUTI  lives  in  Brazil,  Guiana  and  Paraguay.  It  is  about  the 
size  of  a  Rabbit,  and  like  that  animal  is  generally  found  in  company 


THE  BLACK  AGOUTI— PACA — CAPYBARA. 


269 


with  others.     In  Brazil  and  Guiana,  the. Agouti  is  much  sought  after 
for  the  sake  of  its  flesh,  but  it  appears 
that  in  Paraguay  the  flesh  is  not  eaten. 
-When  pursued,  it  runs  for  a  short  time 
with  much  rapidity  but  soon  endeavors 
to  conceal  itself  in  a  hole  or  under  the^^, 
roots  of  a   tree,  when    it  will   suffer  * 
itself  to  be  captured  without  any  re-  =J^-- 
sistance,  merely  uttering   a  plaintive 
cry.    It  feeds  on  vegetables,  especially 
yams  and  tubers,  but  in  the  West  India  Islands  it  devours  the  sugar- 
canes,  and  is  a  great  pest  to  the  planters.  , 


THE  BLACK  AGOUTI. 


THE   BLACK   AGOUTI. 

The  Black  Agouti  is  smaller  than 
the  Common  Agouti,  being  about  the 
size  of  a  Kabbit.  It  is  found  in 
Surinam,  Guiana  and  Brazil.  Its 
general  appearance  and  habits  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  Common 
Agouti. 


THE    PACA. 

The  Paca  is  a  short 
thickset  animal,  with 
thick  legs,  short  neck, 
heavy  head,  rounded 
body,  clumsy  joints, 
but  prompt  and  sud- 
den in  its  motions. 
The  upper  lip  is  di- 
vided and  the  mouth 
is  furnished  with 
cheek  pouches.  It 
is  found  in  Brazil, 
Cayenne,  Guiana  and 
Surinam. 


THE  PACA. 


THE  CAPYBARA,  OR  CHIGUIRA. 

The  CAPYBARA  or  CHIGUIRA  is  the  largest  of  all  the  Eodentia. 
At  first  sight  it  looks  very  like  a  Pig,  and  its  skin  is  covered  thinly 
with  hairs  like  bristles,  which  add  to  the  resemblance. 

It  inhabit&the  borders  of  lakes  and  rivers  in  many  parts  of  Southern 
America.  During  the  day,  it  hides  among  the  thick  herbage  of  the 


270 


THE   GUINEA   PIG. 


banks,  only  wandering  forth  to  feed  at  night,  but  when  alarmed,  it 

instantly  makes  for  the  water,  and 
escapes  by  diving.  It  is  hunted 
for  the  sake  of  its  flesh,  which  is 
said  to  be  remarkably  good.  The 
Jaguar  appears  to  be  of  the  sam.e 
opinion,  for  he  is  the  most  terrible 
enemy  of  this  creature,  destroying 
immense  numbers.  The  food  of 
the  Capybara  consists  of  grass, 

vegetables  and  fruits.     Its  length  is  about  three  feet  six  inches. 


THE   CAPYBARA. 


OF  THE  CAVY  TEIBE. 

THE  Cavies  have,  in  each  jaw,  two  wedge-shaped  front  teeth,  and 
eight  grinders.  They  have  likewise  four  or  five  toes  on  the  fore  feet, 
and  from  three  to  five  on  the  hinder  feet.  The  tail  is  either  very 
short,  or  altogether  wanting ;  and  they  have  no  collar-bones. 

These  animals  seem  to  hold  a  middle  place  between  the  mnrino 
quadrupeds  and  the  Hares.  Nearly  all. the  species,  which  are  seven 
in  number,  have  a  slow,  and  some  of  them  a  leaping  pace.  Their 
habitations  are  burrows,  which  they  form  beneath  the  roots  of  trees, 
or  in  the  ground.  They  live  entirely  on  vegetable  food,  and  tire  all 
natives  of  America :  two  or  three  of  the  species,  however,  are  found 
also  on  the  Old  Continent. 


or 


THE  GCINEA-PIG. 


THE   GUINEA-PIG,    OR   RESTLESS   CAVY. 

There  are  few  foreign  quadrupeds  more  generally  known  than  this. 

It   is   a   native  of  Brazil  and  of  some 
other  parts  of  South  America,  but   is 
supposed   to   have  originally  been  im- 
ported from  Guinea  into  England.     In 
a  state  of  domestication  it  feeds  on  bread 
*rain,  fruit  and  vegetables;  but  it  has 
lecided  preference  for  parsley.     This 
little  creature  is  easily  rendered  tame, 

and  is  very  cleanly  and  harmless.  In  its  disposition  it  is  timid ;  and 
it  appears  totally  void  of  attachment,  not  only  to  its  benefactors,  but 
even  towards  its  own  offspring :  these  it  will  suffer  to  be  taken  away, 
and  even  devoured,  without  discovering  the  least  concern,  or  attempt- 
ing any  resistance. 

When  kept  in  a  room,  it  seldom  crosses  the  ftaor,  but  generally 
creeps  round  by  the  wall.  Its  motions  are,  in  a  great  measure,  simi- 
lar to  those  of  the  Rabbit :  it  strokes  its  head  with  its  jore  feet,  and 
sits  on  its  hind  legs,  like  that  animal.  The  male  usuallyrompels  the 
female  to  go  before  him,  and  follows  exactly  in  her  footsteps.  These 


OF   THE   BE  AVER   TRIBE.  271 

animals  are  fond  of  dark  and  intricate  retreats,  and  seldom  venture 
out  if  danger  be  near.  When  about  to  quit  their  hiding-places,  they 
spring  forward  to  the  entrance,  stop  to  listen,  and  look  round  ;  and 
if  the  road  be  clear,  they  sally  forth  in  search  of  food ;  but  on  the 
least  alarm  they  run  instantly  back  again. 

In  their  habits  they  are  so  exceedingly  clean,  that  if  their  young- 
ones  happen  to  be  dirtied,  the  female  takes  such  a  dislike  to  them,  as 
never  again  to  suffer  them  to  approach  her.  Guinea-pigs  may  fre- 
quently be  observed  in  the  act  of  smoothing  and  dressing  their  fur, 
somewhat  in  the  manner  of  a  Cat.  The  principal  employment  of  the 
male  and  female  seems  to  consist  in  smoothing  each  other's  hair ; 
after  this  office  has  been  mutally  performed,  they  turn  their  attention 
to  their  young-ones,  whose  hair  they  take  particular  care  to  keep 
unruffled  and  even ;  and  they  bite  them  whenever  they  are  in  the 
least  refractory. 

They  repose  flat  on  their  belly ;  and,  like  the  Dog,  turn  several 
times  round  before  they  lie  down.  They  sleep  with  their  eyes  half 
open,  and  are  very  watchful.  It  is  observed  that  the  male  and  female 
seldom  sleep  at  the  same  time,  but  seem  alternately  to  watch  each 
other.  They  are  exceedingly  delicate,  and  impatient  of  cold  or 
moisture.  Their  usual  voice  is  a  kind  of  grunting,  like  that  of  a 
young  Pig;  but  their  notes  of  pain  are  shrill  and  piercing. 

Their  manner  of  fighting  is  singular.  One  of  them  seizes  the  neck 
of  its  antagonist  with  its  teeth,  and  attempts  to  tear  the  hair  from  it. 
In  the  mean  time,  the  other  turns  his  posteriors  to  his  enemy,  kicks 
up  behind  like  a  Horse,  and,  by  way  of  retaliation,  scratches  the 
sides  of  his  opponent  with  his  hinder  claws,  in  such  a  manner  that 
both  are  frequently  covered  with  blood. 

The  female  goes  with  young  about  five  weeks,  and  breeds  nearly 
every  two  months.  Though  furnished  with  only  two  teatsf  she  usually 
produces  three  or  four,  and  sometimes  as  many  as  twelve  young-ones, 
at  a  birth.  And  as  these  have  been  known  to  breed  when  only  two 
months  old,  the  produce  of  a  single  pair  may  amount  to  upwards  of 
a  thousand  in  the  year. 


OF  THE  BEAVER  TKIBE. 

THE  Beavers  have  the  front  teeth  in  their  upper  jaw  truncated,  and 
excavated  with  a  transverse  angle  ;  and  those  of  the  lower  jaw  are 
transverse  at  the  tips.  There  are  four  grinders  on  each  side.  The 
tail  is  long,  depressed,  and  scaly ;  and  there  are  collar-bones  in  the 
skeleton. 

Belonging  to  the  present  tribe,  there  are  but  two  species  that  have 
hitherto  been  discovered,  the  Common  and  the  Chili  Beavers ;  and 
even  of  these,  it  seems  doubtful  whether  the  latter  ought  not  to  be 
arranged  with  the  Otters. 


272 


THE   COMMON   BEAVER. 


THE  BEAVEK. 


THE  COMMON  BEAVER. 

The  general  length  of  the  Beaver  is  about  three  feet.     The  tail  is 

oval,  nearly  a  foot 
long,  and  compress- 
ed horizontally,  but 
rising  into  a  con- 
vexity on  its  upper 
surface  :  it  is  desti- 
tute of  hair  except 
at  the  base,  and  is 
marked  into  scaly 
divisions,  like  the 
skin  of  a  fish.  The 
hair  of  the  Beaver 
is  fine,  smooth, 
glossy  and  of  a 
chesnut  color,  vary- 
ing sometimes  t  o 
black ;  and  instances 
have  occured  in 

which  these  animals  have  been  found  white,  cream-colored,  or  spotted. 
The  ears  are  short,  and  almost  hidden  in  the  fur. 

There  is  reason  to  suppose  that  this  animal  was  once  an  inhabitant 
of  Great  Britain;  for  GiraldusCambrensis  says,  that  Beavers  frequented 
the  river  Tievi  in  Cardiganshire,  and  that  they  had,  from  the  Welsh,  a 
name  signifying  u  the  Broad-tailed  animals."  Their  skins  were 
valued  by  the  Welsh  laws,  in  the  tenth  century,  at  the  enormous  sum 
of  a  hundred  and  twenty  pence  each  ;  and  they  seem  to  have  consti- 
tuted the  chief  finery  and  luxury  of  those  days.  Beavers  are  at 
present  natives  of  most  of  the  northern  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia,  but 
are  principally  found  in  North  America. 

No  other  quadrupeds  seem  to  possess  so  great  a  degree  of  natural 
sagacity  as  these.  Yet  when  we  consider  that  their  history  as 
hitherto  detailed,  has  been  principally  taken  from  the  reports  of 
the  Beaver-hunters,  whose  object  it  is,  not  to  study  the  nature  or 
manners  of  the  animals,  but  merely  to  seize  upon  them  as  articles  of 
commerce,  and  whose  accounts  are  often  in  themselves  contradictory 
it  is  necessary  that  we  should  "not  give  implicit  faith  to  every  thing 
that  has  been  written,  even  by  the  most  respectable  authors,  concern- 
ing them,  where  these  authors  have  not  themselves  witnessed  the  facts 
they  relate.  Captain  George  Cartwright,  who  resided  fourteen  years 
on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  in  order  to  collect  the  different  furs  of  that 
dreary  climate,  saw  more  of  the  manners  of  the  Beaver,  than  most 
other  writers.  To  this  work,  therefore,  and  to  that  of  M.  du  Pratz, 
who,  in  Lousiana,  was  an  eye-witness  to  their  labors,  I  have  prin- 
cipally had  recourse,  in  endeavoring  to  give  to  the  reader  as  faithful 
an  account  as  possible  of  the  habits  of  life  and  economy  of  these 
wonderful  animals. 
Beavers  generally  live  in  associated  communities,  consisting  of  as 


THE   COMMON   BEAVER.  273 

many  as  two  or  three  hundred  individuals ;  and  they  inhabit  extensive 
dwellings,  which  they  raise  to  the  height  of  six  or  eight  feet  above 
the  surface  of  the  water.  They  select,  if  possible  a  large  pond ;  in 
in  which  they  raise  their  houses  on  piles,  forming  them  either  of  a 
circular  or  oval  shape,  with  arched  tops,  and  thus  giving  them,  on  the 
outside,  the  appearance  of  a  dome,  while  within  they  somewhat 
resemble  an  oven.  The  number  of  houses  is,  in  general,  from  ten  to 
thirty.  If  the  animals  cannot  find  a  pond  to  their  liking,  they  fix  on 
some  flat  piece  of  ground,  with  a  stream  running  through  it ;  and  in 
making  this  a  suitable  place  for  their  habitations,  a  degree  of  sagacity 
and  intelligence,  of  intention  and  memory,  is  exhibited,  which  ap- 
proaches, in  an  extraordinary  degree,  to  the  faculties  of  the  human  race. 

Their  first  object  is,  to  form  a  dam.  To  do  this,  it  is  necessary 
that  they  should  stop  the  stream,  and  of  course  that  they  should  know 
in  which  direction  the  water  runs.  This  seems  a  very  wonderful 
exertion  of  instinct ;  for  they  always  do  it  in  the  most  favorable 
place  for  their  purpose,  and  never  begin  at  a  wrong  part.  They  drive 
stakes,  five  or  six  feet  long,  into  the  ground,  in  different  rows,  and 
interweave  them  with  branches  of  trees ;  filling  them  up  with  clay, 
stones,  and  sand,  which  they  ram  so  firmly  down,  that,  though  the 
dams  are  frequently  a  hundred  feet  long,  Captain  Cartwright  says,  he 
has  walked  over  them  with  the  greatest  safety.  These  are  ten  or 
twelve  feet  thick  at  the  base,  and  gradually  diminish  towards  the  top, 
which  is  seldom  more  than  two  or  three  feet  across.  They  are  exactly 
level  from  end  to  end  ;  perpendicular  towards  the  stream  ;  and  sloped 
on  the  outside,  where  grass  soon  grows,  and  renders  the  earth  more 
united. 

The  houses  are  constructed  with  the  utmost  ingenuity,  of  earth, 
stones,  and  sticks,  cemented  together,  and  plastered  in  the  inside  with 
surprising  neatness.  The  walls  are  about  two  feet  thick ;  and  the 
floors  so  much  higher  than  the  the  surface  of  the  water,  as  always  to 
prevent  them  from  being  flooded.  Some  of  the  houses  have  only  one 
floor ;  others  have  three.  The  number  of  Beavers  in  each  house  is 
from  two  to  thirty.  These  sleep  on  the  floor,  which  is  strewed  with 
leaves  and  moss ;  and  each  individual  is  said  to  have  its  own  place. 
When  they  form  a  new  settlement,  the  animals  begin  to  build  their 
houses  in  the  summer;  and  it  costs  them  a  whole  season  to  finish  the 
work,  and  lay  in  their  winter  provisions:  these  consist  principally  of 
bark  and  the  tender  branches  of  trees,  cut  into  certain  lengths,  and 
piled  in  heaps  under  the  water. 

The  houses  have  each  no  more  than  one  opening,  which  is  under 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  always  below  the  thickness  of  the  ice. 
Bj-  this  means  they  are  secured  from  the  effects  of  frost. 

The  Beavers  seldom  quit  their  residence  unless  they  are  disturbed, 
or  their  provisions  fail.  When  they  have  continued  in  the  same  place 
three  or  four  years,  they  frequently  erect  a  new  house  annually  ;  but 
sometimes  merely  repair  their  old  one.  It  often  happens  that  they 
build  a  new  house  so  close  to  their  former  dwelling,  that  they  cut  a 
communication  from  one  to  the  other ;  and  this  may  have  given  rise 
to  the  idea  of  their  having  several  apartments. 


274  THE    COMMON   BEATER. 

During  the  summer-time,  they  quit  their  houses,  and  ramble  aoout 
from  place  to  place,  sleeping  under  the  covert  of  bushes,  near  the 
water-side.  On  the  least  noise,  they  betake  themselves  into  the  water 
for  security ;  and  they  have  sentinels,  who,  by  a  certain  cry,  give 
notice  of  the  approach  of  danger.  In  the  winter  they  never  stir  out 
except  to  their  magazines  under  the  water ;  and  during  that  season 
they  become  excessively  fat. 

In  one  of  his  excursions  into  the  northern  parts  of  Louisiana,  M.  du 
Pratz  (who  resided  sixteen  years  in  that  country)  gives  us  an  account 
of  a  colony  of  Beavers,  to  many  of  whose  operations  he  was  himself 
a  witness.  But  this,  in  some  respects,  appears  contradictory  to  the 
account  of  Captain  Cartwright. 

At  the  head  of  one  of  the  rivers  of  Louisiana,  in  a  very  retired 
place,  M.  du  Pratz  found  a  beaver-dam.  Not  far  from  it,  but  hidden 
from  the  sight  of  the  animals,  he  and  his  companions  erected  a  hut,  in 
order  to  watch  the  operations  of  these  animals  at  leisure.  They  waited 
till  the  moon  shone  bright ;  and  then,  carrying  in  their  hands 
branches  of  trees,  in  order  to  conceal  themselves,  they  went  with 
great  care  and  silence  to  the  dam.  M.  du  Pratz  ordered  one  of  the 
men  to  cut  as  silently  as  possible,  a  gutter,  about  a  foot  wide,  through 
it ;  and  to  retire  immediately  to  the  hiding-place. 

"  As  soon  as  the  water  through  the  gutter  began  to  make  a  noise 
(says  this  writer)  we  heard  a  Beaver  come  from  one  of  the  huts  and 
plunge  in.  We  saw  him  get  upon  the  bank,  and  clearly  perceived 
that  he  examined  it.  He  then,  with  all  his  force,  gave  four  distinct 
blows  with  his  tail ;  when  immediately  the  whole  colony  threw  them- 
selves into  the  water,  and  went  to  the  dam.  As  soon  as  they  were 
assembled,  one  of  them  appeared,  by  muttering,  to  issue  some  kind 
of  orders ;  for  they  all  instantly  left  the  place,  and  went  out  on  the 
banks  of  the  pond  in  different  directions.  Those  nearest  to  us  were 
between  our  station  and  the  dam,  and  therefore  we  could  observe  their 
operations  very  plainly.  Some  of  them  formed  a  substance  resembling 
a  kind  of  rnortar ;  others  carried  this  on  their  tails,  which  served  as 
sledges  for  the  purpose.  I  observed  that  they  ranged  themselves  two 
and  two,  and  that  each  animal  of  every  couple  loaded  his  fellow. 
They  trailed  the  mortar,  which  was  pretty  stiff,  quite  to  the  dam, 
where  others  were  stationed  to  take  it ;  these  put  it  into  the  gutter, 
and  rammed  it  down  with  blows  of  their  tails. 

"  The  noise  of  the  water  soon  ceased,  and  the  breach  was  completely 
repaired.  One  of  the  Beavers  then  struck  two  blows  with  his  tail ; 
and  instantly  they  all  took  to  the  water  without  any  noise,  and 
disappeared." 

M.  du  Pratz  and  his  companions  afterwards  retired  to  their  hut  to 
rest,  and  did  not  again  disturb  the  animals  till  the  next  day.  In  the 
morning,  however,  they  went  to  the  dam,  to  see  its  construction  ;  for 
which  purpose  it  was  necessary  that  they  should  cut  part  of  it  down. 
The  depression  of  the  water  in  consequence  of  this,  together  with  the 
noise  they  made,  roused  the  Beavers  again.  The  animals  seemed 
much  agitated  ;  and  one  of  them,  in  particular,  was  observed  several 
times  to  approach  the  laborers  as  if  to  examine  what  passed.  As 


THE   COMMON   BE  AVER.  275 

M.  du  Pratz  apprehended  that  they  might  run  into  the  woods,  if 
further  disturbed,  he  advised  his  companions  again  to  conceal  them- 
selves. 

"  One  of  the  Beavers  (continues  our  narrator)  then  ventured  to  go 
upon  the  breach,  after  having  several  times  approached  and  returned 
like  a  spy.  He  surveyed  the  place,  and  struck  four  blows  as  he  had 
done  the  preceding  evening,  with  his  tail.  One  of  those  that  were 
going  to  work,  passed  close  by  me ;  and  as  I  wanted  a  specimen  to 
examine,  I  shot  him.  The  noise  of  the  gun  made  all  the  rest  scamper 
off  with  greater  speed  than  a  hundred  blows  of  the  tail  of  the  overseer 
could  have  done."  By  firing  at  them  several  times  afterwards,  the 
animals  were  compelled  to  run  with  precipitation  into  the  woods. 
M.  du  Pratz  then  examined  their  habitations. 

Under  one  of  the  houses  he  found  fifteen  pieces  of  wood,  with  the 
bark  gnawed  off,  apparently  intended  for  food.  And,  round  the 
middle  of  this  house,  which  formed  a  passage  for  the  Beavers  to  go  in 
and  out  at,  he  observed  no  fewer  than  fifteen  different  cells. 

Beavers  produce  their  young-ones  towards  the  end  of  June ;  and 
generally  have  two  at  a  time.  These  continue  with  their  parents  till 
they  are  three  years  old,  when  they  pair  off,  and  form  houses  for 
themselves.  If,  however,  they  are  undisturbed,  and  have  plenty  of 
provisions,  they  remain  with  the  old  ones,  and  thus  form  a  double 
society. 

Instances .  have  occurred  of  Beavers  having  been  domesticated. 
Major  Koderfort,  of  New  York,  re- 
lated to  Professor  Kalm,  that,  for  a 
year  and  a  half,  he  had  in  his  house 
a  tame  Beaver,  which  was  suffered 
to  run  about  like  a  Dog.  The  Major 
gave  him  bread,  and  sometimes 
fish,  of  which  he  was  very  greedy. 
As  much  water  was  put  into  a  bowl 
as  he  wanted.  All  the  rags  and 
soft  things  he  could  lay  hold  of,  he 
dragged  into  the  corner  where  he 
was  accustomed  to  sleep,  and  made  a  bed  of  them.  The  Cat  in  the 
house,  having  Kittens,  took  possession  of  his  bed ;  and  he  did  not 
attempt  to  interrupt  her.  When  the  Cat  went  out,  the  Beaver  often 
took  one  of  the  Kittens  between  his  paws,  and  held  it  to  his  breast 
to  warm  it,  and  seemed  to  dote  upon  it ;  as  soon  as  the  Cat  returned, 
he  always  restored  to  her  the  Kitten.  Sometimes  he  grumbled  ;  but 
never  attempted  to  bite. 

In  the  year  1820,  there  were  in  the  upper  room  at  Exeter  'Change, 
London,  two  Beavers,  which  had  been  there  some  time.  They  were 
very  tame,  and  would  suffer  themselves  to  be  handled  by  the  visitors ; 
but  most  persons  were  alarmed,  on  approaching  them,  by  the  animals 
uttering  their  weak  and  plaintive  cry.  This  noise  they  also  frequently 
emitted  during  their  play  with  each  other.  At  times  they  were  exceed- 
ingly gay  and  frolicsome,  wrestling  and  playing  with  each  other,  as- 
far  as  the  limits  of  their  small  apartment  would  admit.  They  often 
18 


THE   BEAVER. 


276  OF   THE   EAT   TRIBE 

sat  upright  to  look  about  them,  or  to  eat:  and,  if  any  thing  movable 
was  given  them  to  play  with,  they  would  drag  it  about,  and  seem 
highly  pleased  with  it.  They  were  in  no  instance  observed  to  drag 
any  thing  about  on  their  tails,  or  to  make  any  attempts  to  do  so.  In 
all  their  manners  these  animals  were  extremely  cleanly.  They  were 
fed  with  the  bark  of  trees,  and  on  bread;  and  such  was  their  propensity 
to  gnaw  wood,  that  it  was  not  considered  safe,  notwithstanding  the 
natural  gentleness  of  their  disposition,  to  allow  them  the  full  range  of 
a  room,  for  they  would  soon  have  eaten  their  way  out,  and  escaped. 

The  skin  of  the  Beaver  has  hair  of  two  kinds:  that  immediately 
next  to  the  skin,  is  short,  implicated  together,  and  as  fine  as  down :  the 
upper  hair  grows  more  sparingly,  and  is  both  thicker  and  longer.  The 
former  is  of  little  value ;  but  the  flix  or  down  is  wrought  into  hats,  stock- 
ings, caps,  and  other  articles  of  dress. 

The  skins  of  Beavers  form  a  considerable  article  of  traffic,  both  with 
the  northern  countries  of  Europe  and  with  America.  About  fifty-four 
thousand  have  been  sold  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  at  one  sale: 
and  in  the  year  1798,  one  hundred  and  six  thousand  skins  were  collec- 
ted in  Canada,  and  sent  into  Europe  and  China.  Those  of  a  black  color 
are  preferred,  particularly  such  as  are  taken  during  winter. 

The  medicinal  substance  called  castor  is  produced  in  what  are  called 
the  inguinal  glands  of  these  animals;  and  each  individual,  both  male 
and  female,  has  usually  about  two  ounces.  That  produced  by  the 
Russian  Beavers  is  more  valuable,  and  sells  at  a  much  higher  price  than 
what  is  imported  from  America.  The  flesh  is  good  eating. 

It  frequently  happens  that  single  Beavers  live  separately  from  the 
general  community,  in  holes,  which  they  make  in  the  banks  of  rivers, 
considerably  under  the  surface  of  the  water,  working  their  way  upward 
to  the  height  of  many  feet.  These  are  called  by  the  Hunters  Hermits 
or  Terrier  Beavers.  Like  the  rest,  they  lay  up  a  store  of  provisions 
for  the  winter.  It  is  supposed  by  Captain  Cartwright,  that  their  sepa- 
ration from  society  originates  in  attachment  and  fidelity ;  that,  having 
by  some  accident  lost  their  mate,  they  will  not  readily  pair  again. 
Whatever  may  be  the  causes,  it  has  been  remarked,  that  they  have 
invariably  a  black  mark  on  the  skin  of  their  backs ;  this  is  called  a 
saddle,  and  by  it  they  are  easily  distinguished  from  the  others. 


OF  THE  EAT  TKIBE. 

THE  front  teeth  are  wedged-shaped.  There  are  generally  three 
grinders  on  each  side,  but  sometimes  only  two.  All  the  species  have 
clavicles,  or  collar-bones,  in  the  skeleton. 

This  tribe  contains  all  those  animals  which  have  the  appellation  of 
Murine  Quadrupeds;  and  although  the  term  Rat  has  been  adopted,  it 
includes  not  only  the  species  that  we  know  by  the  name  of  Bats,  but 
also  the  Mice,  and  others  called  Beaver-Rats. 

These  animals,  in  general,  live  in  holes  in  the  ground ;  and  are  swift, 
and  able  to  climb  trees.  Their  food  is  chiefly  vegetable ;  which  most 
of  them  seek  in  the  night,  keeping  in  their  retreats  during  the  day. 


THE   MUSK-RAT. 


277 


They  feed  in  a  somewhat  upright  position,  carrying  the  food  to  their 
mouth  in  their  fore  paws.     They  are  very  prolific. 


Its  head  is  thick 


TIIE  MUSK-RAT. 


THE   MUSK-EAT. 

This  animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  small  Rabbit, 
and  short,  and  some- 
what resembles  that 
of  the  Water-rat. 
The  eyes  are  large ; 
the  ears  short, 
rounded,  and  cover- 
ed both  inside  and 
outside  with  hair. 
Its  fur  is  soft,  glossy, 
and  of  a  reddish- 
brown  color ;  and 
beneath  this  there 
is  a  thick  down. 
The  tail  is  flattened 
laterally,  and  cover- 
ed with  scales. 

The  Musk-rat  is 
a  native  of  nearly 
all  parts  of  Ame- 
rica, from  Hudson's 
Bay  as  far  south  as  Carolina. 

In  the  general  form  of  their  body,  as  well  as  in  many  of  their  habits 
of  life,  the  Musk-rats  have  a  considerable  resemblance  to  the  Beaver. 
They  construct  their  habitation  of  dry  plants,  but  particularly  of 
reeds,  cement  it  with  clay,  and  cover  it  with  a  dome.  At  the  bottom 
and  sides  of  this  there  are  several  pipes,  through  which  they  pass  in 
search  of  food;  for  they  lay  up  no  provisions  for  winter.  They  have 
also  subterraneous  passages,  into  which  they  retreat  whenever  their 
houses  are  attacked. 

Their  habitations,  which  are  intended  only  for  use  in  the  winter, 
are  rebuilt  annually.  At  the  approach  of  this  season  they  begin  to 
construct  them,  as  places  of  retirement  from  the  inclemencies  of  the 
weather.  Several  families  occupy  the  same  dwelling,  which  is  fre- 
quently covered  many  feet  deep  with  snow  and  ice:  the  animals  not- 
withstanding, contrive  to  creep  out,  and  feed  on  the  roots  that  are  also 
buried  beneath.  They  feed  also  on  fresh-water  muscles;  and,  when 
the  season  permits  it,  on  fruit.  Kalm,  in  his  American  Travels,  says 
that  apples  are  used  in  traps  as  baits  for  them.  In  winter,  the  male 
and  female  are  seldom  seen  apart  from  each  other.  During  the  sum- 
mer these  animals  wander  about,  generally  in  pairs,  and  feed  voraci- 
ously on  herbs  and  roots. 

The  Musk-rats,  as  well  as  the  Beavers,  seem  to  have  their  drones 
or  terriers,  which  are  at  no  trouble  in  the  common  operation  of  build- 


278  BROWN  RAT — BLACK  RAT 

ing  houses.  They  are  remarkable  for  a  strong  musky  smell ;  whence 
they  have  their  specific  name.  Their  nests  are  formed  of  sticks,  and 
lined  on  the  inside  with  some  soft  materials ;  and  the  females  produce 
from  three  to  six  young-ones  at  a  birth.  When  taken  young,  they 
are  easily  tamed;  they  are  then  very  playful  and  inoffensive,  and 
never  bite. 

The  flesh  of  Musk-rats  is  sometimes  eaten;  and  the  fur  is  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  hats. 


THE   BROWN   RAT,   AND  BLACK  RAT. 

The  Brown  and  the  Black  Eat  are  both  of  them  species  much  too 
well  known  in  most  countries  where -they  are  found.     The  former, 


THE  BROWN  RAT. 


which  was  first  introduced  among  us  from  Norway,  has  greatly 
diminished  the  number  of  the  others ;  but  has  itself  multiplied  so  ex- 
cessively, and  is  so  strong  and  voracious,  as  to  form  no  very  acceptable, 
substitute. 

In  Ireland  the  Brown  Eats  have  nearly  destroyed  even  the  whole 
race  of  frogs ;  which  the  inhabitants  were  somewhat  anxious  to  pre- 
serve, in  order  to  clear  their  fields  of  insects,  and  render  their  waters 
more  healthful.  While  the  Frogs  continued  in  great  numbers,  the 
Eats  also  multiplied ;  but  since  the  latter  are  deprived  of  this  con- 
siderable part  of  their  subsistence,  they  also  are  become  much  less 
numerous. 

During  summer,  the  Brown  Eats  reside  chiefly  in  holes  within  the 
banks  of  rivers,  ditches,  and  ponds ;  but,  at  the  approach  of  winter, 
they  come  to  the  farm-houses,  and  enter  the  corn-ricks  and  barns, 
where  they  devour  much  of  the  corn,  but  damage  infinitely  more 
than  they  eat.  They  chiefly  reside  in  the  walls  and  about  the  floors 
of  old  houses :  here  they  frequently  destroy  the  furniture ;  and  they 


THE  BROWN  RAT — BLACK  RAT.  279 

have  even  been  known  to  gnaw  the  extremities  of  infants  while  asleep. 
They  are  also  excessively  destructive  to  eggs,  Poultry,  Pigeons, 
Rabbits,  and  game  of  every  description.  They  swim  with  ease,  and 
even  dive  in  pursuit  of  Fish. 

Their  produce  is  enormous ;  as  they  bring  from  ten  to  twenty 
young-ones  at  a  litter,  and  this  thrice  a-year.  Thus,  their  increase  is 
such,  that  it  is  possible  for  the  de- 
scendants of  a  single  pair  (suppos- 
ing food  to  be  sufficiently  plentiful, 
and  they  had  no  enemies  to  lessen 
their  numbers)  to  amount,  at  the 
end  of  about  two  years,  to  up- 
wards of  a  million.  But  this  bane- 
ful increase  is  counteracted,  not 

,  THE  BLACK  RAT. 

only  by  numerous  enemies  among 

other  animals,  but  by  their  destroying  and  eating  each  other.     A 

large  and  strong  Eat  is  as  much  dreaded  by  its  own  species,  as  the 

whole  species  is  dreaded  by  other  creatures  that  are  their  prey.     Thus 

has    Providence    kindly   interfered    in    keeping    them   within   due 

bounds. 

Dogs  and  Cats  destroy,  but  do  not  eat  them.  The  Weasel  is  in  per- 
petual enmity  with  them;  and  will  pursue  them  into  their  holes,  and 
fight  with  them  there.  This  little  creature  endeavors  to  fix  itself  on 
their  bodies,  and  suck  their  blood ;  which  it  very  often  effects. 

In  the  Isle  of  France,  Eats  are  found  in  such  prodigious  swarms, 
that  it  is  said  the  place  was  abandoned  by  the  Dutch  on  account  of 
their  number.  In  some  of  the  houses  they  are  so  numerous,  that 
thirty  thousand  have  been  known  to  be  killed  in  a  vear.  They  make 
immense  hoards  underground,  both 
of  corn  and  fruit ;  and  climb  up 
trees  to  devour  young  birds.  They 
pierce  the  very  thickest  rafters.  At 
sun-set  they  may  be  seen  running 
about  in  all  directions;  and  in  a 
single  night  they  will  frequently  de- 
stroy a  whole  crop  of  corn.  M.  de 
St.  Pierre  says,  he  has  seen  a  field 
of  maize,  in  which  they  had  not  left 
a  single  ear.  They  are  supposed  to 
have  been  originally  brought  to  that 
island  in  some  of  the  European  vessels. 

On  the  return  of  the  Valiant  man-of-war  from  the  Havana,  in 
the  year  1766,  its  Eats  had  increased  to  such  a  degree,  that  they  de- 
stroyed a  hundred-weight  of  biscuit  daily.  The  ship  was  at  length 
smoked  between  decks,  in  order  to  suffocate  them.  This  had  the  de- 
sired effect ;  and  six  hampers  were,  for  some  time,  filled  every  day 
with  the  Eats  that  had  thus  been  killed. 

In  Egypt,  as  soon  as  the  Nile,  after  having  fertilized  the  land,  leaves 
it  free  for  cultivation,  multitudes  of  Eats  and  Mice  are  seen  to  issue 
in  succession  from  the  moistened  soil.  The  Egyptians  hence  believe 


RAT  IN  A  PANTRY. 


280  THE  COMMON    MOUSE. 

that  these  animals  are  generated  from  the  earth  itself.  Some  of  the 
people  assert  that  they  have  seen  the  Rats  in  their  formation,  one  half 
of  the  bodies  flesh,  and  the  other  half  mud. 

Rats  swarm  in  Otaheite,  where  they  feed  on  the  fruits  of  the 
country  ;  and  they  are  there  so  bold,  as  sometimes  even  to  attack  the 
natives  when  asleep.  The  inhabitants  hold  them  in  abhorrence  as 
unclean :  and  even  avoid  killing  them,  lest  they  should  be  polluted 
by  the  touch.  0 

A  gentleman,  about  thirty  years  ago,  travelling  through  Mecklen- 
burg, was  witness  to  a  very  singular  circumstance  respecting  one  of 
these  animals,  in  the  post-house  at  New  Hargard.  After  dinner,  the 
landlord  placed  on  the  floor  a  large  dish  of  soup,  and  gave  a  loud 
whistle.  Immediately  there  came  into  the  room  a  Mastiff,  an  Angora 
Cat,  an  old  Raven,  and  a  large  Rat,  with  a  bell  about  its  neck.  They 
all  four  went  to  the  dish,  and,  without  disturbing  each  other,  fed  to- 
gether: after  which,  the  Dog,  Cat,  and  Rat,  lay  before  the  fire,  while 
the  Raven  hopped  a*bout  the  room.  The  landlord,  after  accounting 
for  the  familiarity  which  existed  among  these  animals,  informed  his 
guest  that  the  Ilat  was  the  most  useful  of  the  four ;  for  that  the  noise 
he  made  had  completely  freed  the  house  from  the  Rats  and  Mice  with 
which  it  had  been  before  infested. 


THE   COMMON   OK   DOMESTIC   MOUSE. 

Although  of  naturally  timid  and  fearful  disposition,  this  little 
animal  sometimes  becomes  confident  and  sociable.  Its  sight  and 

hearing  are  extremely  acute;  and, 
when  it  observes  the  least  motion, 
or  hears  the  slightest  noise,  it  listens 
attentively,  sitting  erect  on  its  hinder 
feet;  and,  if  the  alarm  continue,  it 
runs  in  haste  to  its  retreat.  But  if 
it  be  gradually  encouraged,  and 
nourishment  and  security  be  afforded, 
it  by  degrees  loses  these  fears. 

Schreber  relates  an  instance  of  a  Mouse  that  made  its  appearance 
every  day  at  the  table  of  its  benefactor,  and  there  waited  until  it 
had  received  its  usual  portion  of  food,  which  it  devoured,  and  then 
ran  away. 

The  Mouse  is  much  more  adapted  to  serve  as  the  companion  of 
mankind,  than  to  be  an  object  of  aversion.  Its  tenderness  and 
-timidity  ought  to  incite  and  receive  our  compassion.  Schreber  saw 
a  Mouse  fall  into  convulsions  through  fear,  whilst  held  in  the  hand. 

This  little  creature  is  now  known  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  habitable 
world.  It  forms  its  place  of  concealment  in  walls,  under  floors,  or 
behind  the  wainscoting  of  houses;  and  in  such  places  it  sometimes 
stores  a  considerable  magazine  of  provisions  for  future  subsistence. 
Its  food  is  various ;  and,  as  it  is  able  to  pass  through  a  very  small 
hole,  there  are  few  places  that  are  secure  from  its  approach. 


THE    LONG    AND    SHORT    TAILED   FIELD-MOUSE 


281 


The  increase  of  these 
animals  is  very  rapid. 
The  females  p  r  o  d  u  c  ~ 
their  young-ones,  gene- 
rally from  five  to  eight 
in  number,  at  all  times 
of  the  year ;  and  they 
grow  so  quickly,  that, 
by  the  expiration  of  two 
or  three  months,  they  are 
themselves  capable  o  f 
breeding. 

Many  modes  have 
been  invented  of  de- 
stroying Mice.  Among 
other  things,  sponge,  fried 
in  fat,  has  been  found  a 
deadly  poison  to  them. 


MICE  IN  A  PANTRY. 


THE   LONG-TAILED   FIELD-MOUSE 


The  general  length 
of  this  Mouse  is  about 
four  inches  and  a  half; 
and  of  the  tail  nearly 
four  in ches.  Its  color  is 
yellowish-brown  above, 
and  whitish  on  the  un- 
der parts. 


SHORT-TAILED   FIELD- 
MOUSE. 

This  species  is  larger 
than  the  last,  measur- 
ing about  six  inches 
from  the  nose  to  the 
origin  of  the  tail.  The 
tail  is  seldom  more 
than  an  inch  and  a  half 
in  length.  Its  fur, 
which  is  very  close  and  compact,  is  of  a  dark  ferruginous  color. 

These  animals  are  found  only  in  fields  and  gardens.  They  live  in 
burrows,  a  foot  or  more  under  ground,  where  they  lay  up  great  quan- 
tities of  acorns,  nuts,  and  beech-mast:  according  to  M.  de  Buffon,  as 
much  as  a  bushel  of  such  subsistence  has  been  sometimes  found  in 


LONG-TAILED  FLELI>-MOUSE. 


282 


THE  HARVEST  MOUSE. 


a  single  hole.  Their  habitations  are  frequently  divided  into  two 
compartments;  the  one  for  living  in  with  their  young,  and  the  other 
for  their  provisions.  These  are  usually  discoverable  by  small  heaps 
of  mould  thrown  up  at  the  entrance. 

A  remarkable  instance  of  sagacity  in  a  Long-tailed  Field-mouse, 
occurred  to  the  Kev.  Mr.  White,  as  his  people  were  pulling  off  the 
lining  of  a  hot-bed,  in  order  to  add  some  fresh  dung.  From  the 
side  of  this  bed  something  leaped  with  great  agility,  that  made  a 
most  grotesque  appearance,  and  was  not  caught  without  much  diffi 
culty.  It  proved  to  be  a  large  Field-mouse,  with  three  or  four  young- 
ones  clinging  to  her  teats  by  their  mouths  and  feet.  It  was  amazing 
that  the  desultory  and  rapid  motions  of  the  dam  did  not  oblige  her 
litter  to  quit  their  hold,  especially  when  it  appeared  that  they  were 
so  young  as  to  be  both  naked  and  blind. 

It  is  a  very  pretty  little  animal,  gentle  in  its  disposition,  and  though 
very  timid  in  a  state  of  nature,  it  readily  bears  confinement. 

Field-mice  are  very  prolific.  They  breed  more  than  once  in  the 
year,  and  often  produce  litters  of  eight  or  ten  at  a  time.  They  gene- 
rally make  the  nest  for  their  young-ones  very  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  often  in  a  thick  tuft  of  grass 


• 


THE   HARVEST   MOUSE. 


THE   HARVEST  MOUSE  AND   NEST. 


The  length  of  the  Harvest  Mouse  is  seldom  more  than  two  inches 

and  a  half;  and  of 
the  tail  about  two 
inches.  The  weight 
is  sometimes  not 
more  than  the  sixth 
part  of  an  ounce. 
Its  general  color  is 
nearly  that  of  the 
Squirrel  or  D  o  r  - 
mouse.  The  belly 
is  white. 

The  Rev.  Gilbert 
White  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  person 
who  ascertained  and 
examined  this  dimi- 


nutive    species 


of 


Mouse.     It  hitherto 

appears  to  have  been  found  only  in  Hampshire,  and  a  few  of  the  adja- 
cent counties. 

A  nest  of  one  of  these  little  animals  was  brought  to  him.  It  was 
most  artificially  platted,  and  composed  of  the  blades  of  wheat.  Its 
form  was  perfectly  round ;  and  its  size  about  that  of  a  cricket-ball. 


THE  LEMMING  RAT.  283 

The  aperture  was  so  ingeniously  closed,  that  there  was  no  discovering 
to  what  part  it  belonged.  This  nest  was  so  compact  and  well  filled, 
that  it  would  roll  across  the  table  without  being  discomposed,  though 
it  contained  eight  young  Mice.  As  this  nest  was  perfectly  fall,  how 
could  the  dam  come  at  her  litter  respectively,  so  as  to  administer  a 
teat  to  each  ?  Perhaps  she  opens  the  different  places  for  that  purpose, 
adjusting  them  again  when  the  business  is  over;  but  she  could  not 
possibly  be  herself  contained  in  the  ball  with  her  young-ones,  which 
moreover  would  be  daily  increasing  in  bulk.  This  wonderful  pro- 
creant  cradle,  an  elegant  specimen  of  the  efforts  of  instinct,  was  found 
in  a  wheat-field,  suspended  in  the  head  of  a  thistle. 

Mr.  White  remarked,  that  though  the  Harvest-mice  hang  their  neet 
above  the  ground,  yet  in  winter  they  burrow  deep  in  the  earth,  and 
make  warm  beds  of  grass;  but  their  grand  rendezvous  seems  to  be  in 
corn-ricks,  into  which  they  are  carried  during  the  harvest.  This 
gentleman  measured  some  of  these  animals,  and  found,  that  from  the 
tiose  to  the  tail,  they  were  two  inches  and  a  quarter  long.  Two  of 
them  in  a  scale  weighed  down  just  one  copper  halfpenny,  about  the 
third  of  an  ounce  avoirdupois !  whence  he  supposes  them  to  be  the 
smallest  of  the  British  quadrupeds.  A  full-grown  domestic  Mouse 
would  weigh  at  least  six  times  as  much  as  one  of  these. 


THE   LEMMING  EAT. 

The  Lemming  Eats  vary  much  both  in 
Norway  being  almost 
equal  to  Water  Eats, 
while  those  of  Lap- 
land are  scarcely  as 
large  as  Mice.  The 
former  are  elegantly 
variegated  with 
black  and  tawny  in 
the  upper  parts,  hav- 
ing the  sides  of  the 
head  and  the  under 
parts  white.  The 
legs  and  tail  are  gray- 
ish; and  the  under  parts  of  the  body  of  a  dull  white.  The  head 
of  the  Lemming  is  large,  short,  and  thick.  The  body  is  also  thick ; 
the  neck  short,  and  the  limbs  are  stout  and  strong.  The  tail  is  very 
short. 

These  animals  feed  entirely  on  vegetables.  In  summer  they  form 
shallow  burrows  under  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  in  winter  they 
make  long  passages  beneath  the  snow  in  search  of  food ;  for,  as  they 
lay  up  no  winter  store,  they  are  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  hunting 
for  it  during  all  the  rigors  of  the  cold  season. 

They  seem  to  be  endowed  with  a  power  of  distinguishing  the 
approach  of  severe  weather ;  for  before  the  setting  in  of  a  cold  wintei 


284  THE   ECONOMIC   KAT. 

they  leave  their  haunts  in  the  above  countries,  and  emigrate  in 
immense  multitudes  southward  towards  Sweden,  always  endeavoring 
to  keep  a  direct  line.  These  emigrations  take  place  at  uncertain 
intervals,  though  generally  about  once  every  ten  years ;  and,  exposed 
as  they  are  to  attack,  great  numbers  of  them  become  the  food  of 
predacious  animals.  Multitudes  also  are  destroyed  in  endeavoring  to 
swim  over  the  rivers  or  lakes.  From  these  different  causes,  very  few 
live  to  return  to  their  native  mountains ;  and  thus  a  check  is  put  to 
their  ravages,  as  an  interval  of  several  years  is  necessary  to  repair 
their  numbers  sufficiently  for  another  invasion.  They  are  bold  and 
fierce,  and  will  even  attack  men  and  animals  if  they  meet  them  in 
their  course ;  and  they  bite  so  hard,  as  to  allow  themselves  to  be 
carried  to  a  considerable  distance  hanging  by  their  teeth,  before  they 
will  quit  their  hold. 

If  they  are  disturbed  or  pursued  while  swimming  over  a  lake,  and 
their  phalanx  is  separated  by  oars  or  poles,  they  will  not  recede ;  but 
keep  swimming  directly  on,  and  soon  get  into  regular  order  again. 
They  have  sometimes  been  known  even  to  endeavor  to  board  or  pass 
over  a  vessel.  This  army  of  Rats  moves  chiefly  by  night,  or  early  in 
the  morning ;  and  makes  such  destruction  among  the  herbage,  that 
the  surface  of  the  ground  over  which  they  have  passed,  appears  as  if 
it  had  been  burned.  Their  numbers  have  at  times  induced  the  common 
people  of  Norway  to  believe  that  they  descended  from  the  clouds ;  and 
the  multitudes  that  are  sometimes  found  dead  on  the  banks  of  rivers 
or  other  places,  corrupt  by  their  stench  the  whole  atmosphere  around 
and  thus  produce  many  diseases. 

These  animals  never  enter  dwellings  of  any  description,  to  do  mis- 
chief; but  always  keep  in  the  open  air.  When  enraged,  they  raise 
themselves  up  on  their  hind  feet,  and  bark  like  little  Dogs.  Some- 
times they  divide  into  two  parties,  attack  each  other,  and  fight  like 
hostile  armies.  From  these  battles,  the  inhabitants  of  Lapland  pretend 
to  foretell  not  only  wars,  but  also  their  success,  according  to  the 
quarters  the  animals  come  from,  and  the  side  that  is  defeated.  The 
Lemming  Rats  are  natives  chiefly  of  the  mountainous  parts  of  Lapland, 
Sweden  and  Norway. 

The  females  breed  several  times  in  the  year,  and  produce  five  or 
six  young-ones  at  each  litter.  It  has  been  observed,  that  they  have 
sometimes  littered  during  their  migrations,  and  they  have  been  seen 
carrying  some  of  their  young-ones  in  their  mouths,  and  others  on 
their  backs. 


THE   ECONOMIC  EAT. 

The  length  of  the  Economic  Rat  is  about  four  inches  ;  and  that  of 
its  tail,  one  inch.  The  limbs  are  strong  ;  the  ears  short,  naked,  and 
almost  hidden  beneath  the  fur  of  the  head.  The  general  color  of  the 
fur  is  tawny,  somewhat  whiter  beneath  than  on  the  back. 

These  animals  are  natives  of  Siberia  and  Kamtschatka. 

The  migrations  of  the  Economic  Rats,  are  not  less  extraordinary 


THE   HAMSTER    RAT. 


285 


THE  ECONOMIC  RAT. 


than  those  oi  the  Lemmings.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  they  collect 
together  in  amazing  numbers,  and  proceed  in  a  course  directly 
westward  ;  swimming  with  the  utmost  intrepidity  over  rivers,  lakes, 
and  even  arms  of  the  sea.  Many  of  them  are  drowned,  and  many 
destroyed  by  water-fowl  or  rapacious  fish.  Those  that  escape,  emerg- 
ing from  the  water,  rest  awhile  to  bask,  dry  their  fur,  and  refresh 
themselves.  The  Kamtschaclales,  who  have  a  kind  of  superstitious 
veneration  for  these  little  creatures,  whenever  they  find  any  of  them 
thrown  upon  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  weak  and  exhausted,  render 
them  every  possible  assistance.  As  soon,  says  Dr.  Grieve,  as  they 
have  crossed  the  river  Penschinska,  at 
the  head  of  the  gulf  of  the  same  name, 
they  turn  in  a  south-westerly  direction  ; 
and,  about  the  middle  of  July,  generally 
reach  the  rivers  Ochotska  and  Judoma,  a 
distance  of  about  a  thousand  miles  !  The 
flocks  are  also  so  numerous  that  travellers 
have  sometimes  waited  more  than  two  hours  for  them  to  pass.  The 
retirement  of  these  animals  is  very  alarming  to  the  Kamtschadales ; 
but  on  their  return,  which  is  generally  in  October,  occasions  the 
utmost  joy  and  festivity,  a  successful  chase  and  fishery  being  always 
considered  as  its  certain  consequence. 

The  Kamtschadales  never  destroy  the  hoards  of  these  Eats.  They 
sometimes  take  away  part  of  their  store ;  but,  in  return  for  this,  they 
invariably  leave  some  kind  of  food  to  support  them  in  its  stead. 

The  Economic  Eats  construct  burrows,  with  the  utmost  skill,  im- 
mediately below  the  surface  of  a  soft,  turfy  soil.  They  form  a  low 
chamber  of  a  flattish  arched  form,  about  a  foot  in  diameter,  to  which 
they  sometimes  make  as  many  as  thirty  small  passages  6r  entrances. 
Near  the  chamber  they  often  construct  other  caverns,  in  which  they 
lodge  their  winter  stores.  These  consist  of  plants ;  which  they 
gather  in  summer,  dry,  and  bring  home ;  and  even,  at  times,  they 
bring  them  out  of  their  cells  to  give  them  a  more  thorough  drying  in 
the  sun.  The  Economic  Eats  associate  in  pairs ;  and  except  during 
the  summer-time,  (when  the  male  leads  a  solitary  life  in  the  woods,) 
the  male  and  female  are  generally  to  be  found  in  the  same  nest. 


THE   HAMSTER  RAT. 

The  Hamster  is  about  the  size  of  the 
Brown  or  Norway  Eat ;  but  much  thicker, 
and  its  tail  is  only  about  three  inches  long. 
The  color  of  this  Eat  is  reddish  brown  above, 
and  black  beneath ;  but  on  each  side  of  the 
body  there  are  three  large,  oval,  white  spots. 

The  ears  are  rather  large.  On  each  side  of  the  mouth  there  are  two 
pouches  or  receptacles  for  food ;  which,  when  empty,  are  so  far  con- 
tracted, as  not  to  appear  externally ;  but,  when  filled,  they  resemble  a 


THE   HAMSTER  RAT. 


286  THE   HAMSTER   RAT. 

pair  of  tumid  bladders,  with  a  smooth  veiny  surface,  which  is  con- 
cealed by  the  fur  of  the  cheeks. 

These,  the  only  species  of  Eats  with  pouches  in  their  cheeks,  that 
are  found  in  Europe,  are  natives  of  Austria,  Silesia,  and  many  parts 
of  Germany.  They  live  under  the  surface  of  the  ground,  burrowing 
obliquely  downwards.  At  the  end  of  their  passage,  the  male  sinks 
one  perpendicular  hole ;  and  the  female  several,  sometimes  seven  or 
eight.  At  the  extremity  of  these  are  formed  several  vaults  ;  either  as 
lodges  for  themselves  and  their  offspring,  or  as  store-houses  for  their 
food.  Each  young-one  has  its  separate  apartment,  and  each  sort  of 
grain  its  appropriate  vault.  The  vaults  are  of  different  depths, 
according  to  the  age  of  the  animals.  A  young  Hamster  makes  them 
scarcely  a  foot  deep  ;  an  old  one  sinks  them  to  the  depth  of  four  or 
five  feet.  The  whole  diameter  of  the  habitation,  with  all  its  com- 
munications, is  sometimes  eight  or  ten  feet. 

The  Hamsters  feed  on  grain,  herbs,  and  roots ;  and,  at  times,  even 
eat  flesh.  Their  pace  is  slow;  but  in  burrowing  into  the  ground  they 
exhibit  great  agility.  In  order  to  facilitate  the  transportation  of  food 
to  their  magazines,  they  are  furnished  with  pouches  in  their  cheeks. 
These  are  each  of  sufficient  capacity  to  hold  about  two  ounces  of 
grain  ;  which  the  animal  empties  into  its  store-house,  by  pressing  its 
two  fore  feet  against  its  cheeks.  When  its  cheeks  are  full,  a  Hamster 
may  easily  be  caught  with  the  hand,  without  the  risk  of  being  bitten  ; 
as  it  has  not,  in  this  condition,  the  free  motion  of  its  jaws.  If,  how- 
ever, a  short  time  be  allowed,  it  soon  empties  its  pouch,  and  stands  on 
the  defensive. 

On  dissecting  one  of  these  animals,  Dr.  Eussel  found  the  pouch,  on 
each  side  of  its  mouth,  stuffed  with  young  French  beans,  arranged 
lengthways,  feo  exactly  and'  so  close  to  each  other,  that  it  appeared 
strange  by  what  mechanism  this  had  been  effected ;  for  the  membrane 
which  forms  the  pouch,  though  muscular,  is  extremely  thin,  and  the 
most  expert  fingers  could  not  have  packed  the  beans  in  more  regular 
order.  When  they  were  laid  loosely  on  the  table,  they  formed  a 
heap  three  times  the  bulk  of  the  animal's  body. 

What  these  creatures  lay  up,  is  not  for  their  winter's  support,  (as 
during  that  season  they  always  sleep,)  but  for  their  nourishment, 
previously  to  the  commencement,  and  after  the  conclusion,  of  their 
torpid  state.  The  quantity  in  the  burrows  depends  upon  the  size  and 
sex  of  the  inhabitants:  the  old  ones  frequently  amass  upwards  of  a 
hundred- weight  of  grain,  but  the  young-ones  and  the  females  provide 
a  quantity  much  smaller. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  cold  season,  the  Hamsters  retire  into 
their  hiding-places,  the  entrance  to  which  they  close  up.  Here  they 
repose  for  some  months ;  and  they  are  often  dug  up  by  the  peasantry, 
who  at  this  season  of  the  year  employ  much  of  their  time  in  hunting 
for  their  retreats.  These  are  easily  known  by  the  small  mounds  of 
earth  raised  at  the  end  of  the  galleries. 

When  the  Hamster  is  found  in  a  torpid  state,  his  head  is  bent  under 
his  body,  between  the  two  fore  legs ;  and  the  hind  legs  rest  upon 
his  muzzle.  The  eyes  are  closed ;  and  when  the  eye-lids  are  forced 


THE   CANADA   FIELD   RAT.  287 

open,  they  instantly  shut  again.  The  members  are  all  stiff,  and  the 
body  feels  as  cold  almost  as  ice.  It  has  been  satisfactorily  ascertained 
that  this  animal,  in  order  to  become  torpid,  must  be  excluded  from  all 
communication  with  the  external  air.  If  a  Hamster  be  put  into  a 
cage  filled  with  earth  and  straw,  and  exposed  to  a  degree  of  cold 
sufficient  to  freeze  water,  he  will  continue  awake  and  active ;  but  if 
the  cage  be  sunk  four  or  five  feet  beneath  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
he  will  soon  be  as  torpid  as  if  in  his  own  burrow. 

The  life  of  a  Hamster  is  divided  between  eating  and  fighting.  He 
seems  to  have  no  other  passion  than  that  of  rage ;  which  induces  him 
to  attack  every  animal  that  comes  in  his  way,  without  in  the  least 
attending  to  the  strength  of  the  enemy.  Ignorant  of  the  art  of  saving 
himself  by  flight,  rather  than  yield  he  will  allow  himself  to  be  beaten 
to  pieces  with  a  stick.  If  he  seize  a  man's  hand,  he  must  be  killed 
before  he  will  quit  his  hold.  The  magnitude  of  the  Horse  terrifies 
him  as  little  as  the  address  of  the  Dog,  which  last  is  fond  of  hunting 
him.  When  the  Hamster  perceives  a  Dog  at  a  distance,  he  begins  by 
emptying  his  cheek  pouches,  if  they  happen  to  be  filled  with  grain : 
he  then  blows  them  up  so  prodigiously,  that  the  size  of  his  head  and 
neck  greatly  exceeds  that  of  the  rest  of  the  body.  He  raises  himself 
on  his  hind  legs,  and  thus  darts  upon  the  enemy.  If,  he  catches  hold, 
he  never  quits  his  foe  but  with  the  loss  of  life.  This  ferocious  dispo- 
sition prevents  the  Hamster  from  being  at  peace  with  any  animal 
whatever.  He  even  makes  war  against  his  own  species.  When  two 
Hamsters  meet  they  never  fail  to  attack  each  other,  and  the  stronger 
always  devours  the  weaker.  A  combat  between  a  male  and  female 
commonly  lasts  longer  than  that  between  two  males.  They  begin 
by  pursuing  and  biting  each  other ;  then  each  of  them  retires  aside, 
as  if  to  take  breath.  After  a  short  interval  they  renew  the  com- 
bat, and  continue  to  fight  till  one  of  them  falls.  The  vanquished 
animal  uniformerly  serves  for  a  repast  to  the  conqueror. 

The  females  bring  forth  their  offspring  twice  or  thrice  in  the  year; 
each  litter  consisting  of  six  or  eight  young-ones;  and  their  increase 
in  some  years  is  excessively  rapid.  In  about  three  weeks  after  their 
birth,  the  young-ones  are  able  to  seek  their  own  provisions,  which 
the  mother  compels  them  to  do;  and  in  fifteen  or  sixteen  days  they 
begin  to  dig  the  earth. 

In  some  seasons,  the  Hamsters  are  so  numerous  that  they  occasion 
a  dearth  of  corn.  In  one  year,  about  eleven  thousand  skins,  in 
another  fifty-four  thousand,  and  in  a  third  year  eighty  thousand, 
were  brought  to  the  Town-house  of  Gotha,  as  vouchers  of  claims  to 
the  rewards  allowed  for  the  destruction  of  these  animals. 


THE   CANADA   FIELD   EAT. 

Akin  to  the  Hamster  is  the  Canada  Field  Eat  with  its  enormous 
cheek  pouches  for  storing  its  food. 


THE  WATER  RAT. 


288          THE  WATER  RAT — ALPINE  MARMOT. 


THE  WATER  RAT. 

The  Water  Eat  is  a  native  of  England,  and  very  common  on  the 
banks  of  rivers,  brooks,  &c.     It  digs  holes  in  the  bank,  and  is  reported 

to  eat  fish,  frogs,  &c.,  but  this  is  very 
doubtful.  These  animals  exist  in  great 
numbers  round  Oxford,  and  I  have  re- 
peatedly watched  them  feeding,  I 
never  saw  them  eating  fish,  nor  found 
fish-bones  inside  their  holes,  except 
when  a  Kingfisher  had  taken  posses- 
sion ;  but  I  have  frequently  seen  them 
gnawing  the  green  bark  from  reeds, 
which  they  completely  strip,  leaving 
the  mark  of  each  tooth  as  they  pro- 
ceed. I  shot  one  while  feeding,  and 
at  first  thought  that  the  marks  of  its  teeth  were  caused  by  the  shot, 
for  until  that  time  I  had  supposed  that  the  Water  Eat  fed  on  fish. 


OF  THE  MAEMOT  TEIBE. 

THE  Marmots  have  two  wedge-shaped  front  teeth  in  each  jaw;  and 
five  grinders  on  each  side  in  the  upper,  and  four  in  the  lower  jaw. 
They  have  collar-bones  in  the  skeleton. 

This  tribe  does  not  differ,  in  many  particulars,  from  that  of  the 
Eats.  The  animals  have  thick  cylindrical  bodies,  and  large  roundish 
heads.  The  fore  feet  have  each  four  claws,  and  a  very  small  thumb; 
and  the  hind  feet  five  claws.  They  reside  in  subterraneous  holes, 
and  pass  the  winter  in  sleep.  Only  eight  species  have  as  yet  been 
discovered. 


THE   ALPINE   MARMOT. 

This  animal  is  about  sixteen  inches  in  length,  has  a  short-  tail,  and 
bears  some  resemblance  both  to  the  Eat  and  the  Bear.  The  color  is 
brownish  above,  and  bright  tawny  on  the  under  parts.  The  head  is 
rather  large,  and  flattish;  the  ears  short,  and  hid  in  fur;  and  the  tail  is 
thick  and  bushy. 

Being  natives  chiefly  of  the  highest  summits  of  the  Alps  and  the 
Pyrenean  Mountains,  these  singular  quadrupeds  delight  in  the  re- 
gions of  frost  and  snow,  and  are  seldom  found  on  the  plains,  or  in 
the  open  country.  Their  holes  are  constructed  with  much  art;  each 
of  them  forming  a  kind  of  gallery  in  the  form  of  the  letter  Y,  with  an 
aperture  at  each  upper  extremity,  and  terminating  below  in  a  capa- 
cious apartment,  where  several  of  the  animals  lodge  together.  This 
apartment  is  well  lined  with  moss  and  hay,  of  which  they  lay  up  a 
great  store  during  the  summer. 


THE  ALPINE  MARMOT.  289 

It  is  affirmed  that  the  labor  of  collecting  the  materials  for  their 
nest,  is  carried  on  by  the  animals  in  concert;  that  some  of  them  cut 
the  finest  herbage,  which  is  collected  by  others;  and  that  they 
transport  it  to  their  dens  "in  the  following  manner:  One,  it  is  said,  lies 
down  on  his  back,  allows  himself  to  be  loaded  with  hay,  and  extends 
his  limbs;  and  others  trail  him,  thus  loaded,  by  the  tail,  taking  care 
not  to  overset  him.  The  task  of  thus  serving  as  a  vehicle,  is  divided 
alternately  among  the  number.  "  I  have  often  seen  them  practise 
this  mode  of  conveyance,  (says  M.  Beauplau,  in  his  •  account  of 
Ukraine,)  and  have  had  the  curiosity  to  watch  them  at  it  for  several 
days  successively."  The  friction  occasioned  by  their  sustaining  a 
passive  part  in  the  operation,  is  assigned  as  a  reason  why  the  hair  is 
generally  rubbed  off  from  the  backs  of  these  animals.  But  it  is  more 
probable  that  this  is  produced  by  their  frequent  digging  of  the  earth, 
which  alone  is  sufficent  to  rub  off  the  hair.  However  this  may  be,  it 
is  certain  that  they  dwell  together,  and  work  in  common  in  their 
habitations,  where  they  pass  three-fourths  of  their  lives.  Thither 
they  retire  daring  rain,  or  at  the  approach  of  danger;  and  they  never 
go  out  but  in  fine  weather,  and  even  then  to  no  great  distance. 

One  of  these  animals  stands  sentinel  upon  a  rock,  while  the  others 
gambol  about  upon  the  grass,  or  are  employed  in  cutting  it  in  order 
to  make  hay.  If  the  sentinel  preceive  a  man,  an  Eagle,  a  Dog,  or  any 
other  dangerous  animal,  he  instantly  alarms  his  companions  by  a  loud 
whistle,  and  is  himself  the  last  that  enters  the  hole. 

The  Old  Marmots,  at  break  of  day, 
come  out  of  their  holes  to  feed  ;  after- 
wards they  bring  out  their  young-ones. 
The  latter  scamper  on  all  sides ;  chase 
each  other ;  sit  on  their  hind  feet ;  and 
remain  in  that  posture,  facing  towards 
the  sun,  with  an  air  expressive  of  satis- 
faction. They  are  fond  of  warmth  ; 
and,  when  they  think  themselves  se- 
cure, will  bask  in  the  sun  for  several  HUNTING  MARMOTS. 
hours  successively. 

The  Marmot  has  a  quick  eye,  and  discovers  an  enemy  at  a  con- 
siderable distance.  He  never  does  the  least  injury  to  any  other 
animal,  and  when  himself  attacked,  attempts  to  escape.  But,  if  flight 
be  impossible,  he  will  defend  himself  with  spirit  against  even  man 
and  Dogs. 

In  countries  where  rhubarb  grows,  it  is  said  that  the  Marmots  gen- 
erally fix  their  residence  near  those  plants :  and  that,  if  ten  or  twenty 
of  these  plants  are  adjacent  to  each  other,  there  are  always  several  of 
their  burrows  immediately  under  the  shade  and  protection  of  the 
leaves. 

About  the  end  of  September,  or  the  beginning  of  October,  the 
Marmots  retire  to  their  holes,  in  which  they  become  torpid,  and  from 
which  they  do  not  again  come  abroad  until  the  beginning*  of  April. 
When  they  feel  the  first  approach  of  the  sleeping  season,  they  shut  up 
both  of  the  passages  to  their  residence;  and  they  perform  this 


290 


THE   BOBAC. 


operation  with  so  much  labor  and  solidity,  that  it  is  more  difficult  to 

dig   the  earth  in   the  jparts   they  have  "thus  fortified,  than  in  any 

adjacent  spot.  At  this 
time  they  are  very  fat, 
weighing  sometimes  as 
much  as  twenty 
pounds  each  ;  and  they 
continue  so  for  three 
months;  but  they  af- 
terwards gradually  de- 
cline, and,  by  the  end 
of  winter,  become  ex- 
tremely  emaciated. 
When  found  in  their 
winter  retreats,  they 
appear  rolled  up  like 
a  ball,  and  are  covered 
with  hay. 
If  caught  when  young,  the  Marmot  may  easily  be  domesticated.  It 

will  walk  on  its  hind  feet,  sit  upright,  and  carry  food  to  its  mouth 

with  its  fore  feet.     It  will  dance  with  a  stick  between  its  paws,  and 

perform  various  tricks  to  please  its  master. 

In    the  winter  season,  these  animals  are  sought  after  ^ith    great 

eagerness  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  countries  where  they  are  found  ; 

and  are  killed  in  immense  .numbers,  both  on  account  of  their  flesh, 

and  for  their  skins. 


S'WISS  EOT  WITH  TAME  MARMOT. 


THE   BOBAC. 

The  Bobac  is 
about  the  size  of 
the  Alpine  Mar- 
mot. Its  color  is 
gray  above,  and 
fulvous  or  ferru- 
ginous beneath. 
The  tail  is  short, 
somewhat  slender, 
and  very  hairy. 

It  is  a  native  of 
the  mountainous 
parts  of  Poland, 

£>  .  ,  TU£  EOBAC. 

Kussia,  and  some 

other  countries  of  Europe. 

The  burrows  which  the  Bobacs  form  in  the  ground,  are  constructed 
obliquely,  and  are  of  the  depth  of  two,  three,  or  four  yards.  They 
consist  of  several  galleries,  which  have  one  common  entrance  from 
the  surface,  each  gallery  terminating  in  a  nest  for  some  of  its  inhabi- 
tants. Sometimes,  however,  the  burrows  consist  of  but  one  passage. 


THE   CAPROMYS.  291 

Though  these  burrows  are  found  in  greatest  numbers  where  the 
earth  is  lightest,  yet  they  are  very  common  even  in  the  strata  of  the 
mountains.  In  hard  and  rocky  places,  from  twenty  to  forty  of  the 
animals  join  together  to  facilitate  the  work ;  and  they  live  in  society, 
each  with  its  nest  at  the  end  of  its  respective  gallery.  Towards  the 
approach  of  winter,  they  collect  into  their  nests  the  finest  hay  they 
can  procure ;  and  in  such  plenty,  that  sufficient  is  often  found  in  one 
nest  for  a  night's  food  for  a  horse. 

During  the  middle  or  sunny  part  of  the  day,  they  sport  about  the 
entrance  of  their  holes;  but  they  seldom  go  far  from  them.  At  the 
sight  of  man,  they  retire  with  a  slow  pace ;  and  sit  upright  near  the 
entrance,  giving  a  frequent  whistle,  and  listening  to  the  approach.  In 
places  where  they  live  in  large  families,  they  always  station  a  sentinel 
to  give  notice  of  any  danger,  during  the  time  when  the  rest  are  em- 
ployed in  feeding. 

They  are  mild,  good-natured,  and  timid.  They  feed  only  on  vege- 
tables ;  which  they  go  in  search  of  in  the  morning,  and  about  the 
middle  of  the  day.  They  sit  on  their  hams  when  they  eat,  and  carry 
the  food  to  their  mouth  with  their  fore  paws ;  and  in  this  posture  it  is 
that  they  defend  themselves  when  attacked.  When  they  are  irritated, 
or  when  any  one  attempts  to  lay  hold  of  them,  they  bite  desperately, 
and  utter  a  shrill  cry.  In  the  summer-time  they  eat  voraciously ;  but 
they  remain  torpid  all  winter,  except  when  kept  in  very  warm  places; 
and  even  then  they  eat  but  little,  and  will,  if  possible,  escape  into 
some  comfortable  place,  in  which  to  pass  this  dreary  season.  These 
animals  soon  become  tame,  even  when  taken  of  full  age;  and  the 
young-ones  are  familiar  from  the  moment  they  are  caught. 

Their  flesh  is  eatable;  and,  except  that  it  is  somewhat  rank,  re- 
sembles that  of  the  Hare.  The  fat  is  used  in  the  dressing  of  leather 
and  furs ;  and  the  skins  are  employed  by  the  Russians  for  clothing. 
The  female  brings  forth  her  young-ones  in  the  spring,  and  usually 
produces  six  or  eight  at  a  litter. 


THE   CAPROMYS. 

The  Capromys  is  found  in  Cuba,  where  the  natives  call  it  the  Utia. 
It  is  a  Marmot,  not  larger  than  the  Woodchuck,  which  it  somewhat 
resembles.  It  is  a  harmless  animal,  living  on  vegetable  food. 

The  name  Capromys  signifies  a  "Hog-rat,"  the  animals  in  their  mode 
of  walking  and  other  characteristics  resembling  the  Hog,  while  in  the 
form  of  their  teeth  and  in  their  tails  they  have  some  resemblance  to  the 
Rat.  In  a  state  of  nature  these  animal's  inhabit  the  woods,  and  climb 
trees  with  great  facility.  In  reaching  the  leaves  of  those  short  plants 
which  they  do  not  require  to  climb,  they  make  use  of  their  tails  as  a 
third  foot.  In  a  state  of  domestication  they  drink  tea,  and  do  not 
refuse  a  bit  of  bread  although  it  be  soaked  in  cherry-brandy. 
19 


292 


THE   MARYLAND   MARMOT  —  PARRY'S   MARMOT. 


THE  MARYLAND  MARMOT. 


The  Maryland  Marmot,  called  also  the  Woodchuck  or  Ground-hog, 
is  found  in  the  United  States,  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  with  long  hair, 
and  very  short  legs.  It  feeds  on  vegetable  food,  burrows  in  the 
ground  ;  and  is  a  favorite  object  of  pursuit  among  boys. 


PARRY  S  MARMOT. 

Parry's  Marmot  is  found  in 
the  arctic  regions  of  America. 
It  has  the  fore  paws  with  five 
toes  on  each,  very  small  ears, 
and  long  tail.  The  upper 
part  of  the  body  is  mottled 
with  black  arid  white,  the  un- 
der part  rusty  red.  It  is  fur- 
nished with  cheek  pouches. 


PARRY'S   MARMOT 


THE   COMMON   SQUIRREL. 


293 


OF  THE   SQUIKRELS  IN  GENERAL. 

THEY  have  two  front  teeth  in  each  jaw,  the  upper  ones  wedge- 
shaped,  and  the  lower  sharp;  five  grinders  on  each  side  of  the  upper 
jaw,  and  four  on  each  side  of  the  under  one.  They  have  also  collar- 
bones ir/  the  skeleton ;  and,  in  most  of  the  species,  the  tail  spreads 
towards  each  side. 

The  Squirrels  are  for  the  most  part  light,  nimble,  and  elegant 
animals:  they  climb  trees  with  the  utmost  agility,  and  spring,  with 
astonishing  security,  from  one  branch 
to  another.  Some  of  them  are  provided 
with  hairy  membranes,  that  extend  from 
the  fore  to  the  hind  legs:  these,  when 
spread  out,  render  them  more  buoyant 
than  they  otherwise  would  be,  and 
enable  them  to  leap  through  consider- 
able distances  from  one  tree  to  another. 
A  few  of  the  species  form  their  nests, 
and  live  almost  entirely  in  the  trees; 
and  others  burrow  under  the  ground. 
None  of  them  are  carnivorous.  Many 
of  the  Squirrels  may,  with  care,  be  ren- 
dered docile ;  but  when  they  are  in  the 
least  irritated,  they  attempt  to  bite.  In 
confinement  they  are  generally  very  frolicsome.  When  they  are  on 
the  ground,  they  advance  by  leaps ;  and  in  eating  they  sit  erect,  and 
hold  the  food  in  their  fore  paws. 


TUB  SQUIKKEL. 


THE   COMMON   SQUIRREL. 

This  elegant  little  animal  is  equally  ad- 
mired for  the  neatness  of  its  figure,  and  the 
activity  and  liveliness  of  its  disposition. 
Though  naturally  wild  and  timid,  it  is  soon 
reconciled  to  confinement,  and  is  easily 
taught  to  receive  with  freedom  the  most 
familiar  caresses  from  the  hand  that  feeds  it. 

In  the  spring  these  animals  are  peculiarly 
active.  During  this  season  they  pursue  each 
other  among  the  trees,  and  exert  various 
efforts  of  agility.  In  the  warm  summer 
nights  they  may  also  be  observed  in  a  similar  exercise.  They  seem 
to  dread  the  heat  of  the  sun;  for  during  the  day-time,  they  commonly 
remain  in  their  nests,  and  they  make  their  principal  excursions  by 
night. 

The  nest  of  the  Squirrel  is.  in  its  construction,  exceedingly  curious. 
It  is  generally  formed  among  the  large  branches  of  a  tree,  where 


THE   COMMON   SQCIRREL. 


294  THE   GRAY    SQUIRREL. 

they  begin  to  fork  off  into  small  ones.  After  choosing  the  place 
where  the  timber  begins  to  decay,  and  where  a  hollow  may  the  more 
easily  be  formed,  the  Squirrel  begins  by  making  a  kind  of  level  be- 
tween these  forks;  and  then,  bringing  moss,  twigs,  and  dry  leaves,  it 
binds  them  together  with  such  art,  as  to  resist  the  most  violent  storm. 
This  is  covered  up  on  all  sides;  and  has  but  a  single  opening  at  the 
top,  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  little  animal;  and  this  opening  is 
itself  defended  from  the  weather  by  a  kind  of  canopy,  formed  like  a 
cone,  so  as  to  throw  off  the  rain,  however  heavy  it  may  fall.  The 
nest  thus  formed,  is  very  commodious  and  roomy  below;  soft,  well 
knit  together,  and  every  way  convenient  and  warm.  The  provision 
of  nuts  and  acorns  is  seldom  found  in  its  nest;  but  in  the  hollows  of 
the  tree,  these  are  carefully  laid  up  together,  and  they  are  never 
touched  by  the  animals  except  in  cases  of  necessity,  when  no  food  is  to 
be  had  abroad.  Thus  a  tree  serves  both  for  a  retreat  and  a  storehouse; 
and,  without  leaving  it  during  the  winter,  the  Squirrel  possesses  all 
those  enjoyments  which  his  nature  is  capable  of  receiving. 

This  little  animal  is  extremely  watchful:  and  it  is  said,  that  if  the 
tree  in  which  it  resides  is  but  touched  at  the  bottom,  it  takes  the 
alarm,  quits  its  nest,  at  once  flies  off' to  another  tree,  and  thus,  in  case 
of  necessity,  travels  with  ease  along  a  whole  forest,  until  it  finds  itself 
perfectly  out  of  danger.  In  this  manner  it  continues  for  some  hours 
at  a  distance  from  home,  until  the  alarm  is  past;  and  then  it  returns 
by  paths  that,  to  nearly  all  quadrupeds  but  itself,  are  utterly  impass- 
able. Its  usual  way  of  moving  is  by  bounds;  these  it  takes  from  one 
tree  to  another  at  a  very  great  distance;  and  if  it  be  at  any  time 
obliged  to  descend,  it  runs  up  the  side  of  the  next  tree  with  astonish 
ing  facility. 

The  Squirrel  seldom  makes  any  noise,  except  when  it  experiences 
either  pain  or  pleasure:  in  the  former  case  it  emits  a  sharp  piercing 
note;  and  in  the  latter  it  makes  a  noise  not  unlike  the  purring  of  a 
Cat.  The  tail  of  the  Squirrel  is  its  greatest  ornament,  and  serves  as 
a  defence  against  the  cold ;  it  is  likewise  of  use  to  the  animal  in  leap- 
ing from  one  tree  to  another. 

In  northern  climates  the  Squirrels,  at  the  approach  of  winter, 
change  their  red  summer  coat  to  gray;  and  it  is  singular  that  this 
alteration  will  take  place  in  those  climates,  even  within  the  warmth 
of  a  stove.  Dr.  Pallas  had  a  Squirrel  entirely  red,  brought  to  him  on 
the  12th  of  September.  It  was  placed  in  a  stove.  About  the  4th  of 
October  many  parts  of  its  body  began  to  grow  hoary:  and  when  it 
died,  which  was  a  month  afterwards,  the  whole  body  had  attained  a 
gray  color;  the  legs,  and  a  small  part  of  the  face,  alone  retaining  a 
reddish  tinge. 


THE    GRAY   SQUIRREL. 

This  animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  young  Rabbit;  and,  except  on 
the  inside  of  the  limbs  and  the  under  parts  of  the  body,  which  are 
white,  its  color  is  an  elegant  pale  gray. 


SHE 


THE    GRAY    SQUIRREL.  297 

Both  in  their  form  and  habits  of  life,  these  animals  very  much 
resemble  the  Common  Squirrels.  They  are  found  not  only  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  continent  of  Europe,  but  also  in  several  districts 
of  America.  They  occasionally  migrate  to  immense  distances,  so  that 
sometimes  there  is  not  one  of  them  to  be  seen,  during  a  whole  winter, 
in  places  where  there  were  millions  in  the  preceding  year.  In  theii 
journeys  from  one  part  of  the  country  to 
another,  when  it  becomes  necessary  to 
pass  a  lake  or  river,  it  is  asserted  that  they 
lay  hold  of  a  piece  of  pine  or  birch  bark; 
and  that,  drawing  this  to  the  edge  of  the 
water,  they  mount  upon  it,  and  abandon 
themselves  to  the  waves.  They  erect  their 
tails,  to  catch  the  wind ;  but  if  it  blows  to 
strong,  or  the  waves  rise  high,  the  pilot 
and  the  vessel  are  both  overturned.  This 
kind  of  wreck,  which  often  consists  of  THE  GJUy  SQ01EBEL. 

three  or  four  thousand  sail,  generally  en- 
riches the  Laplanders,  who  reside  in  the  vicinity,  and  who  find  the 
dead  bodies  on  the  shore:  and,  if  these  have  not  lain  too  long  on  the 
sand,  they  prepare  the  furs  for  sale.  But  when  the  winds  are  favor- 
able, the  little  adventurers  make  a  happy  voyage,  and  arrive  in  safety 
at  their  destined  port. 

In  North  America  these  animals  sometimes  commit  great  havoc  in 
the  plantations,  but  particularly  among  the  maize  ;  for  they  climb  up 
the  stalks,  tear  the  ears  in  pieces,  and  eat  only  the  loose  and  sweet 
kernel  which  lies  quite  in  the  inside.  They  sometimes  come  by 
hundreds  upon  a  maize-field,  and  thus 
destroy  the  whole  crop  of  a  farmer 
in  one  night.  In  Maryland,  therefore, 
some  years  ago,  every  person  was 
compelled  to  procure  and  exhibit  an- 
nually four  Squirrels ;  the  heads  of 
which,  to  prevent  deceit,  were  given 
to  the  surveyor.  In  other  provinces, 
every  one  who  killed  a  Squirrel  re- 
ceived from  the  public  treasury  two- 
pence on  delivering  up  its  head. 

Pennsylvania  alone   paid,  from  Jan-  THE  BLACK  SQUIRREL. 

uary,  1749,  to  January,  1750,  no  less  a 
sum  than  eight  thousand  pounds,  currency,  in  rewards  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  these  animals ;  consequently,  in  that  year,  as  many  as  six 
hundred  and  forty  thousand  of  them  must  have  been  killed. 

The  Gray  Squirrels  reside  principally  among  the  trees,  in  the 
hollows  of  which  they  form  their  nests,  of  moss  and  straw,  and  line 
them  with  softer  materials.  They  feed  on  acorns,  and  on  the  various 
kinds  of  nuts  with  which  the  woods  abound ;  and  of  these  they 
collect  great  stores  for  their  winter  subsistence,  carefully  laying  them 
up  in  holes  which  they  dig  for  that  purpose,  beneath  the  roots  of 
trees,  or  in  other  secure  places. 


298 


STRIPED,   OR  GROUND    SQUIRREL. 


When  these  animals  are  sitting  on  a  bough,  and  perceive  a  man 
approach,  they  instantly  move  their  tail  backward  and  forward,  and 
make  a  chattering  noise  with  their  teeth.  This  renders  them  pe- 
culiarly odious  to  sportsmen,  who  often  lose  their  game  by  the  alarm 
they  thus  create.  It  is  a  difficult  matter  to  kill  them  with  guns, 
since  they  change  their  places  on  the  trees  with  such  extreme  agility, 
as  generally  to  elude  the  shot  of  even  the  most  expert  marksman. 
If  caught  when  young  they  are  easily  tamed  ;  and  in  this  state  they 
will  readily  associate  with  other  domestic  animals. 

The  skins  of  the  Gray  Squirrels  are  used  in  America  for  ladies' 
shoes ;  and  they  are  often  imported  into  England  as  furs.  The  Black 
Squirrel  differs  from  the  Gray  only  in  color. 


THE  MALABAR  SQUIRREL. 


The  Malabar  Squirrel  is  the  largest  known,  reaching  the  size  of  a 
Cat.  The  top  of  the  head,  a  band  along  the  cheek,  and  the  middle  of 
the  back  and  flanks  are  very  bright  reddish  brown,  the  other  parts 
yellow;  but  the  color  varies.  It  is  very  beautiful.  It  occurs  in  var- 
ious parts  of  India;  but  chiefly  on  the  Malabar  coast. 


THE   STRIPED  OR   GROUND   SQUIRREL. 

THE  length  of  the  Striped  Squirrel  is  about  six  inches ;  its  tail, 
which  is  rather  more,  is  not  curved  and  bushy,  but  long  and  very 
narrow.  The  skin  is  of  a  reddish  brown  color  ;  and  is  marked  with 
five  black  streaks,  one  of  which  runs  along  the  back,  and  two  on 
each  side. 


STRIPED,   OR   GROUND   SQUIRREL.  299 

The  Striped  Squirrels  subsist  upon  corn  and  nuts  of  every  de- 
scription ;  and,  like  the  common  species,  collect  great  quantities  of 
provisions  in  autumn,  for  their  subsistence  during  winter,  and  store 
them  in  their  holes. 

They  are  natives  of  America,  and  dig  burrows  in  the  ground,  which 
serve  for  their  habitations,  and  to  which  they  fly  for  shelter  when- 
ever danger  is  near.  These  burrows  are  deep ;  and  commonly 
divided  into  many  branches,  from  one  of  which  they  have  an  opening 
to  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  advantage  they  derive  from  this 
is,  that  when  they  ramble  abroad  for  food,  and  are  prevented  from 
entering  the  hole  at  which  they  went  out,  they  may  not  expose  them- 
selves to  their  pursuers,  but  immediately  retreat  into  the  other.  But 
in  autumn,  when  the  leaves  are  falling  from  the  trees,  it  is  very  di- 
verting to  observe  their  consternation  when  pursued ;  for  their  holes 
being  covered  with  leaves,  they  have  then  some  difficulty  in  finding 
them.  They  run  backward  and  forward,  as  if  they  had  lost  their  way ; 
and  seem  to  know  where  their  subterraneous  haunts  lie,  but  cannot 
discover  the  entrances.  If  they  are  pursued,  and  any  sudden  or  loud 
noise  is  made,  they  are  constraind  to  take  refuge  in  the  trees ;  but 
this  they  never  do  except  in  cases  of  necessity. 

The  subterraneous  dwellings  of  these  animals  are  formed  with 
much  art.  They  are  wrought  into  long  galleries  with  branches  on 
each  side,  and  each  of  them  terminates  in  an  enlarged  apartment,  in 
which  they  hoard  their  stock  of  winter  provision.  Their  acorns  are 
lodged  in  one ;  in  a  second,  the  maize  ;  in  a  third,  the  hickory-nuts ; 
and  in  a  fourth,  perhaps  their  most  favorite  food,  the  chestnut.  In 
Siberia,  the  Striped  Squirrels  hoard  the  kernel  of  the  stone-pine  in 
such  quantities,  that  sometimes  ten  or  fifteen  pounds  weight  of  these 
have  been  taken  out  of  a  single  magazine. 

As  a  Swede  was,  some  time  ago,  making  a  mill-dike,  late  in  autumn, 
he  took  for  that  purpose  the  soil  of  a  neighboring  hill,  and  dis- 
covered a  subterraneous  walk  belonging  to  a  family  of  these  Squirrels. 
After  having  traced  this  to  some  distance,  he  found  a  gallery  on  one 
side,  like  a  branch  parting  from  the  main  stem.  It  was  nearly  two 
feet  long  ;  and,  at  its  extremity,  there  was  a  quantity  of  acorns  of  the 
white  oak,  which  the  careful  little  animal  had  stored  up  against  the 
winter.  He  soon  afterwards  found  another  gallery,  on  one  side,  like 
the  former,  but  containing  a  store  of  maize;  a  third  had  hickory- 
nuts  ;  and  the  last  and  most  secret  one  contained  as  many  excellent 
chesnuts  as  would  have  filled  two  hats. 

In  winter,  these  Squirrels  are  seldom  seen ;  as,  during  that  season, 
they  keep  within  their  holes.  On  a  fine,  clear  day,  however,  they 
sometimes  come  out.  They  frequently  dig  through  into  cellars,  where 
the  country  people  lay  up  their  apples ;  and  these  they  eat,  or  spoil 
in  such  a  manner  that  few  or  none  of  any  value  are  left.  In  the 
choice  of  their  food,  they  are  remarkably  nice.  They  have  been 
observed,  after  having  filled  their  pouches  with  rye,  to  fling  out  this 
on  meeting  with  wheat,  and  to  substitute  for  it  the  superior  grain. 

They  cannot  be  tamed  without  great  difficulty ;  and  even  then  it  is 
always  dangerous  to  handle  them,  as  they  will  bite  very  keenly  when 


300  THE   AMERICAN   FLYING   SQUIRREL. 

a  person  is  not  aware  of  them.  These  animals  are  killed  merely  on 
account  of  their  skins ;  which,  though  forming  but  a  slight  and  ordi- 
nary fur,  have  a  pleasing  appearance.  The  skins  are  chiefly  sold  to 
the  Chinese. 


THE  AMERICAN   FLYING  SQUIRREL,  AND    EUROPEAN  FLYING  SQUIRREL- 

This  animal,  which  is  a  native  of  most  parts  of  North  America,  has 
large  black  eyes,  circular  naked  ears,  and  a  hairy  membrane  extending 

nearly  round  the  body. 
The  tail,  which  tapers 
to  a  point,  has  its  hair 
disposed  flat  ways  on 
*ts  ^des.  The  upper 
F  Parts  °f  tais  Squirrel 
are  of  a.  cinereous 
brown :  the  belly  is 
white,  tinged  with 
yellow.  The  mem- 
brane passes  the  fore 
and  hind  legs  to  the 
tail :  on  the  fore  legs 

MB  AMERICAN  FLTiwo  sQTiiRREL.  it  adheres  as  far  as  the 

toes,    and   includes   a 

peculiar  bone  which  is  attached  to  the  wrist,  and  helps  to  stretch 
out  this  skin  in  flying;  and  on  the  hind  leg  it  extends  to  the  ancles. 

By  means  of  the  lateral  membranes  with  which  the  bodies  of  these 
Squirrels  are  furnished,  they  are  able  to  make  astonishing  leaps  of 
ten  or  twelve  yards,  and  upwards,  from  tree  to  tree.  In  these  efforts, 
tbey  extend  their  hind  legs,  and  stretch  out  the  intervening  skin,  by 
which  they  present  a  greater  surface  to  the  air,  and  become  much 
more  buoyant  than  they  would  otherwise  be.  They  are,  however, 
under  the  necessity  of  taking  advantage  of  the  lower  branches  of  the 
trees  to  which  they  leap ;  for  their  weight  prevents  them  from 
keeping  in  a  straight  line.  Sensible  of  this,  they  always  take  care  to 
mount  so  high  as  to  ensure  them  from  falling  to  the  ground.  This 
extended  skin  acts  upon  the  air  somewhat  in  the  manner  of  a  paper 
kite,  and  not  by  repeated  strokes,  like  the  wings  of  a  bird.  The 
animal,  being  heavier  than  the  air,  must  of  course  descend;  the  dis- 
tance, therefore,  to  which  it  can  jump,  depends  on  the  height  of  the 
tree  on  which  it  stands.  When  it  is  at  rest,  the  skin  is  wrinkled  up 
against  its  sides. 

These  animals  are  generally  seen  in  flocks  of  ten  or  twelve  to- 
gether; and  to  persons  unaccustomed  to  them,  they  appear  at  a  dis- 
tance, in  their  leaps  like  leaves  blown  from  the  trees  by  the  wind. 
"  When  I  first  saw  them,  (says  Catesby,  in  his  account  of  Carolina,)  I 
took  them  for  dead  leaves  blown  one  way  by  the  wind ;  but  was  not 
long  so  deceived,  when  I  perceived  many  of  them  follow  one  another 
in  the  same  direction." 


THE  EUROPEAN  FLYING  SQUIRREL.  301 

They  inhabit  hollow  trees,  where  they  sleep  during  the  day-time, 
and  from  whence  they  only  make  their  appearance  in  the  night,  at 
which  latter  time  they  are  very  lively  and  active.  They  associate 
in  flocks ;  several  of  them  living  in  the  same  tree,  which  they  never 
willingly  quit  to  run  upon  the  ground,  but  almost  constantly  reside 
among  the  branches. 

The  females  produce  three  or  four  young-ones  at  a  litter.  This 
species  use  the  same  food,  and  form  their  hoards  in  the  same  manner, 
as  others  of  the  Squirrel  tribe.  They  are  easily  tamed,  and  soon 
become  familiar:  they  love  warmth,  and  are  fond  of  creeping 
into  the  sleeve  or  pocket  of  their  owner;  and  if  thrown  upon  the 
ground,  they  instantly  show  their  dislike  to  it,  by  running  up  and 
sheltering  themselves  in  his  clothes.  J.  Stackhouse,  Esq.,  of  Pendarvis, 
in  Cornwall,  informed  me,  that  a  mercer  with  whom  he  was  acquain- 
ted had  one  of  these  animals,  which  was  quite  tame.  He  accidentally 
lost  it  at  the  approach  of  winter.  Some  months  afterwards,  on  show- 
ing some  blanketing  to  a  customer,  he  was  surprised  to  observe  in  it 
a  small  hole :  this  he  pursued,  and  found  it  extended  to  the  centre  of 
the  roll,  through  all  the  folds;  and  at  the  bottom  of  it  lay  the  little 
animal,  in  a  perfectly  torpid  state. 


THE  EUROPEAN  FLYING  SQUIRREL. 

This  Squirrel  differs  from  the  American  species  principally  in  hav- 
ing its  tail  full  of  hair,  and  rounded  at  the  end,  and  in  the  color  of  its 
body ;  the  upper  part  of 
which  is  a  fine  gray,  and 
the  lower  white.  Its 
whole  length  is  about 
nine  inches,  of  which  the 
tail  occupies  five. 

It  is  found  in  the 
woods  of  Lapland  and 
Norway,  where  it  feeds  TnE  E0BOPEAJf  FLTLVO  SQUIEREI- 

principally  on  the  tender  branches  of  the  beech  and  pine  trees.  In 
its  habits  of  life  this  animal  differs  very  little  from  the  preceding 
species.  It  always  sleeps  during  the  day-time,  and  seldom  appears 
abroad  in  bad  weather.  It  is  active  through  the  whole  winter;  being 
frequently  caught  during  that  season,  in  the  traps  that  are  laid  for  the 
Gray  Squirrels. 

The  females,  when  they  have  young-ones,  never  leave  their  nest  in 
pursuit  of  food,  without  previously  wrapping  these  carefully  up  in  the 
moss.  They  pay  to  them  the  utmost  attention;  brooding  anxiously 
over  them,  and  tenderly  sheltering  their  bodies,  by  their  flying  mem- 
brane, from  the  cold. 


302 


THE    COMMON    DORMOUSE. 


OF  DORMICE  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  animals  have  two  front  teeth  in  each  jaw;  the  upper  ones 
are  wedge-shaped,  the  lower  compressed ;  and  in  each  jaw  are  four 

grinders.  The  whis- 
kers are  long.  The 
tail  is  cylindrical, 
hairy,  and  thickest 
towards  the  end.  The 
fore  and  hind  legs 
are  of  nearly  equal 
length;  and  the  fore 
feet  have  each  four 


toes. 

All  the  species  of 
Dormice  live  in  holes 
in  the  ground,  where 
they  continue  in  a 
state  of  torpor  during 
the  winter.  Their 
pace  is  a  kind  of  leap, 
in  which,  like  the 
Jerboas,  they  are  as- 
sisted, by  their  tail. 
They  feed  entirely  on  vegetables,  and  eat  only  in  the  night.  In  this 
act  they  sit  upright  and  carry  their  food  to  their  mouth  with  the 
paws.  When  they  are  thirsty,  they  do  not  lap,  (like  most  other 
quadrupeds,)  but  they  dip  their  fore  feet,  with  the  toes  bent,  into  the 
water,  and  drink  from  them. 


TU£   DORMOUSE. 


THE  COMMON  DORMOUSE. 

This  animal  is  about  the  size  of  a  mouse;  but  in  proportion,  more 
bulky.  It  is  of  a  tawny  red  color,  with  a  white  throat.  Its  eyes  are 
full,  and  black. 

The  nest  of  the  Dormouse  is  usually  formed 
of  interwoven  moss,  dead  leaves,  and  grass, 
in  the  hollow  of  some  low  tree,  or  near  the 
bottom  of  close  shrubs.  It  is  about  six  inches 
in  diameter,  and  has  a  small  orifice  near  the 
top,  for  the  ingress  and  egress  of  the  animal. 
In  this,  about  the  month  of  May  or  June, 
the  female  produces  her  offspring,  which  are 
usually  four  or  five  in  number. 

Dormice  have  not  the  sprightliness  of  the  Squirrel ;  but,  like  that 
animal,  they  collect  together  little  magazines  of  nuts,  acorns,  and  other 
food,  for  their  winter  provision.  The  consumption  of  their  hoard, 
during  the  rigor  of  winter,  is  but  small;  for  retiring  into  their  holes 


THE  COMMON  DORMOUSE. 


THE   SIBERIAN   JERBOA. 


303 


on  the  approach  of  the  cold,  and  rolling  themselves  up,  they  lie  torpid 
nearly  all  that  gloomy  season.  Sometimes  they  experience  a  short 
revival  in  a  warm  sunny  day;  when  they  take  a  little  food,  and  then 
relapse  into  their  former  state. 


OF  THE  JERBOAS  IN  GENERAL 


THEY  have  two  front 
teeth  above,  and  two 
below;  the  fore  legs  are 
short,  and  the  hind  ones 
very  long;  and  they  have 
clavicles,  or  collar  bones. 

The  Jerboas  seern,  in 
many  respects  both  of  con- 
formation and  habit,  much 
allied  to  the  Kangaroos; 
but  an  adherence  to  arti- 
ficial system  will  not 
allow  them  to  be  arranged 
together.  They  use  their 
long  hind  legs  in  leaping, 
seldom  -go  on  all-fours; 
and,  with  their  fore  legs, 
they  both  carry  the  food 
to  their  mouth,  and  make 
their  holes  in  the  ground. 
They  are  inhabitants 
principally  of  warm  cli- 
mates. 


THE  SIBERIAN  JERBOA. 

This  animal  is  of  a  pale  yellowish  fawn  color  on  the  upper  parts, 
and  white  beneath.  The  length  of  its  body  is  about  eight  inches: 
and  of  the  tail  ten.  It  very  much  resembles  the  Egyptian  Jerboa ; 
except  in  the  hind  feet,  each  of  which  has  five  instead  of  three  toes. 

Dry,  hard,  and  clayey  ground  is  that  which 
the  Jerboas  prefer  for  the  place  of  their  habi- 
tation. In  this  they  dig  their  burrows  very 
speedily,  not  only  with  their  fore  feet,  but 
with  their  teeth;  and  fling  the  earth  back 
with  their  hind  feet,  so  as  to  form  a  hillock 
at  the  entrance.  The  burrows  are  many 
yards  long;  and  run  obliquely  and  winding, 
but  are  not  above  half  a  yard  in  depth  below 
the  surface.  They  end  in  a  large  space  or 


THE   SIBERIAN   JERBOA. 


304 


THE   EGYPTIAN    JERBOA. 


?> 


THE  EGYPTIAN  JERBOAS. 


nest,  the  receptacle  of  the  purest  herbs.  These  holes  have  usually 
but  one  entrance;  yet,  by  a  wonderful  sagacity,  the  animals  work 
from  their  nest  another  passage,  to  within  a  very  small  space  from 
the  surface,  which,  in  case  of  necessity,  they  can  burst  through  and 
so  escape. 

The  sands  and  rubbish  which  surround  modern  Alexandria  are  much 
frequented  by  Jerboas.  They  live  there  in  troops;  and,  in  digging 
the  ground,  are  said  to  penetrate  even  through  a  stratum  of  soitish 
stone,  which  is  beneath  the  layer  of  sand.  Though  not  actually  wild, 
these  animals  are  exceedingly  shy  and  restless:  the  slightest  noise, 
or  the  appearance  of  any  strange  object,  makes  them  retire  to  their 
holes  with  precipitation. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  kill  them,  except  when  taken  by  sur- 
prise. The  Arabs  have  the  art  of  catching  these  Jerboas  alive,  by 
stopping  up  the  outlets  to  the  different  galleries  belonging  to  the 
colony ;  one  excepted,  through  which  they  force  them  to  issue  from 
the  ground. 

Though  animals  of  a  chilly  nature,  they  keep  within  their  holes  in 
the  day-time,  and  wander  about  only  during  the  night.  They  come 


THE   EGYPTIAN   JERBOA  305 

out  about  sunset,  and  remain  abroad  till  the  sun  has  drawn  up  the 
dews  from  the  earth. 

They  walk  only  on  their  hind  legs,  the  fore  legs  being  very  short ; 
and  at  the  approach  of  danger,  they  immediately  take  to  flight,  in 
leaps  six  or  seven  feet  high,  which  they  repeat  so  swiftly,  that  a  man 
mounted  on  a  good  horse  can  scarcely  overtake  them.  They  do  not 
proceed  in  a  straight  line;  but  jump  first  to  one  side,  and  then  to  the 
other,  till  they  find  either  their  own  burrow,  or  some  neighboring 
one.  In  leaping,  they  carry  their  tails  stretched  out;  but  in  standing 
or  walking,  they  carry  them  in  the  form  of  an  S,  the  lower  part 
touching  the  ground.  If  surprised,  they  will  sometimes  go  on  all- 
fours;  but  they  soon  recover  their  attitude  of  standing  on  their  hind 
legs,  like  a  bird.  When  undisturbed,  they  use  the  former  posture ; 
they  then  rise  erect,  listen,  and  hop  about  like  a  crow.  In  digging 
or  eating,  they  drop  on  their  fore  legs ;  but  in  the  latter  action,  they 
often  sit  upright  like  a  Squirrel. 

The  Arabs  of  the  kingdom  of  Tripoli,  teach  their  Greyhounds  to 
hunt  the  Antelope,  by  first  instructing  them  to  catch  the  Jerboas; 
and  so  agile  are  these  little  creatures,  that  Mr.  Bruce  has  often  seen,  in 
a  large  court-yard  or  enclosure,  the  Greyhound  employed  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  before  he  could  kill  his  diminutive  adversary :  and  had 
not  the  Dog  been  well  trained,  so  as  to  make  use  of  his  feet  as  well 
as  his  teeth,  he  might  have  killed  two  Antelopes  during  the  time  that 
he  was  occupied  in  killing  one  Jerboa. 

In  their  wild  state  these  animals  are  fond  of  tulip  roots,  and  of 
nearly  all  the  edible  plants;  but  in  confinement,  they  do  not  refuse 
raw  meat.  It  requires  no  difficulty  to  tame  them,  but  it  is  necessary 
that  they  should  be  kept  warm.  They  are  so  susceptible  of  cold,  as 
to  foretel  bad  weather  by  wrapping  themselves  close  up  in  their  cage 
before  its  commencement;  and  those  that  are  abroad,  always,  on  these 
occasions,  stop  up  the  mouths  of  their  burrows.  They  sleep  during 
the  winter ;  but  a  warm  day  sometimes  revives  them.  On  the  return 
of  the  cold,  they  always  retreat  again  to  their  holes. 

M.  Sonnini,  while  he  was  in  Egypt,  fed,  for  some  time,  six  of  these 
animals,  in  a  large  cage  of  iron  wire.  The  very  first  night  they  en- 
tirely gnawed  asunder  the  upright  and  cross  sticks  of  their  prison ; 
and  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  having  the  inside  of  the  cage  lined 
with  tin.  They  were  fond  of  basking  in  the  sun ;  and  the  moment 
they  were  put  into  the  shade,  they  clung  close  to  each  other,  and 
seemed  to  suffer  much  from  the  privation  of  warmth.  They  did  not 
usually  sleep  during  the  day.  Though  they  had  great  agility  in  their 
movements,  gentleness  and  tranquillity  seemed  to  form  their  charac- 
ter. They  suffered  themselves  to  be  stroked  with  great  composure ; 
and  never  made  a  noise  nor  quarrelled,  even  when  food  was  scattered 
among  them.  No  distinguishing  symptoms  of  joy,  fear,  or  gratitude, 
were  discoverable  in  their  disposition  ;  and  their  gentleness  was  by  no 
means  either  amiable  or  interesting ;  it  appeared  the  effect  of  a  cold 
and  complete  indifference,  approaching  to  stupidity.  Three  of  these 
animals  died,  one  after  another  before  M.  Sonnini  left  Alexandria. 


306  THE   HARE   TRIBE. 

Two  died  on  a  rough  passage  to  the  island  of  Khodes ;  and  the  last, 
he  supposes,  was  devoured  by  Cats  when  he  was  in  that  island. 

He  says  the  Siberian  Jerboas  are  so  tender,  that  it  is  very  difficult 
to  transport  them  into  other  climates :  but,  as  an  indispensable  pre- 
caution to  those  who  attempt  it,  he  advises  that  they  be  closely  shut 
up  in  strong  cages,  or  in  other  conveniences,  without  any  possibility 
of  escape ;  for  their  natural  disposition  inciting  them  to  gnaw  what- 
ever comes  in  their  way,  they  may  occasion  considerable  damage  to 
a  ship  in  the  course  of  her  voyage;  and,  being  able  to  eat  through 
the  hardest  wood,  may  even  endanger  her  sinking. 

These  animals,  which  are  natives  of  various  parts  of  the  eastern 
deserts  of  Siberia,  and  also  of  Barbary,  Syria,  and  some  parts  of 
Tartary,  breed  several  times  in  the  summer,  and  usually  produce -seven 
or  eight  young-ones  at  a  litter.  The  Arabs  eat  them,  and  as  articles  of 
food,  esteem  them  among  the  greatest  delicacies  of  their  tables. 


OF  THE  HARE  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

TH'ti  generic  character  of  the  Hares  consist  in  their  having  two  front 
teeth,  both  above  and  below,  the  upper  pair  duplicate ;  two  small  in 
terior  ones  standing  behind  the  others:  the  fore  feet  with  five,  and  the 
hinder  with  four  toes. 

These  animals  subsist  entirely  on  vegetable  food.  They  are  all  re- 
markably timid.  The  habitations  of  most  of  the  species  are  burrows, 
formed  under  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Some  of  them  collect  into 
flocks,  consisting  of  five  or  six  hundred,  or  even  more,  and  migrate  in 
these  numbers  from  place  to  place,  frequently  to  a  great  distance,  in 
search  of  food. 

In  northern  latitudes,  where  the  frosts  of  the  winter  are  very  intense, 
and  where  snow  lies  for  several  months  on  the  ground,  all  the  Hares, 
at  the  approach  of  that  season,  change  their  color,  and  become  white 
They  are  thus  enabled,  in  a  great  measure,  to  elude  the  pursuit  01 
their  enemies. 


THE   COMMON   HARE. 


307 


THE  COMMON   HARI?. 


THE   COMMON  HAKE. 

This  animal  is  found  throughout  Europe,  and  indeed  in  most  of  the 
northern  parts  of  the  world. 
Being  destitute  of  weapons 
of  defence,  it  is  endowed,  by 
Providence,  with  an  unusual 
degree  of  fear.  Its  timidity 
is  known  to  every  one:  it  is 
attentive  to  every  alarm,  and 
is,  therefore,  furnished  with 
ears  very  long  and  tubular, 
which  catch  the  remotest 
sounds.  The  eyes  are  so  pro- 
minent, as  to  enable  the  ani- 
mal to  see  both  before  and 
behind. 

The  Hare  feeds  in  the  evenings,  and  sleeps  in  his  form  during  the 
day;  and,  as  he  generally  lies  on  the  ground,  his  feet  are  protected, 
both  above  and  below,  with  a  thick  covering  of  hair.  In  a  moon- 
light evening  many  Hares  may  frequently  be  seen  sporting  together, 
leaping  about  and  pursuing  each  other;  but  the  least  noise  alarms 
them,  and  they  then  scamper  ofi^  each  in  a  different  direction.  Their 
pace  is  a  kind  of  gallop,  or  quick  succession  of  leaps;  and  they  are 
extremely  swift  particularly  in  ascending  the  higher  grounds,  to 
which,  when  pursued,  they  generally  have  recourse;  here  their  large 
and  strong  hind  legs  are  of  singular  use  to  them. 

During  winter  they  generally 
choose  a  form  exposed  to  the  south, 
that  they  may  obtain  all  the  possible 
warmth  of  that  season ;  and  in  summer, 
when  they  are  desirous  of  shunning 
the  hot  rays  of  the  sun,  they  change 
this  for  one  with  a  northerly  aspect; 
but,  in  both  cases,  they  have  the 
instinct  of  generally  fixing  upon  a 
place  where  the  surrounding  objects 
are  nearly  of  the  color  of  their  own 
bodies. 

It  was  observed  of  one  Hare,  that,  as  soon  as  the  Dogs  were  heard, 
though  at  a  distance  of  nearly  a  mile,  she  rose  from  her  form,  swam 
across  a  rivulet,  then  lay  down  among  the  bushes  on  the  other  side, 
and  by  this  means  evaded  the  scent  of  the  hounds.  When  a  Hare 
has  been  chased  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  she  will  sometimes- 
push  another  Hare  from  its  seat,  and  lie  down  there  herself.  When 
hard  pressed,  she  will  mingle  with  a  flock  of  Sheep,  run  up  an  old 
wall,  and  conceal  herself  among  the  grass  on  the  top  of  it,  or  cross  a 
river  several  times  at  small  distances.  She  never  runs  in  a  line  directly 
forward;  but  constantly  doubles  about,  which  frequently  throws 
20- 


HARE  IN  ITS  FOEM. 


308 


THE   COMMON   HARE. 


the  Dogs  out  of  the  scent:  and  she  generally  goes  against  the  wind. 
It  is  remarkable  that  Hares,  however  frequently  pursued  by  the  Dogs, 
seldom  leave  the  place  where  they  were  brought  forth,  or  that  in 
which  they  usually  sit;  and  it  is  a  common  thing  to  find  them,  after 
a  long  and  severe  chase,  in  the  same  place  on  the  following  day. 

The  females  have  less  strength  and  agility  than  the  males :  they 
are,  consequently,  more  timid;  and  never  suffer  the  Dogs  to  approach 
them  so  near,  before  they  rise,  as  the  males.  They  are  likewise  said 
to  practise  more  arts,  and  to  double  more  frequently. 

This  animal  is  gentle,  and  susceptible  even  of  education.  But, 
though  it  exhibits  some  degree  of  attachment  to  its  master,  the  Hare 
does  not  often  become  altogether  domestic :  for,  even  when  taken  very 
young,  brought  up  in  a  house,  and  accustomed  to  kindness  and  at- 
tention, no  sooner  is  it  arrived  at  a  certain  age,  than  it  generally  seizes 
the  first  opportunity  of  recovering  its  liberty,  and  escaping  to  the 
fields. 

Whilst  Dr.  Townsend  was  at  Gottingen,  a  young  Hare  was  brought 

to  him,  which 
he  took  so  much 
pains  with,  as  to 
render  it  more 
familiar  than 
these  animals 
commonly  are. 
In  the  evenings 
it  was  so  frolic- 
some,  that  it 
would  run  and 
jump  about  his 
sofa  and  bed. 
Sometimes,  i  n 
its  play,  it  would 
leap  upon  and 
pat  him  with 
its  fore-feet;  or 
whilst  he  was 

reading,  would  even  knock  the  book  out  of  his  hand.     But  whenever 
a  stranger  entered  the  room,  the  little  animal  alwaj^s  exhibited  con 
siderable  alarm. 

Mr.  Borlase  saw  a  Hare  that  was  so  familiar  as  to  feed  from  the 
hand,  lie  under  a  chair  in  a  common  sitting-room,  and  appear,  in 
every  other  respect,  as  easy  and  comfortable  in  its  situation  as  a  Lap- 
dog.  It  now  and  then  went  out  into  the  Garden,  but  after  regaling 
itself,  always  returned  to  the  house,  as  its  proper  habitation.  Its 
usual  companions  were  a  Greyhound  and  a  Spaniel,  both  so  fond  of 
Hare-hunting,  that  they  often  went  out  together  for  that  purpose, 
without  any  person  accompanying  them.  With  these  two  dogs  this 
tame  Hare  spent  its  evenings:  they  always  slept  on  the  same  hearth, 
and  it  would  frequently  rest  itself  upon  them. 

Dogs  and  Foxes  pursue  the  Hare  by  instinct:  AVild  Cats,  Weasels* 


BOYS  TRAPPING   HARES, 


THE    RABBIT. 


309 


DOGS   HUNTING   THE   EARE. 


and  birds  of  prey,  devour  it;  and  man,  far  more  powerful  than  all  its 
other  enemies,  makes  use  of  every  artifice  to  seize  upon  an  animal 
which  constitutes  one  of  the  numerous  delicacies  of  his  table.  This 
defenceless  animal  is  even  rendered  by  him  an  object  of  amusement 
in  the  chase. 

The  period  of  gestation  in  the  Hare  is  about  a  month;  and  the  fe- 
males generally  produce  three  or  four  young-ones  at  a  litter,  and  this 
about  four  times  in  the  year.  The  eyes  of  these  are  open  at  their 
birth:  the  mother  suckles  them  about  twenty  days,  after  which  they 
leave  her  and  procure  their  own  food.  They  make  forms  at  a  little 
distance  from  each  other,  and  never  go  far  from  the  place  where  they 
were  brought  forth.  The  Hare  lives  about  eight  years. 


THE    RABBIT. 


Rabbits  are  partial  to  sandy 
hillocks,  on  light  soils,  which 
present  no  obstruction  to  their 
burrowing;  and  they  prefer 
situations  which  are  not  far 
distant  from  those  kind  of 
vegetables  to  which  they  are 
most  partial  as  food.  They 
live  in  burrows  formed  under 
the  surface  of  the  ground ; 
and  in  which  the  females  bring 
forth  their  offspring.  The 
fecundity  of  these  animals  is 
truly  astonishing.  They  breed 


THE  RABBIT 


310 


THE   RABBIT. 


THE   RABBIT. 


several  times  in  the  year,  and  generally  produce  seven  or  eight  young- 
ones  at  a  time.     Supposing  this  to  happen  regularly  for  about  four 

years,  the  pro- 
geny from  a  sin- 
gle pair  will  in 
this  period 
amount  to  more 
than  a  million. 
Their  numerous 
enemies  prevent 
any  increase 
likely  to  prove 
injurious  to  man- 
kind ;  for  besides 
their  affording 
food  to  us,  they 
are  devoured  by 
animals  of  prey 
of  almost  every 
description, 
which  make 

dreadful  havoc  among  them.  Notwithstanding  all  these  means  of 
destruction,  the  Babbits  in  the  Balearic  islands  once  proved  such  a 
nuisance,  that  the  inhabitants  were  obliged  to  implore  the  assistance 
of  a  military  force  from  Augustus,  the  Koman  emperor,  to  exterminate 
them. 

The  female  goes  with  young  about  thirty  days.  A  short  time  pre- 
viously to  her  littering,  if  she  does  not  find  a  hole  suited  to  her 
purpose,  she  digs  one;  not  in  a  straight  line,  but  of  a  zig-zag  form. 
The  bottom  of  this  she  enlarges  every  way;  and  then,  with  a  quantity 
of  hair  which  she  pulls  from  her  own  body,  she  makes  a  warm  and 
comfortable  bed  for  her  offspring  During  the  whole  of  the  first  two 

days  she  never  leaves 
them,  except  when 
compelled  by  hunger 
to  do  so;  and  then 
she  eats  with  surpris- 
ing quickness,  and 
immediately  returns. 
She  always  conceals 
them  from  the  male, 
lest  he  should  devour 
them;  and  therefore, 
when  she  goes  out, 
she  covers  up  the  hole 
so  carefully,  that  its 
place  is  scarcely  per- 
ceptible to  the  eye. 
In  this  manner  she 
by  which  time  they 


FANCY  RABBIT?. 


continues   her   attention   for   about   a  month 


THE    ALPINE    HARE. 


311 


are  able  to  provide  for  themselves.  Notwithstanding  the  unaccount- 
able propensity  which  the  male  has  to  devour  its  young-ones,  yet, 
when  these  are  somewhat  grown,  and  are  brought  by  the  mother  to 
the  mouth  of  the  hole,  to  eat  such  vegetables  as  she  gets  for  them, 
he  seems  to  know  them,  takes  them  between  his  paws,  smooths  their 
hair,  and  caresses  them  with  great  tenderness. 

Rabbits,  as  they  cannot  easily  articulate  sounds,  and  are  formed 
into  societies  that  live  under  ground,  have  a  singular  mode  of  giving 
alarm.  When  danger  is  threatened,  they  thump  on  the  earth  with 
one  of  their  hind  feet ;  and  thus  produce  a  sound  that  can  be  heard  a 
great  way  by  animals  near  the  surface.  This,  Dr.  Darwin,  from  its 
singularity,  and  its  aptness  to  the  situation  of  the  animals,  concludes 
to  be  an  artificial  sign,  and  merely  acquired  from  their  having  expe- 
rienced its  utility.  He  will  not  allow  of  any 
thing  like  an  instinctive  propensity. 

A  friend  of  Dr.  Eobert  Anderson  of  Edin- 
burgh, had  a  singular  breed  of  Rabbits,  with  j£s 
only  one  ear.     These  propagated  as  fast,  and 
as   constantly  produced  their   like,  as    the  ffi 
two-eared   Rabbits   from   which    they  were 
originally  descended. 

The  fur  of  the  Rabbit  is  .useful  in  the  manufacture  of  hats 


THE  RABBIT. 


bright. 


THE  ALPINE   HARE. 


THE   ALPINE   HAEE. 

The  Alpine  Hare  is  about  nine  inches 
head   and  whiskers;    and   above  each  eye 
there  are  two  very  long   hairs.     The  ears 
are  short  and  rounded.     The -far  is  dusky 
at  the  roots,  and  of  a  bright  bay  color  at  the 
end  slightly  tipped  with  white,   and  inter- 
mixed with  long  dusky  hairs:  at  first  sight, 
however,    the    animals  seem    of   a 
unmixed  bay  color. 

The  most  southern  residence  of  these  animals  is  on  the  Alpaic  chain 
of  mountains,  near  the  lake  of  Baikal,  in  Siberia;  and  they  extend 
from  that  part  of  the  country  as  far  northward  as  to  Kamschatka. 
They  are  always  found  in  the  middle  regions  of  the  snowy  mountains, 
where  these  are  clad  with  wood,  and  where  herbs  and  moisture  abound. 
They  sometimes  burrow  between  the  rocks,  but  more  frequently  lodge 
in  the  crevices.  They  are  generally  found  in  pairs ;  but  in  bad  weather, 
they  collect  together,  lie  on  the  rocks,  and  whistle  so  much  like  the 
chirp  of  sparrows,  as  easily  to  deceive  the  hearer.  At  the  report  of 
a  gun  they  run  off  into  their  holes;  whence,  however,  if  nothing  more 
is  heard,  they  soon  return. 

By  the  usual  wonderful  instinct  of  similar  animals,  they  make  a 
provision  in  their  inclement  seats  against  the  rigorous  season.  A 
company  of  them,  towards  autumn,  collect  together  vast  heaps  of  fav- 
orite herbs  and  grasses;  which  they  place  either  beneath  the  over- 


,12 


THE   ALPINE    HARE. 


HUNTING  THE   HAKE. 


hanging  rocks,  or  between  the  chasms,  or  around  the  trunk  of  some 
tree.  The  way  to  these  heaps  is  marked  by  a  worn  path;  and,  in 
many  places,  the  plants  appear  scattered,  as  if  to  be  dried  in  the  sun 
and  properly  harvested.  The  heaps  are  formed  like  round  or  conoid 
ricks;  and  are  of  various  sizes,  according  to  the  number  of  the  soci- 
ety employed  in  forming  them.  They  are  sometimes  about  a  man's 
height,  and  usually  three  or  four  feet  in  diameter. 

Thus  the  animals  wisely  provide  their  winter's  stock:  without  which, 
in  the  cold  season,  they  must  infallibly  perish  ;  for  they  are  prevented 
by  the  depth  of  snow,  from  quitting  their  retreats  in  quest  of  food. 
They  select  the  best  of  vegetables,  and  crop  them  when  in  the  fullest 
vigor.  These,  by  the  very  judicious  manner  in  which  they  dry  them, 
they  make  into  excellent  hay.  The  ricks  they  thus  form,  are  the  ori- 
gin of  fertility  among  the  rocks;  for  the  relics,  mixed  with  the  dung 


THE  OGOTONA  HARE — CALLING  HARE.         313 

of  the  animals,  rot  in  the  barren  chasms,  and  create  a  soil  productive 
of  vegetation. 

These  ricks  are  also  of  great  service  to  such  persons  as  devote  them- 
selves to  the  laborious  occupation  of  Sable-hunting;  for,  being  obliged 
to  go  far  from  home,  their  Horses  would  often  perish  from  want,  had 
they  not  the  provisions  of  the  Alpine  Hares  for  their  support. 

The  people  of  Jakutz  are  said  to  feed  both  their  Horses  and  cattle 
on  the  remnant  of  the  winter  stock  of  these  Hares.  As  food,  the 
Alpine  Hares  are  themselves  neglected  by  mankind;  but  they  are  the 
prey  of  numerous  animals. 


THE   OGOTONA   HARE. 

The  Ogotona  Hare  is  somewhat  more  than  six  inches  in  length,  of  a 
pale  brown  color  above,  and  somewhat  white  beneath ;  and  is  entirely 
destitute  of  tail. 

These  little  creatures  live  under  heaps  of  stones,  or  in  burrows  which 
they  form  in  the  sandy  soil,  and  which  have 
two  or  three  entrances.  Their  nest  is  formed 
of  soft  grass ;  and  the  old  females,  for  greater 
security,  make  several  burrows  near  each 
other,  in  order  that,  if  disturbed,  they  may 
have  a  secure  retreat.  They  feed  in  the 
night;  and  their  voice,  as  in  the  last  species, 
is  like  the  note  of  the  Sparrow,  but  much  TIttOQOIoBA  HAEB. 

more  shrill. 

Their  principal  food  is  the  tender  bark  of  trees,  and  different  kind 
of  herbs.  Before  the  approach  of  severe  weather,  even  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  they  collect  a  store  of  vegetables,  with  which  they  fill 
their  holes.  These  operations  are  considered  by  the  inhabitants,  to  be 
certain  signs  of  the  approaching  change  of  weather.  In  autumn,  di- 
rected by  the  same  instinct  as  the  former  species,  they  form  ricks  of 
hay,  of  an  hemispherical  shape,  about  a  foot  high  and  wide.  Tn  the 
spring,  these  heaps  are  gone,  and  nothing  but  the  relics  are  seen. 

The  Ogotona  Hares  inhabit  all  Mongolia,  and  beyond  the  lake 
Baikal,  where  they  are  found  in  great  abundance.  The  females  pro- 
duce their  young-ones  in  spring,  and,  by  the  end  of  June,  these  are 
fully  grown. 


THE   CALLING  HARE. 

This  is  a  smaller  species  than  the  last,  but  has  a  great  resemblance 
to  it  in  form.  The  head  is  thickly  covered  with  fur;  the  ears  are  large 
and  rounded;  the  legs  are  very  short,  and  the  feet  furred  beneath. 
The  fur  on  the  whole  animal  is  soft,  long,  smooth,  and  of  a  brownish 
lead-color,  and  the  hairs  are  tipped  with  black.  On  the  sides  of  the 
body,  a  yellowish  tinge  prevails. 

These  are  solitary  animals,  and  rarely  to  be  seen,  even  in  the  places 


314 


THE  CHINCHILLA. 


where  they  are  most  common.  They  choose  for  their  habitations  some 
dry  spot  amidst  bushes,  and  covered  with  a  firm  sod;  and  prefer  the 
western  sides  of  the  hills.  In  these  they  burrow,  leaving  a  very  small 
hole  for  the  entrance,  and  thence  forming  long  and  intricate  galleries, 
in  which  they  make  their  nests. 

Their  voice  alone  betrays  their  abode :  it  is  like  the  piping  of  a 
Quail,  but  somewhat  deeper,  and  so  loud,  as  to  be  heard  at  a  great 
distance.  It  is  repeated,  at  equal  intervals,  three,  four,  and  often  six 

times  successively.  The  female  is  silent 
for  some  time  after  parturition,  which 
is  about  the  beginning  of  May.  She  pro- 
duces six  young-ones  at  a  litter;  towards 
which  she  exhibits  great  affection. 

These  most  harmless  and  inoffensive 
animals  never  go  far  from  their  holes; 
they  feed  and  make  their  little  excursions 
by  night.  They  are  easily  tamed,  and 
seldom  attempt  to  bite,  even  when 
handled.  The  males,  in  confinement,  are 
observed  to  attack  one  another,  and  they  express  their  anger  by  a 
kind  of  grunting  noise.  They  are  natives  of  Eussia. 


THE  CALLING   HARE. 


THE  CHINCHILLA. 

From  the  various  specimens  of  fur  sent  to  this  country  it  would 


THE   CHINCHILLA. 

appear  that  there  are 
two  species  of  the 
Chinchilla,  but  it  is 
not  certain.  The 
length  of  the  Chin- 
chilla is  about  nine 
inches,  exclusive  of 
its  tail,  which  mea- 
sures about  five. 

This  pretty  little 
animal  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  valleys  in  the  mountain  districts  of 
South  America.  In  such  situations  the  cold  is  often  very  intense; 
but  the  long  soft  fur  of  the  Chinchilla  forms  an  effectual  protection 
against  the  frosts.  The  fur  is  extensively  used  for  clothing,  and  cele- 
brated for  its  soft  and  warm  texture.  Numbers  of  these  animals  are 


GROUP  OP  cnmcniLLAS. 


THE  LAGOTIS. 


315 


annually  destroyed  for  the  sake  of  their  skins,  and  Coquimbo  appears 
to  be  the  place  where  they  are  taken  in  the  greatest  numbers. 

The  Chinchilla  lives  in  society  like  the  Babbit,  and  resides  in  bur- 
rows dug  in  the  ground.  Its  food  is  entirely  vegetable,  and  principally 
consists  of  bulbous  roots.  In  captivity  it  is  quiet  and  inoffensive,  but 
seems  to  betray  no  particular  attachment  to  its  keeper;  neither  does 
it  seem  playful.  Its  tail,  covered  with  long  bushy  hairs,  is  usually  held 
turned  up  over  its  back,  like  that  of  the  Squirrel,  and  probably  for  the 
same  reason. 


THE   LAGOTIS. 


This  animal,  classed  as  one  of  the  Chinchillidoe,  resembles  a  Eabbit 
in  size  and  general  shape,  but  the  tail,  which  is  equal  in  length  to  the 
whole  body,  gives  it  a  very  different  appearance.  It  is  a  jumping 


THE  LAGOTIS. 


animal  and  has  its  hind  legs  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  fore  ones. 
The  bristly  hairs  of  its  whiskers  are  thick  and  black.  It  has  long 
ears,  soft  downy  hair,  long  and  beautiful.  It  is  found  in  Chili. 


PECORA 


THE  animals  belonging  to  this  order  have  several  wedge-like  front 
teeth  in  the  lower  jaw,  and  none  in  the  upper.  Their  feet  have  cloven 
hoofs.  They  live  on  vegetable  food ;  and  all  the  species  ruminate,  or 
chew  their  cud. 


OF  THE  CAMEL  TEIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  the  lower  jaw  of  the  Camel  there  are  six  front  teeth,  which  are 
somewhat  thin  and  broad.  The  canine  teeth  are  at  a  little  distance 
both  from  these  and  the  grinders:  in  the  upper  jaw  there  are  three, 
and  in  the  lower  two.  The  upper  lip  is  cleft,  or  divided. 

The  disposition  of  the  animals  which  constitute  the  present  tribe, 
is  in  general  so  mild  and  inoffensive,  that,  when  they  are  either  bred 
in  a  state  of  domestication,  or  caught  young  and  trained  to  labor,  they 
become  extensively  serviceable  to  mankind.  In  hot  and  sandy  regions 
they  are  employed  as  beasts  of  draught  and  burden.  Their  pace  is  usu- 
ally slow;  bat,  being  able  to  sustain  themselves,  even  on  the  longest 
journeys,  with  a  very  small  portion  of  food,  and  to  undergo  fatigues 
which  few,  perhaps  no  other  animals  could  endure,  some  of  the  spe- 
cies are  an  invaluable  acquisition  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  district 
where  they  are  found. 

The  number  of  species  hitherto  described  is  seven,  of  which  only 

two  are  found  on  the  old  continent,  the  rest  being  confined  to  the 

alpine  countries  of  Chili  and  Peru.     In  a  wild  state  they  are  supposed 

to  be  gregarious,  and  to  associate  together  in  vast  herds.    The  females 

316 


THE   ARABIAN  AND   BACTRIAN   CAMELS.  317 

have  each  two  teats,  and  seldom  produce  more  than  one  young-one  at 
a  birth.  The  hair  of  these  animals  is  of  a  soft  and  silky  texture:  and 
their  flesh  constitutes  a  palatable  food. 

Like  all  the  other  genera  of  their  order,  they  are  furnished  with 
four  stomachs,  in  consequence  of  which  they  not  only  live  solely  on 
vegetable  food,  but  ruminate  or  chew  the  cud.  They  swallow  their 
food  unmasticated.  This  is  received  into  the  first  stomachr  where  it 
remains  some  time  to  macerate;  and  afterwards,  when  the  animal  is  at 
rest,  by  a  peculiar  action  of  the  muscles,  it  is  returned  to  the  mouth 
in  small  quantities,  chewed  more  fully,  and  then  swallowed  a  second 
time  for  digestion. 


THE    ARABIAN,    OR   SINGLE-HUNCHED    CAMEL. 

The  height  of  this  animal,  at  the  shoulder,  is  from  five  to  seven 
feet.  The  hunch  is  situated  on  the  middle  of  the  back.  The  hair  is 
soft,  wooly,  and  very  unequal;  it  is  longer  on  the  nape,  under  the 
throat,  and  on  the  hunch,  than  on  any  other  parts  of  the  body.  Its 
color  is  usually  somewhat  of  a  reddish  gray. 


THE   BACTRIAN,    OR  TWO-HUNCHED   CAMEL. 

The  Bactrian  Camel  is  distinguishable  at  first  sight,  from  the  last 
named  species,  by  the  two  lumps  on  the  upper  part  of  its  body ;  one 
of  these  is  situated  on  the  shoulders,  and  the  other  at  a  little  distance 
behind.  It  is  a  somewhat  larger  animal  than  the  Arabian  Camel,  and 
its  legs  are,  in  proportion,  shorter. 

The  Arabian  Camel  is  that,  with  a  single  hunch  on  its  back,  which 
we  so  frequently  see  exhibited  in  the  streets  of  this  country.  In  many 
parts  of  the  east  it  is  domesticated;  and  in  carrying  heavy  burdens 
over  the  sandy  deserts,  it  supplies  a  place  which  the  Horse  would  not 


318 


THE  ARABIAN   AND    BACTRIAN    CAMELS. 


be  able  to  fill.     The  tough  and  spongy  feet  of  these  animals  are  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  hot  climates,  for  in  the  most  fatiguing  journeys  they 

are  never  found  to  crack. 
The  sand  seems  indeed  their 
element;  for  no  sooner  do 
they  quit  it,  and  touch  the 
mud,  than  they  can  scarcely 
keep  upon  their  feet,  and 
their  constant  stumbling  in 
such  situations  is  exceed- 
ingly dangerous  to  the  rider. 
Their  great  powers  of  ab- 
staining from  water  enable 
them  to  pass  un watered 
tracks  of  country  for  seven, 
eight,  or,  as  Leo  African  us 
says,  for  even  fifteen  days, 
without  requiring  any  li- 
=  quid.  They  can  scent  water 
at  half  a  league's  distance, 
and,  after  a  long  abstinence, 
will  hasten  towards  it  long 
before  their  drivers  perceive 
where  it  lies.  Their  pa- 
tience under  hunger  is  such, 
that  they  will  travel  many 
clays  fed  only  with  a  few  dates,  some  small  balls  of  barley-meal,  or 
on  the  miserable  thorny  plants  they  meet  with  in  the  deserts.  M. 
Denon  informs  us,  that  during  his  travels  in  Egypt,  the  Camels  of 
his  caravan  had  nothing  in  the  day  but  a  single  feed  of  beans,  which 
they  chewed  for  the  remainder  of  the  time,  either  on  the  journev, 
or  lying  down  upon  the  scorching  sand,  and  this  without  their  exhi- 
biting the  slightest  indication  of  discontent. 

A  large  Camel  will  bear  a  load  of  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred 
pounds,  and,  with  this,  it  will  traverse  the  deserts.'  When  about  to 
be  loaded,  these  animals,  at  the  command  of  their  conductor,  bend 
their  knees.  If  any  disobey,  they  are  immediately  struck  with  a  stick, 
or  their  necks  are  pulled  down;  and  then,  as  if  constrained,  and  utter- 
ing their  groan  of  complaint,  they  bend  themselves,  put  their  bellies 
on  the  earth,  and  remain  in  this  posture  till  they  are  loaded  and  de- 
sired to  rise.  This  is  the  origin  of  those  large  callosities  on  the  parts 
of  their  bellies,  limbs,  and  knees,  which  rest  on  the  ground.  If  over- 
burdened, the  Camels  give  repeated  blows  with  their  heads,  to  the 
person  who  oppresses  them,  and  sometimes  utter  the  most  lamentable 
cries. 

They  have  a  great  share  of  intelligence,  and  the  Arabs  assert  that 
they  are  so  sensible  of  ill-treatment,  that,  when  this  is  carried  too  far, 
the  inflictor  will  not  find  it  easy  to  escape  their  vengeance;  and  that 
they  will  retain  the  remembrance  of  an  injury  till  an  opportunity 
offers  for  gratifying  their  revenge.  Eager,  however,  to  express  their 


ARAB  AND   CAMEL. 


THE    ARABIAN    AND    BACTRIAN    CAMEL. 


319 


resentment,  they  no  longer  retain  any  rancour  when  once  they  are 
satisfied;  and  it  is  even  sufficient  for  them  to  believe  they  have  satisfied 
their  vengeance.  Ac- 
cordingly, when  an 
Arab  has  excited  the 
rage  of  a  Camel,  he 
throws  down  his 
garments  in  some 
place  near  which 
the  animal  is  to  pass, 
and  disposes  them  in 
such  a  manner,  that 
they  appear  to  cover 
a  man  sleeping  under 
them.  Theanimal  re- 
cognises the  clothes, 
seizes  them  in  his 
teeth,  shakes  them 
with  violence,  and 
tramples  on  them  in 
a  rage.  When  his 
anger  is  appeased,  he 
leaves  them,  and 
then  the  owner  of 
the  garments  may 
make  his  appearance, 
and,  without  fear, 
may  load  and  guide 
him  as  he  pleases. 
"  I  have  sometimes 
seen  these  animal?, 
(says  M.  Sonnini ,) 
weary  of  the  impa- 
tience of  their  riders, 
stop  short,  turn  , 

round  their  long  necks  to  bite  them,  and  utter  cries  of  rage.  In 
these  circumstances  the  man  must  refrain  from  striking  his  beast,  as 
that  would  but  increase  his  fury.  Nothing  can  be  done  but  to  have 
patience,  and  endeavor  to  appease  the  animal  by  patting  him  with 
the  hand,  and,  after  a  little  while,  he  will  resume  his  way  and  his 
place  of  himself."  Like  the  Elephant,  Camels  have  their  periodical 
fits  of  rage,  and  during  these  they  sometimes  have  been  known  to 
take  up  a  man  in  their  teeth  throw  him  on  the  ground,  and  trample 
him  under  their  feet. 

In  eastern  countries  there  is  no  mode  of  conveyance  so  cheap  and 
expeditious  as  that  by  Camels.  The  merchants  and  other  passengers 
unite  in  a  caravan,  to  prevent  the  insults  and  robberies  of  the  Arabs. 
These  caravans  are  often  very  numerous,  and  are  always  composed  of 
more  Camels  than  men.  In  these  commercial  travels  the  march  is  not 
hastened:  as  the  route  is  frequently  seven  or  eight  hundred  leagues. 


LOADED  C   MKLS. 


320 


THE   ARABIAN   AND   BACTRIAN   CAMELS. 


CAMELS  OVERTAKEN  DY  TEE  SIMOOM. 


the  motions  and  journeys  are  regulated  accordingly.  The  Camels 
only  walk,  and  they  travel  thus  from  ten  to  twelve  leagues  a  day. 
Every  ni°;ht  they  are  unloaded,  and  allowed  to  pasture  at  freedom. 

When  in  a  rich  country,  or  fertile  meadow,  they  eat,  in  less  than 
an  hour,  as  much  as  serves  them  to  ruminate  the  whole  night,  and  to 
nourish  them  during  the  next  day.  But  they  seldom  find  such  pas- 
tures, neither  is  this  delicate  food  necessary  for  them.  They  seem  to 
prefer  wormwood,  thistles,  nettles,  broom,  cassia,  and  other  prickly 
vegetables,  to. the  softest  herbage.  As  long  as  they  find  plants  to 
^browse,  they  easily  dispense  with  water.  This  faculty  of  abstaining 
from  the  use  of  water,  is  an  effect  of  their  structure.  Till  very  lately 
the  Camels  have  been  supposed  to  possess,  independently  of  the  four 
stomachs  common  to  ruminating  animals,  a  fifth  bag,  which  served 
them  as  a  reservoir  for  holding  water.  From  a  preparation,  however, 
in  the  collection  of  Mr.  John  Hunter,  it  appears  that  this  fifth  bag 
never  existed  but  in  idea.  The  second  stomach  is  of  very  peculiar 
construction,  being  formed  of  numerous  cells  several  inches  deep, 
having  their  mouths  uppermost,  and  the  orifices  apparently  capable 
of  muscular  contraction.  When  the  animal  drinks,  it  probably  has  a 
power  of  directing  the  water  into  these  cells,  instead  of  letting  it  pass 
into  the  first  stomach,  and  when  these  are  filled,  the  rest  of  the  water 
will  go  into  that  stomach.  In  this  manner  a  quantity  of  water  may 
be  kept  separate  from  the  food,  and  may  serve  occasionally  to  moisten 
it  in  its  passage  to  the  true  stomach,  for  several  days. 

When  travellers  find  themselves  much  in  want  of  water,  it  is  no 
uncommon  thing  to  kill  a  Camel  for  what  he  contains,  which  is  always 
sweet  and  wholesome. 

"Of  all  animals  (says  M.  de  BulYon)  that  man  has  subjugated,  the 
Camels  are  the  most  abject  slaves.  With  incredible  patience  and 
submission,  they  traverse  the  burning  sands  of  Africa  and  Arabia, 


THE   ARABIAN   AXD   BACTRIAN   CAMELS.  321 

carrying  burdens  of  amazing  weight.  The  Arabians  consider  the 
Camel  as  a  gift  sent  from  Heaven;  a  sacred  animal,  without  whose 
assistance  they  could  neither  subsist,  traffic,  nor  travel.  The  milk  of 
the  Camel  is  their  common  food.  They  also  eat  its  flesh;  and  of  its 
hair  they  make  garments.  In  possession  of  their  Camels,  they  want 
nothing,  and  have  nothing  to  fear.  In  one  day  they  can  perform  a 
journey  of  fifty  leagues  into  the  desert,  Which  cuts  off  every  approach 
from  their  enemies.  All  the  armies  in  the  world  would  perish  in 
pursuit  of  a  troop  of  Arabs.  By  the  assistance  of  his  Camel,  an  Arab 
surmounts  all  the  difficulties  of  a  country  which  is  neither  covered 
with  verdure,  nor  supplied  with  water.  Notwithstanding  the  vigi- 
lance of  his  neighbors,  and  the  superiority  of  their  strength,  he  eludes 
their  pursuit,  and  carries  off  with  impunity  all  that  he  ravages  from 
them.  When  about  to  undertake  a  predatory  expedition,  an  Arab 
makes  his  Camels  carry 
both  his  and  their  own 
provisions.  When  h  e 
reaches  the  confines  of 
the  desert,  he  robs  the 
fi  r  s  t  passengers  who 
come  in  his  way,  pillages 
the  solitary  houses,  loads 
his  Camels  with  the  booty, 
and,  if  pursued,  he  ac- 
celerates his  retreat.  On 
these  occasions  he  dis- 
plays his  own  talents  as 
well  as  those  of  the  ani- 
mals. He  mounts  One  of  MILITARY  CAMEL. 

the  fleetest  of  them,  con- 
ducts the  troop,  and  obliges  them  to  travel  day  and  night,  almost 
without  either  stopping,  eating,  or  drinking;  and,  in  this  manner,  he 
often  performs  a  journey  of  three  hundred  leagues  in  eight  days." 

With  a  view  to  his  predatory  expeditions,  the  Arab  instructs,  rears, 
and  exercises  his  Camels.  A  few  days  after  their  birth  he  folds  their 
limbs  under  their  belly,  forces  them  to  remain  on  the  ground,  and  in 
this  situation  loads  them  with  a  weight,  which  is  never  removed  but 
for  the  purpose  of  being  replaced  by  a  greater.  Instead  of  allowing 
them  to  feed  at  pleasure,  and  drink  when  they  are  thirsty,  he  begins 
with  regulating  their  meals,  and  makes  them  gradually  travel  long 
journeys,  diminishing  at  the  same  time  the  quantity  of  their  aliment. 
When  they  acquire  some  strength  they  are  trained  to  the  course,  and 
their  emulation  is  excited  by  the  example  of  Horses,  which,  in  time, 
renders  them  not  only  fleet,  but  more  robust  than  they  would  other- 
wise be. 

The  saddle  used  by  the  Arabs  is  hollowed  in  the  middle,  and  has, 
at  each  bow,  a  piece  of  wood  placed  upright,  or  sometimes  horizon- 
tally, by  which  the  rider  keeps  himself  on  his  seat.  This,  with  a 
long  pocket,  to  hold  provisions  for  himself  and  his  beast,  a  skin  of 
water  for  the  rider,  (the  animal  being  otherwise  well  supplied,)  and  a 


322 


THE   ARABIAN   AND   BACTRIAN   CAMEL. 


leather  thong,  are  the  whole  of  the  equipage  that  the  Arab  traveller 
stands  in  need  of,  and  with  nothing  more  than  these  he  is  able  to 
cross  the  deserts. 

The  pace  of  the  Camel  being  a  high  trot,  M.  Denon  says,  that  when 
he  first  mounted  one  of  these  animals,  he  was  greatly  alarmed  lest 
this  swinging  motion  would  have  thrown  him  over  'its  head.  He, 
however,  was  soon  undeceived;  for  on  being  once  fixed  in  the  saddle, 

he  found  that  he  had  only 
to  give  way  to  the  motion 
of  the  beast,  and  then  it  was 
impossible  to  be  more  pleas- 
antly seated  for  a  long 
journey,  especially  as  no  at- 
tention was  requisite  to  guide 
the  animal,  except  in  making 
him  deviate  from  his  proper 
direction.  ult  was  (he  re- 
marks) entertaining  enough, 
to  see  us  mount  our  beasts: 
the  Camel,  as  soon  as  the 
rider  leans  on  his  saddle,  pre- 
paratory to  mounting,  rises 

very  briskly,  first  on  his  hind  and  then  on  his  fore  legs,  thus  throwing 
the  rider  first  forward  and  then  backward;  and  it  is  not  till  the 


ARABIAN   CAMEL. 


THE    ARABIAN    AND    BACTRIAN    CAMEL. 


323 


ARABIAN  ENCAMPMENT. 


fourth  motion  that  the  animal  is  entirely  erect,  and  the  rider  finds 
himself  firm  in  his  seat.  None  of  us  were  able  for  a  long  time  to 
resist  the  first  shake,  and  we  had  each  to  laugh  at  his  companions. 

When  the  traveller 
is  riot  in  haste,  or 
when  he  accompanies 
a  caravan,  the  pro- 
gress of  which  is  al- 
ways slow,  on  account 
of  the  Camels  of  bur- 
den, a  kind  of  covered 
litter  is  fixed  on  one 
of  these  animals,  in 
which  he  is  tolerably 
at  his  ease,  and  where 
he  may  even  sleep  if 
he  chooses.  The  dri- 
vers of  the  loaded 
Camels  have  each  a 
stick,  which  they  use 
sparingly,  if  occasion 

•     °    J  '  T  ,  FEMALE   ARABIAN   CAMSL. 

requires;     and    those 

who  ride,  whip  their  animals  with  a  long  strap  of  leather,  at  the  same 

time  urging  them  forward  by  a  clicking  noise  of  the  tongue. 

It  has  been  attempted,  but  without  success,  to  introduce  Camels. 


324 


THE   ARABIAN   AND    BACTRIAN    CAMELS. 


both  of  the  Arabian  and  Bactrian  species,  into  the  West  India  islands 
The  people  were  unaccustomed  to  their  habits  and  manner  of  feeding, 
and  this,  together  with  the  insects  called  chigoes,  insinuating  them- 
selves  into  their  soft  feet,  and  producing  inflammations,  and  at  length 
painful  ulcers,  seems  to  have  rendered  them  totally  unfit  for  service. 
Similar  efforts  have  been  made  to  introduce  them  into  the  southern 
United  States,  and  there  is  every  prospect  of  success  in  acclimating 
them  in  this  country. 

The  Arabian  Camels  are  natives  chiefly  of  the  deserts  of  Asia  and 
Africa.  The  Bactrian  species  are  found,  at  the  present  day,  in  the 
same  places  where  they  were  obsarved  by  the  ancients;  namely,  in 
Usbec  Tartary,  the  ancient  Bactria.  They  are  likewise  natives  of 
Thibet,  and  of  countries  near  the  frontiers  of  China. 

The  Bactrian  Camels 
are  employed  as  beasts 
of  burden  throughout 
all  the  regions  where 
they  are  found.  They 
are  capable  of  support- 
ing even  the  rigorous 
climate  of  the  environs 
of  the  lake  Baikal  in 
Siberia,  where  they 
subsist,  during  the  win- 
ter, on  the  bark  and 
tender  branches  of  the 
trees.  They  are,  in 
every  respect  better 
adapted  for  living  in 
temperate  climates 
than  the  Arabian  Camels,  for  they  experience  much  less  injury,  from 
humid  and  marshy  countries,  than  these. 

Th'e  flesh  of  the  Camel  is  dry  and  hard,  but  not  unpalatable.  It  is 
so  much  esteemed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Egypt,  that  in  Cairo  and 
Alexandria,  it  was,  not  long  ago  forbidden  to  be  sold  to  the  Christians. 

In  Barbary,  the  tongues  are  salted 
and  smoked,  for  exportation  to  Italy 
and  other  countries,  and  they  form 
a  palatable  food.  The  hair  is  an 
important  article  of  commerce,  serv- 
ing for  the  fabrication  of  the  tents 
and  carpets  of  the  Arabs;  and  lea- 
ther is  made  of  the  skin.  In  the 
materia  medica  of  China,  the  different 
parts  of  the  Camel  occupy  a  conspi- 
IHE  CAMEL.  cuous  place:  the  fat  is  called  the  oil 

of  bunches;  and  the  flesh,  the  milk; 

the  hair,  and  even  their  dung,  are  admitted  into  the  prescriptions 
of  the  Chinese  physicians. 


THE   BACTRIAX  CAMEL. 


THE    LLAMA,    AND    THE    VICUNA. 


325 


THE   LLAMA,    AND    THE   VICUNA. 


The  Llama  is  about  four  feet  and  a 
half  in  height,  and,  in  length,  from  the 
neck  to  the  tail,  nearly  six  feet.  Its  usual 
weight  is  about  three  hundred  pounds. 
The  back  is  nearly  even,  and,  instead 
of  a  hunch  there,  the  animal  has  a  pro- 
tuberance on  the  breast.  The  head  is 
small,  with  fine  black  eyes,  and  the  neck 
is  very  long  and  arched.  The  general 
shape  is  that  of  a  Camel,  without  the 
dorsal  protuberance.  In  a  wild  state  the 
hair  of  the  Llama  is  long  and  coarse; 
but  when  domesticated,  it  becomes  short  and 
white  gray,  and  russet,  disposed  in  spots. 


THE    LLAMA. 


smooth.     The  color  is 


The  Yicuna  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  Llama;  and  its  limbs  ar 
more  neatly  formed. 
There  is  no  protuber- 
ance on  the  breast. 
The  color  of  the  upper 
parts  of  the  body  is 
reddish  brown,  and  of 
the  under  parts  whit- 

h. 

The  lofty  and 
mountainous  regions 
of  Peru,  Chili,  and 
other  districts  of  South 
America,  are  inhabited 
both  by  the  Llama  and 
Vicuna.  They  are 
mild,  gentle,  and  tract- 
able animals,  and  are 
employed  in  many 
parts  of  these  coun- 
tries for  the  carrying 
of  burdens.  In  the 
Spanish  settlements, 
before  the  introduc- 
tion of  Mules,  they 
were  employed  in  the 

,  I     •  n        -I  -i  IIUS    LLAMA. 

ploughing   of   land. 

Both  the  Llama  and  the  Yicuna  go  on  their  journeys  with   great 


326 


THE   LLAMA,  AND   THE    VICUNA. 


WILD  LLAMAS. 


gravity,  and  nothing  can  induce  them  to  change  their  pace.     Like 
the  Camel,  they  lie  down  to  be  loaded;  and,  when  they  are  wearied, 

no  blows  will  induce 
them  to  proceed. 
Their  disposition  is 
indeed  so  capricious, 
that,  sometimes, 
when  they  are  struck 
they  lie  down,  and 
caresses  only  will 
induce  them  again 
to  rise.  When  pro- 
voked, they  have  no 
other  mode  of  aveng- 
ing themselves  but 
by  spitting,  and  they 
have  the  faculty  of 
ejecting  their  saliva 
to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. It  is  asserted, 
though  without  foundation,  that  this  is  of  so  corrosive  a  quality,  that 
it  will  produce  blisters  upon  the  skin.  The  saliva  of  a  Llama,  which 
was  exhibited  in  Piccadilly  in  the  year  1805,  I  received  on  my  hand, 
and  the  keeper  informed  me  that  he  had  several  times  had  it  thrown 
even  upon  his  face,  without  injury. 

Llamas  are  employed  in 
transporting  the  rich  ores 
out  of  the  mines  of  Potosi. 
In  their  journeys,  they  will 
sometimes  travel  four  or  five 
days  successively  before 
they  seem  desirous  of  re- 
pose; and  they  then  rest 
spontaneously  twenty  or 
thirty  hours  before  they  re- 
sume their  toil.  Sometimes, 
when  they  are  inclined  to 
rest  a  few  minutes  only, 
they  bend  their  knees,  and 
lower  their  bodies  with  great 
care,  to  prevent  their  load 
from  falling  off,  or  being 
rWnno-ftrl-.  when,  however, 
they  hear  their  conductor's 
whistle,  they  rise  with  equal 
caution,  and  proceed  on 
their  journey.  In  going 
along  during  the  day-time, 
they  browse  wherever  they  find  herbage,  and  generally  spend  the 
bight  in  chewing  their  cud.  If,  after  they  are  determined  not  to  rise, 


THZ  VICUNA 


THE  GUANACO. 


327 


WHITE   LLAMAS. 


their  masters  continue  to  abuse  them,  they  sometimes  kill  themselves 
in  their  rage,  by  striking  their 
heads  alternately  from  right  to 
left  on.  the  ground. 

When  these  animals  are 
among  their  native  mountains, 
they  associate  in  immense  herds 
i  n  the  highest  and  steepest  parts. 
Here  they  frequently  climb 
rocks,  along  which  no  man 
would  dare  to  follow  them; 
and  while  the  rest  of  a  herd 
feed,  one  of  them  is  always  sta- 
tioned as  a  sentinel  on  the  point 
of  some  adjacent  rock.  When 
this  animal  observes  any  one 
approach,  he  gives  a  kind  of 

neigh,  and  the  herd,  taking  the  alarm,  run  off  with  incredible  speed. 
They  gallop  to  a  considerable  distance,  then  stop,  turn  round,  and 
gaze  at  their  pursuers  till  they  come,  near,  and  imme'diately  set  off 
again.  They  out-run  all  the  Dogs,  so 
that  the  inhabitants  have  no  other 
mode  of  killing  them  than  with  guns. 

The  Llama  which  I  saw  in  London 
in  1805,  was  supposed  to  have  been  at 
that  time  about  eight  months  old.  It 
had  been  taken  in  one  of  the  Spanish, 
ships  which  had  fallen  a  prize  to 
seamen.  No  animal  could,  apparently, 
be  more  tame  or  docile;  but  it  was 
easily  irritated,  and  on  such  occasions 
always  ejected  its  saliva  on  the  offender. 
It  seemed  to  bear  our  climate  remarkably  well. 


GUANACO. 

The  Guanaco  is  a  va- 
riety of  the  Llama.  They 
are  found  in  the  southern 
parts  of  the  Andes.  When 
full  grown  it  is  nearly  as 
large  as  a  Horse.  The 
hair  is  yellowish  above 
and  white  below,  the  head 
rounded,  ears  straight, 
muzzle  pointed,  tail  short 
It  is  found  wild  in  very 
large  herds  in  the  interior 
of  Aroucano. 


CKOUP  OF  LLAMAS. 


828 


OF   THE   MUSK    TRIBE   IN   GENERAL. 


THE  ALPACA. 


ALPACA. 

The  Alpaca  lias  given 
its  name  to  a  kind  of 
cloth  fabric  made  of  its 
wool.  The  Alpaca  is  of 
a  maroon  brown  color 
varied  above  with  black, 
and  below  with  white. 
The  hair  along  the  back 
is  long  and  silky,  and 
almost  as  fine  in  the  staple 
as  that  of  the  Cashmere 
Goat.  It  is  easily  tamed 
and  is  mild  and  docile 
in  temper.  Several  spe- 
cimens have  thriven  well 
in  Europe;  and  it  should 
be  introduced  into  the 
United  States  on  account 
of  its  value  in  the  manu- 
facture of  the  Alpaca  cloth. 


OF  THE  MUSK  TKIBE  IN  GENEEAL. 


IN  the  lower  jaw  they  have  eight 
front  teeth ;  and  in  the  upper  jaw 
two  long  tusks,  one  on  each  side, 
which  project  out  of  the  mouth. 

The  Musk  animals  are  inhabitants, 
almost  exclusively,  of  India  and  the 
Indian  islands.  Two  or  three  of  the 
species  are  so  exceedingly  small,  as 
scarcely  to  exceed  a  Babbit  in  size. 
They  are  very  gentle,  but  excessively 
timid:  on  the  appearance  of  a  man 
they  fly  with  precipitation  into  the 
recesses  of  their  native  wilds.  Like 
the  Camels,  they  have  no  horns. 


THE   THIBETIAN   MUSK 


This  species  is  destitute  of  horns;  The  ears  are  somewhat  large, 
the  neck  is  thick,  and  the  hair  on  the  whole  body  long,  upright,  and 
thick  set.  Each  hair  is  undulated,  the  tip  ferruginous,,  the  middle 
black,  and  the  bottom  cinereous.  The  limbs  are  slender,  and  of  a 
black  color;  and  the  tail  is  so  short  as  to  be  scarcely  visible.  The 


THE    THIBETIAN   MUSK. 


329 


THE  MUSK  DHER. 


length  of  the  male  is  about  three  feet,  and  that  of  the  female  aoout 
two  feet  and  a  quarter;  and  their  average  weight  is  from  twenty-five 
to  thirty  pounds. 

These  animals  live  retired  among  the  highest  and  rudest  mountains 
of  Thibet,  and  some  other  parts  of  Asia.  In  the  autumn,  large  flocks 
of  them  collect  together  for  the  purpose  of  migration  southward,  in 
consequence  of  the  approaching  cold.  During  this  migration  the, 
peasants  lie  in  wait  for  them,  and  either  catch  them  by  means  of 
snares,  or  kill  them  with  arrows  and  bludgeons.  At  these  times  they 
are  often  so  meagre  and  languid,  from  hunger  and  fatigue,  as  to  be 
taken  without  much  difficulty;  for  they  have  no  weapons  of  defence 
except  their  tusks.  Their  activity  is  very  great,  and  they  are  able 
to  take  astonishing  leaps  over  the  tremendous  chasms  of  the  rocks. 
They  tread  so  lightly  on  the  snow,  as  scarcely  to  leave  a  mark;  while 
the  Dogs  that  are  employed  in  the  pursuit  of  them  sink  in,  and  are 
frequently  obliged  to  desist  from  the  chase.  In  a  state  of  captivity 
they  live  but  a  short  time. 

In  an  oval  receptacle,  about  the  size  of  a  small  egg,  is  contained 
the  well-known  drug  called  musk.  This  hangs  from  the  middle  of 
the  abdomen,  and  is  peculiar  to  the  male  animal.  A  full-grown  male 
will  yield  a  drachm  and  a  half,  and  an  old  one  two  drachms.  The 
bag  is  furnished  with  two  small  orifices,  the  one  naked  and  the  other 
covered  with  oblong  hairs.  Gmelin  states,  that,  on  squeezing  this 
bag,  he  forced  the  musk  through  the  apertures,  in  the  form  of  a 
brown  fatty  matter.  The  hunters  cut  off'  the 'bag  and  tie  it  up  for 
sale,  but  often  adulterate  its  contents  by  mixing  them  with  other 
matter  to  increase  the  weight.  The  musk  is  even  sometimes  taken 
entirely  out,  and  a  composition  of  the  animal's  blood  and  liver  (for' 
this  drug  has  much  the  appearance  of  clotted  blood)  is  inserted  in  its 
stead;  but  when  the  bags  are  opened,  the  imposition  may  be  imme- 


330  OF   THE   DEER   IN    GENERAL. 

d lately  detected.  The  deceit,  however,  most  commonly  practised,  is 
that  of  putting  into  the  iDags  little  bits  of  lead,  in  order  to  augment 
the  weight. 

It  is  generally  asserted,  that  when  the  musk-bag  is  first  opened,  so 
powerful  an  odour  comes  from  it,  that  every  person  present  is  obliged 
to  cover  his  mouth  and  nose  with  several  folds  of  linen ;  and  that 
notwithstanding  this  precaution,  the  blood  will  frequently  gush  from 
the  nose.  When  the  musk  is  fresh,  a  very  small  quantity  of  it  in  a 
confined  place  is  insupportable;  it  causes. giddiness  in  the  head,  and 
hemorrhages  which  have  sometimes  proved  fatal. 

Besides  being  of  use  on  account  of  the  musk  they  produce,  the 
skins  of  these  animals,  in  many  of  the  countries  where  they  are 
found,  are  used  as  winter-clothing.  The  Russians  scrape  off  the  hair, 
and  have  a  method  of  preparing  the  leather  so  as  to  render  it  as  soft 
and  shining  as  silk;  arid  this  leather  they  adopt  as  part  of  their 
summer-dress. 

These  animals  are  found,  in  Eastern  countries,  in  such  numbers, 
that  M.  Tavernier  informs  us,  he  collected,  in  one  journey,  no  fewer 
than  seven  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy  three  musk-bags 

NAPU   CHEVROTAIN. 

The  Chevrotains,  a  beautiful  group  of  small  animals  are  classed 
with  the  Musk  Deer.  There  are  three  species,  viz:  1.  The  Meminna  is 
eighteen  inches  in  length,  found  in  Ceylon,  olive  gray,  dappled  with 
white.  2.  The  Napu  Chevrotain  and  the  Karchil,  both  smaller  than 
the  Meminna,  not  larger,  indeed  than  a  common  Hare,  are  found  in 
Java.  The  Napu  Chevrotain  is  a  most  delicate  and  beautiful  little 
animal,  brown  above  and  white  below,  naked  muzzle,  short  tail,  very 
slender  legs,  mild  and  gentle  in  captivity  but  indolent  and  only  inte- 
resting from,  its  surpassing  beauty. 


OF  THE  DEER  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  animals  have  eight  front  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw.  In  general 
they  are  destitute  of  canine  teeth;  but  in  some  of  the  species  a  single 
canine  tooth  is  found  on  each  side  of  the  upper  jaw. 

This  is  an' active  tribe,  inhabiting,  principally  wild  and  woody  re- 
gions. In  their  contentions,  both  among  each  other  and  with  the 
rest  of  the  brute  creation,  these  animals  not  only  use  their  horns,  but 
also  strike  furiously  with  their  fore  feet.  Some  of  the  species  are 
employed  by  mankind  as  beasts  of  draught.  The  flesh  of  the  whole 
tribe  is  wholesome;  and  that  of  some  of  the  kinds,  under  the  name 
of  venison,  is  accounted  particularly  delicious. 

The  horns,  which  are  only  found  on  the  heads  of  the  males,  are 
solid  and  branched.  They  are  renewed  every  year ;  and,  while  young, 
are  covered  with  a  skin  which  is  extremely  vascular,  and  clothed  with 
a  fine  velvety  fur,  that  dries,  shrivels,  and  falls  off  when  the  horns  have 
attained  their  full  size. 


THE   ELK,  OR   MOOSE   DEER.  331 


THE   ELK,    OR   MOOSE-DEER. 

This  animal  is  generally  larger  than  the  Horse,  both  in  height  and 
bulk.  The  legs  are  long,  the  body 
is  round,  the  neck  short,  arid  the 
head  and  ears  are  long.  The  hair 
of  the  male  is  black  at  the  points, 
cinerous  in  the  middle,  and  at  the 
roots  perfectly  white.  That  of  the 
female  is  of  a  sandy  brown,  but 
whitish  under  the  throat,  belly,  and 
flank.  The  upper  lip  is  square, 
very  broad,  deeply  furrowed,  and 
hangs  much  over  the  mouth ;  the 
nose  is  broad,  and  the  nostrils  are 
large  and  wide.  The  horns,  which 

are  foxind  only  on  the  males,  have  THE  ELK,  OR  MOOSE  DEER. 

no  brow-antlers,  and  the  palms  are 
extremely  broad.    They  are  shed  annually ;  and  some  have  been  seen 
that  weighed  upwards  of  sixty  pounds. 

The  legs  of  Elks  are  so  long,  and  their  necks  so  short,  that  they  can- 
not, like  other  animals,  graze  on  level  ground,  but  are  obliged  to 
browse  the  tops  of  large  plants,  and  the  leaves  or  branches  of  trees. 
In  all  their  actions  and  attitudes  they  appear  very  uncouth ;  and,  when 
disturbed,  never  gallop,  but  escape  by  a  rapid  kind  of  trot.  In  their 
common  walk  they  lift  their  feet  very  high,  and  they  are  able,  without 
difficulty,  to  step  over  a  gate  five  feet  in  height. 

Their  faculty  of  hearing  is  supposed  to  be  more  acute  than  that 
either  of  their  sight  or  scent.  It  is  consequently  extremely  difficult  to 
kill  them  in  the  summer-time ;  and  the  Indians  have  then  no  other 
method  of  doing  this,  than  by  creeping  after  them  among  the  trees  and 
bushes,  till  they  get  within  gun-shot.  In  winter,  however,  when  the 
snow  is  so  hard  frozen  as  to  allow  the  natives  to  go  upon  it  in  their 
snow-shoes,  they  are  able  frequently  to  run  the  animals  down ;  for  the 
slender  legs  of  the  Elks  break  through  the  snow  at  every  step,  and 
plunge  them  up  to  the  belly.  They  are  so  tender-footed,  and  so  short- 
winded,  that  a  good  runner  will  generally  tire  them  out  in  less  than  a 
day. 

In  summer-time  the  Elks  frequent  the  margins  of  rivers  and  lakes 
getting  into  the  water  in  order  to  avoid  the  innumerable  multitudes 
of  musquitoes,  and  other  flies  that  pester  them  during  that  season. 
They  are  often  killed  by  the  Indians  while  they  are  crossing  rivers,  or 
swimming  from  the  main  land  to  islands.  When  pursued  in  these 
situations,  they  make  no  resistance  whatever.  The  }7oung-ones  are  so 
simple,  that,  in  North  America,  Mr.  Hearne  has  seen  an  Indian  paddle 
his  canoe  up  to  one  of  them,  and  take  it  by  the  poll  without  the  least 
opposition ;  the  poor  harmless  animal  seeming,  at  the  same  time,  as 
contented  along-side  the  canoe,  as  if  it  were  swimming  by  the  side  of 
its  dam,  and  looking  up  in  the  faces  of  those  who  were  about  to  be- 


332 


THE   ELK,  OR   MOOSE   DEER. 


HUNTING  THE  MOOSE  DEER. 


come  its  murderers  with  the  most  fearless  innocence ;  using  its  fore- 
feet, almost  every  instant,  to  clear  its  eyes  of  the  numerous  musquitoes 
which  alighted  upon  it. 

The  Elks  are  the  easiest  to  tame  and  domesticate  of  any  animals  of 
the  Deer  kind.  They  will  follow  their  keeper  to  any  distance  from 
home ;  and,  at  his  call,  will  return  with  him,  without  the  least  trouble, 
and  without  ever  attempting  to  deviate  from  the  path. 

An  Indian,  at  the  Factory  at  Hudson's  Bay,  had,  in  the  year  1777, 
two  Elks,  so  tame,  that,  when  he  was  on  his  passage  to  Prince  of  Wales' 
Fort,  in  a  canoe,  they  always  followed  him  along  the  bank  of  the  river ; 
and  at  night,  or  on  any  other  occasion,  when  he  landed,  they  generally 
came  and  fondled  on  him,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  most  domestic 
animal  would  have  done,  and  never  attempted  to  stray  from  the  tents. 
He  did  not,  however,  possess  these  animals  long;  for  he  one  day 
crossed  a  deep  bay  in  one  of  the  lakes,  in  order  to  save  a  very  circuit- 
ous route  along  its  bank,  and  expected  the  creatures  would,  as  usual, 
follow  him  round :  but,  unfortunately,  at  night  they  did  not  arrive ; 
and  as  the  howling  of  wolves  was  heard  in  the  quarter  where  they 
were,  it  is  supposed  they  had  been  devoured  by  those  voracious  beasts, 
for  they  were  never  afterwards  seen. 

M.  D'Obsonville  had  a  Moose-deer  in  his  possession,  while  in  the 
East  Indies.  He  procured  it  when  only  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  and 
kept  it  about  two  years  without  ever  tying  it  up.  He  even  let  it  run 
abroad,  and  sometimes  amused  himself  with  making  it  draw  in  the 
yard,  or  carry  little  burdens.  It  always  came  when  called,  and  he 
found  few  signs  of  impatience,  except  when  it  was  not  allowed  to  re- 
main near  him.  When  he  departed  from  the  island  of  Sumatra,  ho 


THE   ELK,   OR   MOOSE   DEER. 


333 


DEEil   PUB6DED  EY  BEARS. 


gave  it  Mr.  Law  of  Lauriston,  the  governor-general,  an  intimate  friend. 
This  gentleman  sent  it  to  his  country-house,  where,  being  kept  alone 
and  chained,  it  became  so  furious  as  not  to  be  approached  without 
danger :  even  the  person  who  every  day  brought  its  food  was  obliged 
to  leave  this  at  some  distance.  "  After  some  months'  absence  (says  M. 
D'Obsonville)  I  returned:  it. knew  me  afar  off,  as  I  observed  by  the 
efforts  it  made  to  get  to  me.  I  ran  to  meet  it ;  and  never  shall  I  for- 
get the  impression  which  the  caresses  and  transports  of  this  faithful 
animal  made  upon  me." 

A  successful  attempt  has  been  made  at  New  York  to  render  the 
Elk  useful  in  agricultural  labor.  Mr.  Livingston,  the  president  of 
the  New  York  Society,  had  two  of  these  animals  broken  to  the  har- 
ness. Though  they  had  only  been  twice  bitted,  and  were  two  years 
old,  they  appeared  to  be  equally  docile  with  colts  of  the  same  age. 
They  applied  their  whole  strength  to  the  draught,  and  went  on  a  steady 
pace.  Their  mouths  appeared  very  tender,  and  some  care  was  neces- 
sary to  prevent  them  from  being  injured  by  the  bit.  If,  upon  trial,  it 
be  found  that  the  Elk  can  be  rendered  useful  in  harness,  it  will  be  a 
considerable  acquisition  to  the  Americans.  As  the  trot  of  these  ani- 
mals is  very  rapid,  it  is  probable  that,  in  light  carriages,  they  would 
out-travel  the  horse.  They  are  also  less  delicate  in  their  food  than 
that  animal,  and  will  become  fat  on  hay  only.  They  are  long-lived, 
and  more  productive  than  any  beast  of  burden. 

The  Indians  have  a  superstitious  notion  that  there  is  an  Elk  of  such 
an  enormous  size,  that  eight  feet  in  depth  or  snow  is  no  impediment  to 


334 


THE  ELK,    OR   MOOSE    DEEK. 
1    \ 


INDIANS  HUNTING  THE  MOOSE  DEER  WITH   SNOW  SHOES. 


its  walking ;  that  its  hide  is  proof  against  weapons  of  every  description, 
and  that  it  has  an  arm  growing  out  of  its  shoulder,  subservient  to  the 
same  purposes  as  ours.  They  say  also  that  this  imaginary  animal  is 
attended  by  a  vast  number  of  other  Elks,  which  form  his  court,  and 
render  him  every  service  that  a  sovereign  can  require  of  them.  The 
Indians  esteem  the  Elk  an  animal  of  good  omen,  and  believe  that  to 
dream  of  it  often  is  an  indication  of  long  life. 

When  suddenly  roused  and  endeavoring  to  make  its  escape,  the  Elk 
is  observed  at  times  to  fall  down,  as  if  deprived  for  some  moments  of 
motion.  Whether  this  be  owing,  as  frequently  has  been  imagined,  to 
an  epileptic  fit,  or  whether  it  only  arises  from  fear,  it  is  not,  perhaps, 
easy  to  determine.  The  circumstance,  however,  has  given  rise  to  the 
popular  superstition  of  attributing  to  the  hoofs  of  the  Elk  the  virtues 

of  an  anti-epileptic  medicine:  and  the 
Indians  even  imagine  that  the  animal 
has  the  power  of  curing  itself  of  its  own 
disorder,  or  at  least  of  preventing  an 
approaching  fit,  by  scratching  its  ear 
till  it  draws  blood. 

The  flesh  of  the  Elk  is  good  ;  but  the 
grain  is  coarse,  and  it  is  much  tougher 
than  any  other  kind  of  venison.  Ac- 
cording to  Mr.  Pennant,  the  tongues 
are  excellent,  and  the  nose  is  so  like 


TBF.  MOOSE  DEER. 


THE   REINDEER. 


335 


marrow,  as  to  be  esteemed  the  greatest  delicacy  produced  in  Canada, 
The  skins  make  excellent  tent-covers  and  shoe-leather. 

These  animals  inhabit  the  forests  of  Europe,  America,  and  Asia,  as 
far  as  Japan.  The  females  generally  produce  their  young-ones,  from 
one  to  three  in  number,  towards  the  end- of  April  or  the  beginning 
of  May. 


THE    REINDEER. 


feet  and 


is 


TUB   REINDEER. 


The  Eeindeer  is  found  in  most  of  tne  northern  regions  of  Europe, 
Asia,    and    America.      Its 
general  height  is  about  four 
a  half.     The   color 

brown  above  and  white 
beneath ;  but,  as  the  animal 
advances  in  age,  it  often  be- 
comes of  a  grayish  white. 
The  space  about  the  eyes  is 
always  black.  The  hair  on 
the  under  part  of  the  neck  is 
much  longer  than  the  rest. 
The  hoofs  are  long,  large,  and 
black.  Both  sexes  are  fur- 
nished with  horns,  but  those 
of  the  male  are  much  the 
largest.  These  are  long 
slender,  and  branched ;  fur- 
nished with  brow  antlers,  having  widely -expanded  and  palmated  tips, 
directed  forwards. 

To  the  Laplanders  this  animal  is  the  substitute  for  the  Horse,  the 
Cow,  the  Goat,  and  the  Sheep ;  and  is  their  only  wealth.  The  milk 
affords  them  cheese  ;  the  flesh,  food ;  the  skin,  clothing  ;  of  the  tendons 
they  make  bow-strings,  and,  when  split,  thread ;  of  the  horns,  glue ; 
and  of  the  bones,  spoons. 
During  the  winter  the  Eein- 
deer supplies  the  want  of  a 
horse,  and  draws  sledges  with 
amazing  swiftness  over  the 
frozen  lakes  and  rivers,  or 
over  the  snow,  which  at  that 
time  covers  the  whole  coun- 
try. 

With  a  couple  of  Eeindeer 
yoked  to  a  sledge,  it  is  said 
that  a  Laplander  is  able  to 
travel  one  hundred  and  twelve 
English  miles  in  a  day.  The 
Laplanders  say,  that  they  can  thrice  change  the  horizon  in  twenty- 
four  hours ;  that  is,  they  can  three  times  pass  that  object,  which,  at 
their  setting  out,  they  saw  the  greatest  distance  their  eyes  could  reach. 


REINDEER  AND   SLEDG2. 


336  THE    REINDEER. 

The  sledge  is  formed  somewhat  like  a  boat,  having  a  back-board  in 
it  for  the  rider  to  lean  against.  Its  bottom  is  convex,  and  none  but  a 
person  well  practised  in  such  a  mode  of  travelling  can  preserve  him- 
self a  moment  from  being  overset.  It  is  square  behind,  but  projects 
to  a  point  before.  The  traveller  is  tied  in  it  like  a  child  in  a  cradle. 
He  manages  his  carriage  with  great  dexterity,  by  means  of  a  stick 
with  a  flat  end,  to  remove  stones  or  any  obstructions  he  may  meet 
with.  To  the  peak  in  fron:  a  thong  is  fixed,  which  yokes  the  Rein- 
deer.  The  bit  is  a  piece  of  narrow  leather,  tacked  to  the  reins  of  the 
bridle  over  the  animal's  head  and  neck  ;  and  from  the  breast  a  leathern 
strap,  passing  under  the  belly,  is  fastened  to  the  front  part  of  the  sledge. 

Before  the  Laplander  enters  the  sledge  he  puts  on  his  gloves, 
afterwards  he  places  himself  in  it,  taking  the  rein  or  halter  fastened 
to  the  Reindeer's  head,  and  tying  it  about  his  right  thumb.  In  the 
mean  time  the  Deer  stands  still,  and  the  rein  hangs  on  the  left  side. 
When  the  man  is  ready  to  set  off,  he  shakes  the  rein  with  violence 
from  side  to  side,  and  the  animal  springs  forward  with  great  speed. 
The  driver  directs  the  course  of  the  Deer,  which  is  irregular  and 
serpentine,  by  pulling  the  rein  on  the  side  he  would  have  him  go ;  and 
encourages  him  with  his  voice.  It  is  for  this  purpose  that  the  love- 
songs  of  the  Laplanders  are  in  general  composed ;  and  among  these 
are  found  some  beautiful  specimens  of  the  poetry  of  a  rude  and 
uncivilized  nation. 

It  must  appear  wonderful  that  the  Laplanders  should  be  able  to 
travel  in  winter,  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  when  the  earth  presents 
one  entire  surface  of  snow,  and  not  a  single  vestige  is  discoverable  of 
human  industry  to  direct  their  way,  the  snow  at  the  same  time  flying 
about  in  all  directions,  and  almost  blinding  them :  yet.  it  is  certain 
that  they  have  no  difficulty  to  find  the  spot  to  which  they  are  bound, 
and  very  rarely  meet  with  any  accident.  They  fix  bells  to  the  harness 
of  the  Reindeer,  in  order  that  they  may  be  kept  together  by  hearing, 
when  they  cannot  see  one  another,  after  the  light  of  their  short  day  fails 
them.  To  guide  them  in  their  route,  the  Laplanders  observe  the 
quarter  from  which  the  wind  blows,  and  at  night  are  directed  by  the 
stars.  The  missionary  Leems,  who  resided  ten  years  among  this 
people,  remarks,  that  during  the  whole  of  that  time  he  did  not 
remember  more  than  one  fatal  accident  having  happened  from  this 
mode  of  tKavelling. 

A  rich  Laplander  is  often  possessed  of  a  herd  of  more  than  a  thou- 
sand Reindeer.  In  autumn  these  seek  the  highest  hills,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  Lapland  Gad-fly.  The  skins  of  the  Reindeer,  after  they  are 
killed,  are  sometimes  found  to  be  as  full  of  holes  as  a  sieve,  from  the 
operations  of  these  insects,  which,  at  that  time,  deposits  its  eggs  in 
their  skins.  This  insect  is  the  pest  of  the  Reindeer,  and  numbers  die 
that  are  thus  visited.  The  moment  a  single  fly  appears,  the  whole 
herd  instantly  perceive  it;  they  fling  up  their  heads,  toss  about  their 
horns,  and  at  once  attempt  to  fly  for  shelter  amidst  the  snows  of  the 
loftiest  mountains.  In  summer  they  feed  on  several  kinds  of  plants  ; 
but  during  winter  on  the  Reindeer  liverwort,  to  get  at  which,  as  it 
lies  far  beneath  the  snow,  they  dig  with  their  feet  and  antlers.  It  is, 


THE    REINDEER.  337 

therefore,  a  most  kind  dispensation  of  Providence,  that,  in  the  Deer, 
the  only  tribe  living  among  snows,  most  of  the  females  should  be 
furnished  with  horns,  the  more  readily  to  provide  themselves  with 
food.  But  besides  this  there  is  another  lichen,  that  hangs  on  the 
Lapland  pine-trees,  and  which  affords  sustenance  to  the  Eeindeer 
when  the  snows  are  too  deep  for  them  to  reach  their  usual  food.  In 
severe  winters,  when  the  snow  is  impenetrably  frozen,  the  boors  fre- 
quently cut  down  some  thousands  of  these  moss-clad  trees,  for  the  sup- 
port of  their  herds. 

During  the  summer  these  animals  lose  their  vigor  and  swiftness, 
and  are  soon  overcome  by  the  heat.  Mr.  Consett  saw  many  of  them 
reclining  in  the  woods,  and  apparently  so  enfeebled  as  scarcely  to  be 
able  to  move  out  of  the  way.  When  thus  oppressed,  they  frequently 
make  a  noise  like  the  grunting  of  a  hog. 

Besides  the  Gad-fly,  the  Eeindeer  have  several  other  enemies,  the 
chief  of  which  are  Bears  and  Wolves;  but  unless  they  are  taken  by 
surprise,  or  are  attacked  when  their  horns  are  newly  shed,  they  are 
able  to  defend  themselves  against  the  attacks  of  these  animals,  and 
even  entirely  to  drive  them  away. 

The  Reindeer  are  able  to  swim  with  such  incredible  force  and 
swiftness  across  the  widest  rivers,  that  a  boat  with  oars  can  scarcely 
keep  pace  with  them.  They  swim  with  their  bodies  half  above  water, 
and  will  pass  a  river  or  a  lake  even  in  the  coldest  weather. 

All  persons  who  have  described  the  Reindeer  have  noticed  a  crack- 
ing noise  which  they  make  when  they  move  their  feet.  This  has 
been  attributed  to  the  animals  separating  and  afterwards  bringing  to- 
gether the  divisions  of  the  hoofs.  As  the  Reindeer  inhabit  a  country 
generally  covered  with  snow,  such  a  construction  of  their  hoofs  is  ad- 
mirably adapted  to  the  surface  they  have  most  commonly  to  tread,  as 
it  prevents  them  from  sinking  too  deeply  into  it. 

Pontoppidan  tells  us,  that  "  the  Reindeer  has  over  his  eye-lids  a 
kind  of  skin,  through  which  it  peeps,  when  otherwise,  in  hard  showers 
of  snow,  it  would  be  obliged  to  shut  its  eyes  entirely."  He,  however, 
seems  to  have  mistaken  this  for,  probably,  a  breathing-hole,  somewhat 
similar  to  that  near  the  eye  of  the  Fallow  Deer,  and  some  of  the 
species  of  Antelope. 

The  Reindeer  cast  their  horns  annually.  The  rudiments  of  the  new 
horns  are  at  first  covered  with  a  kind  of  wooly  membrane,  which  the 
creature,  after  some  time,  rubs  off.  They  also  change  their  hair  every 
spring,  during  which  time  they  are  lean,  and  of  little  use.  The  female 
begins  to  breed  at  the  age  of  two  years,  goes  with  young  eight  months, 
and  generally  brings  forth  two  at  a  time.  The  fondness  of  the  dam  for 
her  offspring  is  very  remarkable.  They  follow  her  two  or  three  years, 
but  do  not  acquire  their  full  strength  until  four.  It  is  at  this  age  that 
they  are  trained  to  labor ;  and  they  continue  serviceable  for  four  or 
five  years.  They  seldom  outlive  the  age  of  fifteen  or  sixteen. 

In  Siberia,  where  they  are  extremely  numerous,  these  animals  meet 
with  a  more  rough  and  savage  usage  than  their  fellows  experience 
from  the  harmless  Laplanders.  In  the  woody  districts,  where  springes, 
fire-arms,  and  spring- guns  can  be  applied,  the  natives  resort  to  such, 


338  THE    RED   DEER. 

for  either  the  taking  or  killing  of  this  harmless  animal :  but  in  open 
plains,  where  these  contrivances  would  fail,  many  other  means  have 
been  invented.  Those  adopted  by  the  Sainoydes  seem  the  most  com- 
mon. 

These  people  go  out  in  parties  for  the  purpose  of  killing  Eeindeer ; 
and  when  they  perceive  a  herd,  they  station  several  tame  Eeindeer, 
which  they  bring  with  them,  on  an  elevated  plain  to  the  windward. 
Then,  from  this  place  to  as  near  the  savage  herd  as  they  can  venture 
to  come  without  alarming  them,  they  put  into  the  snow  long  sticks,  at 
small  distances,  and  to  each  of  them  tie  a  goose's  wing,  which  flutters 
about  freely  with  the  wind.  This  being  done,  they  plant  similar  sticks 
and  pinions  on  the  other  side,  under  the  wind;  and  the  Eeindeer 
being  busy  with  their  pasture  beneath  the  snow,  and  being  chiefly 
guided  by  their  scent,  generally  observe  nothing  of  these  preparations. 
When  everything  is  ready,  the  hunters  separate;  some  hide  them- 
selves behind  their  snowy  entrenchments,  while  others  lie  with  bows 
and  other  weapons  in  the  open  air  to  the  leeward;  and  others  again  go 
to  a  distance,  and ,  drive,  by  a  circuitous  route,  the  game  between  the 
terrific  pinions.  Scared  by  these,  the  wild  Eeindeer  run  directly  to  the 
tame  ones,  which  are  standing  by  the  sledges;  but  here  they  are 
alarmed  by  the  concealed  hunters,  who  drive  them  to  their  companions 
that  are  furnished  with  arms,  and  these  immediately  commit  terrible 
slaughter  among  them. 

If  it  happen  that  a  savage  herd  are  feeding  near  a  mountain,  the 
hunters  hang  up  their  clothes  on  stakes  about  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
making  also,  with  the  same  frightful  pinions,  a  broad  passage  towards 
it,  into  which  they  drive  the  game.  As  soon  as  they  are  come  into 
this  path,  the  women  go  with  their  sledges  directly  across  the  further 
end  of  it,  shutting  the  Eeindeer  in ;  these  immediately  run  round  the 
mountains,  and  at  every  turn  are  fired  at  by  the  hunters. 

Sir  Henry  George  Lyddell,  Bart.,  brought  with  him  from  Lapland, 
in  the  year  1786,  five  Eeindeer,  which  he  kept  at  his  seat  of  Eslingtou 
Castle,  in  Northumberland.  They  bred,  and  there  was  every  prospect 
that  they  would  succeed  and  even  become  prolific;  but,  unfortunately, 
some  of  them  were  killed,  and  others  died  in  consequence  of  a  disor- 
der similar  to  that  called  the  rot  in  sheep,  supposed  to  have  been  occa- 
sioned by  the  richness  of  the  grass  on  which  they  fed. 


THE   RED  DEER. 

The  height  of  these  animals  at  the  shoulder,  is  about  three  feet  and 
a  half.  The  males  only  are  horned ;  and  the  horns,  which  are  much 
branched,  are  rounded  through  their  whole  length.  The  general 
color  of  the  hair  is  reddish  brown  on  the  upper,  and  white  on  the 
under  parts  of  the  body. 

The  elegance  and  beauty  of  this  animal  have  always  been  much  ad- 
mired. Eed  Deer  are  natives  of  many  parts  of  Europe,  and  are  sup- 
posed to  have  originally  been  introduced  into  England  from  France. 
About  a  century  back,  however,  they  were  found  in  a  state  of  nature 


THE   RED   DEER. 


339 


THE   RED   DEER. 


in  many  of  the  wild  and  mountainous  parts  of  Wales ;  and  Stags  are 
sometimes  seen  in  a  wild  state,  even  now,  in  the  forests  of  Exmoor,  in 
Devonshire,  and  the  woods  on 
the  Tamar.  There  is  here  an 
annual  Stag-hunt,  under  the  pat- 
ronage of  the  Ackland  family. 
Mr.  Stackhouse,  of  Pendarvis  in 
Cornwall,  informs  me,  that  he 
once  saw  a  wild  Hind  that  had 
been  killed  near  Launceston. 
Red  Deer  are  also  still  occasion- 
ally found  in  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland. 

These  animals  live  in  herds  of 
many  females  and  their  young, 
headed  by  one  male.  They  fre- 
quent the  forests,  browsing  on 
grass,  or  the  leaves  and  buds  of 
various  trees. 

The  males  only  have  horns,  and 
these  are  always  shed  in  the 
spring.  During  the  first  year, 
the  young  animals  have  no  horns, 
but  only  a  rough  excrescence, 
covered  with  a  thin,  hairy  skin, 
in  place  of  them.  In  their  second 
year  the  horns  are  straight,  and  without  branches;  during  the  fol- 
lowing year  they  acquire  two  antlers  or  branches ;  and  they  generally 
have  an  additional  one  every  year  till  their  sixth,  from  which  time 
tho  animals  may  be  considered  at  maturity.  When  the  Stag  sheds 
his  horns,  he  seeks  the  most  retired  places,  and  feeds  only  during  the 
night ;  for  otherwise  the  flies  settle  on  the 
soft  skiu  of  the  young  horns,  which  is  ex- 
quisitely tender,  and  keep  the  animal  in 
continual  torture.  The  place  of  the  horn 
is,  for  a  little  time,  occupied  by  a  soft 
tumor  full  of  blood,  and  is  covered  with  a 
downy  substance  like  velvet.  This  increases 
daily,  and,  at  length,  the  antlers  shoot  out. 
The  horns  of  the  Stag  are  round  through 
their  whole  length :  this  constitutes  a  dis- 
tinguishing characteristic  between  them  and 
the  horns  of  the  fallow  Deer;  the  latter, 
where  they  branch  off,  being  flatted  for  the 
breadth  of  more  than  a  hand. 

The  sense  of  smelling  and  hearing  are,  in  this  animal,  remarkably 
acute.  On  the  slightest  alarm  he  lifts  his  head,  erects  his  ears,  and 
stands  for  a  few  minutes  as  if  in  a  listening  posture.  Whenever  he 
ventures  upon  unknown  ground,  or  quits  his  native  coverts,  he  first 
stops  at  the  skirts  of  the  plain  to  examine  all  round ;  he  next  turns 
22 


340 


THE    RED    DEER. 


against  the  wind,  to  examine  by  the  smell  if  there  be  any  enemy 
approaching.     If  a  person  happen  to  whistle  or  call  out  at  a  distance, 

the  Stag  is  seen  to  stop  short, 
in  his  slow,  measured  pace, 
and  to  gaze  upon  the  stranger 
with  a  kind  of  awkward  ad- 
miration :  if  the  cunning  ani- 
mal perceive  neither  dogs  nor 
fire-arms  preparing  against 
him,  he  goes  slowly  forward, 
unconcerned,  and  does  not 
attempt  to  run  away.  Man 
is  not  the  enemy  he  is  most 
afraid  of;  on  the  contrary,  he 
seems  to  be  delighted  with 
the  sound  of  the  shepherd's 
pipe;  and  the  hunters  some- 
times make  use  of  that  instru- 
ment to  allure  the  animal  to 

TUJB    .DUE.  .  _ 

its  destruction. 

When  a  herd  of  Deer  have  to  pass  a  wide  river,  which  they  are 
able  to  'do  without  much  difficulty,  they  are  said  to  rest  their 
heads  on  each  other's  rumps.  If  the  leader  becomes  fatigued,  he  retreats 
to  the  rear,  and  suffers  the  next  in  succession  to  take  his  place.  They 

swim  with  so 
much  ease,  that 
a  male  has  been 
known  to  venture 


\ 


out  to  sea  in 
search  of  females, 
and  to  cross  from 
one  island  to  an- 
other, although 
at  a  distance  of 
some  leagues. 

The  Stag  is 
very  delicate  in 
the  choice  of  his 
pasture.  When 
he  has  eaten  a 
sufficiency  he  re- 
tires to  the  covert 

of  some  thicket  to  chew  the  cud  in  security.  His  voice  becomes 
stronger,  louder,  and  more  tremulous,  as  he  advances  in  age ;  and, 
during  the  rutting  time,  it  is  even  terrible.  At  this  season  he  seems 
so  transported  with  passion,  that  nothing  can  obstruct  his  fury ;  and, 
when  at  bay,  he  keeps  off  the  dogs  with  great  intrepidity.  Some 
years  ago  the  duke  of  Cumberland  caused  a  Tiger  and  a  Stag  to  be 
enclosed  in  the  same  area ;  and  the  Stag  made  so  bold  and  furious 
a  defence,  that  the  tiger  was  at  length  obliged  to  give  up  the  contest. 


DOE   AND    YOUNG. 


THE    RED    DEER. 


341 


The  natives  of  Lousiana  hunt  these  animals  both  for  food  and  as  an 
amusement.  This  is  sometimes  done  in  companies,  and  sometimes 
alone.  The  hunter  who  goes 
out  alone,  furnishes  himself 
with  the  dried  head  of  a  Stag, 
having  part  of  the  skin  of  the 
neck  attached  to  it.  This,  a  gun, 
and  a  branch  of  a  tree  or  piece 
of  a  bush,  are  all  that  he  has 
need  of.  When  he  approaches 
any  of  the  wild  Deer,  he  hides 
himself  behind  the  bush,  which 
he  carries  in  his  hand,  and  ad- 
vances  gently  till  he  is  within 
shot.  If  the  animal  appears 
alarmed,  the  hunter  immediately 
counterfeits  the  Deers'  calls  to 
each  -other,  and  holds  the  head 
just  above  the  bush  :  then  lower- 
ing it  towards  the  ground,  and 
lifting  it  by  turns,  he  so  deceives 
the  Stag  by  the  appearance  of  a 

companion,  that  the  animal  seldom  fails  to  come  towards  it ;  in  which 
case  the  hunter  fires  into  the  hollow  of  his  shoulder,  and  lays  him 
dead  on  the  spot. 

When  hunters  go  in  large  parties,  they  form  a  wide  crescent  round 
one  of  these  animals,  the  points  of  which  may  be  half  a  mile  asunder. 
Some  of  them  approach  the  Stag,  which  runs  affrighted  to  the  other 
side ;  where  rinding  them  on  that  part  advancing,  he  immediately  rushes 
back  again.  Thus  he  is  driven  from  side  to 
side,  the  crescent  closing  into  a  circle,  and 
gradually  approaching,  till  at  length  he  is  so 
much  exhausted,  that  he  quietly  submits  to 
be  taken  alive.  It  sometimes  happens,  how- 
ever, that  he  has  sufficient  strength  left  to 
stand  at  bay;  in  which  case  he  is  seized  from 
behind,  but  seldom  in  this  case  before  some 
one  is  wounded.  This  mode  of  hunting  is 
merely  adopted  as  a  recreation,  and  is  called  "  the  dance  of  the  Deer." 

The  poet  Thomson  has  left  us  a  most  animated  description  of  the 
hunting  of  this  animal  in  England. 

The  Stag,  too,  singled  from  the  herd,  where  long 
He  ranged,  the  branching  monarch  of  the  shades 
Before  the  tempest  drives.     At  first,  in  speed, 
He,  sprightly,  puts  his  faith  ;  and  roused  by  fear, 
Gives  all  his  swift  aerial  soul  to  flight. 
Against  the  breeze  he  darts,  that  way  the  more 
To  leave  the  lessening  murderous  cry  behind. 
Deception  short  1  though  fleeter  than  the  winds 
Blown  o'er  the  keen-air'd  mountains  by  the  north. 
He  bursts  the  thickets,  glances  through  the  glades, 


DOE  SUCKLING   FAWN. 


342 


THE   RED   DEER. 


And  plunges  deep  into  the  wildest  wood. 

If  slow,  yet  sure  adhesive  to  the  track 

Hot  streaming,  up  behind  him  come  again 

Th'  inhuman  rout,  and  from  the  shady  depth 

Expel  him,  circling  through  his  every  shift. 

He  sweeps  the  forest  oft ;  and  sobbing  sees 

The  glades,  mild  opening  to  the  golden  day; 

Where,  in  kind  contest  with  his  butting  friends, 

He  wont  to  struggle,  or  his  love  enjoy. 

Oft  in  the  full-descending  flood  he  tries 

To  lose  the  scent,  and  lave  his  burning  sides  ; 

Oft  seeks  the  herd  :  the  watchful  herd,  alarm'd 

With  selfish  care  avoid  a  brother's  woe. 

What  shall  he  do?     His  once  so  vivid  nerves, 

So  full  of  buoyant  spirit,  now  no  more 

Inspire  the  coursa  ;  but  fainting  breathless  toil, 

Sick,  seizes  on  his  heart ;  he  stands  at  bay  : 

And  puts  his  last,  weak  refuge  in  despair. 

The  big  round  tears  run  down  his  dappled  face 

He  groans  in  anguish ;  while  the  growling  pack 

Blood  happy,  hang  at  his  fair-jutting  chest,  _ 

And  mark  his  beauteous  chequer'd  sides  with  gore. 


HUNTING  IN  THE  BIOHLANDS. 


THE    FALLOW    DEER. 


343 


The  Highland  chiefs  of  former  days  were  accustomed  to  hunt  Red 
Deer  with  all  the  magnificence  of  Eastern  monarchs.  They  sometimes 
assembled  four  or  five  thousand  of  their  clan,  who  drove  the  Deer 
into  toils,  or  to  the  station  where  the  lairds  had  placed  themselves : 
but  as  this  was  frequently  made  only  a  pretence  to  collect  their  vassals 
for  rebellious  purposes,  an  act  of  parliament  was  passed,  which  pro- 
hibited any  assemblages  of  this  nature. 

Much  has  been  said  of  the  extreme  long  life  of  the  Stag,  and  many 
wonderful  stories  have  been  related  by  naturalists  respecting  it ;  but 
there  is  reason  to  suppose  that  this  animal  does  not  often  reach  the 
age  of  fifty  years. 

The  females  generally  bring  forth  only  one  young-one 'at  a  time; 
and  this  about  the  end  of  May  or  beginning  of  June.  They  take  care 
to  hide  their  offspring  in  the  most  obscure  thickets,  for  almost  every 
creature  is  then  a  formidable  enemy:  the  Eagle,  the  Falcon,  the 
Osprey,  the  Wolf,  the  Dog,  and  all  the  rapacious  family  of  the  cat- 
kind,  are  in  continual  employment  to  find  out  the  retreat.  But,  what 
seems  most  unnatural,  the  Stag  himself  is  an  enemy,  and  the  female 
is  obliged  to  use  all  her  arts  to  conceal  her  young-one  from  him,  as 
from  the  most  dangerous  of  her  pursuers.  At  this  season,  therefore, 
the  courage  of  the  male  seems  transferred  to  the  female :  she  defends 
it  against  her  less  formidable  opponents,  by  force;  and  when  pursued 
by  the  hunter,  she  even  offers  herself,  to  mislead  him  from  the  prin- 
cipal object  of  her  concern :  she  will  fly  before  the  hounds  for  many 
hours,  and  will  then  return  to  her  young-one,  whose  life  she  has  thus 
preserved  at  the  hazard  of  her  own. 


THE   FALLOW  DEER. 

The  Fallow  Deer  is  smaller 
than  the  Stag,  of  a  brownish 
bay  color,  whitish  beneath, 
on  the  insides  of  the  limbs, 
and  beneath  the  tail.  The 
horns,  which  are  peculiar  to 
the  male,  are  very  different 
from  those  of  the  Stag:  they 
are  not  branched,  but  are 
broader  towards  the  upper 
part,  and  are  divided  into 
processes  down  the  outside. 
A  simple  antler  rises  from 
the  base  of  each,  and  a  simi- 
lar one  at  some  distance  from 
the  first. 

These  animals  associate  in 
herds,  which  sometimes  divide  into  two  parties,  and  maintain  obsti- 
nate battles  for  the  possession  of  some  favorite  part  of  a  park:  each 
party  has  its  leader,  which  is  always  the  oldest  and  strongest  of  the 


THE  FALLOW  DEER. 


344  THE    ROE. 

flock.  They  attack  in  regular  order  of  battle;  they  fight  with  cou- 
rage, and  mutually  support  each  other;  they  retire,  they  rally,  and 
seldom  give  up  after  one  defeat.  The  combat  is  frequently  renewed 
for  many  days  together ;  till,  after  several  defeats,  the  weakest  party 
is  obliged  to  give  way,  and  leave  the  conquerors  in  possession  of  the 
object  of  their  contention. 

The  Fallow  Deer  is  easily  tamed,  and  it  feeds  upon  numerous 
vegetables  which  the  Stag  refuses.  When  these  animals  drink,  they 

plunge  their  noses,  like  some  horses, 
very  deep  under  water,  and  continue 
them  in  that  situation  for  a  consider- 
able time;  but,  to  obviate  any  incon- 
venience which  that  may  occasion,  says 
the  Kev.  Mr.  White,  in  his  Natural 
History  of  Selborne,  they  can  open  two 
vents,  one  at  the  inner  corner  of  each 
eye,  which  have  a  communication  with 
the  nose.  Here  seems  to  be  an  extra- 
ordinary  provision  of  nature  worthy 
of  our  attention ;  for  it  appears  as  if 

these  creatures  would  not  be  suffocated,  though  both  their  mouth  and 
nostrils  were  stopped.  This  curious  formation  of  the  head  may  be  of 
singular  service  to  beasts  of  chase,  by  affording  them  free  respiration : 
and  no  doubt  these  additional  nostrils  are  thrown  open  when  they  are 
hard  run.  To  this  account,  which  was  addressed  in  a  letter  to  Mr. 
Pennant,  that  gentleman  has  thus  replied:  "I  was  much  surprised  to 
find  in  the  Antelope  something  analagous  to  what  you  mention  as  so 
remarkable  in  Deer.  This  animal  also  has  a  long  slit  beneath  each 
eye,  which  can  be  opened  and  shut  at  pleasure.  On  holding  an  orange 
to  one,  the  creature  made  the  same  use  of  those  orifices  as  of  his  nos- 
trils ;  applying  them  to  the  fruit,  and  seeming  to  smell  it  through 
them."  ' 

The  females  produce  one,  sometimes  two,  and  rarely  three  young- 
ones  at  a  time.  These  arrive  at  perfection  in  three  years,  and  live  to 
the  age  of  about  twenty. 


THE   EOE. 

The  height  of  the  Eoe  at  the  shoulders  is  about  two  feet  and  a  half. 
The  horns  are  six  or  eight  inches  in  length,  strong,  upright,  rugged, 
and  divided  towards  their  extremity  into  three  points  or  branches. 
The  face  is  dark,  and  the  spaces  bordering  on  the  mouth  and  eyes  are 
black.  In  summer  the  hair  is  short  and  smooth,  and  of  a  bright  red- 
dish color  on  the  upper  parts  of  the  body;  but  in  winter  it  is  long 
and  thick.  The  chest,  belly,  and  insides  of  the  thighs  are  white. 

The  figure  of  the  Roe  is  more  elegant  than  that  of  either  of  the 
preceding  kinds  of  Deer ;  and  its  vivacity  of  disposition  and  graceful- 
ness of  motion  are  scarcely  to  be  exceeded.  When  pursued  by 
the  hunter,  the  Eoebuck  exhibits  infinite  fleetness  and  address. 


THE   WAPITI.  345 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  hunt  him  down;  since  he  can  continue 
the  course  for  many  hours  without  exhaustion.  He  is,  there- 
fore, seldom  to  be  caught,  except  by 
surprise  in  the  onset.  When,  however, 
he  finds  his  first  eftbrts  to  escape  are 
likely  to  prove  unsuccessful,  he  returns, 
and  keeps  the  same  track  backward  and 
forward,  until,  by  various  turnings  and 
windings,  he  totally  confounds  the  scent. 
Then,  by  one  enormous  bound,  he  is  said 
to  leap  aside,  lie  flat  on  his  belly  among 
bushes  or  long  grass,  and  suffer  the  dogs 
to  pass  close  by  his  nose  without  offer- 
ing to  move. 

In  their  wild  state,  the  Eoes  generally 
love  to  range  among  the  hills  and  in 
alpine  valleys,  near  the  borders  of 

•*•-..  i«ii  n  r  9  "j-ii*  jvvx*. 

woods,    into   which    they   can    fly   lor 

shelter  and  security  whenever  they  are  pursued  by  their  foes.  They 
do  not,  like  the  Red  and  Fallow  Deer,  herd  together  in  vast  num- 
bers; and  they  are  seldom  to  be  found  but  in  small  flocks  or 
families,  consisting  of  the  two  parents  and  their  offspring,  or,  in  the 
whole,  of  only  from  three  to  five  individuals.  They  seldom  or  never 
allow  strangers  to  intermix  or  associate  with  them.  During  the  sum- 
mer months  they  feed  chiefly  on  grass,  but  they  are  likewise  fond  of 
the  stone  bramble;  and  in  winter,  when  the  ground  is  covered  with 
snow,  they  browse  on  the  tender  branches  of  the  fir  and  birch-trees. 

The  period  of  gestation  in  these  animals  is  about  five  months  and 
a  half;  and  they  produce  their  offspring  generally  towards  the  end  of 
April,  or  the  beginning  of  May.  Previously  to  this  they  drive  oft' 
their  former  young-ones,  to  provide  habitations,  and  to  form  societies 
for  themselves.  They  then  retire  to  some  secure  place  in  the  woods, 
concealed  from  the  observation  of  Foxes,  and  other  predacious  animals, 
and  there  deposit  their  progeny.  These  are  two  in  number,  usually 
a  male  and  a  female. 

Roebucks  are  natives  of  woody  and  mountainous  countries,  in 
various  parts,  both  of  Europe  and  Asia.  In  former  ages  they  were 
very  common  in  many  districts  of  Britain ;  but  the  few  that  are  now 
left  are  chiefly  confined  to  the  Scottish  Highlands. 


THE  WAPITI. 

The  Wapiti  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  Deer  tribe,  often  growing 
to  the  height  of  our  largest  Oxen.  It  inhabits  Canada  and  other  parts 
of  North  America,  and  has  been  confounded  with  the  Moose.  Its 
horns  are  very  large,  measuring  nearly  six  feet  from  tip  to  tip. 

The  hunters  are  acquainted  with  its  peculiarities,  and  chase  it  from 
their  knowledge  of  its  character.  It  is  very  fond  of  salt,  and  comes 
in  great  numbers  to  the  saline  marshes,  for  the  purpose  of  licking  the 


346 


THE   WAPITI. 


HUNTING   THE  WAPITI. 


salt  off  the  soil  upon  which  it  has  settled.  Such  places  are  called 
"licks,"  and  to  them  the  hunters  resort,  lying  in  wait  for  the  Deer, 
who  are  sure  to  visit  these  places. 

It  frequents  the  woods  and  copses,  in  which  it  lies  so  well  con- 
cealed, that  an  inexperienced  eye  cannot  perceive  the  animal  even 
when  it  is  pointed  out  to  him,  so  well  does  its  color  agree  with  the  tints 

of  the   brush    among   which   it 
hides.      From     the     branching 
horns  which  it  bears,  one  might 
suppose  that  it  would  find  great 
difficulty    in     forcing    its    way 
through  the  woods ;  but,  in  fact, 
its  horns  are  a  defence  instead  of 
an  incumbrance,  and  as  it  lays 
them  flat  on  its  back  before  plun- 
ging among  the  trees,  they  de- 
fend its  back  from  the  branches 
through  which  it  forces  its  way. 
The  skin  of  the  Wapiti  is  very 
useful  to  the  hunters,  as  they  have 
a.  method  of  dressing  it  so  that  it 
does  riot  become  stiff  and  harsh 
after  being  wetted,   but   retains 
its  original  flexibility.    This  pro- 
perty makes  it  very  valuable  for 
hunting  dresses,  which  are  generally  made  of  leather.  • 

It  is  very  fierce,  and  boldly  attacks  an  antagonist,  especially  if 
wounded.     An  example  of  its  ferocity,  when  wounded,  is  given  by 


THE   AXIS. 


347 


Palliser  in  the  following  passage : — "  We  were  now  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  yards  from  the  nearest  of  the  band.  I  chose  a  fine  old 
Stag,  while  Bouoharville,  with  an  eye  to  superior  meat,  singled  out  a 
Doe!  We  drew  up  our  rifles  slowly,  and  both  shots  went  off  together. 
The  smoke  hung  heavily  for  a  second  or  two;  when  it  cleared  away, 
we  espied  one  of  the  Wapiti  lying  down:  the  next  instant  down  rolled 
the  Stag  also.  We  agreed  to  advance  at  the  same  moment,  lest  one 
or  other  of  the  animals  should  be  able  to  get  up  and  escape.  On 
corning  near  my  Stag,  he  struggled  to  rise,  but  unable  to  regain  his 
feet,  rolled  back  again.  I  looked  towards  the  other,  when  what  was 
my  surprise  at  witnessing  a  regular  combat  between  Bouoharville 
and  his  wounded  Elk,*  now  trans- 
formed into  a  very  formidable 
antagonist!  Springing  on  her 
haunches,  she  was  striking  furiously 
at  him  with  her  fore-feet;  one  hoof 
missed  him,  but  the  other  fell  on 
his  rifle,  which  he  held  up  for  his 
protection,  and  smashing  both  his 
ramrod  and  his  loading  stick,  beat 
him  clown  on  his  knees.  Kising  a 
second  time,  she  was  about  to  repeat 
the  attack,  when  my  ball  caught 
her  in  the  side  of  the  head,  behind 
the  eye,  and  with  a  splendid  bound 
she  fell  lifeless  on  the  broad  of  her 
back.  I  had  made  a  quick  and 
necessarily  a  rather  dangerous  shot; 
but  I  was  in  luck  that  day.  'Ah  1' 
exclaimed  Boucharville,  as  he  half 
rose  from  the  ground,  but  looking  at 

nothing  till  he  had  satisfied  himself  that  his  rifle  was  uninjured,  'Mais 
qui  1'aurait  cru?  Ma  foil7  continued  he,  'j'ai  bien  £chappe;  une  biche 
a  une  cot6  et  une  balle  a  1'autre !' " 


THE  AXIS. 

This  beautiful  Deer  is  an 
inhabitant  of  India,  especi- 
ally of  parts  by  the  Ganges. 
It  has  frequently  been  do- 
mesticated in  England,  and 
thrives  well  even  in  open 
parks.  The  horns  are  slen- 
der, and  are  divided  into 
three  branches.  Its  usual 
color  is  a  fawn  yellow,  spot- 
ted regularly  with  white,  and 
a  black  stripe  runs  down  the 
back. 

*  This  animal  is  often   called  an  Elk 
by  the  hunters 


THE   WAPITI. 


348 


THE   GIRAFFE   TRIBE. 


TUB  LONG-TAILED  DEER. 


THE   LONG-TAILED   DEER. 


The  Long-tailed  Deer  is  larger  than  the  Ked  Deer  of  Europe,  darker 
in  color,  on  the  upper  part,  white  underneath  and  with  a  tail  eighteen 
inches  long  and  black  on  the  upper  part,  with  broad  white  margins, 
erect  when  the  animal  runs,  The  horns  are  short  and  flattened,  but 
not  palmated.  This  species  is  sometimes  called  the  Black-tailed  Peer, 
it  is  found  in  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  the  neighboring  regions. 


OF  THE   GIEAFFE   TRIBE. 

IN  the  lower  jaw  of  the  Giraffes  there  are  eight  broad  and  thin  front 
teeth,  the  outermost  of  which  on  each  side,  are  each  deeply  divided 
into  two  lobes. . 

In  the  present  tribe,  of  which  only  a  single  species  has  hitherto 
been  discovered,  the  horns  are  simple,  covered  with  skin,  blunt  at 
the  ends,  and  each  terminated  by  a  tuft  of  black  hair. 


THE   GIRAFFE. 


349 


TUB  GIRAFFE. 


This  animal,  although  nearly  allied  both  to  the  Deer  and  Antelope 
tribes,  is  so  remarkable  in  its  structure,  as,  in  an  artificial  system  at 
least,  to  require  a  distinct  classification. 


THE   GIRAFFE. 


The  head  of  the  Giraffe  bears  a  considerable  resemblance  to  tjiat 
of  the  horse,  but  is  furnished  with  erect  horns,  about  six  inches  long, 
and  covered  with  a  hairy  skin :  these  are  blunt,  as  though  cut  off  at 
the  ends,  and  each  tufted  with  a  brush  of  coarse  black  hairs.  The 


350 


THE   GIRAFFE. 


neck  is  very  long,  thin,  and  erect,  and  has  on  the  ridge  a  short,  erect 
mane,  which  extends  along  the  back,  nearly  to  the  origin  of  the  tail. 

The  shoulders  are  very  deep,  which 
has  given  rise  to  a  vulgar  error  that 
the  fore-legs  are  longer  than  the  hind 
ones. 

This  extremely  singular  quad- 
ruped is  found  only  in  the  interior 
recesses  of  the  forests,  or  upon  the 
wildest  plains,  of  Africa ;  whence  it 
is  never  taken  alive,,  except  when 
young,  and  where  it  is  seldom  ever 
seen  by  European  travellers. 

When  they  stand  with  their  head 
and  neck  perfectly  erect,  many  of 
these  animals  measure  sixteen  or 
eighteen  feet  in  height.  In  their 
native  wilds  this  singular  form  gives 
them,  at  a  distance,  the  appearance 
of  decayed  trees;  and  the  deception 
is  not  a  little  aided  by  their  color, 
reddish  white,  marked  with  nume- 
rous large  rusty  spots. 

They  are  of  a  mild  and  timid  dis- 
position. When  pursued,  they  trot 
so  fast  that  even  a  good  horse  is 
scarcely  able  to  keep  pace  with 
them,  and  they  continue  their  course  for  a  long  time  without  requi- 
ring rest.  When,  they  leap,  they  lift  first  their  fore-legs,  and  then 
the  hinder  ones,  in  the  manner  of  a  horse  whose  fore-legs  are  tied 
together.  Their  general  position,  except  when  grazing,  is  with  the 
head  and  neck  erect.  They  feed  principally  on  the  leaves  of  trees, 
and  particularly  on  those  of  a  peculiar  species  of  mimosa,  that  is 
common  in  the  country  where  they  are  found,  and  to  which  the  ex- 
treme length  of  their  legs  and  neck  admirably  adapts  them.  When 
they  feed  from  the  ground,  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  dividing 
their  fore-legs  to  a  considerable  distance.  In  preparing  to  lie  down, 
they  kneel  like  the  Camel. 

It  has  generally  been  supposed  that  the  Giraffe  possessed  neither 
the  power  nor  the  strength  to  defend  itself  against  the  attacks  of  other 
animals :  this,  however,  seems  to  be  unfounded ;  for  M.  le  Vaillant  has 
asserted,  that  uby  its  kicks  it  frequently  wearies,  discourages,  and 
distances  even  the  Lion."  The  utility  of  the  horns  of  the  Giraffe  ap- 
pears to  be  hitherto  unknown:  this  writer  says,  that  they  are  not 
used  as  weapons  of  defence. 

From  divers  accounts  that  have  been  left  to  us,  this  animal  seems 

to  have  been  known  to  the  ancients.    Heliodorus,  the  Greek  bishop  of 

Sicca,  mentions  it  particularly  in  his  time,  and  his  description  seems 

more  original  and  authentic  than  those  of  most  of  the  old  writers. 

"The  ambassadors  from  the  Axiomitse  (he  says)  brought  presents 


THE   GIRAFFE. 


THE   GIRAFFE. 


351 


to  Hjdaspes,  and,  among  other  things,  there  was  an  animal  of  a 
strange  and  wonderful  species,  about  the  size  of  a  Camel,  which  had 
its  skin  marked  with  florid  spots.  The  hinder  parts,  from  the  loins, 
were  low,  like  those  of  a  Lion;  but  the  shoulders,  fore-feet,  and  breast, 
were  elevated  above  proportion  to  the  other  parts.  The  neck  was 
small,  and  lengthened  out  from  its  large  body  like  that  of  a  Swan. 
The  head,  in  form,  resembled  a  Camel,  but  was,  in  size,  about  twice 
that  of  the  Lybian  Ostrich,  and  it  rolled  the  eyes,  which  had  a  film 
over  them,  very  frightfully.  It  differed  in  its  gait  from  every  other 
land  or  water-animal,  and  waddled  in  a  remarkable  manner.  Each 
leg  did  not  move  alternately;  but  those  on  the  right  side  moved 
together,  independently  of  the  other,  and  those  of  the  left  in  the  same 
manner,  so  that  each  side  was  alternately  elevated.  This  animal  was 
so  tractable  as  to  be  led  by  a  small  string  fastened  to  its  head,  and 
the  keeper  could  con  duct  it  wherever  he  pleased,  as  if  with  the  strong- 
est chain.  When  the  animal  appeared,  it  struck  the  whole  multitude 
with  terror;  and  it  took  its  name  from  the  principal  parts  of  its  body, 
being  called  by  the  people,  extempore,  Camelopardalis." 

A  Giraffe  appears  to  have  been  brought  to  Cairo  in  the  year  1507  , 
for  Baumgarten  says, 
that  "on  the  26th 
of  October,  in  that 
year,  on  looking  out 
at  a  window  he  saw 
the  Ziraphus,  the 
tallest  creature  that 
he  ever  bsheld.  Its 
skin  was  all  over 
white  arid  brown,  and 
its  neck  was  almost 
two  fathoms  long.  Its 
head  Was  a  cubit  bug, 
and  its  eyes  looked 
brisk  and  lively;  its 
breast  was  upright, 
and  its  back  low;  it 
would  eat  bread  or  fruits,  or  any  thing  else  they  reached  to  it." 

In  the  year  1769,  the  Dutch  governor  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
sent  out  some  parties  of  men  on  inland  discoveries.  One  of  these 
parties,  after  having  crossed  many  mountains  and  plains,  found  two 
Giraffes,  an  old  and  a  young-one.  They  seized  the  latter,  and  were 
desirous  of  conveying  it  alive  to  Cape  Town,  but  it  died  before  their 
arrival.  They,  however,  skinned  it,  and  the  skin  was  afterwards  sent 
to  Europe,  and  lodged  in  the  Cabinet  of  Natural  History  at  Leyden. 

The  flesh  of  the  young  Giraffe  is  said  to  be  good  eating.  The 
Hottentots  hunt  the  animal  principally  on  account  of  its  marrow, 
which,  as  a  delicacy,  they  set  a  high  value  upon. 

The  appearance  of  this  animal  in  its  native  haunts  is  very  magnifi- 
cent. Mr.  Gumming  says,  "  These  gigantic  and  exquisitely  beautiful 
animals,  which  are  admirably  formed  by  nature  to  adorn  the  forests 


HOTTENTOTS   HUNTING   THE  GIIIAFPE. 


352 


THE   GIRAFFE 


ME.   CCMMIXG8   HUNTING  GIRAFFES. 


that  clothe  the  boundless  plains  of  the  interior,  are  widely  distribute!* 
throughout  the  interior  of  Southern  Africa,  but  are  nowhere  to  be 
met  with  in  great  numbers.     In  countries  unmolested  by  the  intru- 
sive foot  of  man,  the  Giraffe  is  found  generally  in   herds  varying 
from  twelve  to  sixteen;  but  I  have  not  unfrequently  met  with  herds 
containing  thirty  individuals,  and  on  one  occasion  I  counted  forty 
together;  this,  however,  was  owing  to  chance,  and  about  sixteen  may 
be  reckoned  as  the  average  number  of  a  herd.     These  herds  are  com- 
posed of  Giraffes  of  various  sizes,  from  the  young  Giraffe  of  nine  or 
ten  feet  in  height,  to  the  dark  chestnut  colored  old  bull  of  the  herd, 
whose  exalted  head  towers  above  his  companions,  generally  attaining 
to  a  height  of  upwards  of  eighteen  feet.     The  females  are  of  lower 
stature,  and  more  delicately  formed  than  the  males,  their  height  aver- 
aging from  sixteen  to  seventeen  feet.     Some  writers  have  discovered 
ugliness  and  a  want  of  grace  in  the  Giraffe,  but  I  consider  that  he  is 
one  of  the  most  strikingly  beautiful  animals  in  the  creation;   and 
when  a  herd  of  them  is  seen  scattered  through  a  grove  of  the  pictu- 
resque parasol-topped  acacias  which  adorn  their  native  plains,  and  on 
whose  uppermost  shoots  they  are  enabled  to  browse  by  the  colossal 
height  with  which  nature  has  so  admirably  endowed  them,  he  must, 
indeed,  be  slow  of  conception  who  fails  to  discover  both  grace  and 
dignity  in  all  their  movements.     There  can  be  no  doubt  that  every 
animal  is  seen  to  the  greatest  advantage  in  the  haunts  which  nature 
destined  him  to  adorn,  and  among  the  various  living  creatures  which 
beautify  creation.  I  have  often  traced  a  remarkable  resemblance  b> 


THE   GIRAFFE 


353 


MB.   HARRIS   HUNTING  GIRAFFES. 


tween  the  animal  and  the  general  appearance  of  the  locality  in  which 
it  is  found. 

"In  the  case  of  the  Giraffe,  which  is  invariably  met  with  among 
venerable  forests,  where  innumerable  blasted  and  weather-beaten 
trunks  and  stems  occur,  I  have  repeatedly  been  in  doubt  as  to  the 
presence  of  them,  until  I  had  recourse  to  my  spy-glass;  and  on  refer- 
ring the  case  to  my  savage  attendants  I  have  known  even  their  optics  to 
fail,  at  one  time  mistaking  these  dilapidated  trunks  for  Camelopards, 
and  again  confounding  real  Camelopards  with  these  aged  veterans 
of  the  forest."^ 

The  first  living  Giraffes,  in  the  possession  of  the  Zoologi'cal  Society, 
says  Wood,  were  brought  by  M.  Thibaut  in  1835.  He  succeeded  in 
taking  four,  all  of  which  he  brought  with  him.  One  of  them  is  still 
living.  From  this  stock,  several  Giraffes  have  been  born,  some  of 
which  are  now  in  England,  and  others  have  been  sent  to  other 
countries.  They  are  exhibited  in  most  American  Menageries. 

One  of  the  four  originals  killed  himself  soon  after  his  arrival,  by 
striking  his  head  against  a  wall  as  he  was  rising  from  the  ground. 
A.n  accident  of  the  same  nature  happened  recently  to  another  animal, 
one  of  its  horns  being  broken  off,  and  bent  backwards;  but  owing  to 
the  presence  of  mind  of  the  keeper,  who  immediately  pulled  the  horn 
into  its  place  again,  no  bad  results  followed,  the  fractured  parts 
uniting  naturally. 

The  tongue  of  the  Giraffe  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  parts  of  its 

*  Cummings  Adventures,  vol.  i  pp.  260,  270. 


354 


THE   GIRAFFE. 


GIRAFFE  FEEDING. 


structure.  It  is  very  flexible  and  capable  of  great  changes  of  form, 
the  Giraffe  being  able  to  contract  it  so  that  its  tip  could  enter  an 
ordinary  quill.  The  animal  is  very  fond  of  exercising  its  tongue, 
and  sometimes  pulls  the  hairs  from  its  companions'  manes  and  tails, 
and  swallows  them;  nt>  very  easy  feat,  as  the  hair  of  the  tail  is  often 
more  than  four  feet  long. 

The  movements  of  the  Giraffe  are  very  peculiar,  the  limbs  of  each 
side  appearing  to  act  together.  It  is  very  swift,  and  can  outrun  a 
Horse,  especially  if  it  can  get  among  broken  ground  and  rocks,  over 
which  it  leaps  with  a  succession  of  frog-like  hops. 

In  this  country  it  endures  the  climate  well.  The  Giraffes  in  the 
Zoological  Gardens  which  were  born  and  bred  in  England  seem 
very  healthy  and  are  exceedingly  tame,  examining  the  hands  of  their 
visitors,  and  following  them  round  the  enclosure.  They  eat  herbs, 
such  as  grass,  hay,  carrots,  and  onions.  When  cut  grass  is  given  to 


THE    GIRAFFE. 


350 


STOPBISINO  A  OIRAFFJS. 


them,  they  eat  off  the  upper  parts  and  leave  the  coarse  stems,  just 
as  we  eat  asparagus. 

Giraffes  have  been  brought  to  the  United  States  at  different  times 
in  the  last  twenty  years ;  but  they  soon  die,  even  in  the  hands  of  the 
most  careful  and  experienced  keepers  of  menageries.  The  celebrated 
impresario  and  manager  General  Welsh,  who  died  recently  in  Phila- 
delphia, actually  fitted  out  and  headed  a  hunting  expedition  into  the 
interior  of  Africa,  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  pursuit  of  Giraffes. 
Two  were  brought  to  this  country  by  him.  They  were  the  most 
delicately  formed  and  beautifully  colored  animals  ever  seen ;  having 
very  light  brown  spots  on  a  cream  colored  ground.  They  were  the 
first  living  specimens  of  the  Giraffe  ever  imported  into  this  country; 
but  they  lived  only  a  few  months  after  their  arrival.  A  very  large 
one,  with  darker  spots,  was  afterwards  exhibited,  which  'was  imported 
by  the  way  of  Egypt.  Figures  of  the  Giraffe,  accurately  outlined, 
occur  frequently  on  the  ancient  monuments  of  Egypt 

23 


356 


THE   CHAMOIS. 


OF  THE  ANTELOPES  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  males  are  furnished  with  hollow  horns,  (seated  on  a  bony 
core,)  growing  upwards,  permanent,  and  annulated  or  wreathed.  In 
both  sexes  there  are  eight  front  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw ;  and  there 
are  no  canine  teeth  either  above  or  below 

Linna3us  included  the  Antelopes  in  the  Goat  tribe,  which  they 
resemble  in  their  horns;  but  they  are  now  properly  separated  into 
an  intermediate  tribe  between  the  Goats  and  the  Deer. 

The  Antelopes  are  an  elegant  and  active  tribe  of  animals,  which 
inhabit  mountainous  countries.  There  they  bound  among  the  rocks 
with  so  much  lightness  and  elasticity,  as  to  strike  the  spectator  with 
astonishment.  They  browse  like  Goats,  and  frequently  feed  on  the 
tender  shoots  of  trees.  In  disposition  they  are  timid  and  restless, 
and  the  Creator  has  bestowed  on  them  long  and  tendinous  legs,  pecu- 
liarly appropriated  to  their  habits  and  manners  of  life.  These,  in 
some  of  the  species,  are  so  slender  and  brittle  as  to  snap  with  a  very 
trifling  blow. 

The  eyes  of  the  Antelope  are  the  standard  of  perfection  in  the 
East:  to  say  of  a  fine  woman  that  "she  has  the  eyes  of  an  Antelope," 
is  considered  the  highest  compliment  that  can  be  paid  to  her. 

THE   CHAMOIS. 

The  Chamois  is  about  the  size  of  the  common  Goat,  and  is  of  a  dusky 
yellowish  brown  color,  with  the  cheeks,  chin,  throat,  and  belly,  of  a 

yellowish  white.  The  horns 
are  slender,  upright,  about 
eight  inches  high,  and  hooked 
backwards  at  the  tips:  their 
color  is  black.  At  the  back 
part  of  the  base  of  each  horn 
there  is  a  tolerably  large  orifice 
in  the  skin,  the  nature  and  use 
of  which  do  not  yet  seem  to 
be  clearly  understood.  The 
hair  is  rather  long;  and  the 
tail  short  and  of  a  blackish 
color.  The  eyes  are  round, 
sparkling,  and  full  of  anima- 
tion. 

These  animals,  inhabitants 
chiefly  of  the  Alps  and  the 
Pyrenees,  are  found  in  flocks 
of  from  four  to  eighty,  and  even  a  hundred  in  number,  dispersed 
upon  the  crags  of  the  mountains.  They  do  not  feed  indiscriminately, 
but  only  on  the  most  delicate  herbage  they  can  find. 

Their  sight  is  very  penetrating,  and  their  senses  of  smelling  and 
hearing  are  remarkably  acute.  When  the  wind  blows  in  a  proper 
direction,  they  are  said  to  be  able  to  scent  a  man  at  the  distance  cf  a 
mile  or  upwards.  Their  voice  somewhat  resembles  that  of  a  hoarse 


CHAMOIS. 


THE   CHAMOIS. 


357 


domestic  Goat:  by  means  of  this  they  are  called  together.  When 
alarmed  they  adopt  a  different  noise,  and  advertise  each  other  by  a 
kind  of  whistle.  This  the  animal  on 
watch  continues  as  long  as  he  can 
blow  without  taking  breath:  it  is  at 
first  sharp,  but  flattens  towards  the 
conclusion.  He  then  stops  for  a 
moment,  looks  round  on  all  sides, 
and  begins  whistling  afresh,  which 
he  continues  from  time  to  time.  This 
is  done  with  such  force,  that  the  rocks 
and  forests  re-echo  the  sound.  His 
agitation  is  extreme.  He  strikes  the 
earth  with  his  feet.  He  leaps  upon 
the  highest  stones  he  can  find,  again 
look  around,  leaps  from  one  place  to 
another,  and  when  he  discovers  any 
thing  seriously  alarming,  flies  off. 
This  whistling  is  performed  through 
the  nostrils,  and  consists  of  a  strong 
blowing,  similar  to  the  sound  which 
a  man  may  make  by  fixing  his  tongue 
to  the  palate,  with  his  teeth  nearly 
shut,  his  lips  open  and  somewhat  ex- 
tended, and  blowing  long,  and  with  great  force. 

The  Chamois  scramble  with  astonishing  agility  among  the  inacces- 


CIIAMOIS  HUNTER. 


CHAMOIS   HUNTING    IN   WINTER. 


sible  rocks  of  the  country  which  they  inhabit.     They  neither  ascend  nor 


358 


THE   NYL-GHAU. 


descend  perpendicularly,  but  always  in  an  oblique  direction.  When 
descending,  in  particular,  they  will  throw  themselves  down  across  a 
rock,  which  is  nearly  perpendicular,  and  twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  height 
without  having  a  single  prop  to  support  their  feet.  In  descending  they 
strike  their  feet  three  or  four  times  against  the  rock,  till  they  arrive  at 
a  proper  resting  place  below.  The  spring  of  their  tendons  is  so  great 
that,  when  leaping  about  among  the  precipices,  one  would  almost  im- 
agine that  they  possessed  wings  instead  of  limbs. 

They  are  hunted  during  the  winter  for  their  skins,  which  are  very 
useful  in  manufactures ;  and  for  their  flesh  which  is  good  eating. 
The  chase  of  these  animals  is  a  laborious  employment,  as  much  care  is 
necessary  in  order  to  get  near  them.  They  are  shot  with  rifle-barrelled 
guns.  They  generally  produce  two  young-ones  at  a  birth  ;  and  are 
said  to  be  long-lived. 


THE  NYL-GHAU. 

The  height  of  the  Nyl-ghau  is  somewhat  more  than  four  feet  at  the 
shoulder.  The  male  is  of  a  dark  gray  color  and  furnished  with  short, 

blunt  horns,  that 
bend  a  little  for- 
ward. There  are 
white  spots  on  the 
neck,  between  the 
fore-legs,  on  each 
side  behind  the 
shoulder  j  oints, 
and  on  each  fore 
foot.  The  female, 
which  is  destitute 
of  horns,  is  of  a 
pale  brown  color, 
with  two  white 
and  three  black 
1  bars  on  the  fore 
part  of  each  foot, 
immediately 
above  the  hoofs. 
On  the  neck  and 
part  of  the  back 
5  of  each  is  a  short 
mane ;  and  the 
fore  part  of  the 
throat  has  a  long 
tuft  of  black  hairs.  The  tail  is  long  and  tufted  at  the  end. 

Although  the  Nyl-ghau  is  reported  to  be  an  exceedingly  vicious 
creature,  yet  one  of  these  animals  which  was  in  the  possession  of  Dr. 
William  Hunter,  was  quite  tame  and  docile.  It  was  pleased  with  every 
kind  of  familiarity,  alwavs  licked  the  hand  which  either  stroked  it  or 


THE  NYL-OHAU. 


THE   NYLGHAU. 


THE   NYL-GHAU  359 

fave  it  bread,  and  never  once  attempted  to  use  its  horns  offensively, 
t  seemed  to  have  much  dependence  on  the  organs  of  smell,  and  snuffed 
keenly,  and  with  considerable  noise,  whenever  any  person  came  within 
sight.  It  did  the  same  when  food  or  drink  was  brought  to  it ;  and 
was  so  easily  offended  with  an  uncommon  smell,  or  was  so  cautious, 
that  it  would  not  taste  bread  that  was  offered  with  a  hand  that  had 
touched  oil  of  turpentine  or  spirits. 

In  February,  1820,  there  was  a  Nyl- 
ghau in  the  exhibition-rooms  at  Exeter 
'Change.  It  had  been  there  six  years, 
and  was  tolerably  docile,  but  capricious 
and  not  to  be  depended  upon. 

The  manner  in  which  these  animals 
fight  is  very  peculiar.  This  was  ob- 
served at  Lord  Olive's,  where  two 
males  were  put  into  a  little  enclosure. 
While  they  were  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  each  other  they  prepared 
for  the  attack  by  falling  down  upon 
their  fore  knees,  and  when  they  came 
within  a  few  yards  they  made  a  spring,  and  darted  against  each  other 

At  the  time  that  two  Nyl-ghaus  were  in  his  stable,  Dr.  Hunter  ob- 
served, that  whenever  any  one  approached  them  with  a  hostile 
appearance,  they  immediately  fell  upon  their  fore  knees ;  and  some- 
times they  would  do  so  when  he  came  before  them ;  but  as  they  never 
darted  forward,  he  so  little  supposed  this  to  be  a  hostile  posture,  that 
he  rather  supposed  it  to  be  expressive  of  a  timid  or  obsequious 
humility. 

The  force  with  which  the  Nyl-ghau  can  dart  against  any  object,  may 
be  conceived  from  the  following  anecdote  that  has  been  related  of  one 
of  the  finest  of  these  animals  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  England.  A 
laboring  man,  without  knowing  that  the  animal  was  near  him,  and 
therefore  neither  meaning  to  offend,  nor  suspecting  that  he  was 
exposed  to  any  danger,  came  to  the  outside  of  the  pales  of  the  enclo- 
sure where  it  was  kept:  the  Nyl-ghau,  with  the  swiftness  of  lightning, 
darted  against  the  wood-work,  and  with  such  violence,  that  he  shattered 
it  to  pieces,  and  broke  off*  one  of  his  horns  close  to  the  root.  This 
violence,  it  is  supposed,  occasioned  his  death,  for  he  died  not  long 
afterwards.  From  this  it  appears,  that  at  certain  seasons  the  animal  is 
vicious  and  fierce,  however  gentle  it  may  be  at  other  times. 

The  first  of  this  species  that  were  brought  into  England  were  a  male 
and  female,  sent  from  Bombay  as  a  present  to  Lord  Olive,  in  1767. 
They  bred  every  year.  Afterwards  two  others  were  sent  over,  and 
were  presented  to  the  queen  by  Mr.  Sullivan.  These  were  the  two 
above  described. 

The  Nyl-ghau  is  seldom  found  wild  in  any  of  the  parts  of  India  where 
we  have  settlements :  such  animals  as  are  seen  there  have  been  brought 
from  the  distant  interior  parts  of  the  country.  Bernier  mentions  them 
in  his  travels  from  Delhi  to  the  province  of  Cachemire.  He  describes 
the  emperor's  amusement  of  hunting  them,  and  says  that  sometimes 


360 


THE   SCYTHIAN    ANTELOPE. 


great  numbers  of  them  are  killed.     In  several  parts  of  the  East  they 
are  considered  as  royal  game,  and  are  only  hunted  by  the  princes. 


THE   SCYTHIAN   ANTELOPE. 

The  Scythian  Antelope  is  about  the  size  of  the  Fallow  Deer,  and  of 
a  greyish  yellow  color.     The  horns  are  annulated,  about  a  foot  long, 

and  bent  in  the  form 
of  a  lyre.  The  head 
is  somewhat  large, 
and  the  neck  slender. 
The  tail  is  about  four 
inches  long ;  naked 
below,  clothed  above 
with  upright  hairs, 
and  ending  in  a  tuft. 
The  females  are  with- 
out horns. 

Several  dreary  and 
open  deserts  about 
Mount  Caucasus  and 
the  Caspian  Sea,  and 
in  Siberia,  are  fre- 
quented by  these  ani- 
mals. They  chiefly 
confine  themselves  to 
countries  where  there 
are  salt  springs ;  for 
on  the  plants  that 
grow  near  these,  and  on  salt,  they  principally  feed.  While  feeding 
they  frequently  walk  backward  and  pluck  the  grass  on  each  side. 
They  are  migratory,  collecting  towards  the  end  of  autumn  in  flocks, 
which  consist  of  some  thousands,  and  retiring  into  the  southern  deserts. 
In  spring  they  divide  again  into  little  flocks,  and  return  to  the  north. 
It  seldom  happens  that  a  whole  flock  lies  down  to  rest  all  at  the 
same  time;  some  of  the  animals  are  generally  stationed  on  watch. 
When  these  are  tired,  they  give  a  kind  of  notice  to  such  as  have  taken 
their  rest,  who  instantly  rise,  and  relieve  the  sentinels  of  the  preceding 
hours.  By  this  means  they  often  preserve  themselves  from  the 
attacks  of  wolves,  and  from  the  insidious  stratagems  of  hunters.  They 
are  so  swift,  that  they  are  able  for  a  while  to  outrun  the  fleetest  horse 
or  greyhound ;  yet  such  is  their  extreme  timidity  and  shortness  of 
breath,  that  they  are  soon  caught.  If  they  be  only  bitten  by  a  dog, 
they  instantly  fall  down,  and  will  not  again  attempt  to  rise.  In  run- 
ning they  seem  to  incline  on  one  side ;  and  their  fleetness  is  for  a  short 
time  so  astonishing,  that  their  feet  appear  scarcely  to  touch  the  ground. 
In  consequence  of  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  the  reflection  of  its  rays  from 
the  sandy  plains  which  they  frequent,  they  become  in  summer  almost 
blind.  In  a  wild  state  they  seem  to  have  no  voice,  but  when  they  are 
brought  up  tame  the  young-ones  emit  a  sort  of  bleating,  like  sheep. 


THE  SCYTHIAN   ANTELOPE. 


THE    GNOO. 


361 


THE  ONOO,  OR  WILDEBEEST. 


THE   GNOO,    OK  WILDEBEEST. 

The  Gnoo,  or  Wildebeest,  inhabits  southern  Africa.     At  first  sight 
it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  the  Horse,  Buffalo,  or  Deer  predominates 
its    form.      It 


m 

however  belongs 
to  neither  of  these 
animals,  but  is  one 
of  the  bovine  An- 
telopes. The  horns 
cover  the  top  of 
the  forehead,  and 
t'  h  e  n  ,  sweeping 
downwards  over 
the  face,  turn  bold- 
ly upwards  with  a 
sharp  curve.  The 
neck  is  furnished 
with  a  mane  like 
that  of  the  Horse, 
and  the  legs  are 
formed  like  those 
of  the  Stag.  It  is 
a  very  swift  ani- 
mal, and  when  provoked,  very  dangerous.  When  it  attacks  an  oppo- 
nent it  drops  on  its  knees,  and  then  springs  forward  with  such  force 
that,  unless  he  is  extremely  wary  and  active,  he  cannot  avoid  its 
shock.  When  first  alarmed,  its  movements  are  very  grotesque  and 
are  thus  described  by  Gumming : 

"  When  the  hunter  approaches  the  old  bulls,  they  commence  whisk- 
ing their  long  white  tails  in  a  most  eccentric  manner;  then  springing 
suddenly  into  the  air,  they  begin  prancing  and  capering,  and  pursue 
each  other  in  circles  at  their  utmost  speed.  Suddenly  they  all  pull 
up  together,  to  overhaul  the  intruder,  when  two  of  the  bulls  will  often 
commence  fighting  in  the  most  violent  manner,  dropping  on  their 
knees  at  every  shock;  then  quickly  wheeling  about,  they  kick  up 
their  heels,  whirl  their  tails  with  a  fantastic  flourish,  and  scour  across 
the  plain  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust." 

When  it  is  taken  young,  the  Gnoo  can  be  domesticated,  and  brought 
up  with  other  cattle,  but  it  will  not  bear  confinement,  and  is  liable  to 
become  savage  under  restraint. 

There  are  several  species  of  this  animal,  three  being  satisfactorily 
ascertained,  namely,  the  common  Gnoo,  represented  in  the  accom- 
panying engraving,  the  Cocoon,  (Catoblepas  Taurina,)  and  the  Brin- 
dled Gnoo  (Catoblepas  Gorgon),  all  three  animals  being  in  the  British 
Museum. 

The  size  of  the  Gnoo  is  about  that  of  a  well-grown  Ass,  that  is, 
about  four  feet  in  height.  Its  flesh  is  in  great  repute,  both  among 
the  natives  and  colonists. 


362 


THE   KOODOO: 


THE  KOODOO. 


THE   KOODOO. 

Is  a  native  of  South  Africa,  living  along  the  wooded  borders  of 

rivers.  It  is  chiefly 
remarkable  for  its 
beautifully  shaped 
horns,  which  are 
about  four  feet  in 
length  and  twisted 
into  a  large  spiral 
of  about  two  turns 
and  a  half.  A  bold 
ridge  runs  along 
the  horns  and  fol- 
lows their  curva- 
ture. When  hard 
pressed  it  always 
takes  to  the  water, 
and  endeavors  to 
escape  by  its  powers 
of  swimming.  Al- 
though a  large  ani- 
mal, nearly  four 
feet  in  height,  it 
can  leap  with  won- 

activity.    The  weight  of  the  horns  is  very  considerable,  and 
to  relieve  itself  of  that  weight,  and  partly  to  guard  them  from 

entanglement  in  the  bushes 
among  which  it  lives  and 
on  which  it  feeds,  it  carries 
its  head  backwards,  so  that 
the  horns  rest  on  its  shoul- 
ders. 

The  best  and  fullest  ac- 
counts of  the  Bland  and  the 
Oryx  are  to  be  found  in 
Harris  and  Cumm  ing's  Ad- 
ventures in  South  Africa. 
An  extract  from  Gumming 
will  be  both  interesting  and 
accurate.  Of  the  Eland,  he 
writes  :  — 

"  This  magnificent  animal 
is  by  far  the  largest  of  all 
the  antelope  tribe,  exceed- 
ing a  large  ox  in  size.  It 
also  attains  an  extraordinary 
condition,  being  often  bur- 
with  a  very  large  amount  of  fat.  Its  flesh  is  most  excellent; 


derful 
partly 


THE  KOODOO. 


lened 


THE   ORYX. 


363 


and  is  justly  esteemed  above  all  others.  It  has  a  peculiar  sweetness, 
and  is  tender  and  fit  for  use  the  moment  the  animal  is  killed.  Like 
the  Gemsbok,  the  Eland  is  independent  of  water.  It  is  generally 


THE  ELAND. 


diffused  throughout  all  the  wooded  districts  of  the  interior  where  I 
have  hunted.    Like  other  varieties  of  Deer  and  Antelope,  the  old  males 


MR.  HAERIS  HUNTING  THE  ELAND. 


364 


THE   ORYX. 


may  often  be  found  consorting  together  apart  from  the  females,  and 
a  troop  of  these,  when  in  full  condition,  may  be  likened  to  a  herd  of 
stall-fed-oxen. 

"I  have  repeatedly  seen  an  Eland  drop  down  dead  at  the  end  of  a 
severe  chase,  owing  to  his  plethoric  habit.  The  skin  of  the  Eland  I 
had  just  shot  emitted,  like  most  other  antelopes,  the  most  delicious 
perfume  of  trees  and  grass." 

The  height  of  the  Eland  is  fully  five  feet  at  the  shoulders,  and  its 
weight  from  seven  to  nine  hundred-weight.  The  horns  of  the  male 
are  about  a  foot  and  a  half  in  length,  while  those  of  the  female  are 
smaller,  and  sometimes  without  the  spiral  wreathing. 


THE   OKYX. 

The  Oryx,  also  a  South  African  animal,  is  well  known  among 
hunters  as  the  only  Antelope  that  revenges  itself  on  the  Lion.  When 
it  sees  the  Lion  in  the  act  of  springing  on  it,  it  lowers  its  head,  re- 
ceiving the  Lion  on  the  points  of  its  sharp  horns.  It  invariably 
perishes  by  the  shock,  but  the  Lion  also  perishes  with  it.  Their 
skeletons  have  more  than  once  been  seen  lying  together  bleached  on 
the  plain.  The  description  given  of  this  animal  by  Gumming  is  highly 
graphic.  "  The  Oryx,  or  Gemsbok,  to  which  I  was  now  about  to 
direct  my  attention,  more  particularly,  is  about  the  most  beautiful  and 
remarkable  of  all  the  Antelope  tribe.  It  is  the  animal  which  is  sup- 
posed to  have  given  rise  to  the  fable  of  the  Unicorn,  from  its  long 
straight  horns,  when  seen  in  profile,  so  exactly  covering  one  another 
as  to  give  it  the  appearance  of  having  but  one.  It  possesses  the  erect 


THE   ORYX. 


mane,  long  sweeping  black  tail,  and  general  appearance  of  the  Horse 
with  the  head  and  hoofs  of  an  Antelope.     It  is  robust  in  its  form 


THE    SPRINGBOK.  ODD 

squarely  and  compactly  built,  and  very  noble  in  its  bearing.  Its 
height  is  about  that  of  an  Ass,  and  in  color  it  slightly  resembles  that 
animal.  The  beautiful  black  bands  which  eccentrically  adorn  its 
head,  giving  it  the  appearance  of  wearing  a  stall  collar,  together  with 
the  manner  in  which  the  rump  and  thighs  are  painted,  impart  to  it  a 
character  peculiar  to  itself.  The  adult  male  measures  three  feet  ten 
inches  in  height  at  the  shoulder." 

The  sharp  horns  of  the  Oryx  stand  it  in  good  stead,  when  pursued  by 
Dogs,  as  it  generally  kills  several  of  them  before  it  is  vanquished,  and 
if  the  hunter's  rifle  is  not  at  hand,  drives  off  the  Dogs  and  escapes. 


THE   SPEINGBOK. 

The  Springbok  is  one  of  the  smaller  South  African  Antelopes.  Its 
color  is  a  light  cinnamon  red 
on  the  back,  fading  into  white 
on  the  under  part  of  the  body, 
a  narrow  band  of  reddish 
brown  separating  the  two 
colors. 

For  a  description  of  the 
habits  of  the  animal,  I  must 
again  refer  the  reader  to  Gum- 
ming. During  his  early 
travels  in  South  Africa,  the 
first  object  that  met  his  eyes 
on  waking  one  morning,  was 
a  herd  of  Springboks,  which 
he  thus  describes: 

"On  the  28th  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  beholding,  for  the  first  time, 
what  I  had  often  heard  the  Boers  allude  to,  viz.  a  "  trek-bokken,"  or 
grand  migration  of  Springboks.  This  was,  I  think,  the  most  extra- 
ordinary and  striking  scene,  as  connected  with  beasts  of  the  chase, 
that  I  have  ever  beheld.  For  about  two  hours  before  the  day  dawned 
1  had  been  lying  awake  in  my  wagon,  listening  to  the  grunting  of 
the  bucks  within  two  hundred  yards  of  me,  imagining  that  some  large 
herd  of  Springboks  was  feeding  beside  my  camp;  but  on  rny  rising 
when  it  was  clear,  and  looking  about  me,  I  beheld  the  ground  to  the 
northward  of  my  camp  actually  covered  with  a  dense  living  mass  of 
Springboks,  marching  slowly  and  steadily  along,  extending  from  an 
opening  in  a  long  range  of  hills  on  the  west,  through  which  they  con- 
tinued pouring,  like  the  flood  of  some  great  river,  to  a  ridge  about  a 
mile  to  the  north-east,  over  which  they  disappeared.  The  breadth  of 
the  ground  they  covered  might  have  been  somewhere  about  half  a 
mile.  I  stood  upon  the  fore-chest  of  my  wagon  for  nearly  two  hours, 
lost  in  wonder  at  the  novel  and  wonderful  scene  which  was  passing 
before  me,  and  had  some  difficulty  in  convincing  myself  that  it  was  a 
a  reality  which  I  beheld,  and  not  the  wild  and  exaggerated  picture  of  a 


366 


THE   GAZELLE. 


MB.  CUMVING'S  PURSUING  A  GREAT  HERD  OF  SPRINGBOKS. 

hunter's  dream. ,  During  this  time  their  vast  legions  continued  stream- 
ing through  the  neck  in  the  hills  in  one  unbroken  compact  phalanx. 

"  "Vast  and  surprising  as  was  the  herd  of  Springboks  which  I  had 
that  morning  witnessed,  it  was  infinitely  surpassed  by  what  I  beheld 
on  the  march  from  my  vley  to  old  Sweir's  camp  ;  for  on  our  clearing 
the  low  range  of  hills  through  which  the  Springboks  had  been  pouring, 
I  beheld  the  boundless  plains,  and  even  the  hill  sides  which  stretched 
away  on  every  side  of  me,  thickly  covered,  not  with  herds,  but  with 
one  vast  herd  of  Springboks  ;  as  far  as  the  eye  could  strain  the  land- 
scape was  alive  with  them,  until  they  softened  down  into  a  dim  red 
mass  of  living  creatures." 

The  Springbok  is  very  fearful  of  man,  and  if  it  has  to  cross  a  path 
over  which  a  man  has  passed  before,  it  does  not  walk  over,  but  takes  a 
tremendous  leap,  ten  or  twelve  feet  high,  and  about  fifteen  feet  long, 
at  the  same  time  curving  its  back  in  a  most  extraordinary  manner. 
It  is  from  this  habit  of  leaping  that  the  Dutch  Boers  who  inhabit  the 
Cape  have  given  it  the  name  of  Springbok. 


THE   GAZELLE. 

The  Gazelle,  so  famous  in  oriental  poetry,  inhabits  Arabia  and 
Syria.  Its  eyes  are  very  large,  dark  and  lustrous,  so  that  the  oriental 
poets  love  to  compare  the  eyes  of  a  woman  to  those  of  a  Gazelle,  just 
as  Homer  constantly  applied  the  epithet  ox-eyed  (Rowrttj)  to  the  more 
majestic  goddesses,  such  as  Juno  and  Minerva.  It  is  easily  tamed 
when  young,  and  is  frequently  seen  domesticated  in  the  court-yards 
of  houses  in  Sjria.  Its  swiftness  is  so  great  that  even  a  greyhound 


THE  HARTEBEEST — SARRAYBE — PALLAH. 


367 


cannot  overtake  it,  and  the  hunters  are  forced  to  make  use  of 
hawks,  which  are  trained  to 
strike  at  the  head  of  the  Ga- 
zelle, and  thus  confuse  it,  and 
retard  its  speed,  so  as  to  permit 
the  dogs  to  come  up.  In  several 
parts  of  Syria,  the  Gazelle  is 
taken  by  driving  a  herd  into  a 
large  enclosure  surrounded  by 
a  deep  ditch.  A  few  gaps  are 
made,  through  which  the  ter- 
rified animals  leap,  and  fall  into 
the  ditch,  when  they  are  easily 
taken.  The  height  of  the  Ga- 
zelle is  about  one  foot  nine 
inches;  its  color  a  dark  yel- 
lowish brown,  fading  into 
white  on  the  under  parts. 


THE  GAZELLE. 


THE  HARTEBEEST. 

Of  the  Hartebeest,  according  to 
Harris,  the  adult  male  is  five  feet 
high  and  nine  long,  with  crooked 
horns,  variegated  color,  light  body, 
long  tail  and  fiery  red  eyes.  It  in- 
habits the  interior  of  South  Africa, 
beyond  the  Orange  river,  iu  im- 
mense herds. 


THE  HARTEBEEST. 


THE   SARRAYBE. 


The  Sarraybe,  found  in  the  same  locality,  is  four  and  a  half  feet 
high,  five  long,  with  strong,  pointed  horns  forming  two  crescents  at 
top,  short  neck,  bulky  body,  slender  legs,  long  narrow  head,  blackish 
color,  variegated  with  purple  and  yellow  and  fiery  red  eyes. 


THE   PALLAH. 


The  Pallah  is  gregarious  in  small  families  or  herds  and  inhabits 
the  thinly  wooded  banks  of  rivers  chiefly  in  the  Bechuana  country 
in  South  Africa.  It  is  three  and  a  quarter  feet  high,  (the  adult  male,) 
and  six  feet  long.  Stands  high  on  the  legs;  with  horns  twenty  inches 
long  ascending  obliquely  upwards,  outwards  and  backwards.  His 


368 


THE   BLAUWBUCK — REIT   BUCK. 


ears  are  round,  tail  thirteen  inches  long,  color  above  fulvous,  sides 
yellow  dun,  belly  white.     The  female  has  no  horns. 


THE  BLAUWBUCK. 


THE   BLAUWBUCK. 

The  Blauwbuck 
is  found  only  on  or 
near  the  banks  of 
rivers  near  the  Tro- 
pic, the  Limpopo  and 
Mariqua  rivers  espe- 
cially. It  is  three 
and  a  half  feet  high 
and  proportionally 
long,  has  long  horns 
upright,  curved 
backwards  and  out- 
wards, general  color 
sepia  brown,  varie- 
gated with  deep 
brown  and  white. 
His  hair  is  very 
coarse.  The  female 
has  no  horns. 


THE   REIT   BUCK. 


The  Reit  Buck  is 


sometimes  gregari- 
ous in  small  families 
and  sometimes  soli- 
tary. It  is  found 
in  various  localities 
of  South  Africa, 
generally  among 
reeds.  The  male  is 
two  and  three  quar- 
ter feet  high  and 
nearly  five  feet  long. 
Its  horns  are  ten  or 
twelve  inches  long 
diverging,  with  the 
points  curved  for- 
ward. The  tail  is 
ten  inches  long.  Its 
color  is  ashy  gray, 
tinged  with  ochre, 
white  beneath,  with 
the  hair  of  the  throat  white  and  floating. 


REIT   BUCK. 


THE  DORCAS  GAZELLE — BLESBOK — KLEEN  BUCK. 


369 


THE   DORCAS   GAZELLE. 

The  Dorcas  Gazelle  is  two  feet 
five  inches  high,  with  a  very  slen- 
der body,  long  neck,  small  head 
and  pointed  ears.  The  horns  are 
nine  inches  long,  slender  and 
pointed.  The  hair  is  soft  and 
woolly,  the  general  color  whitish 
gray.  The  tail  is  about  five  inches 
long.  It  is  found  within  the  colony 
of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in 
small  troops,  amongst  hills  and 
rocks. 


THE  DORCAS  GAZELLE. 


THE    BLESBOK 


This  Antelope  is  about  twenty-two  inches  high  at  the  shoulder, 
with  curved  horns.  Its  fur  is  thick,  general  color  olivre.  It  is  com- 
mon north  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  inhabiting  the  plains  in  vast 
herds. 


THE  KLEEN  BUCK. 


This  is  a  timid,  delicate  Antelope,  living  in  pairs  among  the  rocks, 
near  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  It  is  difficult  to  take  or  shoot,  on 
account  of  its  extreme  shyness. 


370 


THE   COMMON   GOAT. 


OF  THE  GOAT  TEIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  horns  of  these  animals  are  hollow,  rough,  and  compressed :  they 
rise  somewhat  erect  from  the  top  of  the  head,  and  bend  backwards. 
In  the  lower  jaw  there  are  eight  front  teeth,  and  in  the  upper  jaw  none  ; 
and  no  canine-teeth  in  either.  The  chin  is  bearded. 

The  animals  of  the  Goat  kind  live  principally  in  retired  mountain- 
ous situations,  and  have  a  rank  and  unpleasant  smell,  especially  the 
males.  Although  very  shy  and  timid  in  a  wild  state,  they  are  easily 
rendered  domestic,  and  even  familiar.  They  differ  from  sheep  not 
only  in  the  erect  position  of  their  horns,  but  also  when  they  fight,  in 
rising  on  their  hind  legs,  and  turning  their  head  on  one  side  to  strike ; 
for  rams  run  full  tilt  at  each  other  with  their  heads  down. 


THE   COMMON   GOAT. 

The  Goat  is  a  lively, 
playful  animal,  and  easily 
familiarized;  being  sen- 
sible of  caresses,  and  ca- 
pable of  a  considerable 
degree  of  attachment. 
His  disposition,  however, 
is  extremely  inconstant, 
which  is  marked  by  the 
irregularity  of  all  its  ac- 
tions :  he  walks,  stops 
short,  runs,  leaps,  ap- 
proaches or  retires,  shows 
or  conceals  himself,  or 
flies  off,  as  if  actuated 
by  mere  caprice,  and 
without  any  other  cause  than  what  arises  from  the  eccentric  vivacity 
of  his  temper.  In  some  instances  these  animals,  from  their  extreme 
familiarity,  have  become  troublesome.  "In  the  year  1698,  (says  M. 
de  Buffon,)  an  English  vessel  having  put  into  the  harbor  of  the  island 
of  Bonavista,  two  negroes  went  on  board,  and  offered  the  captain  as 
many  Goats  as  he  chose  to  carry  away.  He  expressed  his  surprise  at 
this  offer ;  but  the  negroes  informed  him  that  there  were  only  twelve 
persons  on  the  island,  and  that  the  Goats  multiplied  so  fast  as  to 
become  exceedingly  troublesome;  for,  instead  of  being  difficult  to 
catch,  they  followed  the  people  about  like  domestic  animals,  with  an 
unpleasant  degree  of  obstinacy." 

Goats  love  to  feed  on  the  tops  of  hills,  and  prefer  the  very  elevated 
and  rugged  parts  of  mountains :  they  find  sufficient  nourishment  even 
in  the  most  heathy  and  barren  grounds.  These  animals  are  so  active 
that  they  are  able  to  leap  with  ease  and  the  utmost  security,  among 


THK  COMMON  GOAT. 


THE   IBEX. 


371 


the  most  dreadful  precipices :  and  even  when  two  of  them  are  yoked 
together,  they  will,  as  it  were  by  mutual  consent,  take  the  most  dan- 
gerous leaps,  and  exert  their  efforts  in  such  perfect  unison  as  generally 
to  accomplish  them  unhurt. 

In  mountainous  countries  they  render  considerable  service  to  man- 
kind :  the  flesh  of  the  old  ones  is  salted  as  winter  provision,  and  their 
milk  is  used  in  many  places  for  the  making  of  cheese.  The  flesh  of 
the  Kid  is  equal  in  flavor  to  the  most  delicate  lamb. 

M.  Sonnini,  in  his  edition  of  Buffon's  Natural  History,  has  given  us 
a  curious  instance  of  the  readiness  with  which  the  Goat  will  permit 
itself  to  be  sucked  by  animals  of  a  different  kind,  and  far  larger  size, 
than  itself.  He  assures  us  that  he  saw,  in  the  year  1780,  a  foal,  that 
had  lost  its  mother,  thus  nourished  by  a  Goat,  which  was  placed  on  a 
barrel,  in  order  that  the  foal  might  suck  with  greater  convenience. 
The  foal  followed  its  nurse  to  pasture,  as  it  would  have  done  its  parent, 
and  was  attended  with  the  greatest  care  by  the  Goat,  which  always 
called  it  back  by  her  bleatings,  when  it  wandered  to  any  distance  from 
her. 

Goats  are  exceedingly  numerous  in  South  Guinea ;  and  some  of  the 
negroes  there  have  a  singular  notion  that  their  strong  and  offensive 
smell  was  given  to  them,  as  a  punishment,  for  having  requested  of  a 
certain  female  deity,  that  they  might  be  allowed  to  anoint  themselves 
with  a  kind  of  aromatic  ointment  which  she  used  herself.  Offended  at 
the  request,  they  say,  she  took  a  box  containing  a  most  nauseous  com- 
pound, and  rubbed  their  bodies  with  it ;  and  that  this  had  so  powerful  an 
effect,  as  to  cause  the  unpleasant  smell  thence  produced  to  continue 
ever  afterwards. 


THE   IBEX. 

The  male  Ibex  is  larger 
than  the  tame  Goat,  but 
resembles  it  much  in  ap- 
pearance. The  head,  in 
proportion  to  the  body, 
is  small.  The  eyes  are 
large,  round,  and  bril- 
liant. The  horns  are 
large,  weighing  some- 
times sixteen  or  eighteen 
pounds,  and  measuring 
from  two  to  four  feet  in 
length  :  they  are  flattened 
before,  round  behind,  and 
divided  by  several  trans- 
verse ridges;  are  bent 
backward,  and  of  a  dusky 
brown  color.  The  beard 
is  long,  the  legs  are  sleu- 
24 


372 


THE   IBEX. 


HUNTING   THE  IBEX. 


der,  and  the  body  is  short,  thick,  and  strong.  The  tail  is  short,  and 
naked  beneath.  The  hair  is  long,  and  of  a  brownish  or  ash-color, 
with  a  streak  of  black  running  along  the  back.  The  belly  and  thighs 
are  of  a  delicate  fawn-color. — The  female  is  about  a  third  less  than  the 
male,  and  not  so  corpulent.  Her  color  is  less  tawny,  and  her  horns 
not  above  eight  inches  long. 

These  animals  assemble  in  flocks,  consisting  of  sometimes  ten  or 
fifteen,  but  generally  of  smaller  numbers.  They  feed  during  the  night 
in  the  highest  woods ;  but  at  sun -rise  they  quit  the  woods,  and  ascend 
the  mountains,  feeding  in  their  progress,  till  they  have  reached  the 
most  considerable  heights.  They  are  generally  seen  on  the  sides  of 
the  mountains  which  face  the  east  or  south,  and  they  lie  down  in  the 
highest  places  and  hottest  exposures ;  but  when  the  sun  is  declining, 
they  again  begin  to  feed  and  to  descend  towards  the  woods  ;  whither 
they  also  retire  when  it  is  likely  to  snow,  and  where  they  always  pass 
the  winter. 

The  males  that  are  six  years  old  and  upwards,  hunt  more  elevated 
places  than  the  females  and  younger  animals ;  and,  as  they  advance  in 
age,  they  become  more  inclined  to  solitude.  They  also  become  gradu- 
ally hardened  against  the  effects  of  extreme  cold,  and  frequently  live 
entirely  alone. 

The  season  for  hunting  the  Ibex  is  during  the  months  of  August 
and  September,  when  they  are  usually  in  good  condition.  None  but 
the  inhabitants  of  the  mountains  engage  in  this  chase ;  for  it  not  only 
requires  a  head  that  can  bear  to  look  down  from  the  most  tremendous 
heights  without  terror,  but  address,  and  surefootedness  in  the  most 
difficult  and  dangerous  passes,  and  also  much  strength,  vigor,  and  ac- 
tivity. Two  or  three  hunters  usually  associate  in  the  perilous  occupa- 
tion :  they  are  armed  with  rifled-barrelled  guns,  and  furnished  with 
small  bags  of  provisions ;  they  erect  a  miserable  hut  of  turf  among  the 


THE   IBEX. 


373 


heights,  where,  without  fire  or  covering,  they  pass  the  night ;  and,  on 
waking  in  the  morning,  they  not  mifrequently  find  the  entrance 
blocked  up  with  snow 
three  or  four  feet  deep. 

Sometimes,  in  pursuit 

of  this  animal,  being 
overtaken  by  darkness, 
amid  crags  and  preci- 
pices, they  are  obliged 
to  pass  the  whole  night 
standing,  and  embraced 
together,  in  order  to 
support  each  other,  and 
to  prevent  themselves 
from  sleeping. 

As  the  animals  as- 
cend into  the  highest 
regions  very  early  in 
the  morning,  it  is  ne- 
cessary to  gain  the 
heights  before  them, 
otherwise  they  scant 
the  hunters,  and  be- 
take themselves  to 
flight.  It  would  then 
be  in  vain  to  follow 
them ;  for,  when  once 
they  begin  to  escape, 
they  never  stop  till 
they  are  entirely  out 
of  danger,  and  they  will  even  sometimes  run  for  ten  or  twelve  leagues 
before  they  rest. 

Being  very  strong,  when  they  are  close  pressed  they  not  unfre- 
qnently  turn  upon  the  incautious  huntsman,  and  tumble  him  down 
the  precipice,  unless  he  has  time  to.  throw  himself  upon  the  ground, 
and  let  the  animal  pass  over  him.  It  is  said  also,  that  when  they 
cannot  otherwise  avoid  the  hunter,  these  animals  will  cast  themselves 
down  the  steepest  precipices,  and  fall  on  their  horns  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  escape  unhurt.  It  is  even  pretended,  that,  to  get  out  of  the 
reach  of  huntsmen,  they  will  hang  by  their  horns  over  the  precipices, 
on  some  projecting  tree,  and  remain  suspended  till  the  danger  is 
over. 

The  Ibex  can  mount  a  perpendicular  rock  fifteen  feet  high,  at  three 
leaps,  or  rather  at  three  successive  bounds  of  five  feet  each.  It  does 
not  seem  as  if  he  found  any  footing  on  the  rock :  he  appears  to  touch 
it  merely  to  be  repelled,  like  an  elastic  substance  striking  against  a 
hard  body.  He  is  not  supposed  to  take  more  than  three  successive 
leaps  in  this  manner.  If  he  be  between  two  rocks  which  are  near 
each  other,  and  he  want  to  reach  the  top,  he  leaps  alternately  from 
the  side  of  one  rock  to  that  of  the  other  till  he  has  attained  the  sum- 


IBEX  HUNTERS  IN  TROUBLE. 


374 


THE   SYRIAN   GOAT. 


mit.  The  fore-legs  being  considerably  shorter  than  the  hinder  ones, 
enable  these  animals  to  ascend  with  much  more  ease  than  to  descend ; 
and  on  this  account  it  is  that  nothing  but  the  severest  weather  will 
induce  them  to  go  down  into  the  valleys. 

Their  voice  is  a  short,  sharp  whistle,  not  much  unlike  that  of  the 
Chamois :  sometimes  they  make  a  kind  of  snort,  by  breathing  hard 
through  their  nostrils,  and  when  young  they  bleat. 

The  female  exhibits  the  greatest  tenderness  and  attachment  for  her 
offspring,  and  will  defend  it  even  against  the  attacks  of  Wolves  and 
Eagles. 


THE   SYRIAN   GOAT. 


The  Syrian  Goat  is  distinguished  by  long,  silky  hair,  and  very  long 
pendent  ears     It  is  found  in  Syria  and  Asia  Minor. 


THE    COMMON    SHEEP. 


OF  SHEEP  IN  GENERAL. 


375 


THE  horns  of  Sheep  are  hollow,  wrinkled,  and  perennial ;  bent 
backward  and  outward  into  a  circular  or  spiral  form,  generally  at  the 
sides  of  the  head.  The  lower 
jaw  has  eight  front-teeth : 
there  are  no  teeth  in  the 
upper  jaw,  nor  any  canine 
teeth  in  either. 

Few  animals  render  greater 
or  more  essential  services  to 
mankind  than  the  Sheep. 
They  supply  us  with  both 
food  and  clothing;  and  the 
wool  alone  of  the  common 
Sheep  affords,  in  some  coun- 
tries, an  astonishing  source 
of  industry  and  wealth.  These 
are  all  harmless  animals,  and, 
in  general,  exceedingly  shy 
and  timid.  Both  in  running  and  leaping  they  exhibit  much  less 
activity  than  the  goats.  They  collect,  in  a  wild  state,  into  small 
flocks;  and,  though  they  do  not  altogether  avoid  the  mountains,  they 
generally  prefer  dry  and  open  plains.  They  fight  by  butting  against 
each  other  with  their  horns,  and  threaten  by  stamping  on  the  ground 
with  their  feet.  Their  period  of  gestation  is  about  five  months,  and 
the  females  usually  produce  one,  sometimes  two,  and  rarely  three 
young-ones  at  a  birth. 

There  are,  strictly  speaking,  only  two  different  species  of  Sheep : 
but  of  the  common  Sheep  there  are  no  fewer  than  ten  or  twelve  very 
distinct  varieties. 


THE   COMMON   SHEEP. 

Sheep  are  highly  useful  animals.  When  enslaved  by  man,  they 
tremble  at  the  voice  of  the  shepherd  or  his  Dog ;  but,  on  the  extensive 
mountains  where  they  range  almost  without  control,  and  where  they 
seldom  depend  on  the  aid  of  the  shepherd,  they  assume  a  very  differ- 
ent mode  of  conduct.  In  these  situations  a  Earn  or  a  Wedder  will 
boldly  attack  a  single  Dog,  and  often  come  off  victorious ;  but,  when 
the  danger  is  more  alarming,  they  have  recourse  to  the  collected 
strength  of  the  whole  flock.  On  such  occasions  they  draw  up  into  a 
body,  and  place  the  females  and  young-ones  in  the  centre,  whilst  the 
males  take  the  foremost  ranks,  keeping  close  by  each  other.  Thus 
an  armed  front  is  presented  on  all  quarters,  that  cannot  easily  be 
attacked  without  danger  of  destruction  to  the  assailant.  In  this  man- 
ner they  wait  with  firmness  the  approach  of  the  enemy ;  nor  does 
their  courage  fail  them  in  the  moment  of  attack;  for,  when  the 


376 


THE   COMMON    SHEEP. 


aggressor  advances  within  a  few  yards  of  the  line,  the  Earns  dart  upon 

him    with    such    im- 


petuosity as  to  lay  him 
dead  at  their  feet. 


THE   COMMON  SHEEP. 


feet,  un- 
less he  save  himself 
by  timely  flight. 
Against  the  attacks 
of  single  Dogs,  o  r 
Foxes,  when  in  this 
jj  situation,  they  are  per- 
f  fectly  secure.  A  sin- 
gle Earn,  regardless 
of  danger,  will  some- 
times engage  a  Bull; 
and,  his  forehead  be- 
ing much  harder  than 
that  of  any  other  ani- 
mal, he  seldorn  fails  to 
conquer ;  for  the  Bull,  by  lowering  his  head,  receives  the  stroke  of 
the  Earn  between  his  eyes,  which  usually  brings  him  to  the  ground. 

The  Sheep,  in  the  mountainous  parts  of  Wales,  where  the  liberty 
they  enjoy  is  so  great  as  to  render  them  very  wild,  do  not  always 
collect  into  large  flocks,  but  sometimes  graze  in  parties  of  from  eight 
to  a  dozen,  of  which  one  is  stationed  at  a  distance  from  the  rest,  to 
give  notice  of  the  approach  of  danger.  When  the  sentinel  observes 
any  one  advancing,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  he 
turns  his  face  to  the  enemy,  keeping  a  watchful  eye  upon  his  motion s, 
and  allowing  him  to  approach  as  near  as  eighty  or  a  hundred  yards  ; 
but,  when  the  suspected  foe  manifests  a  design  of  coming  nearer,  the 
watchful  guard  alarms  his  comrades  by  a  loud  hiss  or  whistle,  twice 
or  thrice  repeated,  when  the  whole  party  instantly  scour  away  with 
great  agility,  always  seeking  the  steepest  and  most  inaccessible  parts 
of  the  mountains. 

It  is  very  singular  that  in  the  Holms  round  Kirkwall,  in  the  island 
of  Mainland,  one  of  the  Orkneys,  if  a  person  about  the  lambing-time 
enters  with  a  Dog,  the  Ewes  suddenly  take  fright,  and  through  the 
influence  of  fear,  as  it  ig  imagined,  they  instantly  drop  down  dead,  as 
though  their  brain  had  been  pierced  with  a  musket-ball. 

'No  country  produces  finer  Sheep  than  Great  Britain  ;  and  their 
fleeces  are  large,  and  well  adapted  to  the  various  purposes  pf  clothing. 
Of  these,  the  Sheep  that  are  bred  in  Lincolnshire  and  the  northern 
counties  are  most  remarkable  for  their  size,  and  for  the  quantity  of 
wool  which  they  bear.  In  other  parts  of  England  they  are  generally 
smaller;  and  in  the  mountainos  districts  of  Wales  and  Scotland 
they  are  very  small. 

Besides  the  fleece,  there  is  scarcely  any  part  of  this  animal  but 
what  is  useful  to  mankind.  The  flesh  is  a  delicate  and  wholesome 
food.  The  skin,  dressed,  forms  different  parts  of  our  apparel ;  and  is 
used  for  the  covers  of  books.  The  entrails,  properly  prepared  and 
twisted,  serve  for  strings  to  various  kinds  of  musical  instruments. 


THE    COMMON    SHEEP. 


377 


The  bones,  calcined,  form  materials  for  tests  for  the  refiner.  The 
milk  is  thicker  than  that  of  Cows,  and  consequently  yields  a  greater 
quantity  of  but- 
ter and 
and  in 


SHEEP  AND   LAMB. 


cheese , 
some 

places  is  so  rich, 
as  not  to  produce 
the  cheese  with- 
out a  mixture  of 
water  to  make  it 
part  from  the 
whey. 

There  are  in 
the  voices  of  all 
animals  innu- 
merable tones, 
perfectly  under- 
stood by  each 
other,  and  en- 
tirely beyond  our 
powers  of  dis- 
crimination. It  should  seem  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  Ewe  can 
always  distinguish  her  own  Lamb,  and  the  Lamb  its  mother,  even  in 
the  largest  flocks.  And  at  the  time  of  shearing,  when  the  Ewes  are 
shut  up  in  a  pen  from  the  Lambs,  and  turned  loose  one  by  one  as  they 
are  shorn,  it  is  pleasing  to  see  the  meeting  between  each  mother  and 
her  young-one.  The  Ewe  immediately  bleats  to  call  her  Lamb,  which 
instantly  obeys  the  well-known  voice,  and,  returning  the  bleat,  comes 
skipping  to  her.  At  first  it  is  startled  by  her  new  appearance,  and 
approaches  her  with  some  degree  of  fear,  till  it  has  corrected  the  sense 
of  sight  by  those  of  smelling  and  hearing. 

Various  sorts  of  insects  infest  the  Sheep,  but  that  which  is  the  most 
teasing  to  them  is  a  species  of  gadfly,  (the  oestrus  ovis  of  Linnaeus.) 
that  deposits  its  eggs  on  the  inner  margins  of  their  nostrils,  occasion- 
ing them  to  shake  their  heads  violently,  and  thrust  their  noses  into 
the  dust  or  gravel.  The  larvae,  or  grubs  of  these  insects,  when  hatched, 
crawl  up  into  the  frontal  sin- 
uses, and,  after  they  are  full 
fed  and  ready  to  undergo  their 
change,  they  are  again  dis- 
charged through  the  nostrils. 
The  French  Shepherds  have 
a  practice  of  relieving  the 
Sheep  by  trepanning  them, 
and  taking  out  the  maggot : 
this  is  sometimes  practised  in 
England,  but  not  always  with 
success.  Sheep  have,  besides 

,.  ,.         T  n      ,•-,/•  THE   SHEEP. 

this,  a   kind   ot   tick   (acarus 

redvvius]  amongst  their  wool,  and  are  subject  to  a  species  of  fluke- 


37S  THE   ICELANDIC    SHEEP — BR(?AD-TAILED   SHEEP. 

worms  (fasciola  Tiepaticd)  in  the  liver.  An  excellent  variety  of  the 
common  sheep,  the  Merino,  was  introduced  into  the  United  States 
from  Spain  about  40  years  ago,  and  is  now  generally  diffused  over  the 
northern  and  middle  states. 


THE  ICELANDIC  SHEEP. 

The  Icelandic  or  many -horned  Sheep  differ  from  ours  in  several 
particulars.  They  have  straight,  upright  ears,  a  small  tail,  and  some- 
times four  or  five  horns. 

In  a  few  instances  these  animals  are  kept  in  stables  during  winter ; 
but  by  far  the  greatest  number  of  them  are  left  to  seek  their  own  food 
_,__^_  in  the  open  plains.     In  stormy  Wea- 

ther they  hide  themselves  in  caves 
from  the  fury  of  the  elements ;  but 
when  retreats  of  this  kind  are  not  to 
be  found,  they  collect  together  during 
the  heavy  falls  of  snow,  and  place 
their  heads  near  each  other,  with  their 
muzzles  downward  towards  the 
ground.  This  not  only  prevents  their 

_     _  _  _ being  so  easily  buried  under  the  snow 

ICELANDIC  SHEEP  ATTACKED  EVOLVES,        as  they  otherwise   would  be,  but,  in 

many  cases  enables  their  owner  to  dis- 
cover them.  In  such  situations  they  will  sometimes  remain  for 
several  days ;  and  there  have  been  many  instances  of  hunger  forcing 
them  to  gnaw  each  other's  wool.  After  the  storm  has  ceased,  they 
are  sought  for  and  disengaged. 

A  good  Icelandic  Sheep  will  yield  from  two  to  six  quarts  of  milk 
a  day  ;  and  of  this  the  inhabitants  make  butter  and  cheese.  But  the 
chief  profit  is  derived  from  their  wool,  which  is  not  shorn,  but  re- 
mains on  till  the  end  of  May,  when  it  loosens  of  itself,  and  is  stripped 
off  at  once,  like  a  skin.  The  whole  body  is  by  this  time  covered  again 
with  new  wool,  which  is  short  and  extremely  fine.  It  continues  to 
grow  during  the  summer,  and  becomes  towards  autumn  of  a  coarser 
texture,  is  very  shaggy,  and  somewhat  resembles  camel's  hair.  This 
covering  enables  the  Sheep  to  support  the  rigors  of  winter ;  but  if, 
after  they  have  lost  their  fleece,  the  spring  prove  wet,  the  inhabitants 
sew  a  piece  of  coarse  cloth  round  the  stomachs  of  the  weakest,  to 
guard  them  against  its  ill  effects. 


THE  BROAD-TAILED  SHEEP. 

In  their  general  appearance,  with  the  exception  of  the  tail,  these 
animals  do  not  much  differ  from  the  European  Sheep.  The  tail,  how- 
ever, is  so  large,  as  sometimes  to  weigh  nearly  one-third  of  the  whole 
carcass.  It  is  entirely  composed  of  a  substance  between  marrow  and 
fat,  which  serves  for  culinary  purposes  instead  of  butter ;  and,  being 


THE    ARGALI. 


379 


cut  into  small  pieces,  makes  an  ingredient  in  various  dishes.      When 
the  animal  is  young,  this  is  a  little  inferior  to  the  best  marrow. 

Sheep  of  this  description  are  usually 
kept  in  yards,  so  as  to  be  in  little 
danger  of  injuring  their  tails  as  they 
walk  about ;  but  when  they  run  in  the 
fields,  the  shepherds,  in  several  parts 
of  Syria,  fix  a  thin  piece  of  board  on 
the  under  part,  and  to  this  board 
are  sometimes  added  small  wheels : 
whence,  with  a  little  exaggeration,  we 
have  the  story  of  the  Oriental  Sheep 
having  carts  to  carry  their  tails. 

Their  fleeces  are  exceedingly  fine,  long,  and  beautiful ;  and,  in 
Thibet  are  worked  into  shawls,  which  form  a  considerable  source  of 
wealth  to  the  inhabitants.  These  Sheep  are  found  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Aleppo ;  in  Barbary,  Ethiopia,  and  some  others  of  the  eastern 
countries. 


THE  BROAD-TAILED  SHEEP. 


THE   ARGALI. 

The  Argali,  or  wild  Sheep,  have  large  horns,  arched  semicircularly 
backward,  and  diver- 
gent at  their  tips ;  wrin- 
kled on  their  upper  sur- 
face, and  flatted  be- 
neath. On  the  neck 
are  two  pendent  hairy 
dew-laps.  This  Sheep 
is  about  the  size  of  a 
small  deer,  and  in  sum- 
mer is  of  a  brownish- 
ash  color,  mixed  with 
grey  on  the  upper  parts, 
and  whitish  beneath. 
In  winter  the  former 
changes  to  a  rusty,  and 
the  latter  to  a  whitish  Jjjf\ 
gray;  and  the  hair  be- 1|| 
comes  considerably  B" 
longer.  The  horns  of 
some  of  the  old  Earns 
are  said  to  be  of  such 
an  enormous  size,  as  to 
weigh  fifteen  or  sixteen 


THE   ARGALI. 


pounds  each. 

The  Argali  abound  in  Kamtschatka,  where  they  supply  the  inhabi- 
tants both  with  food  and  clothing.  Their  flesh,  and  particularly  their 
fat,  are  esteemed  by  the  Kamtschadales  as  diet  fit  for  the  gods;  and 


380 


THE    ROCKY   MOUNTAIN    SHEEP. 


HUNTING   THE   AHGALI. 


there  is  no  labor  which  this  people  will  not  undergo  in  the  chase  of 
these  animals.  Whole  families  abandon  their  habitations  in  the  spring 
of  the  year,  and  occupy  the  entire  summer  in  this  employment,  amidst 
the  steepest  and  most  rocky  mountains,  fearless  of  the  dreadful  preci- 
pices which  often  overwhelm  the  eager  sportsmen. 

These  animals  are  shot  with. guns  or  with  arrows;  sometimes  with 
cross-bows  placed  in  their  paths.  They  are  sometimes  chased  by  dogs, 
but  their  fleetness  leaves  these  far  in  the  rear.  The  purpose,  however, 
is  answered :  they  are  driven  to  the  heights,  where  they  often  stand 
and  view,  as  it  were  with  contempt,  the  dogs  below :  while  their  atten- 
tion is  thus  occupied,  the  hunter  creeps  cautiously  within  reach,  and 
brings  them  down  with  his  gun. 

In  some  of  the  other  northern  countries  a  great  multitude  of  horses 
and  dogs  are  collected  together,  and  a  sudden  attempt  is  made  to  sur- 
round them.  But  great  caution  is  requisite ;  for,  if  the  animals,  either 
by  sight  or  smell,  perceive  the  approach  of  their  enemies,  they  instantly 
escape,  and  secure  themselves  among  the  lofty  and  inaccessible  sum- 
mits of  the  mountains. 

Besides  Kamtschatka,  the  Argali  are  found  in  all  the  alpine  regions 
of  the  centre  of  Asia;  and  on  the  highest  mountains  of  Barbary, 
Corsica  and  Greece. 


THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  SHEEP. 


This  animal,  called  also,  the  American  Argali  and  the  Big  Horn,  is 
found  among  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  North  America.  They  are  not 
larger  than  a  common  Sheep.  Their  color  is  a  light  fawn,  wool  thick, 
and  their  horns  enormous,  so  that  when  hard  pressed  by  the  hunter,  or 
even  when  sporting  alone,  they  do  not  hesitate  to  drop  from  a  preci- 


WALLACHIAN    SHEEP. 


381 


ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  BHEEP  DEVOURED  BT  EAGLES  AXD  WOLVES. 

pice,  and  falling  head  foremost,  they  alight  on  their  horns,  and  instantly 
recover  their  footing  without  injury.  They  are  exceedingly  shy,  and 
almost  unapproachable  by  any  but  the  most  skilful  hunter. 


WALLACHIAN  SHEEP. 

This  animal  is  thus  referred  to  in  the  Penny  Magazine : — 
"A  few  years  since,  a  splendid  Ram  which  came  from  Mount  Parnas- 
sus was  presented  by  Dr.  Bowring  to  the  Zoological  Society.  Like  its* 
relatives  peculiar  to  our  parts  of  Europe,  it 
was  very  stupid,  but  at  the  same  time  vicious 
and  unruly,  and  of  amazing  strength.  Its 
horns  were  very  large,  spirally  contorted, 
adding  greatly  to  its  striking  and  picturesque 
appearance.  Its  wool,  if  wool  it  could  be 
called,  differed  materially  in  quality  and  tex- 
ture from  that  of  our  breeds.  Instead  of 
being  curly  and  matted,  or  felted  into  a  mass, 
it  was  of  great  length,  perfectly  straight, 
close  set,  and  beautifully  fine,  falling  from  the 
middle  of  the  back  on  either  side  of  the  ani- 
mal almost  to  the  ground.  On  the  face  the  hair  was  short  and  of 


THE  WALLACIIIAN  SHEEP. 


382 


OXEN   IN   GENERAL. 


rusty  black,  on  the  body  it  was  white.  To  this  description  it  may  be 
added,  that  the  horns  of  the  male  mostly  rise  almost  perpendicularly 
from  the  skull,  making  a  series  of  spiral  turns  in  their  ascent,  the  first 
turn  being  the  largest,  while  in  the  female  they  diverge,  taking  a  lateral 
direction.  In  the  specimen,  however,  to  which  we  have  alluded,  and 
which  was  a  male,  they  extended  laterally  from  the  skull,  and  after  the 
first  turn  took  a  downward  sweep.  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that  as 
far  as  this  point  is  concerned,  there  is  a  certain  degree  of  individual 
variation  among  the  breed,  as  indeed  might  be  expected,  seeing  as 
we  do  how  unfixed  are  all  the  external  characters  of  our  well-known 
domestic  races,  and  how  soon  they  are  capable  of  being  modified." 


OF  OXEN  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  the  Oxen  the  horns  are  concave,  smooth,  and  turned  outward, 
and  forward,  in  a  semilunar  form.  In  the  lower  jaw  there  are  eight 
front  teeth ;  there  are  none  in  the  upper,  and  no  tusks  in  either  jaw. 

The  animals  of  this  tribe  are  seldom  found  except  in  low  and  rich 
pastures  and  plains,  or  in  swamps  and  morassy  grounds.  In  size  and 
bulk  they  exceed  all  the  British  quadrupeds  except  the  horse.  Their 
services  to  mankind  are  more  considerable  than  those  even  of  the 
Sheep ;  for,  in  addition  to  the  qualifications  of  the  latter,  they  are  em- 
ployed as  beasts  of  draught  and  burden.  Their  voice  is  called  lowing 
and  bellowing.  They  fight  by  pushing  with  their  horns,  and  kicking 
with  their  feet. 

There  are  about  nine  species ;  but  many  of  these  are  so  nearly  con- 
nected, as  to  render  it  difficult  for  the  naturalist  to  assign  a  proper 
distinction  between  them. 


THE  COMMON  OX. 


383 


THE  COMMON  OX. 

The  color  of  this  animal  is  invariably  white ;  the  muzzle  is  black ; 
and  the  whole  inside  of  the  ear,  and  about  one- third  part  of  the  out- 
side, from  the  tip 
downwards, 
The  horns 


red. 
are 

white,  with  black 
tips,  very  fine,  j 
and   bent  down-j 
wards.      The| 
weight  of  the  |jj 
Bulls    is     fromg 
thirty -five  to  for-  " 
ty-five  stone,  and 
of  the  cows,  from 
t  w  e  n  t  y-five    to 
thirty-five,  14/6. 
to  the  stone. 

From  this  ani- 
mal are  derived 
the  numerous  va- 
rieties of  cattle  in 
various  parts 
both  of  the  old 
and  the  new  con- 
tinent. In  its 
wild  state  it  is 
distinguished  by 

its  great  size,  and  the  shagginess  of  its  hair,  which,  about  the  head, 
neck,  and  shoulders,  is  sometimes  so  long  as  to  reach  almost  to  the 
ground.  The  horns  of  the  wild  Ox  are  short,  sharp-pointed,  strong, 
and  stand  distant  from  their  bases.  The  general  color  of  its  body  is 
either  a  dark  or  a  yellowish  brown.  The  limbs  are  strong,  and  the 
whole  aspect  savage  and  gloomy.  Wild  Oxen  are  found  in  the 
marshy  forests  of  Poland,  among  the  Carpathian  Mountains,  in  Lithu- 
ania, and  also  in  several  parts  of  Asia. 

In  Lord  Tankerville's  park,  at  Chillingham,  near  Berwick-upon- 
Tweed,  there  is  a  breed  of  wild  cattle,  probably  the  only  remains  of 
the  true  and  genuine  breed  of  that  species  at  present  found  in  this 
kingdom. 

At  the  first  appearance  of  any  person  near  them,  these  animals  set  off 
in  full  gallop,  and,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred  yards, 
wheel  round  and  come  boldly  up  again,  tossing  their  heads  in  a  me- 
nacing manner.  On  a  sudden  they  make  a  full  stop  at  the  distance  of 
forty  or  fifty  yards,  and  look  wildly  at  the  object  of  their  surprise ;  but, 
on  the  least  motion  they  all  turn  round,  and  gallop  off  again  with 
equal  speed,  but  not  to  the  same  distance,  forming  a  smaller  circle ;  and 
again  returning  with  a  bolder  and  more  threatening  aspect  than  before, 


THE   COMMON  OX. 


384 


THE   COMMON    OX, 


DUNTIXG  WILD  CATTLE. 


they  approach  much  nearer,  probably  within  thirty  yards,  when  they 
make  another  stand,  and  again  gallop  off.  This  they  do  several  times, 
shortening  their  distance,  and  advancing  nearer  till  they  come  within 
a  few  yards,  when  most  persons  consider  it  prudent  to  leave  them,  not 
choosing  to  provoke  them  further,  as  it  is  probable  that,  in  a  few 
turns  more,  they  would  make  an  attack. 

The  mode  of  killing  these  animals,  as  it  was  practised  a  few  years 
ago,  was  the  only  remains  of  the  grandeur  of  ancient  hunting  that  ex- 
isted in  England.  On  notice  being  given  that  a  wild  Bull  would 
be  killed  on  a  certain  day,  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood  assem- 
bled, sometimes  to  the  number  of  a  hundred  horsemen,  and  four  or 
five  hundred  foot,  all  armed  with  guns  or  other  weapons.  Those  on 
foot  stood  upon  the  walls,  or  got  into  trees,  while  the  horsemen  rode 
off  a  Bull  from  the  rest  of  the  herd,  until  he  stood  at  bay,  when  they 
dismounted  and  fired.  At  some  of  these  huntings  twenty  or  thirty 
shots  have  been  fired  before  the  animal  was  subdued.  On  such  occa- 
sions the  bleeding  victim  grew  desperately  furious,  from  the  smarting 
of  his  wounds,  and  the  shouts  of  savage  joy  echoing  from  every  side. 
But  from  the  number  of  accidents  which  happened,  this  dangerous 


THE    COMMON   OX.  385 

mode  has  not  of  late  been  practised ;  the  park-keeper  now  generally 
kills  them  with  a  rifle-gun. 

When  the  Cows  calve,  they  hide  their  young-ones  for  a  week  or  ten 
days  in  some  sequestered  retreat,  and  go  to  suckle  them  two  or  three 
times  in  a  day.  If  any  person  comes  near  one  of  the  Calves,  it 
crouches  close  upon  the  ground,  and  endeavors  to  hide  itself.  This 
seems  a  proof  of  the  native  wilclness  of  these  animals,  and  it  is  corrobo- 
rated by  the  following  circumstance  that  happened  to  Dr.  Fuller,  the 
author  of  the  History  of  Berwick,  who  found  a  hidden  Calf  two  days 
old,  very  lean  and  weak.  On  his  stroking  its  head  it  got  up,  pawed 
two  or  three  times  like  an  old  Bull,  bellowed  very  loud,  went  back  a 
few  steps,  and  bolted  at  his  legs  with  all  its  force :  it  then  began  to 
paw  again,  bellowed,  stepped  back,  and  bolted  as  before.  But  being 
aware  of  its  intentions,  he  moved  aside,  and  it  missed  its  aim,  fell,  and 
was  so  weak,  that  though  it  made  several  efforts  it  was  not  able  to 
rise.  It,  however,  had  done  enough ;  the  whole  herd  was  alarmed, 
and,  coming  to  its  rescue,  obliged  him  to  retire. 

When  any  one  of  these  animals  happens  to  be  wounded,  or  is  grown 
weak  and  feeble  through  age  or  sickness,  the  rest  of  the  herd  set 
upon  and  gore  it  to  death. 

There  is  scarcely  any  part  of  the  Ox  that  is  not  of  some  use  to 
mankind.  Boxes,  combs,  knife-handles,  and  drinking  vessels,  are 
made  of  the  horns.  The  horns,  when  softened  with  boiling  water,  be- 
come so  pliable  as  to  be  rendered  capable  of  being  formed  into  trans- 
parent plates  for  lanterns ;  an  invention  ascribed  to  King  Alfred,  who 
is  said  to  have  first  used  lanterns  of  this  description,  to  preserve  his 
candle  time-measurers  from  the  wind.  Glue  is  made  of  the  cartilages, 
gristles,  and  the 
finer  pieces  of  cut- 
tings and  pairings 
of  the  hides,  boiled 
in  water  till  they 
become  gelatinous 
and  then  dried. 
The  bones  of  Oxen 
constitute  a  cheap  ^ 
substitute  for 
ivory.  The  thin- 
nest part  of  the 
calves-skins  are 
manafactured  into 
vellum.  The  blood 
is  used  as  the  basis 
o  f  Prussian-blue. 
The  hair  is  valu- 
able in  various 

n  -I  OXEN   0*    1UK 

manufactures,  and 

the  suet,  fat,  and  tallow,  are  made  into  Candles.     The  utility  of  the 

milk  and  cream  is  well  known. 

From  the  circumstance  of   these  animals  furnishing  the  Gentoos 


386 


THE    COMMON   OX. 


SPANISH    BULL   FIGHT. 


with  milk,  butter,  and  cheese,  their  favorite  food,  that  people  enter- 
tain for  them  a  superstitious  veneration.  There  is  scarcely  a  Gentoo 
to  be  found  who  would  not,  were  he  under  a  forced  option,  prefer 
sacrificing  his  parents  or  children  to  the  slaying  of  a  Bull  or  a  Cow. 
Believing  in  the  doctrine  of  transmigration,  they  are  also  alarmed  at 
the  idea  of  injuring  the  souls  of  those  of  their  fellow-creatures  that 
have  taken  their  abode  in  these  animal  cases.  This  also  tends  to  re- 


SPANISH  BULL  FIGHT. 


strain  them  from  destroying,  designedly,  any  of  the  brute  creation, 
and  to  prevent  them  from  dispossessing  any  being  of  that  life  which 
God  alone  can  give;  and  they  respect  it  in  the  flea  equally  with  the  ele- 
phant. 


THE   ARNEE. 


•  387 


I  cannot  conclude  the  present  article  without  a  remark  on  the  bar- 
barous mode  of  slaughtering  Oxen  adopted  in  England.  Drawn 
with  his  horns  to  a  ring,  this  wretched  animal  has  his  head  sometimes 
shattered  to  pieces  by  the  butcher's  axe  before  he  falls.  Three  or  four 
blows  are  often  insufficient  to  deprive  him  of  sensation,  and  it  not 
un  frequently  happens,  that  after  the  first  or  second  blow  he  breaks 
loose  from  his  murderers,  and  has  to  be  seized  and  tied  up  afresh. 
Those  who  have  heard  his  groans  and  bellowings  on  these  occasions, 
will  easily  be  convinced  of  the  agony  he  undergoes.  The  Portuguese 
slay  their  Oxen  by  passing  a  sharp  knife  through  the  vertebrae  of  the 
neck  into  the  spine,  which  causes  instant  death.  Lord  Somerville 
took  with  him  to  Lisbon  a  person  to  be  instructed  in  this  method  of 
"  laying  down  cattle,"  as  it  is  termed  there  :  this  he  did  in  the  hope 
that  the  slaughtermen  might  be  induced  to  adopt  the  same  mode ; 
but,  with  unheard-of  stupidity  and  prejudice,  they  have  hitherto  re- 
fused to  adopt  it ;  nor  will  they  probably  ever  do  it,  unless  compelled 
by  an  act  of  the  legislature.  The  Spaniards  at  home,  and  in  their 
colonies,  still  keep  up  their  barbarous  custom  of  bull-fights. 


THE  AKNEE. 

The  horns  of  the  Arnee  are  long,  erect,  and  semilunar,  flattened  and 
annularly  wrinkled,  with  smooth,  round  approaching  points.  A 
British  officer,  who 
found  one  of  these 
animals  in  the  woods 
in  the  country  above 
Bengal,  says,  that  its 
form  seemed  to  par- 
take of  those  of  a 
Horse,  Bull,  and 
Deer ;  and  that  it 
was  a  very  bold  and 
daring  animal. 

This  is  by  far  the 
largest  animal  of  the 
cattle  tribe  that  has 
hitherto  been  dis- 
covered, its  usual 


THE  ARNEE. 


height    being    from 

twelve  to  fifteen  feet.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  various  parts  of  India 
north  of  Bengal,  and  is  -very  seldom  seen  within  the  European  settle- 
ments. 

A  herd  of  Arnees  was,  not  many  years  ago,  observed  by  a  body  of 
British  troops,  in  one  of  the  inland  provinces  of  Hindostan,  and  they 
excited  no  small  alarm  in  the  whole  corps.  The  herd  no  sooner  per- 
ceived the  men,  advancing  than  they  lifted  up  their  heads,  ran  off  to 
a  small  distance,  then  wheeled  about,  seemingly  to  reconnoitre ;  and 
advancing  in  a  body  as  if  to  attack,  had  such  a  formidable  and  warlike' 
25 


388 


THE   ARNEE. 


EUSTING  THE  ARNEE. 


appearance  and  withal  of  a  kind  so  entirely  new,  that  no  person 
present  could  form  an  idea  what  it  might  mean.  Their  horns,  each  at 
least  two  feet  long,  rose  to  a  great  height  in  the  air,  and  did  not  permit 
the  troops  to  see  distinctly  whether  men  were  mounted  on  the 
animals  or  not ;  but  in  a  short  time  they  galloped  off  and  disappeared. 
In  the  year  1790  or  1791,  the  crew  of  the  Plawkesbury  East  Indiaman, 
whilst  she  was  going  up  the  river  Ganges,  and  at  the  distance  of  about 
fifty  miles  below  Calcutta,  observed  one  of  these  animals  floating  in  the 
river,  still  alive.  A  boat  was  immediately  hoisted  out,  in  order  to 

chase  it.  A  noose  was  soon 
thrown  across  its  horns;  and 
the  Arnee  was  dragged  to  the 
ship's  side,  hoisted  on  deck, 
killed,  cut  up,  and  afterwards 
cooked  for  the  use  of  the  ship's 
company,  who  found  its  flesh 
to  be  a  most  delicate  food.  The 
animal  was  as  big  as  an  im- 
mensely large  ox,  though  it  was 
believed,  from  its  appearance, 
to  have  been  not  more  than  two 
years  old.  When  cut  up,  it 
was  found  to  weigh  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  pounds  per  quar- 
ter, making  one  thousand  four 
hundred  and  forty  pounds  of  beef  in  the  whole  carcass. 

On  an  inquiry  made  by  Dr.  Anderson,  of  gentlemen  who  had  been 
in  India,  respecting  cattle  of  large  size  in  that  part  of  the  world,  some 
of  them  mentioned  animals  of  this  kind,  which  they  said  were  kept  by 
the  native  princes  chiefly  for  parade,  under  the  name  of  fighting  bullocks. 
A  convincing  proof  that  these  animals  are  kept  by  the  princes,  and 
probably  Wparade  is  obtained  from  an  Indian  painting,  in  which 


in:.  AUNEE. 


THE   AMERICAN   BISON.  389 

three  of  them  are  very  distinctly  delineated.  This  painting  represents 
one  of  those  entertainments  that  are  given  by  the  Indian  princes  for 
the  amusement  of  their  subjects,  similar  to  the  fights  that  were  ex- 
hibited for  the  samo  purpose  on  the  Arena  at  Eome.  An  Elephant  is 
figured  in  the  act  of  contending  with  two  tigers ;  and,  among  the 
number  of  objects  assembled,  there  are  three  Arnees  ;  these  appear  to 
be  waiting  apart,  each  under  the  guidance  of  a  leader,  who  is  seated 
upon  his  back,  and  has  hold  of  a  bridle  in  the  animal's  mouth.  This 
painting  is  the  property  of  Gilbert  Innes,  Esq.,  of  Stow,  near  Edinburgh. 


THE   AMERICAN  BISON. 

The  Ameriqan  Bison  has  short  rounded  horns,  pointing  outwards. 
It  is  covered,  in  many  parts,  with  long  shaggy  hair,  and  has  a  high 
protuberance  on  the  shoulders.  The  fore-parts  of  the  body  are  ex- 
cessively thick  and  strong ;  and  the  hinder  parts  are  compartively 
very  slender. 

In  the  interior  regions  of  North  America  immense,  herds  of  Bisons 
are  frequently  seen.  They  herd 
in  the  open  savannahs  morning 
and  evening ;  and,  retire  during 
the  sultry  parts  of  the  day,  to  rest 
near  shady  rivulets  and  streams  of 
water.  In  the  moist  land  they 
frequently  leave  so  deep  an  im- 
pression of  their  feet,  as  to  be 
traced  and  shot  by  the  artful  In- 
dians. In  this  undertaking,  how- 
ever, it  is  necessary  that  the  men 
should  be  particularly  careful,  TUE  AMEBICAX  BISOX- 

for,  when  they  are  only  woundod  the  animals  become  excessively 
furious.  The  hunters  go  against  the-  wind,  as  the  faculty  of  smell  in 
the  Bisons  is  so  exquisite,  that  the  m.oment  they  get  scent  of  their 
enemy  they  retire  with  the  utmost  precipitation.  In  taking  aim  the 
hunter  directs  his  piece  to  the  hollow  of  the  shoulder,  by  which  means 
he  generally  brings  down  the  animal  a,t  one  shot;  but  if  not  killed,  the 
Bison  frequently  runs  upon  him,  and  with  its  horns  and  hoofs, 
tears  him  in  pieces,  or  tramples  him  to  death. 

These  animals  are  so  amazingly  strong,-  that  when  they  flee  through 
the  woods  from  a  pursuer,,  they  frequently  brush  down  trees  as  thick 
as  a  man's  arm ;  and,  be  the  snow  ever  so  deep,  such  are  their  strength 
and  agility,  that  they  are  able  to  plunge  through  it  much  faster  than 
the  swiftest  Indian  can  run  in  snow-shoes.  "  To  this  (says  Mr,  Hearne) 
I  have  many  times  been  an  eye-witness.  I  once  had  the  vanity  to 
think  that  I  could  have  kept  pace  with  them;  *but  though  I  was  at 
that  time  celebrated  for  running  fleetly  in  snow-shoes,  I  soon  found 
that  I  was  no  match  for  the  Bisons,  notwithstanding  they  were  then 
plunging  through  such  deep  snow,  that  their  bellies  made  a  trench  as 
large  a3  if  many  heavy  sacks  had  been  hauled  through  it." 


390 


THE    AMERICAN    BISON. 


•fc 


In  the  western  part  of  the  United  States  the  hunting  of  the  Bison 

is  a  common  em- 
ployment of  the  na- 
tives. They  draw  up 
in  a  large  square, 
and  commence  their 
operations  by  setting 
lire  to  the  grass, 
which,  at  certain  sea- 
sons, is  very  long 
and  dry.  As  the 
fire  burns  onward 
they  advance,  clos- 
ing their  ranks  as 
they  proceed.  The 
animals,  alarmed  by 
the  light,  gallop  con- 
g  fusedly  about  till 
they  are  hemmed  in 
s  o  close,  that  fre- 
quently not  a  sin- 
gle beast  is  able  t& 
escape. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  sports  in  the  world,  is  to  hunt  them 


ENRAGED   BI60N 


HUXTINQ   ON   HORSEBACK. 


on.  horseback,  armea  with  a  rifle.     The  hunters  approach  with  the  wind, 


THE   AMERICAN    BISON. 


391 


ACCIDENT  IN  BISON  HUNTING. 


and,  as  soon  as  the  animals  smell  them,  they  instantly  seek  to  escape ; 
and  the  sight  of  the  horses  increases  their  fear,  but  the  majority  of 
the  Bisons  are,  at  a  certain  time  of  the  year,  so  fat  and  unwieldy,  as 
easily  to  be  enticed  to  slacken  their  pace.  As  soon  as  the  men  over- 
take them,  they  endeavor  to  strike  the  crescent  just  above  the  ham, 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  cut  through  the  tendons,  and  render  them 
afterwards  an  easy  prey. 

The  hunting  of  these  animals  is  also  common  in  several  parts  of 
South  America.  It  commences  with  a  sort  of  festivity,  and  ends  in 
an  entertainment,  at  which  one  of  their  carcasses  supplies  the  only  in- 
gredient. As  soon  as  a  herd  of  Bisons  is  seen  on  the  plain,  the  most 
fleet  and  active  of  the  horsemen  prepare  to  attack  them,  and,  descend- 
ing in  the  form  of  a  widely -extended  crescent,  they  hunt  them  in  all 
directions.  After  a  while  the  animals  become  so  weary,  that  they 
seem  ready  to  sink  under  their  fatigue ;  but  the  hunters,  still  urging 
them  to  flight  by  their  loud  cries,  drive  them  at  last  from  the  field. 
Such  as  are  unable  to  exert  the  necessary  speed  for  escape  are 
slaughtered. 

The  sagacity  which  the  Bisons  exhibit  in  defending  themselves 
against  the  attacks  of  Wolves  is  admirable.  When  they  scent  the 
approach  of  a  drove  of  those  ravenous  creatures,  the  herd  throws 
itself  into  the  form  of  a  circle,  having  the  weakest  in  the  middle,  and 
the  strongest  ranged  on  the  outside,  thus  presenting  an  impenetrable 
front  of  horns. 

"  There  is  (says  Mr.  Turner,  who  resided  long  in  America)  a  singu- 
lar, arid  affecting  trait  in  the  character  of  this  animal  when  a  Calf. 


392 


THE    AMERICAN    BISON. 


AMERICA*  BISON— FEMALE  IS  THE  DISTANCE. 


Whenever  a  Cow  Bison  falls  by  the  murdering  hand  of  the  hunters, 

and  happens  to  have 
a  Calf,  the  helpless 
young-one,  far  from 
attempting  to  escape, 
stays  by -its  fallen 
Dam,  with  signs  ex- 
pressive of  strong  na- 
tural affection.  The 
D  a  m  thus  secured, 
the  hunter  makes  na 
attempt  on  the  Calf, 
(knowing  that  to  be 
unnecessary,)  but  pro- 
ceeds to  cut  up  the 
carcass:  then,  laying 
it  on  his  horse,  he  re- 
turns home  followed 
by  the  Calf,  which 
thus  instinctively  at- 
tends the  remains  of 
its  Dam.  I  have  seen 
a  single  hunter  ride  into  town  followed  in  this  manner  by  three  Calves, 
all  of  which  had  just  lost  their  Dams  by  this  cruel  hunter." 

This  gentleman  is  of  opinion  that  the  Bison  is  superior  even  to  our 
domestic  cattle  for  the  purposes  of  husbandry,  and  has  expressed  a 
wish  to  see  this  animal  domesticated  on  the  English  farms.  He  informs 

us  that  a  farmer,  on  the  great 
Kenawha,  broke  a  young  Bis- 
on to  theplough ;  and,  having 
yoked  it  with  a  steer  taken  from 
his  tame  cattle,  it  performed  its 
work  to  admiration.  But  there 
is  another  property  in  which 
the  Bison  far  surpasses  the  ox, 
and  this  is  his  strength.  "Judg- 
ing from  the  extraordinary  size 
of  his  bones,  and  the  depth  and 
formation  of  his  chest,  (conti- 
nues this  gentleman,)  I  should 
not  think  it  unreasonable  to 
assign  nearly  a  double  portion 
of  strength  to  this  powerful  in- 
habitant of  the  forest.  Reclaim 
him,  and  you  gain  a  capital  quadruped,  both  for  the  draught  and  for 
the  plough :  his  activity  peculiarly  fits  him  for  the  latter,  in  preference 
to  the  ox." 

The  uses  of  the  Bison  when  dead  are  various.  Powder  flasks  are 
made  of  the  horns.  The  skins  form  an  excellent  buff-leather,  and, 
when  dressed  with  the  hair  on,  serve  the  Indians  for  clothes,  shoes, 


SKULL  OP  OLD  MALE   AMtRICAN*  BISOX. 


THE  EUROPEAN    BISON. 


393 


and  blankets,  and  find  them  light,  warm,  and  soft.  The  flesh  is  used 
as  food,  and  the  bunch  on  the  shoulders  and  the  tongue  are  esteemed 
great  delicacies.  The  bulls,  when  fat,  frequently  yield*  each  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  of  tallow,  which  forms  a  considerable  article 
of  commerce.  The  hair  is  spun  into  gloves,  stockings  and  garters, 
that  are  very  strong,  and  look  as  well  as  those  made  of  the  finest  sheep's 
wool.  Governor  Pownal  assures  us  that  there  may  be  manufactured 
from  it  a  most  luxurious  kind  of  clothing. 


THE   EUROPEAN   BISOX. 

There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  Bison  jubatus  of  Pliny  (book 
viii.  c.  15,  and  xxviii.  c.  10),  which  he  seems  to  distinguish  from  the 
Urus,  was  the  European 
Bison  or  Aurochs;  and 
though  in  the  fifteenth 
chapter  of  the  eighth 
book  he  mentions  the 
tradition  of  a  wild 
beast  in  Pa3onia  called 
a  Bonasus,  after  he  has 
dismissed  his  Bisontes 
jubatij  and  with  every 
appearance  of  a  con- 
clusion on  his  part  that 
the  Bonasus,  and  Bison 
were  not  identical,  his 
own  description,  when 
compared  with  that  of 
Aristotle,  will  leave 
little  doubt  that 
the  Bison  jubatus  and 
Bonasus  of  Pliny  and 
others,  the  BcWuso?  or 
of  Aristotle  (for 


THE  EUROPEAN    BISO.\   ATTACKED   BY   WOLVES. 


the   word    is    written 

both   ways),    and    the 

BI'JCOV  of  Oppian,  were  no  other  than  the  European  Bison,  the  Aurochs 

(Auerochs)  of  the  Prussians,  the  Zubr  of  the  Poles,  the  Taurus  Pwo- 

nius,  &c.  of  Johnston  and  others,  V  Aurochs  and  le  Bonasus  of  Buffon, 

Bos  Urus  of  Boddaert,  and  Bos  Bonasus  of  Linnaeus. 

Cuvier  considers  it  as  certain  that  this  animal,  the  largest,  or  at 
least  the  most  massive  of  all  existing  quadrupeds  after  the  Khino- 
ceros,  an  animal  still  to  be  found  in  some  of  the  Lithuanian  forests, 
and  perhaps  in  those  of  Moldavia,  Wallachia,  and  the  neighborhood 
of  the  Caucasus,  is  a  distinct  species  which  man  has  never  subdued; 
nor  do  we  think  that  any  one  who  takes  the  trouble  to  consider  the 
evidence  on  which  Cuvier's-  conclusion  was  founded  will  be  of  a 


394 


THE   EUROPEAN   BISON. 


SKULL  OF   OLD  EUROPEAN  BISON. 


different  opinion.     Following  out  this  subject  with  his  usual  industry 
and  ability,  that  great  naturalist  goes  on  to  state  (Ossemens  Fossiles) 

that  if  Europe  possessed 
a  Urus,  a  Thur  of  the 
Poles,  different  from  the 
Bison  or  the  Aurochs  of 
the  Germans,  it  is  only 
in  its  remains  that  the 
species  can  be  traced; 
such  remains  are  found, 
in  the  skulls  of  a  species 
of  Ox  different  from  the 
Aurochs,  in  the  superficial 
beds  of  certain  districts. 
This  Cuvier  thinks  must 
be  the  true  Urus  of  the 
ancients,  the  original  of 
our  domestic  Ox,  the 
stock  perhaps  whence  our 
wild  cattle  descended;  while  the  Aurochs  of  the  present  day  is 

nothing  more  than  the  Bison  or  Bonasus 
of  the  ancients,  a  species  which  has  never 
been  brought  under  the  }^oke.  [See  Ox 
and  Urus.] 

This  ancient  species  is  fast  following 
its  extinct  congener  the  Urus.  Pallas 
observes,  that  it  is  remarkable  that  the 
Aurochs  does  not  exist  in  any  of  the  vast 
forests  of  Russia  and  Northern  Asia, 
whence  (if  it  had  penetrated  therein) 
hardly  any  thing  could  have  eradicated 
it.  As  late  as  the  reign  of  Charlemagne 
it  was  not  rare  in  Germany,  but  the  range 
of  the  species  is  now  nearly  confined  to 
the  mountainous  country  between  the 
Caspian  and  Black  Seas. 

Cuvier  in  the  first  edition  of  his  "  Osse- 
mens Fossiles,"  considered  the  fossil 
skulls  of  Oxen  found  in  Europe  as  be- 
longing to  the  Aurochs,  and  those  of 
Siberia  as  the  crania  of  an  extinct  spe- 
cies; but,  in  his  last,  he  declares  that  he 
has  recognized  both  as  the  skulls  of  the 
same  species,  and  opens  the  question. 
These  skulls,  though  they  differ  scarcely 
in  any  thing  from  those  of  the  Aurochs, 
he  inclines  to  think  the  remains  of  a 
different  species.  He  gives  the  portrait 
of  a  cranium  in  the  Museum  at  Paris, 
(Prome  of  the  same.)  here  copied,  so  like,  as  he  observes,  to 


Skull  of  Europeau  Bison,  front  view 


THE   BUFFALO.  395 

the  living  Aurochs,  that  the  most  practised  eye  can  scarcely  dis- 
tinguish it;  but  so  fresh  that  he  seems  to  think  it  recent,  and  that  it 
owes  its  fossil  appearance  to  its  having  been  much  weathered.  Lyell 
states  that  the  bones  of  the  Bison  have  been  found  at  North  Cliff,  in 
the  county  of  York,  in  a  lacustrine  formation,  in  which  all  the  land 
and  fresh-water  shells,  thirteen  in  number,  can  be  identified  with 
species  and  varieties  now  existing  in  that  county. 


THE   BUFFALO. 

The  Buffalo,  in  its  general  form,  has  a  great  resemblance  to  the 
common  Ox ;  but  it  differs  from  this  animal  in  its  horns,  and  in  some 
particulars  of  its  internal  structure.  It  is  larger  than  the  Ox;  the 
head  is  also  bigger  in  proportion,  the  forehead  higher,  and  the  muzzle 
longer.  The  horns  are  large,  and  of  a  compressed  form,  with  the  ex- 
terior edge  sharp :  they  are  straight  for  a  considerable  length  from 
their  base,  and  then  bent  slightly  upward.  The  general  color  of  the 
animal  is  blackish,  except  the  forehead  and  the  tip  of  the  tail,  which 
are  of  a  dusky  white.  The  hunch  is  not,  as  many  have  supposed  it 
a  large  fleshy  lump,  but  it  is  occasioned  by  the  bones  that  form  the 
withers  being  continued  to  a  greater  length  than  in  most  other  ani- 
mals. 

Buffaloes  are  natives  of  the  warmer  parts  of  India  and  Africa ;  but 
they  have  been  introduced  into  some  of  the  countries  of  Europe, 
where  they  are  now  naturalized.  In  Italy  they  constitute  an  essential 
part  both  of  the  riches  and  food  of  the  poor.  They  are  employed  in 
agriculture ;  and  butter  and  cheese  are  made  from  their  milk.  These 
animals  are  very  common  in  Western  Hindostan.  They  are  fond  of 
wallowing  in  mud,  and  will  swim  over  the  broadest  rivers.  During 
inundations,  they  are  frequently  observed  to  dive  to  the  depth  of  ten 
or  twelve  feet,  in  order  to  force  up  with  their  horns  the  aquatic 
plants ;  and  these  they  eat  while  swimming. 

In  many  parts  of  the  East,  as  well  as  in  Italy,  Buffaloes  are  domes- 
ticated. It  is  said  to  be  a  singular  sight  to  observe,  morning  and 
evening,  large  herds  of  them  cross  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.  They 
proceed,  all  wedged  against  each  other,  the  herdsman  riding  on  one 
one  of  them,  sometimes  standing  upright,  and  sometimes  couching 
down ;  and,  if  any  of  the  exterior  ones  are  out  of  order,  he  steps 
lightly  from  back  to  back,  to  drive  them  along. 

A  singular  circumstance  relative  to  these  animals,  is  recorded  by 
the  navigators  who  completed  the  voyage  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  begun 
by  Captain  Cook.  When  at  Pulo  Condore  they  procured  eight  Buf- 
faloes, which  were  to  be  conducted  to  the  ships  by  ropes  put  through 
their  nostrils  and  round  their  horns ;  but  when  these  were  brought 
within  sight  of  the  ship's  people,  they  became  so  furious,  that  some 
of  them  tore  out  the  cartilage  of  their  nostrils,  and  set  themselves  at 
liberty  ;  and  others  broke  down  the  shrubs  to  which  it  was  found  ne- 
cessary to  fasten  them.  All  attempts  to  get  them  on  board  would 
have  proved  fruitless,  had  it  not  been  for  some  children,  whom  the 


396 


THE   CAPE   BUFFALO. 


animals  would  suffer  to  approach  them,  and  by  whose  puerile  manage- 
ment their  rage  was  quickly  appeased ;  and,  when  the  animals  were 
brought  to  the  beach,  it  was  by  their  assistance,  in  twisting  ropes 
around  their  legs,  that  the  men  were  enabled  to  throw  them  down, 
and  by  that  means  get  them  into  the  boats.  And  what  appears  to 
have  been  no  less  singular  than  this  circumstance  was,  that  they  had 
not  been  a  day  on  board  before  they  became  perfectly  gentle. 

The  skin  and  horns  of  the  Buffalo  are  its  most  valuable  parts :  the 
former  is  very  strong  and  durable,  and  consequently  is  well  adapted 
for  various  purposes  in  which  a  strong  leather  is  required.  The  latter 
have  a  fine  grain,  are  strong,  and  bear  a  good  polish  ;  and  are,  there- 
fore, much  valued  by  cutlers  and  other  artificers.  The  flesh  is  said 
to  be  excellent  eating ;  and  it  is  so  free  from  any  disagreeable  smell 
or  taste,  that  it  nearly  resembles  beef.  The  flesh  of  the  Cows,  when 
some  time  gone  with  young,  is  esteemed  the  finest ;  and  the  young 
Calves  are  reckoned  by  the  Americans  the  greatest  possible  delicacy. 


THE   CAPE    BUFFALO. 


The  fore-parts  of  this 
animal  are  covered  with 
long,  coarse,  and  black 
hair.  The  horns  are  thick, 
and  rugged  at  the  base, 
sometimes  measuring  three 
feet  in  length,  and  lying 
so  flat  as  to  cover  almost 
all  the  top  of  the  head. 
The  ears  are  large  and 
slouching.  The  body  and 
limbs  are  very  thick  and 
muscular ;  and  the  animal 
is  above  eight  feet  long 

THB  CAPE  BUFFALO.  aild       SIX      IU       height.          Tll6 

head    hangs    down,    and 
bears  a  most  fierce  and  malevolent  aspect. 

The  savage  disposition,  large  size,  and  enormous  strength  of  these 
animals,  render  them  too  well  known  in  all  the  countries  which  they 
inhabit.  In  the  plains  of  Caffraria  they  are  so  common,  that  it  is  by 
no  means  unusual  to  see  a  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  of  them 
in  a  herd.  They  generally  retire  to  the  thickets  and  woods  in  the 
day-time,  and  at  night  go  out  into  the  plains  to  graze.  Treacherous 
in  the  extreme,  they  frequently  conceal  themselves  among  the  trees, 
and  there  stand  lurking  till  some  unfortunate  passenger  comes  by, 
when  they  at  once  rush  out  into  the  road,  and  attack  the  traveller, 
who  has  no  chance  to  escape  but  by  climbing  up  a  tree,  if  he  is  fortu- 
nate enough  to  be  near  one.  Flight  is  of  no  avail :  he  is  speedily 
overtaken  by  the  furious  beast,  who,  not  contented  with  throwing  him 
down  and  killing  him,  stands  over  him  even  for  a  long  time  after 


THE    CAPE   BUFFALO.  397 

wards,  trampling  him  with  his  hoofs,  and  crushing  him  with  his  knees  ; 
and  not  only  mangles  and  tears  the  body  to  pieces  with  his  horns  and 
teeth,  but  likewise  strips  off  the  skin,  by  licking  it  with  his  tongue. 
Nor  does  he  perform  all  this  at  once,  but  often  retires  to  some  distance 
from  the  body,  and  returns  with  savage  ferocity  to  gratify  afresh  his 
cruel  disposition. 

As  Professor  Thunburg  was  travelling  in  Caffraria,  he  and  his  com- 
panions had  just  entered  a  wood,  when  they  discovered  a  large  old  male 
Buffalo,  lying  quite  alone,  in  a  spot,  that  for  the  space  of  a  few  square 
yards,  was  free  from  bushes.  The  animal  no  sooner  observed  the 
guide,  who  went  first,  than,  with  a  horrible  roar,  he  rushed  upon  him. 
The  fellow  turned  his  horse  short  round  behind  a  large  tree,  and  the 
Buffalo  rushed  forward  to  the  next  man,  and  gored  his  horse  so  dread- 
fully in  the  belly,  that  it  died  soon  afterwards.  These  two  men 
climbed  into  trees,  and  the  furious  animal  made  his  way  towards  the 
rest,  who  were  approaching,  but  at  some  distance.  A  horse  without 
a  rider  was  in  the  front ;  as  soon  as  the  Buffalo  saw  this  animal  he  be- 
came more  outrageous  than  before,  and  attacked  him  with  such  fury 
that  he  not  only  drove  his  horns  into  the  horse's  breast,  but  even  out 
again  through  the  very  saddle.  At  this  moment  the  Professor  hap- 
pened to  come  up,  but  from  the  narrowness  of  the  path,  having  no 
room  to  turn  round,  he  was  glad  to  abandon  his  horse,  and  take  refuge 
in  a  tree.  The  Buffalo,  however  had  finished;  for,  after  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  second  horse,  he  turned  suddenly  round,  and  galloped  away. 
Some  time  after  this,  the  Professor  and  his  party  espied  an  ex- 
tremely large  herd  of  Buffaloes  grazing  on  a  plain.  Being  now 
sufficiently  apprised  of  the  disposition  of  these  animals,  and  knowing 
that  they  would  not  attack  any  person  in  the  open  plains,  they  ap- 
proached within  forty  paces,  and  fired  amongst  them.  The  whole 
troop,  notwithstanding  the  individual  intrepidity  of  the  animals,  sur- 
prised by  the  sudden  flash  and  report,  turned  about,  and  made  off' 
towards  the  woods.  The  wounded  Buffaloes  separated  from  the  rest 
of  the  herd ;  and  among  these  was  an  old  bull  Buffalo,  which  ran 
with  fury  towards  the  party.  They  evaded  this  attack,  and  the  ani- 
mal galloping  close  past  them,  soon  afterwards  fell.  Such,  however, 
had  been  his  strength,  that,  notwithstanding  the  ball  had  entered  his 
chest,  and  had  penetrated  nearly  through  his  body,  he  had  run  at 
full  speed  several  hundred  paces  after  he  had  been  wounded. 

The  Cape  Buffalo  is  frequently  hunted,  both  by  Europeans  and  by  the 
natives  of  South  Africa.  In  Caffraria  he  is  generally  killed  by  means 
of  javelins,  which  the  inhabitants  use  with  considerable  dexterity. 
When  a  Caffre  has  disco verd  the  place  where  several  Buffaloes  are 
collected  together,  he  blows  a  pipe,  made  of  the  thigh-bone  of  a  sheep, 
the  sound  of  which  is  heard  at  a  great  distance.  The  moment  his 
comrades  hear  this  notice  they  run  to  the  spot,  and,  surrounding  the 
animals,  which  they  take  care  to  approach  by  degrees,  lest  they  should 
alarm  them,  throw  their  javelins  at  them.  This  is  generally  done 
with  so  sure  an  aim,  that  out  of  eight  or  twelve,  it  rarely  happens 
that  a  single  one  escapes.  When  the  chase  is  ended,  each  man  cuts 
off  and  takes  away  his  share  of  the  game. 


398  THE    MUSK    OX. 

Some  Europeans  at  the  Cape  once  chased  a  Buffalo,  and  having 
driven  him  into  a  narrow  place,  he  turned  round,  and  instantly 
pushed  at  one  of  his  pursuers,  who  had  on  a  red  waistcoat.  The 
man,  to  save  his  life,  ran  to  the  water,  plunged  in,  and  swam  off:  the 
animal  followed  him  so  closely,  that  the  poor  fellow  had  no  alternative 
but  that  of  diving.  He  dipped  over  head,  and  the  Buffalo,  losing 
sight  of  him,  swam  on  towards  the  opposite  shore,  three  miles  distant, 
and,  as  was  supposed,  would  have  reached  it,  had  he  not  been  shot'by 
a  gun  from  a  ship  lying  at  a  little  distance.  The  skin  was  presented 
to  the  governor  of  the  Cape,  who  had  it  stuffed,  and  placed  it  among 
his  collection  of  curiosities. 

Like  the  Hog,  this  animal  is  fond  of  wallowing  in  the  mire.  His 
flesh  is  lean,  but  juicy,  and  of  a  high  flavor.  The  hide  is  so  thick 
and  tough,  that  targets,  musket-proof,  are  formed  of  it;  and,  even 
while  the  animal  is  alive,  it  is  said  to  be  in  many  parts  impenetrable 
to  a  leaden  musket-ball:  balls  hardened  with  a  mixture  of  tin  are, 
therefore,  always  used,  and  even  these  are  often  flattened  by  the 
resistance.  Of  the  skin  the  strongest  and  best  thongs  for  harness 
are  made.  The  Hottentots,  who  never  put  themselves  to  any  great 
trouble  in  dressing  their  victuals,  cut  the  Buffalo's  flesh  into  slices, 
and  then  smoke,  and  at  the  same  time  half  broil  it,  over  a  few  coals. 
They  also  frquently  eat  it  in  a  state  of  putrefaction.  They  dress  the 
hides  by  stretching  them  on  the  ground  with  stakes,  afterwards 
strewing  them  over  with  warm  ashes,  and  then  with  a  knife  scraping 
off  the  hair. 


THE   YAK. 

The  Yak  inhabits  Tartary.  Of  this  animal  in  a  native  state  little 
or  nothing  is  known.  The  name  of  "grunniens,"  or  grunting,  is  de- 
rived from  the  peculiar  sound  that  it  utters.  The  tail  of  the  Yak  is 
very  long  and  fine,  and  is  used  in  India  as  a  fan  or  whisk  to  keep 
off  the  mosquitos.  The  tail  is  fixed  into  an  ivory  or  metal  handle, 
and  is  then  called  a  chowrie.  Elephants  are  sometimes  taught  to 
carry  a  chowrie,  and  wave  it  about  in  the  air,  above  the  heads  of 
those  who 'ride  on  its  back.  In  Turkey  the  tail  is  called  a  "Horse- 
tail," and  is  used  as  an  emblem  of  dignity. 

From  the  shoulders  of  the  Yak  a  mass  of  long  hair  falls  almost  to 
the  ground,  something  like  the  mane  of  a  Lion.  This  hair  is  applied 
to  various  purposes  by  the  Tartars.  They  weave  it  into  cloth,  of 
which  they  not  only  make  articles  of  dress,  but  also  tents,  and  even 
the  ropes  which  sustain  the  tents. 


THE   MUSK   OX. 

The  Musk  Ox  is  a  native  of  North  America,  and  is  not  very  unlike 
the  Yak  in  appearance.  It  is  covered  with  very  long  hair,  which 
reaches  almost  to  the  ground.  Its  flesh  is  tolerably  good  when  fat, 


THE   ZEBU,  OR   BEAHMIN   BULL, 


399 


but  at  other  times  it  smells  strongly  of  musk.  The  horns  of  this 
animal  are  united  together  at  their  base,  forming  a  kind  of  shield  or 
helmet  covering  the  forehead.  When  the  hunters  wish  to  shoot  the 
Musk  Ox  they  conceal  themselves,  and  fire  without  permitting  the 


Oxen  to  see  them.  The  poor  animals  seem  to  fancy  that  the  report  of 
the  guns  is  thunder,  and  crowd  together  in  a  mass,  so  that  they  afford 
a  good  mark.  If,  however,  they  catch  sight  of  one  of  their  assailants, 
they  instantly  charge  at  him,  and  then  are  very  dangerous  enemies. 
Both  this  animal  and  the  Yak  are  small,  scarcely  equalling  in  size 
the  small  Highland  cattle,  but  the  thick  hair  which  covers  them 
makes  .them  look  larger  then  they  really  are. 


THE   ZEBU   OR   BRAHMIN   BULL. 


This  animal  is  a  native  of  India. 
It  is  a  very  conspicuous  animal 
on  account  of  the  hump  on  its 
shoulders.  There  are  different 
breeds  of  it,  some  larger  than  the 
English  cattle,  and  some  hardly 
larger  than  an  ordinary  Hog. 
The  Hindoos  treat  it  with  great 
reverence,  and  will  not  suffer  it 
to  be  molested.  It  is  in  conse- 
quence so  tame  and  familiar  that 
it  will  often  walk  down  the  streets, 


GROUP   OF   ZEBUS. 


400 


THE   ZEBU,  OR   BRAHMIN   BULL. 


singular    inconsist- 
the  Hindoo,  although 


examine  the  shops,  and  perhaps  help  itself  to  some  sweetmeats;  or  it 
will  lie  down  in  the  narrow  street;  but  no  one  must  disturb  it,  they 

must  either  proceed  by  an- 
other road,  or  wait  until  the 
sacred  animal  is  pleased  to 
rise. 

With 
ency 

he  honors  the  Bull  with  such 
absurd  reverence,  yet  he  has 
no  pity  on  the  Ox.  While 
the  consecrated  Bull  wan- 
ders with  impunity  through 
the  streets,  walks  into  shops, 
(china  shops  or  otherwise.) 
and  resents  with  a  peevish 

iax,    inuu.  .  1  •        1 

push  ot  its  horns  the  slightest 

affront,  the  Ox  is  fastened  to  the  plough,  urged  on  by  the  goad,  and 
put  to  every  kind  of  labor.  The  Zebu-cow,  although  not  quite  so 
well  treated  as  the  Bull,  yet  enjoys  more  forbearance  than  the  Ox. 

The  general  shape  of  the  BrahminyBull,  which  is  the  sacred  Bull  in 
most  parts  of  India,  and  especially  in  the  valley  of  the  Ganges,  may 
be  understood  from  the  figure.  In  Benares,  and  those  other  cities 
which  are  crowded  with  the  most  wealthy  and  devout  Hindoos  of  high 
caste,  these  animals  are  exceedingly  numerous,  thronging  the  streets, 
and  the  courts,  and  areas  of  the  temples.  They  are  fed  to  the  utmost 
profusion,  and  they  are  very  fat,  indolent,  and  inoffensive.  When 
left  without  these  attentions  they  are  smaller  arid  much  more  active, 
but  they  have  been  so  long  domesticated,  or  rather  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  people,  that  there  are  many  varieties  in  appearance.  When 
they  are  fat,  the  hump  on  the  shoulders  and  the  dewlap  are  very  much 
produced,  and  in  all  conditions  they  have  the  skin  of  the  neck 
furrowed  with  transverse  wrinkles.  Their  general  color  is  dun,  pass- 
ing into  blackish  on  the  upper  part,  and  whitish  on  the  under.  There 
are  many  varieties  of  these  hunch-backed  ones  in  India,  but  it  is  not 
.easy  to  say  which  is  the  original  race,  or  whether  those  which  are 
found  wild  be  in  a  state  of  nature,  or  have  been  left  in  the  changes 
of  society  which  the  country  has  undergone.  These  humped  Oxen 
have  the  voice  less  deep  than  the  others,  and  the  form  of  the  hind 
quarters  and  the  insertion  of  the  tail  are  different  from  the  European 
varieties. 


BELLUAE. 


THE  animals  of  the  Linnean  order  Belluoe,  have  obtuse  front- teeth; 
and  their  feet  are  armed  with  hoofs,  in  some  species  whole  or 
rounded,  and  in  others  obscurely  lobed  or  subdivided. 


OF  THE  HORSE  TRIBE. 

THE  generic  characters  of  the  Horse  are  six  parallel  front-teeth  in 
the  upper,  and  six  in  the  lower  jaw,  the  latter  somewhat  projecting. 
There  is  also  one  canine-tooth  on  each  side,  in  both  jaws,  remote 
from  the  rest. 

Various  and  essential  are  the  services  performed  to  mankind,  by 
the  animals  of  this  tribe.  In  many  countries,  they  are  almost  the 
only  beasts  of  draught  and  burden  that  are  employed.  They  are 
gregarious,  and  in  a  wild  state  inhabit  the  most  retired  deserts.  The 
mode  in  which  they  fight  is  by  biting,  and  by  kicking  with  their 
hind  feet;  and  they  have  the  singular  property  of  breathing  only 
through  the  nostrils. 

Of  the  six  ascertained  species  of  Horses,  only  one  has  yet  been 
discovered  on  the  New  Continent,  in  a  perfectly  wild  state,  and  this 
animal  has  cloven  hoofs:  it  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  mountains  of 
South  America. 

(401) 


402 


THE  COMMON  HORSE. 


THE  COMMON  HORSE. 


The  Horse  is  a  native  of  several  districts  of  Asia  and  Africa;  and 
in  the  southern  parts  of  Siberia  large  herds  of  these  animals  are 


WILD   HORSKS. 


occasionally  seen.  They  are  extremely  swift,  active,  and  vigilant; 
and  havejilways  a  sentinel,  who,  by  a  loud  neigh,  gives  notice  to  the 
herd  of  the  approach  of  danger,  on  which  they  gallon  off  with  aston- 
ishing rapidity. 


THE   COMMON    HORSE. 


403 


In  Ukraine,  where  wild  Horses  are  often  found,  they  are  rendered 
no  otherwise  serviceable  to  man  than  as  food.  The  wild  Horses  on 
each  side  of  the  Don,  are  the  offspring  of  the  Kussian  Horses  that 
were  employed  at  the  siege  of  Asoph  in  the  year  1697,  when,  for 
want  of  forage,  they  were  turned  loose.  They  "have  relapsed  into  a 
state  of  nature  and  have  become  as  shy  and  timid  as  the  original 


SOUTH  AMERICAN 


RIDDEN  BY  INDIANS  OF  THE  PAMPAS. 


savage  breed.  The  Cossacks  chase  them,  but  always  in  the  wintz-i, 
by  driving  them  into  the  valleys  filled  with  snow,  into  which  they 
plunge  and  are  caught.  Their  excessive  swiftness  is  such  as  entirely 
to  exclude  every  other  mode  of  capture. 

The  Horses  of  South  America  are  of  Spanish  origin,  and  entirely 
of  the  Andalusian  breed.  They  are  now  become  so  numerous  as  to 
live  in  herds,  some  of  which  are  said  to  consist  of  ten  thousand.  As 
soon  as  they  perceive  domestic  Horses  in  the  fields,  they  gallop  up 
to  them,  caress,  and,  by  a  kind  of  grave  and  prolonged  neighing, 
invite  them  to  run  off.  These  are  soon  seduced,  unite  themselves  to 
the  independent  herd,  and  depart  along  with  them;  and  it  not  unfre- 
quently  happens  that  travellers  are  stopped  on  the  road  by  the  effect 
of  this  desertion. 

The  Horss,  in  an  improved  state,  is  found  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
globe,  except  perhaps,  within  the  Arctic  Circle;  and  its  reduction  and 
conquest  may  be  considered  as  the  greatest  acquisition  from  the  ani- 
mal world,  that  the  art  and  industry  of  man  have  ever  made.  As 
domestics,  their  docility  and  gentleness  are  unparalleled,  and  they 
contribute  more  to  the  convenience  and  the  pride  of  man  than  all 
other  animals  put  together. 

In  Arabia  they  are  found  in  their  highest  perfection,  as  little  de- 
generated in  their  race  or  powers  as  the  Lion  or  Tiger.  To  the  Arabs 
they  are  as  dear  as  their  own  children;  and  the  constant  intercourse,. 
26 


404 


THE   COMMON   HORSE. 


THE   ARABIAN   HORSE. 


arising  from  living  in  the  same  tent  with  their  owner  and  his  family, 
creates  a  familiarity  that  could  not  otherwise  be  effected,  and  a  traeta- 
bility  that  arises  only  from  the  kindest  usage.  They  are  the  fleetest 
animals  of  the  desert,  and  are  so  well  trained  as  to  stop  in  their  most 
rapid  course  by  the  slightest  check  of  the  rider.  Unaccustomed  to 
the  spur,  the  least  touch  with  the  foot  sets  them  again  in  motion;  and 
so  obedient  are  thev  to  the  rider's  will,  as  to  be  directed  in  their 

course  merely  by  the  mo- 
tion of  a  switch.  They 
form  the  principal  riches 
of  many  of  the  Arab  tribes, 
who  use  them  both  in  the 
chase  and  in  their  plun- 
dering expeditions.  In 
the  day-time  they  are  ge- 
nerally kept  saddled  at 
the  door  of  the  tent,  pre- 
pared for  any  excursion 
their  master  may  take. 
They  never  carry  heavy 
burdens,  nor  are  employed 
on  long  journeys.  Their 
constant  food,  except  in 
spring,  when  they  get  a  little  grass,  is  barley;  and  this  they  are  suffered 
to  eatTonly  during  the  night.  The  Arab,  his  wife,  and  children,  always 
lie  in  the  same  apartment  with  the  Mare  and  Foal,  who,  instead  of 
injuring,  suffer  the  children  to  rest  on  their  bodies  and  necks,  without 
in  the  least  incommoding  them  :  the  gentle  animals  even  seern  afraid 
to  move,  lest  they  should  hurt  them.  The  Arabs  never  beat  nor 
correct  their  horses,  but  always  treat  them  Avith  the  utmost  kindness. 
The  whole  stock  of  a  poor  Arabian  of  the  desert  consisted  of  a 
Mare ;  this  the  French  consul  at  Said  offered  to  purchase,  with  an  in- 
tention to  send  her  to  Louis  the  Fourteenth:  The  Arab,  pressed  by 
want,  hesitated  a  long  time,  but  at  length  consented,  on  condition  of 
receiving  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  which  he  named.  The  consul 
wrote  to  France  for  permission  to  close  the  bargain,  and  having 
obtained  it,  sent  immediately  to  the  Arab  the  information.  The  man, 
so  poor  as  to  possess  only  a  miserable  rag,  as  a  covering  for  his  body, 
arrived  with  his  magnificent  courser.  He  dismounted,  and,  looking 
first  at  the  gold  and  then  steadfastly  at  his  Mare,  heaved  a  deep  sigh: 
— "  To  whom  is  it  (he  exclaimed)  that  I  am  going  to  yield  thee  up '/ 
To  Europeans!  who  will  tie  thee  close,  who  will  beat  thee,  who  will 
render  thee  miserable !  Return  with  me,  my  beauty  !  my  jewel !  and 
rejoice  the  hearts  of  my  children !"  As  he  pronounced  the  last  words, 
he  sprang  upon  her  back,  and  was  out  of  sight  almost  in  a  moment. 
What  an  amiable  and  affecting  sensibility  in  a  man,  who,  in  the  midst 
of  distress,  could  prefer  all  the  disasters  attendant  on  poverty,  rather 
than  surrender  the  animal  that  he  had  long  fostered  in  his  tent,  and 
'had  been  the  child  of  his  bosom,  to  what  he  supposed  inevitable 


THE   COMMON    HORSE. 


405 


EASTERN  HORSES.     (CIRCASSIAN.) 

misery !     The  temptatiou  even  of  riches,  and  a  relief  from  poverty, 
had  not  sufficient  allurements  to  induce  him  to  so  cruel  an  act. 

"  The  Horses  of  the  Bedouin  Arabs,  whose  lives  (says  Sonnini)  are 
spent  in  traversing  the  scorching  sands,  are  able,  notwithstanding  the 
fervency  of  the  sun,  and  the  suffocating  heat  of  the  soil  over  which 
they  pass,  to  travel  for  three  days  without  drinking,  and  are  contented 
with  a  few  handfuls  of  dried  beans,  given  once  in  twenty-four  hours. 
From  the  hardness  of  their  labor  and  diet,  they  are,  of  course,  very 
lean ;  yet  they  preserve  incomparable  vigor  and  courage." 

The  description  of  the  Eastern  Horses  in  the  Book  of  Job,  is  ex- 
ceedingly poetical  and  expressive: — "Hast  thou  given  the  Horses 
strength?  Hast  thou  clothed  his  neck  with  thunder?  .Canst  thou 
make  him  afraid  as  a  grasshopper?  The  glory  of  his  nostrils  is  terri- 
ble. He  paweth  in  the  valley,  and  rejoiceth  in  his  strength :  he  goeth 
on  to  meet  the  armed  men :  He  mocketh  at  fear,  and  is  not  affright- 
ed; neither  turneth  he  back  from  the  sword.  The  quiver  rattleth- 
against  him,  the  glittering  spear,  and  the  shield.  He  swalloweth  the 
ground  with  fierceness  and  rage ;  neither  belie veth  he  that  it  is  the 
sound  of  the  trumpet.  He  saith  among  the  trumpets,  ha,  ha;  and  he 
srnelleth  the  battle  afar  off,  the  thunder  of  the  captains,  and  the 
shouting." 

In  Norway,  where  most  of  the  roads  are  impassable  for  carriages,  the 
Horses  are  remarkably  sure-footed;  they  skip  along  over  the  stones 
and  are  always  full  of  spirit.  Pontopiddan  says,  when  they  go  up  and 
down  a  steep  cliff,  on  stones  like  steps,  they  first  gently  tread  with  one 
foot,  to  try  if  the  stone  be  firm  ;  and  in  this  they  must  be  left  entirely 
to  their  own  management,  or  the  best  rider  in  the  world  would  run 


406 


THE   COMMON    HORSE. 


ENGLISH  HUNTER. 


the  risk  of  breaking  his  neck.     When  they  have  to  descend  steep 
and  slippery  places,  and  such  frequently  occur,  they,  in  a  surprising 

manner,  like  the  asses  of 
the  Alps,  draw  their  hind 
legs  together  under  their 
bodies,  and  thus  slide 
down.  They  exhibit  much 
courage  when  they  con- 
tend, as  they  are  often 
under  the  necessity  of 
doing,  with  wolves  and 
bears,  but  particularly 
with  the  latter.  When 
the  Horse  perceives  any 
of  these  animals  near  him, 
and  has  a  Mare  or  Foal 
with  him,  he  first  puts 
these  behind  out  of  the 
way,  and  then  furiously 
attacks  his  enemy  with  his  fore  legs,  which  he  uses  so  expertly  as 
generally  to  prove  victorious.  Sometimes,  however,  the  bear,  which 
has  twice  the  strength  of  his  adversary,  gets  the  advantage,  particu- 
larly if  the  Horse  make  any  attempt,  by  turning  round  to  strike  him 
with  his  hind  legs  ;  for  the  bear  then  instantly  closes  upon  him,  and 
keeps  .such  firm  hold  as  scarcely  to  be  shaken  off:  the  Horse  in  this 
case  gallops  away  with  his  enemy,  till  he  falls  down  and  expires  from 
loss  of  blood. 

There  are  few  countries  that  can  boast  a  breed  of  Horses  so  excel- 
lent as  our  own.  The  English  hunters  are  allowed  to  be  among  the  no- 
blest, most  elegant,  and  useful  animals  in  the  world.  Whilst  the 
French,  and  many  other  European  nations,  seem  attentive  only  to 
spirit  and  parade,  we  train  ours  principally  for  strength  and  dispatch. 

Theirs,  however,  have  the 
advantage  of  never  com- 
ing down  before,  as  ours 
do,  because,  in  breaking, 
they  put  them  more  on 
their  haunches,  while,  we, 
perhaps,  throw  them  too 
much  forward.  With  un- 
wearied attention,  how- 
ever, to  the  breed,  and 
repeated  trials  of  all  the 
best  Horses  in  different 
parts  of  the  world,  ours 
are  now  become  capa- 
ble of  performing  what 
no  others  can.  Among 
racers  the  English  had  one 
(Childers)  which  has  been  known  to  pass  over  eight v- two  feet  and 


THE   COMMON   HORSE. 


407 


HORSE  LEAPING   OVER  TIGER,  TVHICH   HIS  RIDER  SPEARS. 

a  half  in  a  second  of  time,  a  degree  of  fleetness  perhaps  unequalled 
by  any  other  Horse.  In  the  year  1745,  the  post-master  of  Stretton 
rode,  on  different  Horses,  along  the  road  to  and  from  London  no 
less  than  two  hundred  and  fifteen  miles  in  eleven  hours  and  a  -half, 
a  rate  of  above  eighteen  miles  an  hour;  and  in  July,  1788,  a  Horse 
belonging  to  a  gentleman  of  Bilter-square,  London,  was  trotted  for 
a  wager,  thirty  miles  in  an  hour  and  twenty  five  minutes,  which  is  at  the 
rate  of  more  than  twenty-one  miles  in  an  hour.  In  London  there  have 
been  instances  of  a  single  Horse  drawing,  for  a  short  space  the  weight 
of  three  tons:  and  some  of  the  pack-horses  of  the  north  usually  carry 
burdens  that  weigh  upwards  of  four  hundred  pounds.  But  the  most 
remarkable  proof  of 
the  strength  of  the 
British  Horses  is  in 
their  mill  Horses , 
some  of  which  have 
been  known  to  carry, 
at  one  load,  thirteen 
measures  of  corn, 
that  in  the  whole 
would  amount  to 
more  than  nine  hun- 
dred pounds  in 
weight. 

Though  endowed 
with  vast  strength, 
and  with  great  pow- 
ers of  body,  such  is  the  disposition  of  the  Horse,  that  it  rarely  exerts 


THE   DRAY   HORSE. 


THE   COMMON    HORSE. 

either  to  its  master's  prejudice:  on  the  contrary,  it  will  endure  fatigue, 
even  to  death,  for  our  benefit.  Providence  seems  to  have  implanted  IE 
him  a  benevolent  disposition,  and  a  fear  of  the  human  race,  with,  at  the 
same^time,  a  certain  consciousness  of  the  services  we  can  render  him. 
One  instance,  however,  has  been  mentioned,  of  recollection  of  injury, 
and  of  an  attempt  to  revenge  it.  A  baronet,  one  of  whose  hunters  had 
never  tired  in  the  longest  chase,  once  encouraged  the  cruel  thought 
of  attempting  completely  to  fatigue  him.  After  a  long  chase,  there- 
fore, he  dined,  and  again  mounting,  rode  him  furiously  among  the 
hills.  When  brought  to  the  stable,  the  animal  appeared  exhausted, 
and  he  was  scarcely  able  to  walk.  The  groom,  possessed  of  more 
feeling  than  his  brutal  master,  could  not  refrain  from  tears  at  the  sight 


RACE  HORSE  ECLIPSE,  WITH  TAIL  DOCKED. 

of  so  noble  an  animal  thus  sunk  down.  The  baronet  sometime  after 
wards  entered  the  stable,  and  the  Horse  made  a  furious  spring  upon 
him,  and  had  not  the  groom  interfered,  would  soon  have  put  it  out 
of  his  power  of  ever  again  misusing  animals. 

The  barbarous  practice  of  docking  the  tails,  and  clipping  the  hair  01 
Horses,  is  in  this  country  very  prevalent.  The  former,  principally 
with  wagon  Horses,  under  the  pretence  that  a  bushy  tail  collects  the 
dirt  of  the  roads;  and  the  latter,  from  the  notion  that  they  are  render- 
ed more  elegant  in  their  appearance.  Thus,  from  ideal  necessity,  we 
deprive  them  of  two  parts  of  the  body  that  are  principally  instrumen- 
tal, not  only  to  their  own  ease  and  comfort,  but  to  their  utility  to  us. 
By  the  loss  of  their  tail,  during  summer  they  are  perpetually  teased 
with  swarms  of  insects,  that  either  attempt  to  suck  their  blood,  or  to 
deposit  their  eggs  in  the  rectum :  these  they  have  now  no  means  of 
lashing  off;  and  in  winter  they  are  deprived  of  a  necessary  protection 
against  the  cold. 


THE    COMMON   HORSE. 


409 


RACE  HORSE  GODOLPHIN. 


But,  of  all  others,  the  custom  that 
them,  is  the  most  useless  and  absurd. 


we  have  adopted,  of  nicking 
It  is  a  heart-rending  sight  to 


go  into  the  stable  of  a  horse-dealer,  and  there  behold  a  range  of 
line  and  beautiful  steeds,  with  their  tails  cut  and  slashed,  tied  up 
by  pulleys  to  give 
them  force,  suffering 
such  torture  that  they 
sometimes  never  re- 
cover from  the  savage 
gashes  they  received. 
And  for  what  is  all 
this  done  ? — that  they 
may  hold  their  tails 
somewhat  higher  than 
they  otherwise  would, 
and  be  for  ever  after- 
wards deprived  of  the 
power  of  moving  the 
joints  of  them  as  a 
defence  against  flies ! 

I  have  another 
abuse  to  notice,  ob- 
servable in  those  who 
shoe  Horses.  The 
blacksmith,  in  order  to  save  himself  a  little  trouble,  will  frequently 
apply  the  shoe  red-hot  to  the  Horse's  foot,  in  order  that  it  may  burn 
for  itself  a  bed  in  the  hoof.  "The  utmost  severity  (says  Lord 
Pembroke)  ought  to  be  inflicted  on  all  those  who  clap  shoes  on  hot. 
This  unpardonable  laziness  of  farriers  in  making  feet  thus  to  fit 


HORSE   WITH   TAIL  NICHED. 


410 


THE    SHETLAND   PONY — THE   ASS. 


shoes,  instead  of  shoes  to  fit  the  feet,  dries  up  the  hoofs,  and  utterly 
destroys  them;"  It  is  of  the  mostruinous  consequence:  it  hardens 
and  cracks  the  hoofs,  and  induceseven  the  most  fatal  disorders. 

The  natural  diseases  of  Horses  are  few,  but  our  ill-usage,  or  neglect, 
or,  which  is  very  frequent,  our  over-care  of  them,  brings  on  a  nume- 
rous train,  which  are  often  fatal.  They  sleep  but  little,  and  this,  in 
general,  on  their  legs.  If  properly  treated,  these  animals  will  live 
from  forty  to  fifty  years. 


THE   SHETLAND   PONY. 


This  is  a  small  kind  of  Horse,  found  in  a  wild  state  in  the  Shetland 
Isles.     When  domesticated,  they  are  still  vicious  and  intractable. 


THE   ASS. 

Wild  Asses  live  in  herds,  each  consisting  of  a  chief,  and  several 
Mares  and  Colts,  sometimes  to  the  number  of  twenty.  They  are  ex- 
cessively timid,  and  provident  against  danger.  A  male  takes  on  him 
the  care  of  the  herd,  and  is  always  on  the  watch.  If  they  observe  a 
hunter,  who  by  creeping  along  the  ground  has  got  near  them,  the 
sentinel  takes  a  great  circuit,  and  goes  round  and  round  him,  as  if 
discovering  somewhat  to  be  apprehended.  As  soon  as  the  animal  is 
satisfied,  he  rejoins  the  herd,  which  sets  off  with  great  precipitation. 


THE  ASS. 


411 


Sometimes  his  curiosity  costs,  him  his  life ;  for  he  approaches  so  near 

as  to  give  the  hunter  an  opportunity  of  shooting  him.     The  senses  of 

hearing  and   smelling   in 

these    animals    are    most 

exquisite;    so    that   they 

are  not  in  general  to  be 

approached    without    the 

utmost  difficulty.      "The 

wild  Asses  did  stand   in    ^flM^^  . 

the  high  places,"  says  the 

prophet  Jeremiah ;  "  they 

snuffed  up  the  wind  like 

dragons."      The  Persians 

catch  these   animals,  and 

break    them    for    the 

draught.  They  make  pits, 

which  they  fill  about  half  up  with  plants:  into  these  the  Asses  fall 

without  bruising  themselves,  and  are  taken  thence  alive.      When 

completely  domesticated  they  are  very  valuable,  and  sell  at  a  high 

price,  being  at  all  times  celebrated  for  their  amazing  swiftness. 

The  saltest  plants  of  the  desert,  such  as  the  atriplex,  kali,  and 
chenopodium,  and  also  the  bitter  milky  tribes  of  herbs,  constitute  the 
food  of  the  wild  Asses.  These  animals  also  prefer  saltwater  to  fresh. 
This  is  exactly  comformable  to  the  history  given  of  this  animal  in  the 
Book  of  Job ;  for  the  words  "  barren  land,"  expressive  of  his  dwelling, 
ought  to  be  rendered. 
salt  places.  The  hun- 
ters generally  lie  in 
wait  for  the  Asses  near 
the  ponds  of  brackish 
water,  to  which  they 
resort  to  drink. 

These  animals  are 
found  wild  in  the 
mountainous  deserts 
of  Tartary,  the  south- 
ern districts  of  India 
and  Persia,  and  in 
some  parts  of  Africa. 
In  their  native  state 
they  exhibit  an  ap- 
pearance far  superior, 
both  in  point  of  viva- 
city  and  beauty  to 
the  animals  of  t  h  e 
same  species  in  a  state  of  domestication. 

The  Ass,  like  the  Horse,  was  imported  into  America  by  the 
Spaniards :  and  this  country  seems  to  be  peculiarly  favorable  to  this 
race  of  animals;  for,  where  they  have  run  wild,  they  have  multiplied 
in  such  numbers,  that  in  some  places  they  have  become  quite  a 


412  THE   ASS. 

nuisance.  In  the  kingdom  of  Quito,  the  owners  of  the  grounds  where 
they  are  bred  suffer  all  persons  to  take  away  as  many  as  they  choose, 
on  paying  a  small  acknowledgment,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of 
days  the  sport  of  hunting  them  lasts.  They  catch  them  in  the  follow- 
ing manner: — A  number  of  persons  go  on  horseback,  and  are  attended 

by  Indians  on  foot.  When 
arrived  at  the  proper  places, 
they  form  a  circle  in  order  to 
drive  the  Asses  into  some 
valley,  where,  at  full  speed, 
they  throw  the  noose,  and  en- 
deavor to  halter  them.  The 
creatures,  finding  themselves- 
enclosed,  make  furious  efforts 
to  escape;  and,  if  only  one 
forces  his  way  through,  they 
all  follow  with  irresistible  im- 
petuosity. However,  w  h  e  n 
noosed,  the  hunters  throw  them 
down,  and  secure  them  with 

fetters,  and  thus  leave  them  till  the  chase  is  over.  Then,  in  order 
to  bring  them  away  with  greater  facility,  they  pair  them  with  tame 
Asses ;  but  this  is  not  easily  performed,  for  they  are  so  fierce  that 
they  often  wound  the  persons  who  undertake  to  manage  them. 

They  have  all  the  swiftness  of  Horses,  and  neither  declivities  nor 
precipices  can  retard  their  career.  When  attacked,  they  defend  them- 
selves by  their  heels  and  mouth  with  such  address,  that,  without 
slackening  their  pace,  they  often  maim  their  pursuers.  But  the  most 
remarkable  property  in  these  creatures  is,  that,  after  carrying  their 
first  load,  their  celerity  leaves  them,  their  dangerous  ferocity  is  lost, 
and  they  soon  contract  the  stupid  look  and  the  dullness  peculiar  to 
their  species.  It  is  also  observable  that  these  creatures  will  not  per- 
mit a  Horse  to  live  among  them.  They  always  feed  together;  and, 
if  a  Horse  happen  to  stray  into  the  place  where  they  graze,  they  fall 
upon  him,  and,  without  even  giving  him  the  choice  of  flying,  bite  and 
kick  him  till  they  leave  him  dead  on  the  spot. 

The  manner  in  which  the  Asses  descend  the  precipices  of  the  Alps 
or  the  Andes  is  truly  extraordinary.  In  the  passes  of  these  mountains 
there  are  often  on  one  side  lofty  eminences,  and  on  the  other  frightful 
abysses ;  and,  as  these  generally  follow  the  direction  of  the  mountain, 
the  road,  instead  of  lying  on  a  level,  forms,  at  every  little  distance, 
steep  declivities  of  several  hundred  yards  downward.  Places  of  this 
description  can  only  be  descended  by  Asses;  and  the  animals  them- 
selves, by  the  caution  that  they  use,  seem  to  be  sensible  of  the  danger 
to  which  they  are  exposed.  When  they  come  to  the  edge  of  one  of 
the  descents,  they  stop  of  themselves,  without  being  checked  by  the 
rider  ;  and,  if  he  inadvertently  attempt  to  spur  them  on,  they  continue 
immovable.  They  seem  all  this  time  ruminating  on  the  danger  that 
li^s  before  them,  and  preparing  themselves  for  the  encounter.  They 
not  only  attentively  view  the  road,  but  tremble  at  the  danger.  Having 


THE   ASS.  413 

prepared  for  their  descent,  they  place  their  fore-feet  in  a  posture  as  if 
they  were  stooping  themselves;  they  then  also  put  their  hinder  feet 
together,  but  a  little  forward,  as  if  they  were  about  to  lie  down.  In 
this  attitude,  having  taken  a  survey  of  the  road,  they  slide  down  with 
the  swiftness  of  a  meteor.  All  that  the  rider  has  to  do  is  to  keep  h.xn- 
self  fast  on  the  saddle,  without  checking  the  rein  ;  for  the  least  motion 
is  sufficient  to  disorder  the  equilibrium  of  the  Ass,  in  which  case  both 
must  unavoidably  perish.  But  their  address  in  this  rapid  descent  is 
truly  wonderful ;  for,  in  their  swiftest  motion,  when  they  seem  to  have 
lost  all  government  of  themselves,  they  follow  exactly  the  different 
windings  of  the  road,  as  if  they  had  previously  settled  in  their  minds 
the  route  they  were  to  follow,  and  had  taken  every  possible  precaution 
for  their  safety.  In  this  journey  the  natives,  who  are  placed  along 
the  sides  of  the  mountains,  and  hold  themselves  by  the  roots  of  the 
trees,  animate  the  beasts  with  shouts,  and  encourage  them  to  per- 
severance. Some  Asses,  after  being  long  used  to  these  journeys,  ac- 
quire a  kind  of  reputation  for  their  safety  and  skill ;  and  their  value 
rises  in  proportion  to  their  fame. 

In  Spain  the  breed  of  Asses  has,  by  care  and  attention,  become  the 
finest  in  the  world ;  they  are  large,  strong,  elegant,  and  stately  animals, 
they  are  often  found  to  rise  to  fifteen  hands  high.  The  best  of  them 
are  sometimes  sold  for  a  hundred  guineas  or  upwards  each.  This 
shows  that  the  Ass,  notwithstanding  all  our  prejudices,  and  our  gene- 
rally contemptuous  opinion  of  it,  may  be  rendered  even  an  elegant, 
as  well  as  a  useful  animal.  The  Romans  had  a  breed  which  they  held 
in  such  high  estimation,  that  Pliny  mentions  one  of  the  stallions 
selling  for  a  price  greater  than  three  thousand  pounds  sterling;  and 
he  says  that  in  Caltiberia,  a  province  of  Spain,  a  she  Ass  had  Colts 
that  were  bought  for  nearly  the  same  sum. 

Being  more  hardy  than  Horses,  these  animals  are  preferred  to  them 
for  journeys,  across  the  deserts.  Most  of  the  Musselman  pilgrims  use 
them  in  the  long  and  laborious  journeys  to  Mecca;  and  the  chiefs  of 
the  Nubian  caravans,  which  are  sixty  days  .in  passing  immense 
solitudes,  ride  upon  Asses ;  and  these,  on  their  arrival  in  Egypt,  do 
not  appear  fatigued.  When  the  rider  alights,  he  has  no  occasion  to 
fasten  his  Ass;  he  merely  pulls  therein  of  the  bridle  tight,  and  passes 
it  over  a  ring  on  the  fore-part  of  the  saddle ;  this  confines  the  ani- 
mal's head,  and  is  sufficient  to  make  him  remain  patiently  in  his 
place. 

In  the  principal  streets  of  Cairo,  Asses  stand  ready  bridled  and 
saddled  for  hire,  and  answer  the  same  purposes  as  hackney-coaches 
in  London.  The  person  who  lets  them  accompanies  his  Ass,  running 
behind  to  goad  him  on,  and  to  cry  out  to  those  on  foot  to  make  way. 
The  animals  are  regularly  rubbed  down  and  washed,  which  renders 
their  coat  smooth,  soft,  and  glossy.  Their  food  is  similar  to  that  of 
the  Horses,  and  usually  consists  of  chopped  straw,  barley,  and  beans. 
They  here  seem,  says  M.  Denon,  to  enjoy  the  plentitude  of  their  exis- 
tence: they  are  healthy,  active,  cheerful,  and  the  mildest  and  safest 
animals  that  a  person  can  possibly  have.  Their  natural  pace  is  a  can- 
ter or  gallop  ;  and,  without  fatiguing  his  rider,  the  Ass  will  carry  him. 


414 


THE   ASS. 


rapidly  over  the  large  plains  which  lie  between  different  parts  of  this 
straggling  city. 

The  gentleness,  patience,  and  perseverance  of  this  animal,  so  much 
abused  and  neglected  in  England,  are  without  example.  He  is 
subjected  to  excessive  labor,  and  contented  with  the  coarsest  her- 
bage. The  common  lanes  and  high  roads  are  his  nightly  residence, 
and  his  food  is  the  thistle  or  plantain,  which  he  sometimes  prefers  to 
grass.  In  his  drinking  he  is,  however,  singularly  nice,  refusing  all 
but  the  water  of  the  clearest  crooks.  He  is  much  afraid  of  wetting 
his  feet,  and  will,  even  when  loaded,  turn  aside  to  avoid  the  dirty  parts 
of  the  road.  His  countenance  is  mild  and  modest,  fully  expressive  of 

his  simple  and  un- 
a  ffected  deport- 
ment. His  services 
are  too  often  repaid 
by  hard  fare  and 
cruel  usage ;  and, 
being  generally 
the  property  of  the 
poor,  he  partakes 
of  their  wants  and 
their  distresses. 
He  is  more  healthy 
than  the  horse;  and 
though  generally 
degraded  into  the 
most  useless  and 
neglected  of  do- 
mestic quadrupeds, 
he  might,  by  care 
and  education,  be  rendered  useful  for  a  variety  of  domestic  purposes  in 
which  the  horse  is  now  employed.  Were  they  but  to  pay  a  little  atten- 
tion to  him,  we  could  not  fail  to  be  gainers  by  it.  They  ought  also  to 
cross  the  breed  with  the  Arabian,  Egyptian,  or  even  the  Spanish 
males ;  which  would  produce  in  offspring  improved  both  in  strength 
and  appearance.  The  fame  of  Asses  being  stubborn  animals  is,  in  a 
great  measure,  unfounded  ;  as  it  arises  solely  from  ill-usage,  and  not 
from  any  natural  defect  in  their  constitution  or  temper. 

An  old  man,  who  some  years  ago  sold  vegetables  in  London,  used 
in  his  employment  an  Ass,  which  conveyed  his  baskets  from  door  to 
door.  Frequently  he  gave  the  poor  industrious  creature  a  handful  of 
hay,  or  some  pieces  of  bread,  or  greens,  by  way  of  refreshment  and 
reward.  The  old  man  had  no  need  of  any  goad  for  the  animal,  and 
seldom  indeed  had  he  to  lift  up  his  hand  to  drive  it  on.  This  kind 
treatment  was  one  day  remarked  to  him,  and  he  was  asked  whether 
his  beast  was  apt  to  be  stubborn.  "  Ah  master,  (he  replied)  it  is  of  no 
use  to  be  cruel ;  and  as  for  stubbornness,  I  cannot  complain,  for  he  is 
ready  to  do  any  thing,  or  to  go  any  where.  I  bred  him  myself.  He  is 
sometimes  skittish  and  playful,  and  once  ran  away  from  me :  you  will 
hardly  believe  it,  but  there  were  more  than  fifty  people  after  him ; 


ASS   AND   FOAL. 


THE   ASS. 


415 


MULE3   EMPLOYED  TO  DlUd   BAILROAD  CARS. 


attempting  in  vain  to  stop  him  ;  yet  he  turned  back  of  himself,  and 
never  stopped  till  he  ran  his  head  kindly  into  my  bosom." 

There  are  said  to  have  been  no  Asses  in  England  in  the  reign  of 
Queen  Elizabeth.  How  soon  afterwards  they  were  introduced  is  un- 
certain ;  they  are,  however,  at  present  naturalized  in  the  country,  and 
their  utility  becomes  every  day  more  apparent. 

The  skin  of  the  Ass  is  elastic,  and  of  use  for  various  articles,  such 
as  drums,  shoes,  and  the  leaves  of  pocket-books.  Shagreen  is  made  of 
that  part  of  the  skin  which  grows  about  the  rump ;  arid  at  Astracan 
and  throughout  Persia  there  are  great  manufactories  of  it.  It  is  not 
naturally  granulated,  that  roughness  being  altogether  effected  by  art. 
The  flesh  of  the  wild  Ass  is  eaten  by  the  Tartars,  and  is  said  to  be  a 
very  delicate  and  palatable  food.  The  milk  is  universally  known,  and 
is  an  approved  specific  in  many  disorders.  It  is  light,  easy  of  digestion 
and  highly  nutritious. 

The  Mule  is  a  mongrel  breed  between  the  Horse  and  the  Ass.  It 
is  extremely  hardy  and  useful,  though  often  vicious  and  obstinate. 


416 


THE     ZEBRA. 


TUE   ZEBRA. 


THE  ZEBRA. 

The  Zebra,  somewhat  like  the  Mule,  has  a  large  head  and  ears.  Its 
body  is  round  and  plump,  and  its  legs  are  delicately  small.  The  skin 

is  as  smooth  as 
satin,  and  adorned 
with  elegant 
stripes  like  rib- 
bons, which  in  the 
male  are  brown  on 
a  yellowish  white 
ground,  and  in  the 
female  black  on  a 
white  ground. 

Zebras  inhabit 
the  scorching 
plains  of  Africa, 
vast  herds  of  them 
^'  affording  s  o  m  e  - 
®  times  an  agreeable 
relief  to  the  eye 
of  the  wearied  tra- 
veller. They  as- 
semble in  the  day- 
time on  the  extensive  plains  of  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  by 
their  beauty  and  liveliness,  adorn  and  animate  the  dreary  scene. 

All  attempts  to  tame  this  animal,  so  as  to  render  it  serviceable  to 
mankind,  have  hitherto  been  fruitless.  Wild  and  independent  by 
nature,  it  seems  ill  adapted  to  servitude  and  restraint.  If,  however,  it 
were  taken  young,  and  much  care  was  bestowed  upon  its  education,  it 
might,  probably,  be  in  a  great  measure  domesticated. 

Several  Zebras  have  at  different  times  been  brought  into  England. 
In  the  year  1814  there  was  one  in  the  Tower,  which  was  deposited 
there  in  the  month  of  June,  1803.  It  had  been  brought  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  by  lieutenant-general  Dundas ;  and  was  afterwards 
purchased  by  Mr.  Bullock  the  master-keeper  of  the  animals  in  the 
Tower.  This  animal,  which  was  a  female,  was  more  docile  than  the 
generality  of  Zebras  that  have  been  brought  into  Europe  ;  and  when 
in  good  humor,  she  was  tolerably  obedient  to  the  commands  of  her 
keeper,  the  servant  of  the  general,  who  attended  her  during  the  voyage. 
This  man  would  spring  on  her  back,  and  she  would  carry  him  a 
hundred  and  fifty,  or  two  hundred  yards;  but  by  the  time  she  had  done 
this,  she  always  became  restive,  and  he  was  obliged  to  dismount. 
Sometimes,  when  irritated,  she  plunged  at  the  keeper,  and  attempted 
to  kick  him.  She  one  day  seized  him  by  the  coat  with  her  mouth, 
and  threw  him  upon  the  ground ;  and,  had  not  the  man  been  extremely 
active  in  rising  and  getting  out  of  her  reach,  would  certainly  have  de- 
stroyed him.  He  at  times  had  the  utmost  difficulty  to  manage  her,  from 
the  irritability  of  her  disposition ;  the  great  extent,  in  almost  every 


THE    ZEBRA. 


417 


direction,  to  which  she  could  kick  with  her  feet ;  and  the  propensity 
she  had  of  seizins:  whatever  offended  her,  in  her  mouth.     Strangers 


ZEBRA  OF   THE   PLAINS. 


she  would  by  no  means  allow  to  approach  her,  unless  the  keeper  had 
hold  of  her  head  ;  and  even  then  there  was  great  risk  of  a  blow  from 
her  hind  feet. 

The  beautiful  male  Zebra  that  was  burnt  some  years  ago  at  the 
Lyceum,  near  Exeter  'Change,  was  so  gentle,  that  the  keeper  has  often 
put  young  children  upon  its  back,  and  without  any  attempt  from  the 
animal  to  injure  them.  In  one  instance  a  person  rode  it  from  the 
Lyceum  to  Pimlico.  But  this  unusual  docility  in  an  animal  naturally 
vicious,  is  to  be  accounted  for  from  its  having  been  bred  and  reared 
in  Portugal,  from  parents  that  were  themselves  half  reclaimed.  A 
Zebra  that  was  kept  at  Kew,  was  of  a  ferocious  and  savage  nature. 
No  one  dared  to  approach  it,  except  the  person  who  was  accustomed 
to  feed  it,  and  who  alone  could  mount  upon  its  back.  Mr.  Edwards 
saw  this  animal  eat  a  large  paper  of  tobacco,  paper  and  all  ;  and  was 
told  it  would  eat  flesh,  and  any  kind  of  food  that  was  given  to  it. 
This,  however,  might  proceed  from  habit  or  necessity  in  its  long  voy- 
age ;  for  in  a  native  state  these  animals  all  feed,  like  Horses  and  Asses 
on  vegetables. 

The  voice  of  the  Zebra  can  scarcely  be  described.  It  is  thought  by 
some  persons  to  have  a  distant  resemblance  to  the  sound  of  a  post-horn. 
It  is  more  frequently  exerted  when  the  animals  are  alone,  than  at 
other  times. 

In  some  parts  about  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  there  are  many  Zebras  ; 
and  a  penalty  of  fifty  rix-dollars  is  inflicted  on  any  person  who  shoots 
one  of  them.  Whenever  any  of  these  animals  happen  to  be  caught 
alive,  there  is  a  general  order  that  they  must  be  sent  to  the  governor. 


418 


THE  QUAGGA. 


THE  QUAGGA. 

The  Quagga  is 
also  a  native  of 
South  Africa.  It 
bears  some  resem- 
blance to  the  Zebra, 
but  is  at  once  distin- 
guished from  that 
animal  by  the  pau- 
city and  dulness  of 
the  stripes,  which  do 
not  reach  to  the  hind 
quarters  or  legs  at 
all,  and  only  faintly 
mark  the  back,  its 
head  and  neck  bear- 
ing the  deepest 
stripes.  It  is  not 
formed  quite  so 
gracefully  as  the 
Zebra,  —  its  hind 
quarters  being 
slightly  higher  than 
its  shoulders.  The  natives  occasionally  tame  it  for  the  purposes  of 
draught,  but  it  is  not  to  be  depended  on,  being  vicious  and  very 
wild. 


THE  QUAGGA. 


>^_^-^rj 


THE   AMPHIBIOUS   HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


419 


OF  THE  HIPPOPOTAMUS  TEIBE. 

ONLY  one  species  of  Hippopotamus  has  hitherto  been  discovered. 
This  has  four  front  teeth  in  each  jaw ;  the  upper  ones  stand  distant  by 
pairs,  the  lower  ones  are  prominent,  and  the  two  middle  ones  the 
longest.  The  canine  teeth  are  solitary ;  those  of  the  lower  jaw  ex- 
tremely large,  curved,  and  cut  obliquely  at  the  ends.  The  feet  are 
each  armed  at  the  margin  with  four  hoofs. 


THE    AMPHIBIOUS    HIPPOPOTAMUS 


In  size  the  full-grown 
Hippopotamus  is  equal, 
or  even  sometimes  su- 
perior, to  the  Khinoce- 
ros.  One  that  M.  Le 
Yaillant  killed  in  the 
south  of  Africa  mea- 
sured ten  feet  seven 
inches  in  length,  and 
about  nine  in  circum- 
ference. Its  form  is 
uncouth,  the  body  being 
extremely  large,  fat, 
and  round ;  the  legs 
are  very  short  and 
thick ;  the  head  is  large, 
the  mouth  extremely 
wide  ;  and  the  teeth  of 
vast  strength  and  size.  The  eyes  and  ears  are  small.  The  tail  is 
27 


THE   HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


420 


THE   AMPHIBIOUS   HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


short,  and  sparingly  scattered  with  hair.  The  whole  animal  is  covered 
with  short  hair,  thinly  set,  and  is  of  a  brownish  color.  The  hide 
is  in  some  parts  two  inches  thick,  and  not  much  unlike  that  of  the 
hog. 

From  the  unwieldiness  of  his  body,  and  the  shortness  of  his  legs, 
the  Hippopotamus,  according  to  the  account  given  by  M.  de  Buffon, 
is  not  able  to  move  fast  upon  land,  and  is  then  an  extremely  timid 
animal.  If  pursued  he  takes  to  the  water, 'plunges  in,  sinks  to  the 
bottom,  and  there  walks  at  ease.  He  cannot,  however,  continue  long 
without  rising  to  the  air  for  the  purpose  of  breathing ;  though,  if 
threatened  with  danger,  he  does  this  so  cautiously,  that  the  place 
where  his  nose  is  raised  above  the  surface  of  the  water  is  scarcely 
perceptible. 

If  wounded,  the  Hippopotamus  will  rise  and  attack  boats  or  canoes 
with  great  fury,  and  he  will  often  sink  them  by  biting  large  pieces 

out  of  their  sides.  In 
shallow  rivers,  he 
makes  deep  holes  in 
the  bottom,  in  order 
to  conceal  his  great 
bulk.  When  he  quits 
the  water,  he  usually 
puts  out  half  his  body 
at  once,  and  smells 
and  looks  round ;  but 
he  sometimes  rushes 
out  with  great  im- 
petuosity, and  tram- 
ples down  every  thing 
in  his  way.  During 
the  night  he  leaves 
the  rivers,  in  order  to 
feed  on  sugar-canes,  rushes,  millet,  or  rice,  of  which  he  consumes  great 
quantities. 

The  Egyptians  are  said  to  adopt  a  singular  mode  of  destroying  this 
voracious  animal.  They  mark  the  places  that  he  chiefly  frequents, 
and  there  deposit  a  quantity  of  peas.  When  the  beast  comes  ashore, 
hungry  and  voracious,  he  eagerly  devours  the  peas,  which  occasion 
an  insupportable  thirst.  He  then  rushes  into  the  water,  and  drinks 
so  copiously,  that  the  peas  in  his  stomach  being  fully  saturated,  swell 
so  much  as  soon  afterwards  to  kill  him.  Among  the  Caffres  in  the 
South  'of  Africa,  the  Hippopotamus  is  sometimes  caught  by  means  of 
pits,  made  in  the  paths  that  lead  to  his  haunts.  But  the  gait  of  this 
animal,  when  undisturbed,  is  generally  so  slow  and  cautious,  that  he 
often  smells  out  the  snare,  and  avoids  it.  The  most  certain  method 
is  to  watch  him  at  night,  behind  a  bush  close  to  his  path :  and,  as  he 
passes,  to  wound  him  in  the  tendons  of  the  knee-joint,  by  which  he 
is  immediately  rendered  lame,  and  unable  to  escape  from  the  nume- 
.rous  hunters  that  afterwards  assail  him. 

.These  creatures  are  capable  of  being  tamed.    Belon  says,  he  haa 


HIPPOPOTAMUS   UPSETTING  A  BOAT. 


THE    HIPPOPOTAMUS.  421 

seen  one  so  gentle,  as  to  be  let  loose  out  of  a  stable,  and  led  by  its 
keeper,  without  attempting  to  injure  any  person. 

"  The  Hippopotamus  is  not  (says  Dr.  Sparrman)  so  slow  and  heavy 
in  his  pace  on  land,  as  M.  de  Buffon  describes  him  to  be  ;  for  both  the 
Hottentots  and  colonists  consider  it  dangerous  to  meet  a  Hippopota- 
mus out  of  the  water ;  indeed,  an  instance  had  recently  occurred,  of 
one  of  these  animals  having  for  several  hours  pursued  a  Hottentot, 
who  found  it  difficult  to  make  his  escape." 

Prefessor  Thunburg  was  informed,  by  a  respectable  person  at  the 
Cape,  that  as  he  and  a  party  were  on  a  hunting  expedition,  they  ob- 
served a  female  Hippopotamus  come  out  from  one  of  the  rivers,  and 
retire  to  a  little  distance  from  its  bank,  in  order  to  calve.  They  lay 
concealed  in  the  bushes  till  the  calf  and  its  mother  made  their  appear- 
ance, when  one  of  them  fired,  and  shot  the  latter  dead.  The  Hotten- 
tots, who  imagined  that  after  this  they  could  seize  the  calf  alive,  im- 
mediately ran  from  their  hiding-place ;  but  though  it  had  only  just 
been  brought  into  the  world,  the  young  animal  got  out  of  their  hands, 
and  made  the  best  of  its  way  to  the  river,  where,  plunging  in,  it  got 
safely  off.  This  is  a  singular  instance  of  pure  instinct,  for,  the  Pro- 
fessor observes,  the  creature  unhesitatingly  ran  to  the  river,  as  its 
proper  place  of  security,  without  having  previously  received  any  in- 
structions from  the  actions  of  its  parent  to  do  so. 

The  flesh  of  the  Hippopotamus  is  in  great  request  among  the  Hot- 
tentots, who  are  very  fond  of  it,  either  roasted  or  boiled.  Their  parti- 
ality might  not,  however,  induce  a  European  to  suppose  it  excellent, 
for  they  considerably  exceed  our  epicures  in  their  relish  for  high- 
flavored  game.  Thunburg  passed  a  Hottentot  tent,  which  had  been 
pitched  for  the  purpose  of  consuming  the  body  of  an  Hippopotamus, 
that  had  been  killed  some  time  before :  the  inhabitants  were  in  the 
midst  of  such  stench,  that  the  travellers  could  hardly  pass  them  with- 
out being  suffocated. 

The  skin  of  the  Hippopotamus  is  cut  into  thongs  for  whips,  which, 
for  softness  and  pliability,  are  pre- 
ferred by  the  Africans  to  those  of 
the  hide  of  the  rhinoceros ;  and 
the  tusks,  from  their  always  pre- 
serving their  original  whiteness 
and  purity,  are  reckoned  superior 
to  ivory.  The  French  dentists 
manufacture  them  into  artificial 
teeth.. 

These  animals  inhabit  the  rivers 
of  Africa,  from  the  Niger  to  Berg 
river,  many  miles  north  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  formerly 
abounded  in  the  rivers  nearer  the  Cape,  but  they  are  now  almost  ex- 
tirpated there.  Mr.  Gumming  relates  a  curious  adventure,  in  which 
he  assailed  the  Hippopotamus  in  the  water,  armed  only  with  a  knife. 


HIPPOPOTAMUS. 


422  THE   LONG-NOSED    TAPIR. 


OF  THE  TAPIK  TEIBE 

OF  this,  as  of  the  preceding  tribe,  there  is  only  one  known  species ; 
and  as  the  former  is  a  native  only  of  the  Old,  this  is  an  inhabitant,  ex- 
clusively, of  the  New  Continent.  There  are  front-teeth  in  each  jaw  ; 
and  single  incurvated  canine  teeth. '  There  are  also  five  broad  grinders 
on  each  side,  both  above  and'  below.  On  the  hind  feet  there  are  three 
hoofs,  and  on  the  fore  feet  four. 

THE    LONG-NOSED    TAPIE. 

The  Tapir  is  about  the  size  of  a  small  Cow.     The  nose  of  the  male 

is  elongated  into  a  kind  of  proboscis, 
capable  of  being  contracted  and  ex- 
tended at  pleasure.  The  ears  are 
roundish  and  erect;  and  the  tail  is 
short  and  naked.  The  neck  is  thick, 
short,  and  has  a  kind  of  bristly  mane, 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  long  near 
the  head.  The  body  is  thick  and 
clumsy,  and  the  back  .  somewhat 
arched.  The  legs  are  short  and  thick ; 
and  the  feet  have  small  black  hoofs. 
The  hair  is  of  a  dusky  or  brownish 
color. 

In  its  general  habits  this  animal  has  a  considerable  resemblance  to 
the  Hippopotamus  ;  yet,  in  many  particulars,  it  reminds  us  also  of  the 
Elephant  and  of  the  Ehinoceros.  It  is  the  largest  of  all  the  South 
American  quadrupeds,  except  the  Horse  ;  and  its  skin  is  so  thick  and 
hard,  as  to  be  almost  impenetrable  by  a  bullet.  Although  its  natural 
disposition  is  marked  only  by  actions  indicative  of  mildness  and 
timidity,  endeavoring  when  attacked,  to  save  itself  by  flight,  or  by 
plunging  into  the  water,  yet,  if  its  retreat  be  cut  off,  it  has  courage 
and  strength  to  make  a  most  powerful  resistance,  both  against  men 
and  dogs. 

The  Tapir  feeds  chiefly  by  night,  and  subsists  upon  sugar-canes, 
grasses,  the  leaves  of  shrubs,  and  various  kinds  of  fruit.  In  feeding 
it  uses  its  long  projecting  nose  or  proboscis,  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  Ehinoceros  applies  his  upper  lip,  to  grasp  its  food  and  convey  it  to 
its  mouth.  This  is  an  instrument  of  great  flexibility  and  strength  ; 
and  in  it,  as  in  the  proboscis  of  the  Elephant,  are  situated  the  organs 
of  smell. 

Notwithstanding  its  general  clumsy  appearance,  the  Tapir  is  an  ex- 
tremely active  animal  in  the  water,  where  it  swims  and  dives  with 
singular  facility.  Like  the  Hippopotamus,  it  is  able  to  continue  im- 
mersed for  a  considerable  while ;  but  it  is  also  under  the  necessity  of 
occasionally  rising  to  the  surface  in  order  to  breathe.  During  the 
day-time  this  animal  generally  sleeps  in  some  retired  part  of  the 


THE    TAPIR. 


423 


woods.  It  chiefly  resides  in  dry  places,  near  the  sides  of  hills ;  and 
occasionally  frequents  the  savannahs  in  quest  of  food.  On  land  its 
motions  appear  to  be  slow,  and  its  disposition  inactive.  Its  voice  is 
a  kind  of  whistle,  which  the  hunters  easily  imitate,  and  by  this  means 
frequently  lure  it  to  its  destruction.  The  usual  attitude  which  the 
Tapir  adopts,  when  at  rest,  is  sitting  on  its  rump  in  the  manner  of  a 
Dog. 

Except  at  one  season  of  the  year,  the  male  lives  entirely  apart  from 


HUNTING   THE  TAPIR. 


the  female.  To  the  latter  belongs  the  whole  management  of  rearing 
their  offspring.  This  she  leads  to  the  water,  arid  she  seems  to  delight 
in  teaching  it  to  swim,  frequently  plunging  about  and  playing  with 
it,  in  that  element,  for  a  considerable  while  together.  On  land  it  runs 
after  her  wherever  she  goes. 

If  they  are  caught  young,  these  animals  may,  without  difficulty,  be 
tamed,  and  rendered  even  in  some  measure  domestic.  They  are  very 
common  in  the  town  of  Cayenne,  where  they  are  suffered  to  run  about 
the  streets,  and  are  fed  with  cassava-bread  and  fruit.  M.  Bajou,  a 
surgeon  attached  to  the  government,  had,  at  this  place,  a  Tapir  which 
became  perfectly  familiar,  and  acquired  a  strong  attachment  to  him, 
distinguishing  him  in  the  midst  of  many  other  persons,  licking  his 
hands,  and  following  him  like  a  Dog.  This  animal  would  often  go 
alone  into  the  woods  to  a  great  distance,  but  always  returned  to  his 
home  early  in  the  evening.  M.  Bajou  assures  us,  that  a  Tapir,  which 
had  been  suffered  to  run  tame  about  the  streets  of  Cayenne,  became 
so  unmanageable  in  a  vessel,  on  board  of  which  it  was  put  in  order  to 
be  conveyed  to  France,  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  confine  it.  It 
broke  the  very  strong  cords  with  which  it  was  tied,  and,  throwing 
itself  overboard,  escaped  to  shore.  Every  one  supposed  it  to  have 
been  lost,  but,  in  the  evening,  it  returned  to  the  town.  On  reimbark- 
ing  it,  great  precautions  were  taken  to  prevent  its  escape ;  but  these 


424  THE   HYRAN   OR   DAMAN. 

did  not  succeed,  for  during  the  voyage,  a  storm  happening  to  rise,  it 
became  again  outrageous,  broke  its  fetters,  and,  rushing  out  of  its 
place  of  confinement,  committed  itself  to  the  waves,  and  was  never 
afterwards  seen. 

In  the  year  1704,  a  Tapir  was  exhibited  alive  at  Amsterdam,  under 
the  name  of  Sea  Horse.  Another,  which,  about  the  same  time,  was  in 
the  menagerie  of  the  Prince  of  Orange,  was  so  young  as  scarcely  to 
be  larger  than  a  Hog.  Its  proboscis,  when  at  rest,  did  not  much 
extend  below  the  under  lip;  and,  in  this  state,  had  numerous  circular 
wrinkles,  but  was  capable  of  considerable  extension.  It  had  no  finger 
at  the  extremity,  like  the  proboscis  of  an  Elephant,  notwithstanding 
which,  the  animal,  by  means  of  it,  could  pick  up  from  the  ground  the 
smallest  objects.  This  creature  was  very  gentle,  and  approached 
with  familiarity  any  one  who  entered  its  lodge.  A  female  Tapir  was 
exhibited  at  several  of  the  fairs  in  Holland  and  Germany.  The 
keepers  usually  fed  it  on  rye-bread,  a  kind  of  gruel,  and  on  vegetables 
of  different  kinds.  It  was  excessively  fond  of  apples,  and  was  able  to 
smell  them  to  a  considerable  distance.  If  any  person  happened  to 
have  apples  in  his  pockets,  it  would  eagerly  approach,  and  thrusting 
in  its  proboscis,  would  take  them  out  with  surprising  facility.  It  ate 
of  almost  every  thing  that  could  be  presented  to  it,  whether  vegetables, 
iish,  or  meat/  Its  favorite  attitude  was  sitting  on  its  rump,  like  a 
Dog ;  and  it  never  exerted  its  voice  unless  it  was  either  fatigued  or 
irritated. 

In  the  year  1812,  there  was,  at  Exeter  'Change,  a  young  Tapir, 
wrhich  was  not  bigger  than  a  large  Hog.  It  had  been  brought  into 
England  about  seven  months  before,  with  another  of  the  same  species, 
which  died  not  long  after  its  arrival.  In  every  respect  it  appeared  to 
be  a  mild  and  docile  beast. 

These  animals  inhabit  the  eastern  parts  of  South  America;  and 
occur  in  great  numbers,  from  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  to  the  river 
Amazon.  Their  flesh  is  considered  by  the  South  Americans  as  a 
wholesome  food ;  and  the  skin  serves  all  the  purposes  for  which  a 
strong  leather  would  be  required.  The  Indians  make  shields  of  it, 
which  are  stated  to  be  so  hard,  as  to  be  impenetrable  by  an  arrow. 

The  Malay  Tapir  is  somewhat  larger,  and  is  known  by  the  greyish 
white  color  of  the  loins  and  hind  quarters,  which  give  the  animal  an 
appearance  as  if  a  white  horse-cloth  had  been  spread  over  it. 


THE   IIYRAX,    OR   DAMAN. 

The  Hyran,  or  Daman,  although  so  small  an  animal,  is  ranked 
among  the  Tapirs.  It  abounds  on  the  sides  of  Table  Mountain,  where 
it  may  be  seen  skipping  near  its  burrow's  mouth,  or  cropping  the 
herbage  ;  on  the  least  alarm,  however,  it  instantly  retreats  to  its  strong- 
hold, whence  it  cannot  be  dislodged  without  the  greatest  difficulty. 
In  the  general  contour  of  its  body,  the  Hyran  is  stout  and  thickly 
set.  The  limbs  are  short,  the  toes  on  each  foot  are  four  before  and 


THE   COMMON    HOG. 


425 


three  behind,  all  being  tipped  with  little  slender  hoofs,  except  the 
inner  toe  on  each  hind  foot,  which  is  armed  with  a  long,  crooked  nail. 
The  head  is  large  and  thick,  the  eyes  of  a  moderate  size,  the  ears 
short  and  rounded ;  the  teeth  consist  of  molars,  and  incisors,  the 
former  bearing  a  close  resemblance  to  those  of  the  Rhinoceros.  It 
has  no  tail.  The  general  color  of  the  fur,  which  is  soft  and  thick,  is 
a  dark  greyish  brown,  becoming  paler  beneath. 


OF   THE   HOG-   TRIBE   IN  GENERAL. 

IN  the  upper  jaw 
there  are  four  front 
teeth,  the  points  of 
which  converge ; 
and,  usually,  six  | 
in  the  lower  jaw, 
which  project. 
The  canine  teeth, 
or  tusks,  are  two 
in  each  jaw ;  those 
above  short,  while 
those  below  are 
long,  and  extend 
out  of  the  mouth. 
The  snout  is  pro- 
minent, moveable,  and  has  the  appearance  of  having  been  cut  oft',  or 
truncated.  The  feet  are  cloven. 

The  manners  of  these  animals  are,  in  general,  filthy  and  disgusting. 
They  are  fond  of  wallowing  in  the  mire,  and  feed  almost  indifferently 
on  animal  and  vegetable  food,  devouring  even  the  most  corrupted 
carcasses.  With  their  strong  and  tendinous  snout  they  dig  the  earth, 
in  search  of  roots  and  other  aliments  hidden  beneath  the  surface. 
They  are  exceedingly  prolific. 


THE   COMMON   HOG. 


In  Europe  Wild  Boars  inhabit  the 
depths  of  forests,  where,  in  vegetables 
and  fallen  fruits,  they  are  supplied 
with  an  abundance  of  food.  From 
these  forests  they  never  issue  but  for 
the  purpose  of  changing  their  resi-- 
dence,  or  of  plundering  and  devasta- 
ting the  adjacent  fields.  In  Egypt, 
on  the  contrary,  the  Wild  Boar  has 
no  shelter.  Continually  exposed  to 
the  fervor  of  a  burning  sun,  he  tra- 
verses the  sandy  plains  where  the 


THE  COMMON  HCK3. 


426  THE    COMMON   HOG. 

few  scattered  shrubs  which  are  there  found,  yield  him  but  little  sub- 
sistence, and  still  less  shade. 

While  they  are  young,  these 
animals  live-  in  herds,  for  the 
purpose  of  mutual  defence ; 
but  the  moment  they  come  to 
maturity,  they  walk  the  forest 
alone  and  fearless.  They 
seldom  attack  unprovoked ; 
but  they  dread  no  enemy,  and 
shun  n'one.  When  hunted, 

WILD  BOAR.  t^y    &Q    ^Q^     gQ    mucll     $QQ   frOm 

their  assailants,  as  keep  them  at  bay,  and  are  at  last  rather  wearied 
out,  or  overcome  by  numbers,  than  fairly  killed  in  the  chase. 

The  .Domestic  Hog  is,  generally  speaking,  a  harmless  and  inoffen- 
sive beast.  He  lives  chiefly  on  vegetables,  though,  when  pressed  by 
hunger,  he  will  devour  even  the  most  putrid  carcasses.  We,  how- 
ever, generally  conceive  him  much  more  indelicate  than  he  really  is. 
He  selects,  at  least,  the  plants  of  his  choice,  with  great  sagacity  and 
niceness;  and  is  never,  like  some  other  animals,  poisoned  by  mis- 
taking noxious  for  wholesome  food.  Selfish,  indocile,  and  rapacious, 
as  many  think  him,  no  animal  has  greater  sympathy  for  those  of  his 
own  kind  than  the  Hog.  The  moment  one  of  these  animals  gives  the 
signal  of  distress,  all  within  hearing  rush  to  its  assistance.  They 
have  been  known  to  gather  round  a  Dog  that  teased  them,  and  kill 
him  on  the  spot.  Enclose  a  male  and  female  in  a  sty,  when  young, 
and  the  female  will  decline  from  the  instant  her  companion  is  removed, 
and  will  probably  die  of  a  broken  heart.  This  animal  is  well  adapted 
to  the  mode  of  life  to  which  it  is  destined.  Having  to  obtain  a  sub- 
sistence principally  by  turning  up  the  earth  with  its  nose,  we  find 
that  the  neck  is  strong  and  brawny ;  the  eyes  are  small,  and  placed 
high  in  the  head ;  the  snout  is  long ;  the  nose  callous  and  tough,  and 
the  power  of  smelling  peculiarly  acute.  The  external  form  is  indeed 
very  unwieldy,  but,  by  the  strength  of  its  tendons,  the  Wild  Boar  is 
enabled  to  fly  from  the  hunters  with  surprising  agility.  The  back 
toe  on  the  feet  of  this  animal  prevents  its  slipping  while  it  descends 
steep  declivities. 

In  Minorca  the  Hog  is  converted  into  a  beast  of  draught;  a  Cow,  a 
Sow,  and  two  young  Horses,  have  been  seen  in  that  island  yoked 
together,  and  of  the  four  the  Sow  drew  the  best.  The  Ass  and  the 
Hog  are  their  common  helpmates,  and  are  frequently  yoked  together 
to  plough  the  land.  In  some  parts  of  Italy,  Swine  are  employed  in 
hunting  for  truffles,  which  grow  some  inches  deep  in  the  ground.  A 
cord  being  tied  round  the  hind  leg  of  one  of  the  animals,  the  beast  is 
driven  into  the  pastures,  and  we  are  told  that  wherever  he  stops  and 
begins  to  root  with  his  nose,  truffles  are  always  to  be  found. 

In  proof  that  these  animals  are  not  destitute  of  sagacity,  it  would 
perhaps  be  unnecessary  to  recite  any  other  accounts  than  those  of  the 
various  "  learned  Pigs"  which  have  at  different  times  been  exhibited 
in  this  country.  But  an  'nstance  more  surprising  than  these  was 


THE  COMMON  HOG.  427 

afforded  by  Toomer,  the  gamekeeper  of  the  late  Sir  H.  P.  St.  John 
Mild  may,  actually  breaking  in  a  black  New  Forest  Sow  to  find  game, 
back  and  stand,  nearly  as  well  as  a  pointer.  This  Sow,  when  very 
young,  took  a  great  partiality  to  some  pointer  puppies  that  Toomer, 
then  under-keeper  of  Broomy  Lodge,  in  the  New  Forest,  was  breaking. 
It  played  and  often  came  to  feed  with  them.  From  this  circumstance 
it  occured  to  Toomer,  to  use  his  own  expression,  "  that,  having  broken 
many  a  Dog  as  obstinate  as  a  Pig,  he  would  try  if  he  could  also  suc- 
ceed in  breaking  a  Pig."  The  little  animal  would  often  go  out  with 
the  puppies  to  some  distance  from  home;  and  Toomer  would  entice 
it  further  by  a  sort  of  pudding  made  of  barley-meal,  which  he  carried 
in  one  of  his  pockets.  The  other  he  filled  with  stones,  which  he  threw 
at  the  Pig  whenever  she  misbehaved,  as  he  was  not  able  to  catch  and 
correct  her,  in  the  same  manner  as  he  did  his  Dogs.  He  informed 
Sir  Henry  Mildmay,  who  communicated  to  me  this  account,  that  he 
found  the  animal  very  tractable,  and 
that  he  soon  taught  her  what  he 
wished,  by  this  mode  of  reward  and 
punishment.  Sir  Henry  Mildmay, 
informed  me  that  he  had  frequently 
seen  her  out  with  Toomer,  when  she  ,-M 
quartered  her  ground,  stood  when  she 
came  on  game,  having  an  excellent 
nose,  and  backed  other  Dogs  as  well  as  DOMESTIC  HOG. 

he  ever  saw  a  pointer.  When  she  came  on  the  cold  scent  of  game, 
she  slackened  her  trot,  and  gradually  dropped  her  ears  and  tail,  till 
she  was  certain,  and  she  then  fell  down  on  her  knees.  So  staunch 
was  this  animal  that  she  would  frequently  remain  five  minutes  and 
upwards  on  her  point.  As  soon  as  the  game  rose,  she  always 
returned  to  Toomer,  grunting  very  loudly  for  her  reward  of  pudding, 
if  it  was  not  immediately  given  to  her.  When  Toomer  died,  his 
widow  sent  the  Pig  to  Sir  Henry  Mildmay,  who  kept  it  for  three 
years,  but  never  used  it  except  for  the  purpose  of  amusing  his 
friends.  In  doing  this,  a  fowl  was  put  into  a  cabbage  net,  and 
hidden  among  the  fern  in  some  part  of  the  park,  and  the  extraordi- 
nary animal  never  failed  to  point  it,  in  the  manner  above  described. 
Sir  Henry  was  at  length,  obliged  to  part  with  this  Sow,  from  a 
circumstance  as  singular  as  the  other  occurrences  of  her  life.  A 
great  number  of  Lambs  had  been  lost,  nearly  as  soon  as  they  were 
dropped,  and  a  person  having  been  sent  to  watch  the  flock,  the 
animal  was  detected  in  the  very  act  of  devouring  a  Lamb.  This 
carnivorous  propensity  was  ascribed  to  her  having  been  accustomed 
to  feed  with  the  Dogs,  and  to  partake  of  the  flesh  on  which  they 
were  fed.  Sir  Henry  sent  her  back  to  Mrs.  Toomer,  who  sold  her 
to  Mr.  Sykes,  of  Brookwood  in  the  New  Forest,  where  she  died  the 
usual  death  of  a  Pig,  and  was  converted  into  bacon. 

The  senses  of  taste  and  smelling  are  enjoyed  by  these  animals  in 
great  perfection.  Wind  appears  to  have  great  influence  on  them; 
for  when  it  blows  violently  they  seem  much  agitated,  and  run  towards 
their  sty,  sometimes  screaming  in  the  most  violent  manner.  Natur- 


428  THE    COMMON    HOG. 

alists  have  also  remarked  that,  on  the 
approacli  of  bad  weather,  they  will  bring 
straw  to  the  sty,  as  if  to  guard  against  the 
effects  of  wind.  The  country  people  have 
a  singular  adage,  that  "Pigs  can  see  wind." 
That  Swine  are  extremely  tenacious  of 
life  is  known  to  almost  every  person  who 
is  acquainted  with  their  manners.  The 
most  curious  instance  that  I  have  met  with 
of  this,  in  any  writer,  is  in  Josselyn's  account  of  two  voyages  to 
New  England.  I  shall  insert  the  passage,  though  I  by  no  means 
intend  to  vouch  for  its  truth.  "  Being  at  a  friend's  house  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, the  cook-maid  making  ready  to  slaughter  a  Pig,  she 
put  the  hinder  parts  between  her  legs,  as  the  usual  manner  is, 
and  taking  the  snout  in  her  left  hand,  with  a  long  knife  stuck  the 
Pig,  and  cut  the  small  end  of  the  heart  almost  in  two,  letting  it 
bleed  as  long  as  any  blood  came  forth;  then  throwing  it  into  a 
kettle  of  boiling  water,  the  Pig  swam  twice  round  about  the  kettle; 
when  taking  it  out  to  the  dresser,  she  rubbed  it  with  powdered 
rosin,  and  stripped  off  the  hair,  and  as  she  was  cutting  off  the  hinder 
petty-toe,  the  Pig  lifted  up  his  head  with  open  mouth,  as  if  it  would 
have  bitten.  Well,  the  belly  was  cut  up,  the  entrails  drawn  out,  and 
the  heart  laid  upon  the  board,  which,  notwithstanding  the  wound  it 
received,  had  motion  in  it  above  four  hours  after.  There  were  several 
of  the  family  by,  with  myself,  and  we  could  not  otherwise  conclude 
but  that  the  Pig  was  bewitched." 

The  females  go  four  months  with  young,  and  have  very  numerous 
litters,  sometimes  as  many  as  twenty  at  a  time.  These  animals  live 
to  a  considerable  age,  even  to  twenty-five  or  thirty  years. 

In  the  island  of  Sumatra  there  is  a  variety  of  this  species,  that 
frequents  the  impenetrable  bushes  and  marshes  of  the  sea-coast. 
These  animals  live  on  Crabs  and  roots:  they  associate  in  herds,  are 
of  a  gray  color,  and  smaller  than,  the  English  Swine.  At  certain 
periods  of  the  year  they  swim  in  herds,  consisting  of  sometimes  a 
thousand,  from  one  side  of  the  river  Siak  to  the  other,  at  its  mouth, 
which  is  three  or  four  miles  broad,  and  again  return  at  stated  times. 
This  kind  of  passage  also  takes  place  in  the  small  islands,  by  their 
swimming  from  one  to  the  other.  On  these  occasions  they  are  hun- 
ted by  a  tribe  of  the  Malays,  who  live  on  the  coasts  of  the  kingdom 
of  Siack,  and  are  called  Salettians. 

These  men  are  said  to  smell  the  Swine  long  before  they  see  them, 
and  when  they  do  this  they  immediately  prepare  their  boats.  They 
then  send  out  their  Dogs,  which  are  trained  for  this  kind  of  hunting, 
along  the  strand,  where,  by  their  barking,  they  prevent  the  Swine 
from  coming  ashore  and  concealing  themselves  among  the  bushes. 
During  the  passage  the  Boars  precede,  and  are  followed  by  the  fe- 
males and  the  young,  all  in  regular  rows,  each  resting  its  snout  on 
the  rump  of  the  preceding  one.  Swimming  thus  in  close  rows,  they 
form  a  singular  appearance. 

The  Salettians,   men  and  women    meet  them  in  their  small,  flat 


THE    ETHIOPIAN   HOG.  429 

boats.  The  former  row,  and  throw  large  mats,  made  of  the  long 
leaves  of  the  Pandamus  odoratissima,  interwoven  through  each  other, 
before  the  leader  of  each  row  of  swine,  which  still  continue  to  swim 
with  great  strength,  but,  soon  pushing  their  feet  into  the  mats,  they 
get  so  entangled  as  to  be  able  either  no  longer  to  move,  or  only  to 
move  very  slowly.  The  rest  are,  however,  neither  alarmed  nor  discon- 
certed, but  keep  close  to  each  other;  none  of  them  leaving  the  position 
in  which  they  were  placed.  The  men  then  row  towards  them  in  a  lat- 
eral direction  ;  and  the  women,  armed  with  long  javelins,  stab  as 
many  of  the  Swine  as  they  can  reach.  For  those  beyond  their  reach, 
they  are  furnished  with  smaller  spears,  about  six  feet  in  length,  which 
they  dart  to  the  distance  of  thirty  or  forty  feet  with  a  sure  aim.  As 
it  is  impossible  for  them  to  throw  mats  before  all  the  rows,  the  rest 
of  these  animals  swim  off  in  regular  order,  to  the  places  for  which 
they  set  out,  and  for  this  time  escape  the  danger.  As  the  dead  Swine 
are  found  floating  round  in  great  numbers,  they  are  picked  up  and 
put  into  larger  boats,  which  follow  for  the  purpose. 

Some  of  these  swine  the  Salettians  sell  to  the  Chinese  traders  who 
visit  the  island ;  and  of  the  rest  they  preserve  in  general  only  the 
skins  and  fat.  The  latter  after  being  melted,  they  sell  to  the  Maki 
Chinese  ;  and  it  is  used  by  the  common  people  instead  of  butter,  as 
long  as  it  is  not  rancid,  and  also  for  burning  in  lamps,  instead  of 
cocoa-nut  oil. 


THE     ETHIOPIAN    HOG. 

This  animal,  in  its  general  appearance,  is  much  allied  to  the  Com- 
mon Hog ;  but  is  distinguished  from  it  by  a  pair  of  large  semicircular 
lobes  or  wattles,  situated  beneath  the  eyes.  The  snout  also  is  much 
broader,  and  very  strong  and  callous. 

These  creatures  inhabit  the  wildest,  most  uncultivated,  and  hottest 
parts  of  Africa,  from  Senegal  to  Conga ;  and  they  are  also  found  on 
the  island  of  Madagascar.  The  natives  carefully  avoid  their  retreats, 
since,  from  their  fierce  and  savage  nature,  they  often  rush  upon  them 
unawares,  and  gore  them  with  their  tusks. 

They  reside  principally  in  subterraneous  recesses,  which  they  dig  by 
means  of  their  nose  and  hoofs.  If  attacked  and  pursued,  they  rush 
on  their  adversary  with  astonishing  force,  striking  like  the  common 
boar,  with  their  tusks,  which  are  capable  of  inflicting  the  most  tre- 
mendous wounds. 

A  Boar  of  this  species  was  sent,  1765,  by  the  governor  of  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  to  the  Prince  of  Orange.  From  confinement  and 
attention  he  became  mild  and  gentle,  except  when  offended  ;  in  which 
case  even  those  persons  to  whose  care  he  was  entrusted,  were  afraid 
of  him.  In  general,  however,  when  the  door  of  his  cage  was  opened, 
he  came  out  in  perfect  good-humor,  gaily  frisked  about  in  search  of 
food,  and  greedily  devoured  whatever  was  given  him.  He  was  one 
day  left  alone  in  the  court-yard  for  a  few  minutes,  arid  on  the  return  of 
the  keeper,  was  found  busily  digging  into  the  earth,  where,  notwith- 


430 


THE   ETHIOPIAN    HOG. 


standing  the  cemented  bricks  of  the  pavement,  lie  had  made  fin 
amazingly  large  hole,  with  a  view,  as  was  afterwards  discovered,  of 
reaching  a  common  sewer  that  passed  at  a  considerable  depth  be- 
low. It  was  not  without  much  trouble,  and  the  assistance  of  several 
men,  that  his  labor  could  be  interrupted.  They  at  length,  however, 
forced  him  into  his  cage ;  but  he  expressed  great  resentment,  and 
uttered  a  sharp  and  mournful  noise. 

His  motions  were  altogether  much  more  agile  and  neat  than  those  of 
the  common  Hog.  He  would  allow  himself  to  be  stroked,  and  even 
seemed  delighted  with  rough  friction.  When  provoked,  or  rudely 
pushed,  he  always  retired  backward,  keeping  his  face,  towards  the 
assailant,  and  shaking  his  head  or  forcibly  striking  with  it.  When, 
after  long  confinement,  he  was  set  at  liberty  for  a  little  while,  he 
was  very  gay,  and  leaped  about  in  an  entertaining  manner.  On 
these  occasions,  he  would,  with  his  tail  erect,  sometimes  pursue  the 
fallow-deer  arid  other  animals. 

His  food  was  principally  grain  and  roots ;  and  of  the  former  he 
preferred  barley  and  wheat.  He  was  so  fond  of  rye-bread,  that  he 
would  run  after  any  person  who  had  a  piece  of  it  in  his  hand.  In 
the  acts  of  eating  and  drinking  he  always  supported  himself  on  the 
knees  of  his  fore  feet;  and  would  often  rest  in  this  position.  His 
eyes  were  so  situated  as  to  prevent  his  seeing  around  him,  being 
interrupted  by  the  wattles  and  prominences  of  his  face;  but,  in 
compensation  for  this  defect,  his  senses  of  smelling  and  hearing  were 
wonderfully  acute. 

Dr.  Sparrman,  when  he  was  in  Africa,  pursued  several  Pigs  with 
the  old  Sows,  with  the  intention  of  shooting  one  of  them  ;  but  though 
he  failed  in  this  object,  their  chase  afforded  him  singular  pleasure. 
The  heads  of  the  females,  which  had  before  appeared  of  a  tolerable 
size,  seemed  on  a  sudden  to  have  grown  larger  and  more  shapeless 
than  they  were.  This  momentary  and  wonderful  change  astonished 
him  so  much  the  more,  as,  riding  hard  over  a  country  full  of  bushes 
and  pits,  he  had  been  prevented  from  giving  sufficient  attention  to  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  brought  about.  The  whole  of  the  mystery 
however,  consisted  in  this  :  each  of  the  old  ones,  during  its  flight,  had 
taken  a  Pig  in  its  mouth  ;  a  circumstance  that  also  explained  to  him 
another  subject  of  his  surprise,  which  was,  that  all  the  Pigs  which  he 
had  just  before  been  chasing  along  with  the  old  ones,  had  vanished  on 
a  sudden.  But  in  this  action  we  find  a  kind  of  unanimity  among  these 
animals,  in  which  they  resemble  the  tame  species,  and  which  they  have 
in  a  greater  degree  than  many  others.  It  is  likewise  very  astonishing 
that  the  Pigs  should  be  carried  about  in  this  manner  between  such 
large  tusks  as  those  of  their  mother,  without  being  hurt,  or  crying  out 
in  the  least.  Dr.  Sparrrnan  was  twice  afterwards  witness  to  a  similar 
occurrence 

The  flesh  of  the  Ethiopian  Hog  is  well  flavored  and  not  unlike 
that  of  the  German  Wild  Boar. 


THE   BABYROUSSA — PECCARY. 


431 


THE   BABYROUSSA. 


The  Babyroussa  inhabits  the 
Molucca  Islands  and  Java.  It  is 
remarkable  for  possessing  four 
tusks,  two  of  which  proceed  from 
the  upper  jaw,  and  do  not  pass 
out  between  the  lips,  but  through 
an  aperture  in  the  skin,  half  way 
between  the  end  of  the  snout  and 
eyes.  The  sockets  of  the  two 
upper  tusks  are  curved  upwards, 
and  give  a  singular  appearance  to 
the  skull  of  the  animal.  It  looks 


THE  BABYROUSSA. 


THE  BABYROUSSA. 


a  ferocious  animal,  nor  do  its  looks 
contradict  its  habits,  as  it  is  very 
'savage,  and  cannot  be  hunted  with- 
out danger.  Yet  when  taken  young 
it  can  be  tamed  without  much 
difficulty,  and  conducts  itself  much 
after  the  manner  of  a  well-behaved 

Pig- 
Only  the  male  possesses  the  remarkable  double  pair  of  tusks,  the 
female  being  destitute  of  the  upper  pair,  and  only  possessing  those 
belonging  to  the  under  jaw  in  a  rudiment- 
ary degree.     It  lives  in  troops,  as  do  most 
of  the  Hog  kind,  and  thus  does  much 
damage  to  the  cultivated  grounds,  especi- 
ally to  the  maize,  a  plant  to  which  it  is, 
unfortunately,  very  partial.     It  is  a  good 
swimmer,  and  often  voluntarily  takes  to 
the  water  in  order   to  cross  to  another 
island.     The  size  of  the  animal  when  full  grown,  is  about  that  of  a 
very  large  Hog. 


THE  COMMON,  OR  COLLAKED  PECCARY. 

The  Common,  or  Collared  Peccary,  is  an  inhabitant  of  South 
America.  This  animal  is  both 
dreaded  and  hated  by  the  resi- 
dents, for  it  is  so  exceedingly  fero- 
cious, and  so  utterly  devoid  of  all 
sense  of  fear,  that  it  will  always 
charge  at  any  object  that  comes  in 
its  way;  an  Elephant  would  not 
scare  it,  if  an  Elephant  were  to  be 
transported  to  South  America. 
So  it  puts  to  flight  those  whom  it  attacks,  and  they  fly  before  it  in 


432 


THE   COMMON,    OR    COLLARED   PECCARY. 


mixed  fear  and  wrath  against  the  pugnacious  little  animals  which 
are  pursuing  them.  It  is  a  small  animal,  rarely  exceeding  eighteen 
inches  in  height,  and  yet  is  not  less  dreaded  than  the  most  savage 
wild  Boar  would  be.  Its  jaws  are  armed  with  tusks,  like  those  of 
the  Boar,  but  they  are  straight  instead  of  curved,  are  sharp  at  the 
edges,  and  although  only  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  length,  inflict 
horrible  wounds,  on  account  of  the  muscular  strength  of  the 
creature's  neck.  When  a  body  of  them  charge  against  an  enemy, 
fancied  or  real,  they  will  never  be  driven  away,  but  will  fight  till  the 
last  is  slain.  On  this  account,  no  one  will  willingly  oppose  them ; 
and  if  a  herd  of  Peccaries  comes  in  the  way,  men,  Horses,  and  Dogs, 
all  fly  in  haste,  as  even  the  Horses  would  be  soon  brought  down,  for 
their  legs  would  be  cut  to  pieces.  The  best  method  of  attacking  them 
is  that  described  by  Webber  in  the  following  passage: — 

"  But  with  all  its  other  peculiarities  to  answer  for,  the  drollest  is  yet 

to  come.  I  refer 
to  their  mode  of 
sleeping.  They 
usually  frequent 
those  heavy  cane- 
brakes,  through 
which  are  scatter- 
ed, at  wide  inter- 
vals, trees  of  en- 
ormous size  and 
age.  These,  from 
their  isolated 
condition,  are 
most  exposed 
to  the  f  u  •  y  of 
storms,  and  there- 
fore most  liable  to 

be  thrown  down.  We  find  their  giant  stems  stretched  here  and  there 
through  the  canebrakes  of  Texas,  overgrown  with  the  densest  thickets 
of  the  cane,  matted  together  by  strong  and  thorny  vines.  In  these  old 
trees  the  Peccaries  find  their  favorite  lodgings.  Into  one  of  these  logs 
a  drove  of  twenty  or  thirty  of  them  will  enter  at  night;  each  one  back- 
ing in,  so  that  the  last  one  entering  stands  with  his  nose  at  the  entrance. 
The  planters,  who  dread  them  and  hate  them,  as  well  on  account  of 
the  ravages  on  their  grain  crops  which  they  commit,  the  frequent  de- 
struction or  mutilation  by  them  of  their  stock — their  favorite  Dogs, 
and  sometimes  even  their  Horses,  as  on  account  of  their  ridiculous 
predicaments,  such  as  taking  to  a  tree,  or  running  for  their  life,  to 
which  they  have  been  subjected  themselves,  seek  their  destruction 
with  the  greatest  eagerness. 

"  When  a  hollow  log  has  been  found  which  bears  the  marks  of  being 
used  by  them,  the  hunters  wait  with  great  impatience  till  the  first 
dark,  cloudy  day  of  rain ;  a  dark  drizzle  is  the  best,  as  it  is  well  known 
that  on  such  days  they  do  not  leave  their  lodgings  at  all.  The 
planter,  concealing  himself  just  before  day  carefully  out  of  view,  but 


THE  TECCART. 


THE  COMMON,  OR.  COLLARED  PECCARY. 


433 


directly  in  front  of  the  opening  of  the  log,  awaits  in.  patient  silence 
the  coming  of  sufficient  light.  Soon  as  the  day  opens,  peering  cau- 
tiously through  the  cane,  he  can  preceive  the  protruded  snout,  and 
sharp,  watchful  eyes,  of  the  sentinel-Peccary  on  duty,  while  his  fellows 
behind  him 
sleep, 
lessly 


erring    rifle 


^ 

Pv  oise- 
the    un- 
is 


PECCARIKS   SLEEPING. 


raised,  the  ring 

of  its  explosion 

is   heard,  and, 

with  a  convul- 

sive spring,  the 

sentinel     leaps 

forward  out  of 

the    hole,    and 

rolls   in   its 

death-struggle, 

on  the  ground. 

Scarcely  an 

i  n  s  ta  n  t      is 

passed,    a    low 

grunt  is  heard, 

and  another  pair  of  eyes  is  seen  shining  steadily  in  the  place  the 

others  had  just  held.     Not  a  sound  is  heard,  the  planter  loads  again 

with  such  dexterity  that  not  even  a  branch  of  the  embowering  cane 

is  stirred.  Again  with  steady  nerve  the  piece  is  fired,  out  springs  the 
second  victim  as  the  first  had  done  ;  then  another  takes  its  place,  and 
so  on  to  the  third,  fourth,  fifth,  and  twentieth,  even  to  the  last  of  the 
herd,  unless  the  planter  should  happen  by  some  carelessness  to  make 
a  stir  in  the  cane  around  him,  when  out  it  springs  with  a  short  grunt, 
without  waiting  to  be  shot  this  time,  and  followed  by  the  whole  herd, 
when  they  make  a  dash  at  the  unlucky  sportsman,  who  is  now  glad 
enough  to  take  to  his  heels,  and  blesses  his  stars  if  he  should  be  able 
to  climb  a  tree  or  a  fence  in  time  to  save  his  legs.  If  during  the 
firing,  the.  sentinel  should  happen  to  sink  in  the  hole  without  making 
the  usual  spring,  the  one  behind  him  roots  out  the  body  to  take  its 
place.  They  do  not  understand  what  the  danger  is,  or  whence  it 
comes.  Neither  do  they  fear  it,  but  face  its  mysterious  power  to  the 
last.  They  never  charge  towards  unseen  enemies,  until  guided  either 
by  the  sight  of  some  disturbance  caused  by  a  motion  in  the  thicket, 
or  by  those  sounds  with  which  they  are  familiar,  indicating  their 
position.  Incredible  as  this  account  may  appear,  it  is  actually  the 
method  in  which  the  settlements  along  Caney  Creek  and  in  the  Brazos 
Bottoms  have  been  of  late  years  in  a  great  measure  relieved  of  this 
dangerous  annoyance." 

The  Peccary  alone  of  all  animals  appears  to  have  resisted  the  terrors 
of  the  gun,  and  a  herd  of  them  will  attack  men  with  fire-arms,  and 
only  seem  to  be  more  enraged  by  the  report  and  flash  of  the  guns. 
The  Indians  eat  the  animal,  but  its  flesh  is  not  considered  to  be 


434  THE   COMMON,    OR   COLLARED    PECCARY. 

particularly  excellent,  especially  as  the  gland  which  the  animal  bears 
in  its  haunches  has  an  evil  effect  on  the  meat,  and  causes  it  to  become 
unfit  for  use  in  a  very  short  time.  Its  color  is  a  greyish  black,  caused 
by  the  color  of  the  bristles,  which  are  ringed  at  intervals  with  grey, 
straw-color,  and  black. 

The  glandular  pouch  on  the  back  gives  out  a  strong  smell  of  gar- 
lic; but  the  use  of  the  pouch  or  the  secretion  in  the  economy  of  the 
animal,  is  wholly  unknown.  This  odor  is  given  out  in  the  greatest 
abundance  when  the  animal  is  irritated,  as  then  it  erects  the  bristles 
on  the  neck  and  along  the  line  of  the  back,  by  which  means  the 
gland  is  more  compressed  than  when  the  animal  is  in  a  tranquil  state. 
When  alarmed,  it  utters  a  sharp  and  piercing  kind  of  squeak,  but 
not  quite  so  piteous  as  that  which  is  uttered  by  a  Hog  in  distress; 
like  Hogs,  too,  they  express  their  satisfaction  by  a  softened  species  of 
grunting.  They  are  inhabitants  of  the  woods  in  the  lower  grounds 
on  the  east  side  of  South  America ;  but  we  are  not  aware  that  they 
have  been  met  with  to  the  westward  of  the  Andes,  and  they  never 
occur  in  lofty  situations.  Buffon  committed  a  curious  blunder  re- 
specting this  species  of  Peccary,  The  Spanish  colonists  in  Paraguay, 
from  whom  he  drew  the  materials  of  his  account  of  the  locality  and 
habits  of  the  animal,  use  the  word  monte  as  descriptive  of  a  forest ; 
and  Buffon,  confounding  this  with  the  French  mont,  described  this 
Peccary  as  a  mountain  animal,  which  is  the  very  reverse  of  its  proper 
habitat.  The  same  eloquent,  but  fanciful  and  not  very  accurate 
describer,  represented  the  pale-colored  collar,  which  obliquely  sur- 
rounds the  neck  of  this  species,  as  a  dorsal  stripe  extending  along 
the  ridge  of  the  back. 

These  animals  are  found  in  pairs  in  the  breeding  season,  and  at 
these  times  they  rarely,  if  ever,  come  out  of  the  forest.  The  female 
produces,  as  is  understood,  only  once  in  the  year;  and  the  young  are 
generally  two,  and  never  more.  They  are  easily  tamed,  and  fond  of 
being  caressed,  but  they  are  also  impatient  of  restraint,  and  if  de- 
tained against  their  will,  they  not  only  erect  their  dorsal  bristles, 
and  utter  their  war-cry,  but  attempt  to  bite,  which  they  do  pretty 
severely.  Some  that  have  been  kept  in  menageries  in  Europe,  have 
shown  much  docility,  as  compared  with  the  Hog  when  in  the  wild 
state.  They  preferred  fruits  and  farinaceous  vegetable  substances  to 
any  other  kind  of  food;  but  still  when  that  was  not  given  them,  they 
could  be  very  miscellaneous  in  their  feeding.  Well-known  as  these 
animals  ought  to  be,  there  have  been  some  mistakes  about  them;  and 
the  manners  and  numbers  of  this,  which  is  really  the  most  rare  of 
the  two,  have  sometimes  been  given  to  the  other,  which  is  a  larger 
and  bolder  animal,  and  met  with  in  herds,  whereas  the  collared  one 
seems  to  be  more  retiring  arid  seldom  met  with  except  in  pairs. 


CETACEOUS  ANIMALS. 


THE  animals  of  the  Linnean  order  Cete  have  spiracles  or  breathing 
holes  on  the  fore  part  of  the  skull..  They  have  no  feet :  their  pectoral 
fins  are  without  nails :  and  the  tail  is  horizontal. 


OF  THE  NARWAL  TRIBE. 

THE  Narwals  have 
one  or  two  very  long 
weapons  projecting  from 
the  front  of  their  upper 
jaw.  There  are  no  teeth 
in  the  lower  jaw.  The 
orifices  of  the  spiracles 
are  united,  and  situated 
n  the  highest  part  of 
the  head. 

The  Narwals  are  distinguishable,  at  first  sight,  from  all  other 
Cetaceous  Animals.  They  are  known  by  the  long,  hard,  spiral,  and 
sharp-pointed  weapons  which  project  from  the  anterior  part  of  their 
upper  jaw.  They  obtained  the  name  of  Narh-wal,  or  Whale  which 
feeds  on  dead  bodies,  from  their  having  been  believed  to  subsist  on 
s*uch  dead  and  putrid  animals  as  they  found  floating  on  the  water. 


THE  UNICORN  NARWAL,    OR  SEA   UNICORN. 

This  animal  measures  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet  in  length,  exclusive 
of  the  weapon  in  front  of  its  head,  which  is  from  five  to  eight  feet 
long.  In  some  individuals  there  are  two  weapons.  The  head  is  small 
in  proportion  to  the  size  ef  the  body ;  and  the  fins  on  the  breast  are 
also  small.  There  is  no  dorsal  fin.  The  skin  is  white,  variegated 
with  numerous  black  spots  on  the  upper  parts  of  the  body. 

Such  are  the  size  and  bulk,  and  so  powerful  are  the  muscles  of  these- 
animals,  that  they  are  able,  in  their  own  element,  to  move,  in  alii 
directions,  with  astonishing  velocity.  The  weapon  which  projects*, 
sometimes  to  the  length  of  six  or  eight  feet,  from  their  upper  jaw,  is 
one  of  the  most  formidable  that  can  well  be  imagined.  When  urged 
with  all  their  force,  it  will  penetrate  even  into  the  solid  timbers- of  a 
ship ;  and  the  body  of  no  animal  whatever  is  sufficiently  hard  to  resist 
its  effects.  This  weapon  is  not  a  horn,  but  is  a  species  of  tuskr  in  its 
substance  not  greatly  dissimilar  to  the  tusks  of  the  Elephant.  As 
ivory,  it  is,  however,  much  more  valuable  than  these,  from  the 
28 


436 


THE   UNICORN    NARWAL,   OR    SEA   UNICORN. 


circumstance  of  its  being  harder,  and  capable  of  receiving  a  much 
higher  polish. 

The  detached  weapons  of  Narwals  are  deposited,  in  many  cabinets, 
as  the  horns  of  that  generally  esteemed  fabulous  quadruped,  the  Uni- 
corn. They  have  occasionally  been  found  broken  short  off,  and  deeply 
buried  in  the  keels  and  bottoms  of  vessels;  and  even  in  the  bodies  of 
some  of  the  largest  species  of  Whales,  which  either  accident  or  design 
may  have  led  the  Narwal  to  plunge  against. 

These  animals  do  not  appear  to  have  any  organs  of  voice.  It  is 
stated  that,  in  their  general  disposition  and  manners  they  are  sum- 
cently  mild  and  peaceable;  and  that  they  are  formidable  only  when 
compelled  to  defend  themselves  from  the  attack  of  their  enemies. 
Their  principal  food  consists  of  small  fish,  and  marine  animals  of 
various  kinds,  such  as  the  Actinas  and  Cuttle-fish:  the  horny  mandi- 
bles or  jaws  of  the  latter  have  sometimes  been  found  in  their  stomachs, 
in  immense  quantity.  They  usually  swim  in  troops;  and  are  found  in 
most  parts  of  the  Northern  Ocean.  The  Greenlanders  pursue  and  kill 
them  on  account  of  their  oil.  This  thev  emuloy  in  domestic  uses: 


NAHWAL   HUNTING 


tney  also  use  the  flesh  for  food,  and  the  teeth  as  articles  of  traffic. 
The  blubber  of  the  Narwal  is  from  two  to  three  inches  and  a  half  in 
thickness,  encompasses  the  whole  body,  and  is  sometimes  more  than 
half  a  ton  in  weight.  This  affords  a  large  proportion  of  fine  oil. 

The  females  produce  each  a  single  young-one  at  a  birth ;  and  this 
they  nourish  for  several  months  with  milk,  supplied  from  teats  that 
are  situated  near  the  origin  of  their  tail. 

In  the  Northern  seas,  when  the  Narwal  is  harpooned,  it  dives  in 


THE    GREAT   WHALE.  437 

the  same  manner,  and  with  almost  the  same  velocity  as  the  Great 
Whale,  but  not  to  the  same  depth.  It  generally  descends  about  two 
hundred  fathoms,  then  returns  to  the  surface,  and  is  dispatched  with 
a  lance  in  a  few  minutes. 


OF  THE  WHALE  TEIBE. 

THE  Whales  have 
nd  teeth  in  either 
jaw;  but,  in  place  of 
these,  the  upper  jaw 
is  furnished  with  the 
horny  laminae  called 
whalebone.  On  the 
top  of  the  head  there 
is  a  tubular  opening 
or  spiracle,  with  a 
double  external 
orifice.  The  skin  is 
in  general  black,  or 
brown;  very  thick, 

and   without  aiw 

,    .  » 

hair. 

Whales  are  objects  of  eager  pursuit  by  the  inhabitants  of  various 
nations,  on  account,  principally,  of  the  oil  or  blubber  which  their 
bodies  yield  in  enormous  quantity;  and  of  the  whalebone,  the  laminae 
or  blades  of  which  supply,  in  these  animals,  the  place  of  teeth,  in 
catching  and  securing  their  food. 

There  are  about  six  ascertained  species  of  Whales,  inhabitants 
chiefly  of  the  icy  regions  surrounding  the  North  Pole.  They  prey 
upon  various  kinds  of  fish,  particularly  upon  Herrings,  among  the 
shoals  of  which  they  commit  great  devastation.  They  also  feed  on 
Shell-fish,  and  the  Medusae  or  Sea-blubber.  The  females  generally 
produce  but  one  young-one  at  a  birth. 

THE    GREAT  WHALE. 

This  is  believed  to  be  the  largest  of  all  living  creatures.  It  usually 
measures  from  fifty  to  eighty  feet  in  length.  The  head,  which  con- 
stitutes nearly  a  third  of  the  whole  bulk,  is  flattish  above.  The  mouth 
is  exceedingly  large,  stretching  almost  as  far  back  as  the  eyes.  The 
tongue  is  very  soft,  being  composed  almost  entirely  of  fat;  and  it 
adheres,  by  its  under  surface,  to  the  lower  jaw.  The  gullet  scarcely 
exceeds  four  inches  in  width.  The  eyes,  which  are  not  larger  than 
those  of  an  Ox,  are  placed  at  a  great  distance  from  each  other,  on  the 
sides  of  the  head,  in  the  most  convenient  situation  possible  for  the 
animals'  seeing  around  them.  The  skin  is  about  an  inch  thick,  and 
the  outer  or  scarf-skin  about  the  thickness  of  parchment,  and  very 


438 


THE    GREAT   WHALE. 


smooth.  Under  the  skin  lies  the  blubber,  which  is  from  eight  to 
twelve  inches  thick :  this,  when  the  animal  is  in  health,  is  of  a  beau- 
tiful yellow  color.  The  tail  is  broad  and  semilunar. 

The  size  and  bulk  of  these  animals  are  generally  enormous ;  and 
their  muscular  powers  are  so  great,  that  a  blow  of  their  horizontal  tail, 

is  at  any 
time  suffi- 
c  i  e  n  t  to 
upset  a  boat ; 
and,  when 
struck  upon 
the  surface 
of  the  ocean, 
it  makes  the 
water  fly, 
with  tremen- 
dous noise. 
in  all  direc- 
tions. They 
are  able  to 
eject  watei 
f  r  o  m  the 
spiracles  on 
their  heads, 
to  a  great 
height. 

This  ani- 
mal  employs 
the  tail  alone 
to  advance 
itself  in  the 
water ;  and 
the  force  and 
celerity  with 
w  h  i  c  h  so 
enormous  a 
body  cuts  its 
way  through 
the  ocean, 
are  truly 
astonishing. 
A  track  is 
frequently 
made  in  the 
water  like 

what  would  be  left  by  a  large  ship ;  this  is  called  his  wake,  and 
by  this  the  animal  is  often  followed.  The  fins  are  only  applied  in 
turning,  and  giving  a  direction  to  the  velocity  impressed  by  the 
tail.  The  usual  rate  at  which  Whales  swim,  seldom,  howevei, 
exceeds  four  miles  an  hour.  When  alarmed,  their  extreme  velocity 


THE   GREAT   WHALE. 


439 


is  eight  or  nine  miles  an  hour,  but  this  seldom  continues  more  than 
a  few  minutes  at  a  time.  These  animals  sometimes  ascend  to  the 
surface  with  so  much  velocity  as  to  leap  entirely  out  of  the  water. 
Sometimes  they  throw  themselves  into  a  perpendicular  posture,  with 
their  heads  downward ;  and,  rearing  their  tails  on  high  in  the  air,  they 
beat  the  water  with  awful  violence.  In  both  these  cases,  the  sea  is 
thrown  into  a  foam,  and  the  air  filled  with  vapors.  Sometimes-  the 
AVhale  shakes  its  tremendous  tail  in  the  air,  and  makes  with  it  a 
cracking  noise,  which  is  heard  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  miles. 

When  a  Whale 
retires  from  the 
surface  of  the 
water  into  the 
deep,  it  first  lifts 
its  head,  then, 
plunging  beneath 
the  waves,  elevates 
its  back,  like  the 
segment  of  a 
sphere,  deliberate- 
ly rounds  it  away 
towards  the  ex- 
tremity, throws  its 
tail  out  of  the 
water,  and  then 
disappears. 

These  Whales 
are  shy  and  timid 
animals,  furnished 
with  no  weapons 
either  of  offence 
or  defence,  except 
their  tail.  As 
soon  as  the}''  per- 
ceive the  approach 
of  a  boat,  they 
generally  plunge 
under  water,  and 
sink  into  the  deep ;  but  when  they  find  themselves  in  danger  they 
exhibit  their  great  and  surprising  strength.  In  this  case  they  break 
to  pieces  whatever  comes  in  their  way ;  and  if  they  run  foul  of  a  boat, 
they  dash  it  to  atoms. 

Whales  have  no  voice;  but,  in  breathing,  or  blowing  through  their 
spiracles,  they  make  a  very  loud  noise.  The  water  which  they  dis- 
charge, is  ejected  to  the  height  of  several  yards,  and  at  a  distance  ap- 
pears like  a  puff  of  smoke.  When  these  animals  are  undisturbed, 
they  usually  remain  on  the  surface  of  the  water  about  two  minutes  at 
a  time,  during  which  they  breathe  eight  or  nine  times,  and  then 
descend  for  an  interval  of  five  or  ten  minutes ;  or,  when  feeding, 
fifteen  or  twenty.  The  depth  to  which  they  usually  descend  is  not 


WHALE   PI.UXCIXO. 


440  THE   GREAT     WHALE. 

very  great ;  but  when  struck  with  a  harpoon,  they  sometimes  draw 
out  from  the  boats,  in  a  perpendicular  descent,  as  much  line  as  would 
measure  an  English  mile. 

When  the  Wnale  feeds,  it  swims  with  considerable  velocity  below 
the  surface  of  the  sea,  with  its  jaws  widely  extended.  A  stream  of 
water  consequently  enters  its  capacious  mouth,  and,  along  with  it, 
immense  quantities  of  cuttle-fish,  sea-blubber,  shrimps,  and  other 
small  marine  animals.  The  water  escapes  at  the  sides ;  but  the  food 
is  entangled,  and,  as  it  were  sifted  by  the  whalebone  within  the 
-mouth. 

From  their  naturally  inoffensive  disposition  these  animals  have  many 
foes;  but  the  enemy  they  have  most  reason  to  dread  is  the  Sword-fish. 
This  animal  is  sufficiently  active  to  evade  the  blows  which  its  tremen- 
dous adversary  makes  with  his  tail,  one  of  which,  if  it  took  place, 
must  effectually  destroy  it.  The  sea,  for  a  considerable  space  around, 
may  be  seen  dyed  with  the  blood,  that  issues  in  copious  streams,  from 
the  wounds  made  in  the  Whale's  body  by  the  dreadful  beak  of  his 
adversary.  The  noise  made  at  each  blow  of  the  tail,  is  said  to  be 
louder  than  that  of  a  cannon.  The  fishermen,  in  calm  weather,  fre- 
quently lie  on  their  oars  as  spectators  of  the  combat,  till  they  perceive 
the  Whale  at  his  last  gasp;  they  then  row  towards  him,  and,  the 
enemy  retiring  at  their  approach,  they  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  victory. 

The  fidelity  of  the  male  and  female  to  each  other,  exceeds  that  of 
most  animals.  Some  fishermen,  as  Anderson,  in  his  History  of  Green- 
land, informs  us,  having  struck  one  of  two  Whales,  a  male  and  female, 
that  were  in  company  together,  the  wroundecl  animal  made  a  long  and 
terrible  resistance ;  with  a  single  blow  of  its  tail  it  upset  a  boat  con- 
taining three  men,  by  which  all  went  to  the  bottom.  The  other  still 
attended  its  companion,  and  lent  it  every  assistance,  till,  at  last,  the 
animal  that  was  struck  sank  under  the  number  of  its  wounds,  while 
its  faithful  associate,  disdaining  to  survive  the  loss,  stretched  itself 
upon  the  dead  Whale,  and  shared  its  fate. 

To  the  Greenlanders,  as  well  as  to  the  natives  of  southern  climates, 
the  Whale  is  an  animal  of  essential  importance ;  and  these  people 
spend  much  time  in  fishing  for  it.  When  they  set  out  on  their 
A\rhale-catching  expeditions,  they  dress  themselves  in  their  best 
apparel,  fancying,  that  if  they  are  not  cleanly  and  neatly  clad,  the 
Whale,  which  detests  a  slovenly  and  dirty  garb,  would  immediately 
avoid  them.  In  this  manner  about  fifty  persons,  men  and  women,  set 
out  together  in  one  of  their  large  boats.  The  women  carry  along  with 
them  their  needles  and  other  implements,  to  mend  their  husbands' 
clothes,  in  case  they  should  be  torn,  and  to  repair  the  boat,  if  it 
happen  to  receive  any  damage.  When  the  men  discover  a  Whale, 
they  strike  it  with  their  harpoons,  to  which  are  fastened  lines  or  straps 
two  or  three  fathoms  long,  made  of  Seal-skin,  having  at  the  end  a  bag 
of  a  whole  seal-skin,  blown  up.  The  huge  animal,  by  means  of  the 
inflated  bag,  is  in  some  degree  compelled  to  keep  near  the  surface  of 
the  water.  When  he  is  fatigued  and  rises,  the  men  attack  him  with 
their  spears  till  he  is  killed.  They  now  put  on  their  spring  jackets, 
(made,  all  in  one  piece,  of  a  dressed  Seal's  skin,)  with  their  boots, 


THE     WHALE-FISHERY.  441 

gloves,  and  caps,  which  are  laced  so  tightly  to  each  other,  that  no 
water  can  penetrate  them.  In  this  garb  they  plunge  into  the  sea,  and 
begin  to  slice  off' the  fat  all  round  the  animal's  body,  even  from  those 
parts  that  are  under  water ;  for,  their  jackets  being  full  of  air,  the 
men  do  not  sink,  and  they  have  means  of  keeping  themselves  upright 
in  the  sea.  They  have  sometimes  been  known  so  daring  as,  while 
the  Whale  was  still  alive,  to  mount  on  his  back  and  kill  him  from 
thence. 

The  period  of  gestation  in  the  female  is  supposed  to  be  nine  or  ten 
months,  and  she  generally  produces  but  one  at  a  birth.  When  she 
suckles  it  she  throws  herself  on  one  side,  on  the  surface  of  the  water, 
and  in  this  position  the  young-one  attaches  itself  to  the  teat.  She  is 
extremely  careful  of  her  offspring,  carrying  it  with  her  wherever  she 
goes;  and,  when  hardest  pursued  supporting  it  between  her  fins. 
Even  when  wounded  she  is  said  still  to  clasp  it;  and,  if  she  plunge 
to  avoid  danger,  she  takes  it  with  her  to  the  bottom  ;  but  in  this  case 
she  always  rises  sooner  than  she  otherwise  would,  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  it  breath.  The  young-ones  continue  with  the  dam  for  nearly 
twelve  months;  during  this  time  they  are  called  by  the  sailors  Short- 
^eads.  They  are  then  extremely  fat,  and  will  yield  each  above  fifty 
barrels  of  blubber.  At  two  years  old  they  have  the  name  of  Stunts, 
from  not  thriving  much  immediately  after  quitting  the  breast;  at  this 
age  they  will  scarcely  yield  more  than  twenty  barrels  of  blubber. 
From  the  age  of  two  years  they  are  denominated  Skull-fish. 

The  flesh  of  the  Whale  is  very  dry  and  insipid,  except  about  the 
tail,  which  is  more  juicy,  but  still  very  tasteless.  The  horny  laminae 
in  the  upper  jaw,  called  whakbone,  are  very  valuable  as  an  article  of 
commerce :  but  these  animals  are  principally  pursued  for  their  oil  or 
blubber. 

The  seas  that  are  principally  inhabited  by  the  Great  Whales,  are 
those  in  about  the  seventieth  degree  of  north  latitude,  near  Spitzber- 
gen  and  Greenland.  These  animals  are  likewise  found  in  the  seas  of 
the  high  southern  latitudes,  and  are  said  sometimes  to  visit  the  shores 
even  of  the  countries  near  the  torrid  zone.  They  have  been  observed 
in  the  Mediterranean,  and  occasionally  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
British  coasts.  AVilloughby  speaks  of  one  that  was  stranded  near 
Tin  mouth  in  Northumberland.  In  the  year  1652,  a  great  Whale, 
eighty  feet  in  length,  was  cast  ashore  in  the  Frith  of  Forth ;  and, 
about  thirty  years  afterwards,  another,  somewhat  more  than  seventy 
feet  in  length,  near  Peterhead,  in  Scotland. 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY. 

In  a  commercial  view  the  animals  of  the  Whale  tribe  are  of  great 
importance  to  mankind;  supplying  us  with  those  two  valuable  arti- 
cles, oil  and  whalebone,  and  likewise,  with  spermaceti.  They  are 
chiefly  taken  in  the  northern  seas. 

The  English  send  out  with  every  ship  six  or  seven  boats:  each  of 
these  has  one  harpooner,  one  man  at  the  rudder  one  to  manage  the 


442 


THE     WHALE-FISHERY. 


line,  and  four  seamen  as  rowers.  In  each  boat  there  are  also  two  or 
three  harpoons;  several  lances;  and  six  lines,  each  a  hundred  and 
twenty  fathoms  long,  fastened  together 


As  soon  as  a  Whale  is  struck  with  the  harpoon,  he  darts  down  into 
the  deep,  carrying  off  the  instrument  in  his  body;  and  so  extremely 
rapid  is  his  motion,  that,  if  the  line  were  to  entangle,  it  would  either 
snap  like  a  thread,  or  overset  the  boat.  One  man,  therefore,  is  sta- 
tioned to  attend  only  to  the  line,  that  it  may  go  regularly  out;  and 
another  is  employed  in  continually  wetting  the  place  it  runs  against, 
that  the  wood  may  not  take  fire  from  the  friction. 

When  the  Whale  returns  to  breathe,  the  harpooner  inflicts  a  fresh 
wound ;  till  at  length  the  immense  animal  faints  from  loss  of  blood: 
the  men  now  venture  to  row  the  boat  quite  up  to  him ;  and  a  long 
steeled  lance  is  thrust  into  his  breast,  and  through  the  intestines, 
which  soon  puts  an  end  to  his  existence. 

The  carcass  no  sooner  begins  to  float,  than  holes  are  cut  in  the  fins 
and  tail;  and  ropes  being  fastened  to  these,  it  is  towed  to  the  ship, 
where  it  is  fastened  in  such  a  manner  that  the  back  floats  in  the 
water. 

The  operation  next  to  be  performed,  is  that  of  taking  out  the  blub- 
ber and  whalebone.  Several  men  get  upon  the  animal  with  a  sort  of 
iron  spurs,  (to  prevent  them  from  slipping,)  and  separate  the  tail, 
which  is  hoisted  on  deck:  they  then  cut  out  square  pieces  of  blubber, 
weighing  two  or  three  thousand  pounds  each,  which  are  also  hoisted 
up.  These  are  here  cut  into  smaller  pieces,  which  are  thrown  into 
the  hold,  and  left  for  three  or  four  days  to  drain.  When  all  the 
blubber  is  cut  from  the  belly  of  the  Whale,  it  is  turned  on  one  side, 


THE   WHALE-FISHERY. 


443 


by  means  of  a  piece  of  blubber  left  in  the  middle,  called  the  cant, 

or  turning-piece.     The  men  then  cut  out  this  side  in  large  pieces, 

as    before ;     and     also    the    whalebone, 

with   the    gums,    which    are    preserved 

entire,  and   hoisted  on  deck,  where  the 

blades  are  cut  and  separated,  and  left  till 

the  men  have  time  to  scrape  and  clean 

ihem.     The  Whale  is  next  turned  with 

its  back  upward,  and  the  blubber  is  cut 

from  the  back  and   crown, bone.      The 

men    conclude    the    whole    process    by 

cutting  the  blubber  from  the  other  side. 

But  previously  to  letting  the  remainder 

of  the  body  float  away,  they  cut  out  the 

two  large  upper  jaw-bones ;  which  being 

hoisted     on     deck,    are     cleansed     and 

fastened   to   the   shrouds,  and   tubs   are 

phiced    under   them   to    receive   the   oil 

which   they   discharge.      This   oil    is   a 

perquisite  belonging  to  the  captain. 

In  three  or  four  days  the  seamen  hoist 
the  pieces  of  blubber  out  of  the  hold,  chop 
them,  and  put  them,  by  small  pieces,  into 
casks,  through  the  bung-holes. 

A  Whale,  the  longest  blade  of  whose 
mouth  measures  nine  or  ten  feet,  will 
yield  about  thirty  butts  of  blubber ;  but 
some  of  the  largest  yield  upwards  of 
seventy.  One  of  the  latter  is  generally 
worth  about  five  thousand  dollars:  and 
a  full  ship,  of  three  hundred  tons  burden, 
will  produce  more  than  twenty-five  thou- 
sand dollars  from  one  voyage. 

Premiums  on  every  Whale  that  is 
taken  are  given  to  all  persons  engaged, 
from  the  captain,  even  to  the  men  who 
row  the  boats.  These  rewards  tend  to 
excite  their  activity  in  the  service  of 
their  employers. 

The  fishing  season  begins  in  May,  and 
continues  through  the  months  of  June 
and  July;  but  whether  the  ships  have 
had  good  or  bad  success,  they  must 
come  away  and  get  clear  of  the  ice  by. 
the  end  of  August. 


444  THE    BLUNT-HEADED    CACHALOT. 


OF  THE  CACHALOT  TRIBE 

THE  upper  jaw  is  broad,  and  entirely  destitute  of  teeth,  or  has  teeth, 
so  short,  as  to  be  nearly  concealed  in  the  gum.  The  under  jaw  is  nar- 
row, and  furnished  with  large,  conical  teeth,  which  fit  into  sockets  in 
the  upper  jaw.  The  spiracles,  or  breathing  holes,  have  only  a  single 
external  orifice.  The  bodies  of  these  animals  are  entirely  naked,  and 
their  skin  is  very  smooth  and  soft. 

The  interior  organization  of  the  Cachalots,  is  somewhat  different 
from  that  of  the  Whales,  and  requires  a  nourishment  more  substantial 
than  that  of  small  fish,  and  marine  molusca.  The  Cachalots  conse- 
quently attack  and  devour  several  of  the  larger  kinds  of  fish,  and 
occasionally  even  Porpoises,  Dolphins,  and  young  Whales,  which  they 
are  enabled  to  seize  and  tear  in  pieces  by  means  of  their  teeth.  They 
are  not  contented,  like  the  Whales,  with  merely  exerting  their  strength 
in  self-defence ;  but  will  themselves  provoke  a  combat  with  the  larger 
inhabitants  of  the  element  in  which  they  reside,  and  will  attack  and 
destroy  them  with  the  utmost  vigor  and  address.  Their  ferocity  and 
their  muscular  powers  are  such,  that  all  the  species  are  considered  by 
the  fishermen  to  be  extremely  dangerous.  It  is  said  that  some  of 
them,  when  they  are  attacked,  will  throw  themselves  on  their  back, 
and  in  that  position  will  defend  themselves  with  their  mouth. 

These  animals  inhabit  chiefly  the  Northern  Ocean,  and  nearly  the 
same  latitudes  as  the  Whales.  They  frequently  swim  in  troops. 
Their  muscular  powers  are  very  great;  and  notwithstanding  their 
immense  and  blunt  heads,  they  are  able  to  cut  their  way  through  the 
water  with  astonishing  rapidity. 


THE   BLUNT-HEADED   CACHALOT,   OR   SPERMACETI  WHALE. 

Ths   length  of  the   Blunt-headed   Cachalot,  when  full   grown,  ia 

about  seventy  feet, 
and  its  girth  about 
fifty.  When  viewed 
from  above,  it  appears 
like  an  immense  ani- 
mated mass,  trunca- 
ted in  front;  so  that 

the  muzzle  terminates 
in  a  somewhat 
squared,  and  almost  perpendicular  extremity.  The  head  constitutes 
nearly  one  third  of  the  whole  body :  the  mouth  is  situated  at  the 
under  part,  and  the  under  jaw  is  so  small,  in  comparison  with  the 
upper,  as  to  have  somewhat  the  appearance  of  the  lid  or  cover  of 
an  enormous  box  turned  upside  down.  The  eyes  are  situated  above 
the  corners  of  the  mouth,  and  are  so  minute,  as  to  be  scarcely  per- 
ceptible. The  pectoral  fins  are  each  about  three  feet  in  length.  On 
the  posterior  part  of  the  back  there  is  a  longitudinal  and  callous 


THE  BLUNT-HEADLD    CACHALOT.  445 

protuberance,  or  spurious  fin.  The  tail  is  very  short  ana  slender,  each 
of  the  lobes  being  hollowed  somewhat  like  the  blade  of  a  scythe.  The 
skin  is  smooth,  oily,  and  almost  as  soft  to  the  touch  as  silk.  Its 
color  is  usually  black. 

The  velocity  with  which  these  Cachalots  dart  through  the  water  is 
greater,  and  their  progressive  motion  is  performed  by  much  more 
elevated  bounds  or  curves,  than  those  of  many  of  the  Whales.  They 
generally  swim  in  troops,  consisting  of  a  great  number  of  both  males 
and  females.  In  the  month  of  March,  1784,  there  were  thirty-two 
Spermaceti  Whales  cast  on  shore,  during  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Audierne,  in  France.  Their  bellowing  was  heard 
to  the  distance  of  more  than  a  league.  Two  men,  who  happened  to 
be  walking  along  the  coast  not  far  from  the  place  where  the  ani- 
mals were  stranded,  not  conceiving  what  they  could  possibly  be,  were 
thrown  into  the  utmost  agitation  and  alarm  at  their  noise,  and  at 
seeing  them  floundering  in  the  shallow  water,  and  beating  about  the 
sand  and  rnud  in  all  directions,  at  the  same  time  occasionally  throw- 
ing water  from  their  spiracles  to  an  immense  height,  and  with 
tremendous  noise.  They  were  all  young  animals,  but  the  smallest 
of  the  whole  measured  upwards  of  thirty  feet,  and  the  largest  nearly 
fifty  feet  in  length.  They  were  not  able  to  regain  the  sea ;  but  they 
continued  alive  on  the  sand  for  upwards  of  twenty-four  hours. 

Few  animals  are  more  voracious  than  these,  nor  can  we  be  surprised 
at  their  voracity,  when  we  consider  their  enormous  bulk,  and  the 
immense  quantity  of  nourishment  which  they  must  of  necessity  re- 
quire. They  feed  on  various  kinds  of  fish  which  swim  in  shoals,  nor 
do  they  seem  to  refuse  any  marine  animals  that  come  in  their  way. 
They  swallow  myriads  of  the  different  kinds  of  mollusca,  particularly 
Cuttle-fish,  the  beaks  or  jaws  of  which  are  often  found  in  their  stom- 
achs and  intestines;  and  they  pursue  and  attack  Dolphins,  Porpoises, 
and  even  several  species  of  Sharks.  We  are  informed  by  Fabricius, 
that  the  tremendous  White  Shark,  so  much  dreaded  by  the  other 
inhabitants  of  the  ocean,  flees  with  precipitation  from  the  Blunt- 
headed  Cachalot :  that,  in  the  excess  of  its  alarm,  it  will  often  dart 
to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  and  endeavor  to  conceal  itself,  in  the  sand 
or  mud,  from  the  piercing  sight  of  its  adversary:  that  it  will  sometimes 
incautiously  throw  itself  against  the  rocks,  with  such  force  as  to  occa- 
sion its  almost  immediate  death:  and  that,  notwithstanding  its  usual  vo- 
racity, this  Shark  will  not  dare  to  approach  even  the  dead  body  of  the 
Cachalot. 

There  is,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  skull  of  the  Cachalots,  an  immense 
cavity  perfectly  distinct  from  the  cavity  which  contains  the  brain.  This 
occupies  nearly  one-fourth  part  of  the  whole  head,  extending  from  the 
front  almost  to  the  eyes,  and  being  sometimes  as  much  as  sixteen  or 
eighteen  feet  in  length.  It  is  divided  horizontally  into  two  parts  by 
a  strong  membrane;  and  each  of  these  parts  is  again  subdivided,  by 
vertical  membranes,  into  numerous  cells,  which  communicate  with 
each  other,  and  which  contain  a  peculiar  kind  of  fat,  denominated 
(though  very  improperly)  spermaceti.  This,  which  has  frequently  been 
mistaken  for  the  brain,  is  sometimes  found  in  such  quantity,  that 


446  THE    COMMON   DOLPHIN. 

eighteen  or  twenty  butts  of  it  have  been  taken  from  the  head  of  the 
largest  Cachalot.  The  spermaceti,  when  the  animals  are  alive,  is 
fluid ;  but  when  cold  it  is  of  a  whitish  color,  and  is  found  in  somewhat 
solid  lumps. 

The  oil  produced  from  this  Cachalot  is  not  by  any  means  in  such 
quantity  as  that  produced  from  some  of  the  Whales ;  but,  in  quality, 
it  is  far  preferable,  since  it  yields  a  bright  flame,  without  at  the  same 
time  exhaling  any  nauseous  smell.  The  flesh  is  of  a  pale  red  color, 
appearing  not  much  unlike  coarse  pork,  and  it  is  said  to  be  very 
palatable  as  food. 

The  substance  known  by  the  name  of  ambergris,  is  produced  from 
the  body  of  this  animal.  It  is  generally  found  in  the  stomach,  but 
sometimes  in  the  intestines ;  and,  in  a  commercial  view,  is  a  highly 
valuable  production.  As  we  see  it  in  the  shops,  it  is  an  opaque  sub- 
stance, which  varies  in  solidity  according  to  its  exposure  to  a  warm 
or  cold  atmosphere. 

Although  this  animal  is  most  frequently  met  with  in  the  Northern 
Ocean,  in  the  latitudes  of  Greenland,  Spitzbergen,  and  Iceland,  yet  it 
is  occasionally  seen  off  the  British  coasts,  and  sometimes  even  in  the 
Mediterranean  Sea. 

OF  THE  DOLPHINS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Dolphins  have  a  row  of  large  teeth  in  each  jaw ;  and  the 
spiracles  have  only  a  single  external  orifice,  which  is  situated  near  the 
top  of  the  head. 

These  animals  inhabit  various  seas,  being  occasionally  found  both  in 
hot  and  cold  climates.  They  are  much  smaller  than  the  Whales  ;  the 
largest  species  seldom  exceeding  twenty  or  five-and-twenty  feet  in 
length.  They  are  often  seen  in  shoals,  of  from  five  or  six  to  twenty  and 
upwards  in  number,  gambolling  about  the  ocean.  Their  food  consists 
almost  wholly  of  fish,  and  principally  of  Mackerel  and  Herrings. 

'      THE  COMMON  DOLPHIN. 

The  body  of  the  Dolphin  is  oblong  and  roundish,  and  the  snout 

narrow  and  sharp-pointed, 
with  a  broad  transverse 
band,  or  projection  of  skin, 
on  its  upper  part.  This  is 
a  longer  and  more  slender 
animal  than  the  porpoise  ;  it 
measures  nine  or  ten  feet  in 
length,  and  about  two  feet 

DOLpniN>  in   diameter.     The  body  is 

black    above   and    white 

below.     The  mouth  is  very  wide,  reaching  almost  to  the  thorax,  and 
contains  forty  teeth ;  twenty-one  in  the  upper,  and  nineteen  in  the 
under  jaw :  when  the  mouth  is  shut,   the  teeth  lock  into  each  other. 
Dolphins  are  occasionally  observed  in  almost  every  part  of  the  ocean, 


THE   COMMON   DOLPHIN.  447 

among  the  ice-bays  round  the  polar  circles,  in  the  climates  of  the 
temperate  zones,  and  under  the  vertical  sun  of  the  equatorial  seas. 

They  are  predatory  animals,  and  pursue,  with  avidity,  various  species 
offish,  but  particularly  Cod,  Herrings,  and  Flat-fish.  In  some  countries 
they  are  known  to  follow  the  shoals  of  Mullets,  sometimes  even  into 
the  nets  of  the  fisherman.  Their  motions  in  the  water  are  performed 
with  such  wonderful  rapidity,  that  the  French  sailors  frequently  call 
the  Dolphin  lafleche  de  la  mer,  or  "the  sea-arrow,"  and  Rondelet  says, 
that  persons  who  tormented  themselves  to  do  what  was  considered 
impossible,  were  often  proverbially  compared  to  those  who  would  hold 
a  Dolphin  by  the  tail.  M.  de  Saint  Pierre,  in  his  voyage  to  the  Isle 
of  France,  assures  us  that  he  saw  a  Dolphin  swim,  with  apparent  ease, 
round  the  vessel  in  which  he  was  sailing,  though  it  was  going  at  the 
rate  of  six  miles  an  hour.  A  shoal  of  these  animals  followed  the  ships 
of  Sir  Eichard  Hawkins  upwards  of  a  thousand  leagues.  They  were 
known  to  be  the  same  by  the  wounds  they  occasionally  received  from 
the  sailors.  Dolphins  are  greedy  of  almost  any  kind  of  scraps  that  are 
thrown  overboard ;  and  consequently  are  often  to  be  caught  by  means 
of  large  iron  hooks,  baited  with  pieces  of  fish  or  garbage.  They  are 
fond  of  swimming  round  casks  or  logs  of  wood,  which  they  find 
driving  in  the  sea.  They  generally  swim  in  troops,  and  their  progres- 
sive motion  in  the  water  somewhat  resembles  the  undulating  motion 
of  a  ship  under  sail.  Their  evolutions  and  gambols  on  the  surface  of 
the  ocean,  sometimes  afford  a  most  interesting  and  entertaining  spectacle. 
By  curving  their  body,  and  suddenly  extending  it,  like  Salmon  and 
some  other  kinds  of  fish,  they  are  enabled  to  leap  to  a  very  considerable 
height  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  When  they  are  in  eager  pursuit 
of  prey,  and  sometimes  even  in  their  gambols,  these  leaps  have  been 
repeated  with  such  astonishing  celerity,  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  to 
conceive  how,  in  such  short  intervals,  the  necessary  force  could  be 
impressed.  They  have  been  known,  on  these  occasions,  to  spring 
forward  to  a  distance  of  more  than  twenty  feet  at  a  single  bound. 

The  Dolphin  was  in  great  repute  among  the  ancients,  and  both 
philosophers  and  historians  seem  to  have  contended  who  should  relate 
the  greatest  absurdities  respecting  this  animal.  It  was  consecrated  to 
the  gods,  was  celebrated  for  its  love  of  the  human  race,  and  was 
honored  with  the  title  of  the  Sacred  Fish.  In  all  cases  of  shipwreck 
the  Dolphin  was  believed  to  be  in  waiting,  to  rescue  and  carry  on  shore 
the  unfortunate  mariners.  Arion,  the  musician,  when  thrown  over- 
board by  the  pirates,  is  said  to  have  been  indebted  for  his  life  to  one 
of  these  animals. 

How  these  absurd  tales  originated,  it  is  impossible  even  to  conjecture ; 
for  Dolphins  certainly  exhibit  no  marks  of  peculiar  attachment  to 
mankind.  If  they  attend  on  vessels  navigating  the  ocean,  it  is  in  ex- 
pectation of  plunder,  and  not  of  rendering  assistance  in  cases  of  distress. 
By  the  seamen  of  the  present  day  they  are  held  rather  in  abhorrence 
than  esteem  ;  for  their  frolics  on  the  surface  of  the  water  are  almost 
the  sure  signs  of  an  approaching  gale. 

The  flesh  of  these  animals  was  formerly  held  in  great  esteem;  it  is, 
however,  very  dry  and  insipid  :  the  best  parts  are  those  near  the  head. 


448  THE   PORPOISE. 


THE  PORPOISE. 

The  Porpoise  is  well  known  in  all  the  European  seas.     In  its 

general  form  it  very 
much,  resembles  the  Dol- 
phin ;  it  is,  however, 
somewhat  less  in  size 
and  has  a  snout  both 
much  broader  and 
shorter.  It  is  generally 
from  six  to  seven  feet  in 
length ;  thick  in  the  fore 
parts,  and  gradually 
tapering  towards  the  tail.  The  color  is  either  a  bluish  black,  or 
a  very  dark  brown  above,  and  nearly  white  beneath. 

This  animal  has  a  great  resemblance  to  the  Dolphin,  both  in  its 
general  external  appearance,  and  in  its  habits  of  life.  It  has  the  same 
qualities,  and  even  the  same  affections,  and  yet  how  different  has  been 
its  general  estimation  with  mankind  !  The  Dolphin  was  consecrated 
to  the  gods,  and  the  Porpoise  has,  in  nearly  all  languages,  been  de- 
graded by  the  appellation  of  Sea-hog.  But  the  Dolphin  is  indebted 
for  its  high  repute  to  the  vivid  imaginations  of  the  Grecian  poets, 
whilst  the  Porpoise,  almost  unknown  to  the  ancients,  has  received 
its  name  from  sailors  and  fishermen.  In  the  naturalist,  however, 
they  excite  equal  interest,  and  from  him  they  are  deserving  of  equal 
attention. 

It  is  seldom  that  Porpoises  are  seen  except  in  troops  of  from  six  01 
seven,  to  thirty  and  upwards,  in  number.  The  great  size  of  their 
caudal  fin,  and  the  strong  muscles  of  their  tail,  contribute  to  render 
them  very  active  in  the  water ;  along  the  surface  of  which,  like  the 
Dolphins,  they  sometimes  move  with  surprising  rapidity.  They  fre- 
quently gambol  about  on  the  water  with  great  vivacity.  Their 
appearance  is  believed  by  seamen  to  be  prognosticative  of  approaching 
storms ;  and,  on  that  account,  they  are  held  in  great  detestation. 
During  the  most  tempestuous  weather  they  are  able  to  surmount  the 
waves,  and  to  pass  along  the  agitated  surface  of  the  ocean,  fearless  of 
danger,  and  secure  from  injury. 

They  feed  on  nearly  all  kinds  of  fish,  but  particularly  on  such  as 
swim  in  large  shoals ;  as  Mackerel,  Herrings,  and  Cod  of  different  kinds, 
which  they  pursue  with  astonishing  voracity.  But  not  only  do  they 
seek  for  prey  near  the  surface  of  the  water :  they  also  occasionally 
descend  to  the  bottom,  and  root  about  among  the  sand  and  mud,  for 
flat-fish  and  marine  worms.  We  are  informed,  likewise,  that  whenever 
a  Porpoise  happens  to  be  wounded,  all  the  rest  of  the  troop  will  im- 
mediately attack  and  devour  it. 

The  females  seldom  produce  more  than  one  young-one  at  a  birth. 
The  period  of  gestation,  according  to  Anderson,  is  only  six  months ; 
but  according  to  Aristotle,  it  is  ten  months,  which  seems  much  the 


THE    PORPOISE. 


449 


most  probable.     The  offspring  are  said  to  continue  with  the  mother 
for  nearly  a  year  after  they  come  into  the  world. 

In  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  in  Canada,  these 
animals,  are  very  numerous,  and,  as  they  there 
generally  frequent  the  shoal- water  in  search  of 
prey,  the  natives  adopt  the  following  method 
of  catching  them.  When  the  fishing-season 
arrives,  the  people  collect  together  a  great 
number  of  sallow  twigs,  or  slender  branches  of 
other  trees,  and  stick  them  firmly  into  the  sand- 
banks of  the  river,  which  at  low  water  are  left 
dry :  this  is  done  on  the  side  towards  the  river, 
forming  a  long  line  of  twigs  at  moderate 
distances,  which  at  the  upper  end  is  connected 
with  the  shore,  an  opening  being  left  at  the 
lower  end,  that  the  Porpoises  may  enter.  As 
the  tide  rises,  it  covers  the  twigs  so  as  to  keep 
them  out  of  sight :  the  Porpoise,  in  quest  of  his 
prey,  gets  within  the  line,  where  he  continues 
his  chase  till  he  finds,  by  the  ebbing  of  the  tide, 
that  it  is  time  to  retire  into  deep  water.  He 
now  makes  towards  the  river ;  but  the  twigs 
being  then  in  part  above  water,  and  being  all 
agitated  by  the  current,  he  no  sooner  sees 
them  shaking  about,  than  he  takes  fright,  and 
retreats  backward  as  far  as  he  can,  from  this 
tremendous  rampart.  The  tide  still  continuing 
to  ebb,  he  returns  time  after  time;  but,  not 
being  able  to  overcome  his  dread  of  these 
terrific  twigs,  he  rolls  about  until  he  is  deserted 
by  the  water;  when  those  who  placed  the  snare 
rush  out  in  numbers,  properly  armed,  and  in 
this  defenceless  state  overpower  him  with  ease. 
In  this  manner  more  than  a  hundred  of  these 
huge  creatures  (one  of  which  will  yield  about  a 
hogshead  of  oil)  have  been  killed  at  a  single 
tide. 

The  Porpoise  was  once  considered  a  sumptu- 
ous  article  of  food,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
occasionally  introduced  at  the  tables  of  the  old 
English  nobility.  It  was  eaten  with  a  sauce 
composed  of  sugar,  vinegar,  and  crumbs  of 
bread.  It  is,  however,  now  generally  neglected, 
even  by  the  sailors. 

In  America,  the  skin  of  this  animal  is  tanned  and  dressed  with  con- 
siderable care.  At  first  it  is  nearly  an  inch  thick ;  but  it  is  shaved 
down  till  it  is  quite  thin,  and  becomes  somewhat  transparent.  It  is 
made,  by  the  inhabitants,  into  waistcoats  and  breeches ;  and  is  said 
also  to  make  an  excellent  covering  for  carriages. 


450 


THE   GRAMPUS. 


THE   GRAMPUS. 

The  length  of  this  animal  is  usually  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  feet. 

In  its  general  form  and 
color  it  much  resembles 
the  rest  of  its  tribe ;  but 
the  lower  jaw  is  con- 
siderably wider  than  the 
upper,  and  the  body,  in 
proportion,  is  somewhat 
broader  and  more  deep. 
The  back  fin  sometimes 
GRAMPUS.  measures  six  feet  in 

length. 

It  is  found  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  as  well  as  in  both  the  Northern 
and  Southern  Oceans. 

The  Grampus  is  a  decided  and  inveterate  enemy  to  the  different 
species  of  Whales;  great  flocks  of  them  attack  the  largest  of  these, 
fastening  around  them  like  so  many  bull-dogs,  making  them  roar  out 
with  pain,  and  frequently  killing  and  devouring  them.  They  are  also 
said  to  attack  and  devour  the  Seals,  which  they  occasionally  find 
sleeping  on  the  rocks ;  dislodging  them  by  means  of  their  back  fin, 
and  thus  precipitating  them  into  the  water. 

Their  agility  is  such,  that  these  animals  are  not  often  caught.  They 
seldom  remain  more  than  a  moment  above  the  surface  of  the  ocean ; 
but  their  eager  pursuit  sometimes  throws  them  off  their  guard,  and 
allures  them  into  shallow  waters.  In  this  case  they  continue  to 
flounder  about,  till  they  are  either  knocked  on  the  head  by  persons 
who  happen  to  observe  them,  or  till  the  tide  flows  in  to  their  relief. 
In  one  of  the  poems  of  Waller,  a  story  (founded  on  fact)  is  recorded, 
of  the  parental  affection  of  these  animals.  A  Grampus  and  her  cub 
had  got  into  an  arm  of  the  sea,  where,  by  the  desertion  of  the  tide, 
they  were  enclosed  on  every  side.  The  men  on  shore  saw  their 
situation,  and  ran  down  upon  them  with  such  weapons  as  they  could 
at  the  moment  collect.  The  poor  animals  were  soon  wounded  in 
several  places,  so  that  all  the  immediately  surrounding  water  was 
stained  with  their  blood.  They  made  many  efforts  to  escape;  and  the 
old  one  by  superior  strength,  forced  itself  over  the  shallow  water  into 
the  ocean.  But,  though  in  safety  herself,  she  would  not  leave  her 
young-one  in  the  hands  of  assassins.  She  therefore  again  rushed  in  ; 
and  seemed  resolved,  since  she  could  not  prevent,  at  least  to  share  the 
fate  of  her  offspring.  The  story  concludes  with  poetical  justice;  for 
the  tide  coming  in,  conveyed  them  both  off'  in  safety. 


BIRDS. 


RAPACIOUS   BIRDS. 

IN  the  Birds  which  constitute  the  present  order,  the  bill  is  some 
what  hooked,  having  the  upper  mandible  or  division  either  dilated  a 
little  towards  the  point,  or  furnished  with  a  tooth-like  process.  The 
nostrils  are  open.  The  feet  are  stout,  and  armed  with  strong  hooked 
claws  three  placed  forward,  and  one  backward. 


OF  THE  VULTUKES  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  Vultures  have  their  bill  straight,  and  hooked  only  at  the  end ; 
its  edges  are  sharp,  like  a  knife, 
and  the  base  is  covered  with  a 
thin  skin.  The  head,  cheeks, 
•  and,  in  many  species,  the  neck, 
are  either  naked,  or  clad  only 
with  down  or  short  hairs.  The 
tongue  is  large,  fleshy,  and  cleft 
at  the  end.  The  craw  often 
hangs  over  the  breast.  The 
legs  and  feet  are  covered  with 
great  scales ;  and  the  first  joint 
of  the  middle  toe  is  connected 
to  that  of  the  outermost  by  a  strong  membrane.  The  claws  are  large, 
somewhat  hooked,  and  very  blunt ;  tmd  the  inside  of  the  wings  ia 
covered  with  down. 

The  characters  which  principally  distinguish  the  Birds  of  this  tribe 
from  the  Eagles  and  Falcons,  are  the  want  of  feathers  on  part  of  the 
head,,  and  sometimes  even  on  the  whole  head  and  neck ;  and  their 
voracious  manners,  as  they  never  kill  prey  from  choice,  but  in  general 
devour  only  such  animals  as  are  either  dying,  or  are  found  dead  and 
putrid.  Their  sense  of  smelling  is  so  exquisite,  that  they  are  able  to 
scent  a  dead  body  at  the  distance  of  many  miles.  "  They  are  (says 
Mr.  Pennant)  greedy  and  voracious  to  a  proverb;  and  not  timid,  for 
they  prey  in  the  midst  of  cities,  undaunted  by  mankind."  After  some 
of  the  battles  in  the  East,  where  vast  slaughter  takes  place,  of 
Elephants,  Horses,  and  men,  voracious  animals  crowd  to  the  field  from 
all  quarters,  and  of  these,  Jackals,  Hyaenas,  and  Vultures,  are  the 
chief.  Even  in  the  places  where  the  last  are  otherwise  seldom 
observed,  the  plain  will  on  such  occasions  be  found  covered  with  them. 
Vast  multitudes  will  be  seen  in  the  air,  descending  from  every  side. 
29  (451) 


452 


THE   CONDOR. 


to  partake  of  the  carnage.  These  the  Indians  believe  to  be  brought 
by  having  an.  instinctive  presentiment  of  slaughter,  some  days  before 
the  event. 

It  is  observed  that  Vultures,  in  general,  become  less  numerous  as  the 
climate  becomes  colder  ;  and  that,  in  the  more  northern  countries,  they 
are  never  found.  Their  presence  is  a  kind  disposition  of  Providence 
in  the  hotter  regions,  to  prevent  the  putrid  effluvia  of  the  dead  from 
too  much  injurino-  the  health  of  the  living. 


THE    CONDOR. 

This  bird  considerably  exceeds  in  size  the  largest  eagle.     Its  ex- 
panded   wings   some- 
times  extend   to    the 
dimensions  of  eighteen 
feet.      Its   body,  bill, 
and   talons,   are    pro- 
portionably  large  and 
strong;     and     its 
g  courage  -is  equal  to  its 
~  strength.     The  throat 
W  is  naked,  and  of  a  red 
color.      The    upper 
parts,    in   some   indi- 
viduals, (for  they  differ 
|L  greatly  in  color,)  are 
'^  variegated  with  black, 
| grey,  and  white;  and 
the  belly  is  scarlet. 
The  head  of  a  Condor 
that  was  shot  at  Port 
Desire,    off    Penguin 
Island,  resembled  that 
of  an   eagle;    except 
had 


that  it  had  a  large 
comb  upon  it.  Eound 
the  neck  it  had  a  white 

CONDOR,  . 

ruff,  much  resembling 

a  lady's  tippet.  The  feathers  on  the  back  were  as  black  as  jet,  and 
perfectly  bright.  The  legs  were  remarkably  strong  and  large ;  the 
talons  like  those  of  an  eagle,  except  that  they  were  not  so  sharp  :  and 
the  wings,  when  extended,  measured,  from  point  to  point,  twelve  feet 
j  n  the  Leverian  Museum  there  were  two  specimens  of-  the  Condor, 
supposed  to  be  male  and  female ;  on  the  breast  they  had  a  kind  of 
pendulous,  pear-shaped  substance.  The  male  measured  ten  feet  from 
tip  to  tip  of  the  wings.  The  Condor  is  an  inhabitant  of  South  Amer- 
ica. 

Of  the  strength  of  this  enormous  bird  we  may  form  some  idea, 
-from  the  account  that  has  been  given  of  one  of  them  which  was  shot 


THE   CONDOR. 


453 


by  Father  Feuille'e,  in  the  valley  of  Ylo  in  Peru, 
he  discovered  a 
Condor  perched 
upon  a  great 
rock ;  and  that 
he  approached  it 
within  musket- 
shot  and  fired ; 
but  that,  as  the 
gun  was  only 
loaded  with 
swan-shot,  the 
lead  could  not  do 
much  more  than 
pierce  its  feathers. 
He  perceived, 
however,  from  its 


He  informs  us,  that 


COXEOB    AND  FISH. 


motions,   that    it 

was  wounded :  for  it  rose  heavily,  and  could  with  difficulty  reach 
another  great  rock,  five  hundred  paces  distant.  He  therefore  charged 
his  piece  with  a  bullet,  and  hit  the  bird  under  the  throat.  He  then 
saw  that  he  had  succeeded,  ran  to  secure  his  victim  :  but  it  struggled 
obstinately  with  death ;  and,  resting  upon  its  back,  repelled  his  at- 
tempts with  its  extended  talons.  He  continues,  "I  was  at  a  loss  on 
what  side  to  lay  hold  of  it ;  and  I  believe  that  if  it  had  not  been 
mortally  wounded,  I  should  have  found  great  difficulty  in  securing 
it.  At  last  I  dragged  it  down  from  the  top  of  the  rock  ;  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  sailor,  carried  it  away  to  my  tent." 

Some  writers  have  affirmed  that  the  Condor  is  twice  as  large  as  an 
Eagle,  and  so  strong  that  it  can  pounce  upon  and  devour  a  whole  Sheep  ; 
that  it  spares  not  even  Stags,  and  can  easily  overthrow  a  man.  Others 
say,  that  its  beak  is  so  firm  that  it  can  pierce  a  Cow's  hide,  and 
that  two  Condors  are  able  to  kill  an  Ox  and  devour  the  carcass. 

Ulloa  states,  that  he  once  saw,  in  South  America,  a  Condor  seize 
and  fly  away  with  a  Lamb.  "  Observing  (says  he)  on  a  hill  adjoining 
to  that  where  I  stood,  a  flock  of  Sheep  in  great  confusion,  I  saw  one 
of  these  birds  flying  upwards  from  among  them,  with  a  Lamb  between 
its  claws  ;  and  when  at  some  height,  it  dropped  it.  The  bird  imme- 
diately followed,  took  it  up,  and  let  it  fall  a  second  time  ;  when  it  flew 
out  of  sight,  on  account  of  the  Indians,  who,  alarmed  by  the  cries  of 
the  boys  and  the  barking  of  the  Dogs,  were  running  towards  the  place. 

Frezier,  in  a  voyage  to  the  South  Seas,  also  thus  describes  the  Con- 
dor:— "We  one  day  killed  a  bird  of  prey  called  the  Condor;  which 
measured  nine  feet  from  the  end  of  one  wing  to  the  end  of  the  other, 
and  had  a  brown  comb  or  crest,  but  not  jagged  like  that  of  a  Cock. 
The  fore  part  of  the  throat  was  red,  without  feathers,  like  that  of  a 
Turkey.  These  birds  are  generally  large  and  strong  enough  to  take 
up  a  Lamb.  In  order  to  separate  one  of  those  animals  from  the  flock, 
'they  form  themselves  into  a  circle,  and  advance  towards  them  with  their 
wings  extended,  that,  by  being  driven  too  close  together,  the  full-horned 


454 


THE   CONDOR. 


Earns  may  not  be  able  to  defend  their  young-ones.  They  then  pick 
out  the  Lambs,  and  carry  them  off.  Garcillasso  says,  there  are  some 
Condors  in  Peru  which  measure  sixteen  feet  from  the  point  of  one 
wing  to  that  of  the  other,  and  that  a  certain  nation  of  Indians  adore 
them." 

These  enormous  animals  make  their  nests  among  the  highest  and 
most  inaccessible  rocks.  The  female  lays  two  white  eggs,  somewhat 
larger  than  those  of  a  Turkey, 

In  the  country  which 
they  inhabit,  they  seem 
to  supply  the  place  of 
"Wolves;  and  they  are  as 
much  feared  by  the  in- 
habitants, as  Wolves  are 
in  other  climates.  In  con- 
sequence of  this,  many 
modes  of  destroying  them 
are  adopted.  Sometimes 
a  person,  covering  himself 
with  the  hide  of  a  newly- 
skinned  animal,  goes  out, 
and  so  manages  it,  that 
the  bird  is  induced  to 
attack  him  in  this  dis- 
guise ;  other  persons  that 
have  hidden  themselves, 
then  come  forward  to  his 
assistance ;  and  then  all  of 
them,  at  once  falling  on 
the  bird,  overpower  and 

.  '  _    -«-       _ 

kill  it.  A  dead  carcass 
is  also  sometimes  put  within  a  very  high  enclosure;  and  when  the 
Condor  has  satiated  himself,  and  is  unable  to  rise  freely,  persons  are 
in  readiness  to  subdue  him.  On  these  latter  occasions  the  bird  is 
inactive;  but  in  general  he  possesses  a  very  quick  flight,  and  fre- 
quently soars  to  a  height  beyond  the  reach  of  human  vision.  Some- 
times these  birds  are  caught  by  means  of  traps  and  springes. 

It  has  generally  been  imagined,  that  the  accounts  of  this  dreadful 
animal  gave  rise  to  the  exaggerated  description  of  the  bird  that  makes 
so  conspicuous  a  figure  in  the  Arabian  Tales,  under  the  name  of  Roc: 
but  this  seems  very  improbable,  as  we  have  no  satisfactory  evidence 
of  the  Condor  having  ever  been  found  on  the  Old  Continent.  The 
traditions  respecting  the  Roc  originated  in  a  very  different  kind  of 
bird ;  a  variety  of  the  bearded  Eagle,  or  the  well-known  Lammer- 
geyer  of  the  Alps,  which  is  occasionally  seen  among  the  mountains 
ofthe  East. 


THE   CARKION   VULTURE. 


455 


CARRION  VULTURE. 


THE   CARRION   VULTURE. 

The  length  of  this  bird  is  about  four  feet  and  a  half,  and  its  general 
weight  between  four  and  five 
pounds.  The  head  is  small ;  and 
covered  with  a  red  skin,  beset 
only  with  a  few  black  bristles; 
which  gives  it  a  distant  resem- 
blance to  a  Turkey.  The  whole 
plumage  is  dusky,  mixed  with 
purple  and  green.  The  legs  are 
of  a  dirty  flesh- color,  and  the 
claws  black. 

In  some  of  the  countries  bor- 
dering upon  the  torrid  zone, 
these  birds  haunt  the  villages 
and  towns  in  immense  multi- 
tudes. In  Carthagena,  they 
may  be  seen  sitting  on  the  roofs 
of  houses,  or  even  stalking 
along  the  streets.  They  are 
here  of  infinite  survice  to  the 
inhabitants,  by  devouring  that 
filth  which  otherwise,  by  its  intolerable  stench,  would  render  the 
climate  still  more  unwholesome  than  it  is.  When  they  find  no  food 
in  the  cities,  they  seek  for  it  among  the  cattle  of  the  adjoining  pas- 
tures. If  any  animal  be  unfortunate  enough  to  have  a  sore  on  his 
back,  they  instantly  alight  on  it,  and  attack  the  part  affected.  The 
unfortunate  beast  may  in  vain  attempt  to  free  itself  from  the  gripe  of 
their  talons:  even  rolling  on  the  ground  is  of  no  effect,  for  the  Vul- 
tures never  quit  their  hold  till  they  have  completed  its  destruction, 

In  few  creatures  are  the  designs  of  Providence  more  clearly  de- 
veloped than  in  these.  Filthy  as  they  are  in  their  manners,  their 
appearance,  and  their  smell,  yet  is  even  this  filthiness  a  blessing  to 
mankind.  In  hot  climates,  putridity  takes  place  in  a  few  hours  after 
death,  what  might  be  the  effects  of  the  aggregated  stench,  if  it  were 
not  for  the  exertions  of  animals  of  this  description!  But  in  some 
countries  they  are  rendered  even  of  still  further  importance  to  man- 
kind, by  destroying  the  eggs  of  the  Alligator,  an  animal  which 
otherwise  must  become  intolerable  by  its  prodigious  increase.  They 
watch  the  female  Crocodile  in  the  act  of  depositing  her  eggs  in  the 
sand ;  and  no  sooner  does  she  retire  into  the  water,  than  they  dart  to 
the  spot  and  feast  upon  the  contents  of  the  eggs. 

The  resemblance  of  these  birds  at  a  distance,  to  the  Turkey,  was 
the  cause  of  considerable  vexation  to  one  of  the  officers  engaged  in 
the  expedition  round  the  world  under  Woodes  Eogers.  In  the  island 
of  Lobos,  immense  numbers  of  them  were  seen;  and,  highly  delighted 
'with  the  prospect  of  such  delicious  fare  after  a  long  and  tedious  voy- 
age, the  officer  would  not  wait  even  till  the  boat  could  put  him  ashore, 


456  THE   EGYPTIAN    VULTURE. 

but,  with  his  gun  in  his  hand,  leapt  overboard  and  swam  to  land. 
Approaching  a  large  collection  of  the  birds,  he  fired  among  them  and 
killed  several:  but  when  he  came  to  seize  his  game,  he  was  sadly 
disappointed  in  finding  that  they  were  not  Turkeys,  and  that  their 
stench  was  almost  insupportable. 

The  bodies  of  the  Carrion  Vultures  are  extremely  offensive  to  the 
smell;  and  they  perch  at  night  on  rocks  or  trees,  with  their  wings 
partly  extended,  apparently  to  purify  themselves.  They  soar  to  a 
vast  height,  and  have  in  the  air  the  sailing  motions  of  the  Kite.  Car- 
rion and  filth  of  almost  every  description  are  their  favorite  food;  and, 
from  the  acuteness  of  their  scent,  they  can  distinguish  prey  at  an 
immense  distance;  They  will  eat  even  Snakes,  and  sometimes  seize 
on  live  Lambs.  When  a  dead  body  of  considerable  size  is  thrown 
out,  they  may  be  observed  coming  from  all  quarters,  each  wheeling 
about  in  gradual  descent  till  he  reaches  the  ground.  They  are  not 
easily  driven  from  their  prey;  but,  when  in  the  act  of  devouring  it, 
will  suffer  persons  to  approach  very  near  them. 


THE   AQUILIXE,    OR   EGYPTIAN   VULTURE. 

The  male  is  entirely  white,  except  the  quill-feathers,  which  are 
black,  edged  with  hoary.  The  female  is  brown,  with  the  same  ex- 
ception of  the  quill-feathers.  The  two  outermost  primaries  of  each 
wing  in  the  male,  and  the  four  outermost  in  the  female,  are  entirely 
black.  The  head  and  neck  are  naked  and  wrinkled.  The  eyes  are 
large  and  black ;  the  beak  is  black  and  hooked,  having  its  base  cov- 
ered with  a  yellow  cere;  and  the  talons  are  large  and  extended. 

These  disgusting  animals  frequent  the  sterile  and  sandy  country 
around  the  Pyramids.  Extensive  flocks  of  them  are  also  found  in 
Cairo,  where  they  feed  on  offal  and  dead  animals  in  the  streets  pro- 
miscuously with  the  Dogs.  Every  morning  and  evening  they  assemble 
with  the  Kites,  in  the  square  below  the  castle,  in  order  to  receive  the 
alms  of  fresh  meat  that  have  been  left  to  them  by  the  legacies  of 
various  wealthy  men.  By  the  ancient  Egyptians  these  birds  were 
esteemed  sacred ;  and  Herodotus  informs  us,  that  it  was  considered  a 
capital  crime  to  put  one  of  them  to  death. 

Their  appearance  is  as  horrid  as  can  be  imagined  in  any  animal; 
and  their  whole  body,  from  their  habits  of  life,  is  covered  with  filth. 
Notwithstanding  this,  the  inhabitants  of  the  countries  where  they 
abound  cannot  be  too  thankful  to  Providence  for  supplying  them  with 
these  active  scavengers,  to  cleanse  their  towns  and  villages  of  the 
filth  and  putridity  which  otherwise,  under  a  burning  sun,  and  on 
lands  often  inundated  by  the  river  which  fertilizes  them,  would  fill 
the  atmosphere  with  the  most  noxious  exhalations. 

In  Palestine  they  are  of  infinite  service,  in  destroying  the  vast 
multitudes  of  Rats  and  Mice  which  breed  in  the  fields ;  and  which 
without  their  assistance,  would  devour  the  whole  fruits  of  the  ground. 
They  also  frequent  the  deserts,  and  there  devour  the  bodies  of  men 
and  animals  which  perish  in  those  desolated  regions.  They  every 


THE   CAPE  VULTURE.  457 

year  follow  the  caravan  from  Egypt  to  Mecca,  in  order  to  feast  upon 
the  flesh  of  slaughtered  beasts,  and  the  carcasses  of  the  camels  which 
die  on  the  journey. 

So  little  are  these  birds  alarmed  by  the  presence  of  mankind,  that 
they  will  not  even  quit  the  places  which  they  haunt,  even  when  fired 
at  with  guns ;  but  after  a  short  flight  they  immediately  return.  If  one 
of  them  be  killed,  the  rest  surround  and  devour  it.  The  Vulturine 
Caracaro  Eagle  is  probably  a  Yulture.  It  is  found  in  Brazil,  and 
feeds  on  carrion. 


THE   CAPE   VULTURE. 

This  Vulture,  in  many  particulars,  resembles  the  last  species.  Its 
head,  however,  is  of  a 
bright  blue  color,  cover- 
ed with  a  yellowish 
down.  The  plumage  is 
somewhat  of  a  coffee 
color.  The  small  cover- 
tures of  the  wings  are 
dark,  and  the  quill- 
feathers  blackish.  The 
legs  are  brown,  and  the 
beak  and  claws  nearly 
black. 

The  sloth,  the  filth,  and  the  voracity  of  these  birds,  almost  exceed 
credibility.  Whenever  they  alight  on  a  carcass  that  they  can  have 
liberty  to  tear  at  their  ease,  they  gorge  themselves  in  such  a  manner 
that  they  become  unable  to  fly,  and  even  if  pursued  can  only  hop 
along.  At  all  times  they  are  birds  of  slow  flight,  and  are  unable 
readily  to  raise  themselves  from  the  ground  ;  and  when  overfed,  they 
are  utterly  helpless.  On  the  pressure  of  danger,  however,  they  have 
the  power  of  ridding  themselves  of  their  burden,  by  vomiting  up  what 
they  have  eaten  ;  and  then  they  fly  off  with  great  facility. 

They  frequent  all  the  country  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ;  and  are  ' 
so  familiar,  that  they  often  descend,  in  great  numbers,  near  the  entrance 
to  the  shambles  of  the  Cape  Town,  and  there  devour  the  heads,  entrails, 
and  other  offals,  of  the  animals  slaughtered  for  the  market.  On  the 
sea-shores  they  are  also  very  abundant,  voraciously  devouring  all  such 
animal  substances  as  have  been  thrown  upon  the  coast  by  the  tides. 
They  subsist  likewise  on  crabs,  tortoises,  shell-fish,  and  even  locusts. 

In  anatomizing  a  dead  animal,  Kolben  informs  us  that  these  birds 
exhibit  infinite  dexterity.  They  separate  the  flesh  from  the  bones  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  leave  the  skin  almost  entire.  On  approaching  a 
body  thus  destroyed,  no  person,  till  he  had  examined  it,  could  possibly 
imagine  that  it  was  merely  bone  and  skin,  deprived  entirely  of  the  in- 
ternal substance.  They  begin  by  tearing  an  opening  in  the  belly, 
through  which  they  pluck  out  and  greedily  devour  the  entrails:  then 
entering  the  hollow,  they  also  tear  away  all  the  flesh ;  and  this  without 


458 


THE   KING  VULTURE — GRIFFON   VULTURE. 


affecting  the  external  appearance.  "  It  often  happens  (says  this  writer) 
that  an  ox  returning  home  alone  to  his  stall  from  the  plough,  lies  down 
by  the  way  ;  it  is  then,  if  the  Vultures  perceive  it,  that  they  fall  upon  it 
with,  fury,  and  inevitably  devour  the  unfortunate  animal.  They 
sometimes  attempt  the  oxen  while  grazing  in  the  fields ;  and,  to  the 
number  of  a  hundred  or  more,  make  their  sudden  attack  all  together." 
Eavenous  as  these  animals  are,  they  are  capable  of  existing  for  a 
great  length  of  time  without  food.  In  the  deserts  their  subsistence  is 
sometimes  very  precarious.  M.  Le  Yaillant  states  that  in  the  crop  of 
some  that  he  had  killed,  he  had  found  nothing  but  pieces  of  bark,  or 
a  small  quantity  of  clay ;  in  the  crop  of  others  he  had  found  only  bones  ; 
and  again,  of  others,  the  dung  of  animals.  When  urged  by  hunger, 
they  are  frequently  known  to  devour  their  own  species. 


THE   KING  VULTURE. 


The  King  Yulture  is  also 
a  native  of  South  America, 
seldom  if  ever  being  seen 
north  of  Florida.  Travel- 
lers relate  that  this  species 
keeps  the  other  Vultures 
under  subjection,  and  does 
not  suffer  them  to  approach 
a  dead  animal  until  he  has 
completely  satisfied  his  own 
appetite,  which  is  certainly 
none  of  the  smallest. 


KINO  VULTURE. 


THE   GRIFFON   VULTURE. 

The  Griffon  Vulture  is  found  in  almost  all  parts  of  the  old  world.     It 

is  one  of  the  largest  of  its  group, 
measuring  upwards  of  four  feet 
in  length.  Like  most  of  the 
Vultures,  it  does  not  appear  to 
move  its  wings  while  flying,  but 
soars  on  expanded  pinions  in 
large  circles,  apparently  gaining 
the  necessary  impetus  by  the 
movements  of  its  head  and  body, 
just  as  an  accomplished  skater 
uses  but  little  force  in  his  various 
evolutions — an  imperceptible  inclination  of  the  head,  or  sway  of  the 
body,  sufficing  to  keep  up  the  impetus  gained  at  starting,  and  to  bring 
him  round  in  any  direction  he  chooses. 


GRIFFON  TCLTURE. 


THE  TURKEY   VULTURE. 


459 


Vultures  are  generally  protected  by  the  natives  of  the  countries 
where  they  reside  on,  account  of  their  great  utility  in  clearing  away 
the  putrid  animal  matter,  which  would  otherwise  be  exceedingly  in- 
jurious as  well  as  disagreeable.  The  Turkey  Buzzard  or  John  Crow 
( Cathartes  Aura\  ot  Jamaican  Vulture,  is  protected  by  a  fine  of  five 
pounds,  inflicted  on  any  one  who  destroys  the  bird  within  a  certain 
distance  of  the  principal  towns.  Waterton's  account  of  this  bird  is 
very  interesting,  and  well  worthy  of  notice.  There  are  many  different 
species  of  Vultures  inhabiting  different  countries,  but  their  habits 
as  well  as  their  forms  are  so  similar  that  a  detailed  description  of  each 
is  needless. 


THE  TURKEY   VULTURE. 

The  Turkey  Vulture  is  about  two  and  a  half  feet  in  length,  and  six 
in  breadth.  Eyes 
dark  or  reddish- 
hazel.  The  head 
and  neck  for  about 
an  inch  and  a  half 
below  the  ears, 
furnished  with  a 
reddish  wrinkled 
skin,  and  tints  of 
blue 
with 


f 


TURKEY   VULTURE   OR   BUZZARD. 


sprinkled 
short    black 

hairs.     From   the 

hind-head    to   the 

neck-feathers    the 

space   is    covered 

with  a  black  down. 

The  forepart  of  the 

neck  is  bare  to  the 

breast-bone.     The  plumage  of  the  neck  is  large  and  tumid,  and,  with 

that  of  the  back  and  shoulders,  near- 
ly black  ;  almost  all  the  rest  of  the 
body  is  of  the  same  color,  in  parts 
inclining  to  brown.  Third  primary 
feather  longest.  The  wings  extend 
to  the  end  of  the  tail.  The  upper 
plumage  is  generally  glossed  with 
green  and  bronze,  having  purplish 
reflections.  Legs  feathered  to  the 
knees;  the  feet  somewhat  webbed. 
The  bill  nearly  white  often  tipped 
with  bright  olive  green.  Weight 
from  four  and  a  half  to  five  pounds. 


TURKEY    BUZZARD. 


460 


OF    THE   FALCON   OR   EAGLE  TRIBE. 


OF  THE  FALCON  OR  EAGLE  TRIBE. 

THE  bill  is  hooked ;  and  is  furnished  at  the  base  with  a  naked 
membranaceous  skin,  called  cere.  The  head 
and  neck  are  thickly  beset  with  feathers. 
The  nostrils  are  small,  and  placed  in  the 
cere ;  and  the  tongue  is  broad,  fleshy,  and 
generally  cleft  at  the  end.  The  legs  and 
feet  are  strong,  muscular  and  scaly ;  and 
the  large,  hooked,  and  very  sharp  claws, 
are  well  calculated  for  the  predacious  habits 
of  the  animals.  The  middle  toe  is  connected 
to  the  outermost  by  a  strong  membrane, 
and  the  claw  of  the  outer  toe  is  smaller 
than  that  of  any  of  the  others. 

This  tribe  differs  from  the  last  princi- 
pally in  the  animals  having  their  bill  and 
claws  much  more  hooked  and  sharp ;  in 
having  the  head  and  neck  in  general  thickly  covered  with  feathers, 
instead  of  being  naked,  or  covered  only  with  down ;  and  also  in  their 
usually  killing  their  prey  and  eating  it  while  fresh.  The  exuviae  and 
bones  of  their  food  they  always  emit  at  the  mouth,  in  the  form  of 
round  pellets. 

This,  as  well  as  the  last,  is  an  excessively  rapacious  tribe  of  birds. 
They  prey  altogether  on  animal  food ;  yet  they  seldom  feed  on  carrion, 
except  when  driven  to  it  by  necessity.  They  are  able  to  sustain 
hunger  for  a  very  great  length  of  time ;  often  taking  in  as  much  food 
at  once,  as  will  last  them  for  several  days  without  a  fresh  supply.  Many 
of  these  species  eat  fish,  and  others  are  content  to  subsist  on  snakes 
and  reptiles. 

They  never  associate  ;  and,  except  during  the  breeding  season,  even 
two  of  them  are  seldom  seen  together.  They  are  extremely  quick 
sighted,  and  soar  to  amazing  heights  in  the  air.  When  they  dis- 
cern their  prey,  they  dart  upon  it  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow :  and 
their  strength  is  so  great,  that  some  of  them  have  been  known  to 
carry  to  their  offspring  a  load  nearly  as  heavy  as  themselves,  and 
from  a  distance  of  forty  miles  and  upwards.  Most  of  them  build  their 
nests  in  lofty  and  inaccessible  places ;  but  a  few  of  the  species  form 
them  on  the  ground.  In  general  the  females  are  much  larger  than 
the  males ;  for  the  purpose,  as  some  persons  have  conjectured,  of  more 
easily  providing  food  for  their  offspring. 

About  a  hundred  and  forty  different  species  have  been  discovered, 
of  which  upwards  of  twenty  are  natives  of  Great  Britain ;  but,  from 
the  extreme  difference  in  appearance,  between  many  of  the  males  and 
females  of  the  same  soecies  it  is  sometimes  a  difficult  task  to  ascertain 
them. 


THE   SECRETARY   FALCON.  461 


THE   SECRETARY   FALCON. 

This  bird,  when  standing  erect,  measures  about  three  feet  from  the 
top  of  the  head  to  the  ground.  The  bill  is  black,  sharp,  and  crooked, 
like  that  of  an  Eagle.  The  cere  is  white ;  and  round  the  eyes  there  is 
a  place  bare  of  feathers,  and  of  a  deep  orange  color.  The  upper  eye- 
lids are  beset  with  strong  bristles,  like  eye-lashes.  The  general  color 
of  the  plumage  is  a  bluish  ash-color ;  and  the  ends  of  the  wings,  the 
thighs,  and  vent,  are  blackish.  The  tail  is  somewhat  ash-colored, 
except  at  the  end,  which,  for  above  an  inch,  is  black,  and  then  tipped 
with  white :  the  two  middle  feathers  are  twice  as  long  as  any  of  the 
rest.  The  legs  are  long,  brown,  and  stouter  than  those  of  a  Heron ; 
the  claws  are  shortish,  but  crooked,  and  of  a  black  color. 

The  Secretary  Falcon  is  a  native  of  the  interior  parts  of  Africa,  Asia, 
and  the  Philippine  Islands. 

In  its  general  form  this  bird  resembles,  in  some  degree,  both  the 
Eagle  and  the  Crane  ;  having  its  head  shaped  like  that  of  the  former, 
and  its  body  somewhat  like  that  of  the  latter.  From  the  back  of  the 
head  spring  several  long  dark-colored  feathers,  that  hang  loose  behind 
like  a  pendant  crest,  which  the  bird  can  erect  or  depress  at  pleasure. 
"  The  Dutch  (says  M.  Le  Vaillant)  gave  to  it  the  name  of  Secretary, 
on  account  of  the  bunch  of  quills  behind  its  head :  for  in  Holland, 
clerks,  when  interrupted  in  their  writing,  stick  their  pen  in  their  hair 
behind  their  right  ear ;  and  to  this  the  tuft  of  the  bird  was  thought 
to  bear  some  resemblance." 

The  Hottentots  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  distinguished  this  bird 
by  a  name  that  signifies  the  Serpent-eater;  and  it  would  almost  seem 
that  nature  had  principally  destined  it  for  the  purpose  of  confining 
within  due  bounds  the  race  of  Serpents,  which  is  very  extensive  in  all 
the  countries  that  this  bird  inhabits. 

The  mode  in  which  it  seizes  these  dan- 
gerous creatures  is  very  peculiar.  When 
it  approaches  them,  it  is  always  careful  to 
carry  the  point  of  one  of  its  wings  forward, 
in  order  to  parry- off  their  venomous  bites  ; 
sometimes  it  finds  an  opportunity  of  spurn- 
ing and  treading  upon  its  antagonist,  or 
else  of  taking  him  on  its  pinions  and 
throwing  him  into  the  air.  When,  by  this 
proceeding,  it  has  at  length  wearied  him  out, 
and  rendered  him  almost  senseless,  it  kills 
and  swallows  him  at  leisure  without  danger. 

M.  Le  Yaillant  tells  us,  that  he  was  witness  to  an  engagement 
between  a  Secretary  Falcon  and  a  Serpent.  The  battle  was  obstinate, 
and  was  conducted  with  equal  address  on  both  sides.  But  the  Serpent 
at  length  feeling  the  inferiority  of  his  strength,  employed,  in  his  at- 
tempt to  regain  his  hole,  all  that  cunning  which  is  attributed  to  the 
tribe  ;  while  the  Bird,  apparently  guessing  his  design,  stopped  him  on 
a  sudden  and  cut  off  his  retreat,  by  placing  herself  before  him  at  a 


SECRETARY  KILLING  A  SNAKE. 


462  THE    SECRETARY    FALCON. 

siogle  leap.  On  whatever  side  the  reptile  endeavored  to  make  his 
escape,  his  enemy  still  appeared  before  him.  Then,  uniting  at  once 
both  bravery  and  cunning,  the  serpent  boldly  erected  himself  to  inti- 
midate the  Bird,  and,  hissing  dreadfully,  displayed  his  menacing 
throat,  inflamed  eyes,  and  a  head  swollen  with  rage  and  venom. 
"  Sometimes  this  threatening  appearance  produced  a  momentary  sus- 
pension of  hostilities;  but  the  Bird  soon  returned  to  the  charge,  and 
covering  her  body  with  one  of  her  wings  as  a  buckler,  struck  her 
enemy  with  the  bony  protuberance  of  the  other.  I  saw  him  at  last 
stagger  and  fall :  the  conqueror  then  fell  upon  him  to  dispatch  him, 
and,  with  one  stroke  of  her  beak,  laid  open  his  skull." 

At  this  instant  M.  Le  Yaillant  fired  at  and  killed  the  bird.  In  her 
craw  he  found,  on  dissection,  eleven  tolerably  large  Lizzards ;  three 
Serpents,  each  as  long  as  his  arm ;  eleven  small  Tortoises,  most  of  which 
were  about  two  inches  in  diameter ;  and  a  number  of  Locusts  and 
other  insects,  several  of  them  sufficiently  whole  to  be  worth  preser- 
ing  and  adding  to  his  collection.  He  observed,  too,  that,  in  addition  to 
this  mass  of  food,  the  craw  contained  a  sort  of  ball,  as  large  as  the  head 
of  a  Goose,  formed  of  the  vertebrae  of  Serpents  and  Lizards  ;  shells  of 
Tortoises  ;  and  wings,  claws,  and  shields,  of  different  kinds  of  Beetles. 

Dr.  Solander  says,  that  he  has  seen  one  of  these  birds  take  up  a 
Snake,  a  small  Tortoise,  or  other  reptile,  in  its  claw,  and  dash  it  with 
so  much  violence  against  the  ground,  that  the  creature  immediately 
died ;  if,  however,  this  did  not  happen  to  be  the  case,  he  tells  us  that 
the  operation  was  repeated  till  the  victim  was  killed  ;  after  which  it 
was  eaten. 

The  Secretary  is  easily  tamed  ;  and  when  domesticated,  will  eat  any 
kind  of  fooi,  either  dressed  or  raw.  If  well  fed,  it  not  only  lives  with 
poultry  on  amicable  terms,  but,  when  it  sees  any  of  them  quarrelling, 
it  will  even  run  to  part  the  combatants  and  restore  order.  This  bird, 
it  is  true,  if  pinched  with  hunger,  will  devour,  without  scruple,  the 
ducklings  and  chickens ;  but  this  abuse  of  confidence,  if  it  may  be 
so  called,  is  the  effect  of  severe  hunger,  and  the  pure  and  simple  exer- 
cise of  that  necessity  which  rigorously  devotes  one  .half  of  the  living 
creation  to  satisfy  the  appetite  of  the  rest. 

Tame  Secretaries  were  seen  by  M.  Le  Yaillant  in  several  of  the 
plantations  of  the  Cape.  He  says  that  they  commonly  lay  two  or 
three  white  eggs,  nearly  as  large  as  those  of  a  goose.  The  young- 
ones  remain  a  great  while  in  the  nest;  because,  from  their  legs  being 
long  and  slender,  they  cannot  easily  support  themselves. 

However  shrewd  and  cunning  this  bird  may  be  in  its  general  con- 
duct, yet  M.  de  Buffon  seems  to  have  attributed  to  it  a  much  greater 
degree  of  intelligence  than  it  really  possesses: — "When  a  painter 
(says  he,  quoting  a  letter  of  the  viscount  de  Querhoent)  was  employed 
in  drawing  one  of  the  Secretary  Falcons,  it  approached  him,  looked 
attentively  upon  his  paper,  stretched  out  its  neck,  and  erected  the 
feathers  of  its  head,  as  if  admiring  its  own  figure.  It  often  came  with 
its  wings  raised,  and  its  head  projected,  to  observe  what  he  was  doing. 
It  also  thus  approached  me  two  or  three  times,  when  I  was  sitting  at 
a  table,  in  its  hut,  in  order  to  describe  it."  This  stretching  out  of  its 


THE   WASHINGTON   EAGLE. 


463 


head,  and  erection  of  its  crest,  seem,  however,  to  have  arisen  from  no- 
thing more  than  that  love  which  almost  all  domesticated  birds  evince 
of  having  their  heads  scratched.  And  these  birds,  when  rendered 
familiar,  are  well  known  to  approach  every  person  who  comes  near 
them,  and  to  stretch  out  their  necks  by  way  of  making  known  this 
desire. 

This  singular  bird  has  not  long  been  known,  even  at  the  Cape:  but, 
when  we  consider  its  sociable  and  familiar  disposition,  we  are  disposed 
to  think  that  it  would  be  advisable  to  multiply  the  species,  particu- 
larly in  our  colonies;  for  it  is  hardy  enough  to  endure  even  European 
climates,  where  it  might  be  serviceable  in  destroying  not  only  perni- 
cious reptiles,  but  Eats  and  Mice. 

The  Secretary  Falcons  make,  with  twigs,  a  flat  nest,  full  three  feet 
in  diameter,  and  line  it  with  wool  and  feathers.  This  is  usually 
formed  in  some  high  tuft  of  trees ;  and  is  often  so  well  concealed,  as 
not  easily  to  be  discovered  even  by  the  most  scrutinizing  eye.  It  is 
a  very  singular  circumstance,  that  in  their  contests  these  birds  always 
strike  forward  with  their  legs;  and  not,  like  all  others,  backward. 


THE   WASHINGTON   EAGLE. 


The  Washington  Eagle,  says 
Nuttall,  bold  and  vigorous, 
disdains  the  piratical  habits  of 
the  Bald  Eagle,  and  invariably 
obtains  his  own  sustenance 
without  molesting  the  Osprey. 
The  circles  he  describes  in  his 
flight  are  wider  than  those  of 
the  White-headed  Eagle;  he 
also  flies  nearer  to  the  land  or 
the  surface  of  the  water ;  and 
when  about  to  dive  for  his 
prey,  he  descends  in  circuitous, 
spiral  rounds,  as  if  to  check  the 
retreat  of  the  fish,  on  which  he 
darts  only  when  within  the 
distance  of  a  few  yards.  When 
his  prey  is  obtained,  he  flies 
out  at  a  low  elevation  to  a 
considerable  distance  to  enjoy 
his  repast  at  leasure.  The 
quantity  of  food  consumed  by 
this  enormous  bird  is  very 
great,  according  to  the  account 
of  those  who  have  had  them  in 
confinement.  Mr.  Audubon's 
male  bird  weighed  fourteen 
and  a  half  pounds  avoirdupois. 


LAMMEK-OEYER 


464  THE  BEARDED  EAGLE. 


THE  BEARDED  EAGLE,  OR  LAMMER-GEYER. 

The  beak  is  of  a  purplish  flesh-color,  and  hooked  only  at  the  point; 
the  head  and  neck  are  covered  with  feathers. 
Beneath  the  throat  hangs  a  kind  of  beard,  com- 
posed of  very  narrow  feathers,  like  hairs.  The 
legs  are  covered  with  feathers  quite  to  the  toes, 
which  are  yellow :  the  claws  are  black.  The  body 
is  blackish-brown  above ;  and  the  under  parts  are 
white,  with  a  tinge  of  brown. 

The  Bearded  Eagles,  of  which  so  many  fabulous 
tales  have  been  related,  are  inhabitants  of  the 
highest  parts  of  the  great  chain  of  the  Alps  that 
separates  Switzerland  from  Italy,  They  are  fre- 
quently seen  of  immense  size.  One  that  was 
caught  in  the  canton  of  Glarus,  measured  from  the  tip  of  its  beak  to 
the  extremity  of  its  tail,  nearly  seven  feet,  and  eight  feet  and  a  half 
from  tip  to  tip  of  its  wings ;  but  some  have  been  shot  that  were  much 
larger. 

These  birds  form  their  nests  in  the  clefts  of  rocks,  inaccessible  to 
man;  and  usually  produce  three  or  four  young-ones  at  a  time.  They 
subsist  on  alpine  animals,  such  as  Chamois,  white  Hares,  Marmots, 
Kids,  and  particularly  Lambs.  It  is  from  their  devouring  the  latter, 
that  they  are  called,  by  the  Swiss  peasants,  Lammer-geyer,  or  Lamb- 
Vultures.*  The  Bearded  Eagles  seldom  appear  except  in  small  par- 
ties, usually  consisting  of  the  two  old  birds  and  their  young-ones. 

If  common  report  may  be  credited,  this  rapacious  bird  does  not 
confine  its  assaults  to  the  brute  creation,  but  sometimes  attacks  and 
succeeds  in  carrying  off'  young  children.  Gesner,  on  the  authority 
of  Fabricius,  says,  respecting  it,  that  some  peasants  between  Meissen 
and  Brisa,  in  Germany,  losing  every  day  some  of  their  cattle,  which 
they  sought  for  in  the  forests  in  vain,  observed  by  chance  a  very 
large  nest  resting  on  three  oaks,  constructed  with  sticks  and  branches 
of  trees,  and  as  wide  as  the  body  of  a  cart.  They  found  in  this  nest 
three  young  birds,  already  so  large  that  their  wings  extended  seven 
ells.  Their  legs  were  as  thick  as  those  of  a  Lion;  and  their  claws  the 
size  of  a  man's  fingers.  In  the  nest  were  found  several  skins  of  Calves 
and  Sheep. 

It  appears  to  have  been  from  one  of  the  two  varieties  of  this  bird 
that  are  sometimes  seen  in  Persia  and  other  eastern  countries,  rather 
than  the  Condor,  as  is  generally  supposed,  that  the  fabulous  stories 
of  the  Roc  of  the  Arabian  Tales  originated ;  since  the  latter  is  con- 
fined to  the  wild  districts  of  South  America,  and  has  never  been 
ascertained  to  have  visited  the  old  continent. 

One  of  these  varieties  also  it  is  that  Mr.  Bruce  describes  as  having 

*  It  is,  however,  to  be  remarked  that  the  Swiss  do  not  confine  the  appellation  of 
Lammer-geyer  to  this  species,  but  sometimes  extend  it  to  other  large  birds  of  prey 


THE    BEARDED    EAGLE.  465 

v* 

seen  on  the  highest  part  of  the  mountain  of  Lamalmon,  not  far 
from  Gondar,  the  capital  of  Abyssinia.  He  says,  that  on  account  of 
the  tuft  of  hair  growing  beneath  its  beak,  the  inhabitants  call  it  Abou 
Ducttn,  or  Father  Long-beard.  Mr.  Bruce  supposed  it  to  be  not  only 
one  of  the  largest  of  the  Eagle  kind,  but  one  of  the  largest  birds  in 
the  creation.  From  wing  to  wing  it  measured  eight  feet  four  inches  ; 
and  from  the  tip  of  its  tail  to  the  point  of  its  beak,  when  dead,  four 
feet  seven  inches.  It  weighed  twenty-two  pounds,  and  was  very 
full  of  flesh.  Its  legs  were  short,  but  the  thighs  extremely  muscular. 
Its  eyes  were  remarkably  small,  the  aperture  being  scarcely  half  an 
inch  across.  The  crown  of  the  head  was  bald,  as  was  also  the  front, 
where  the  bill  and  skull  joined. 

11  This  noble  bird  (says  this  celebrated  traveller)  was  not  an  object 
of  any  chase  or  pursuit,  nor  stood  in  need  of  any  stratagem  to  bring 
him  within  our  reach.  Upon  the  highest  top  of  the  mountain  Lamal- 
mon, while  my  servants  were  refreshing  themselves  from  that  toilsome, 
rugged  ascent,  and  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  a  most  delightful  climate 
eating  their  dinner  in  the  outer  air,  with  several  large  dishes  of  boiled 
goat's  flesh  before  them,  this  enemy,  as  he  turned  out  to  be  to  them 
suddenly  appeared;  he  did  not  stoop  rapidly  from  a  height,  but  carne 
flying  slowly  along  the  ground,  and  sat  down  close  to  the  meat,  with- 
in the  ring  the  men  had  made  round  it.  A  great  shout,  or  rather  cry 
of  distress,  called  me  to  the  place.  I  saw  the  Eagle  stand  for  a  min- 
ute, as  if  to  recollect  himself;  while  the  servants  ran  for  their  lances 
and  shields.  I  walked  up  as  nearly  to  him  as  I  had  time  to  do.  His 
attention  was  fixed  upon  the  flesh.  I  saw  him  put  his  foot  into  the 
pan,  where  there  was  a  large  piece,  in  water,  prepared  for  boiling ; 
but  finding  the  smart,  which  he  had  not  expected,  he  withdrew  it,  and 
forsook  the  piece  that  he  held. 

"  There  were  two  large  pieces,  a  leg  and  a  shoulder,  lying  upon  a 
wooden  platter :  into  these  he  thrust  both  his  claws,  and  carried  them 
off;  but  I  thought  he  still  looked  wistfully  at  the  large  piece  which 
remained  in  the  warm  water.  Away  he  went  slowly  along  the  ground, 
as  he  had  come.  The  face  of  the  cliff  over  which  criminals  are  thrown, 
took  him  from  our  sight.  The  Mahometans  that  drove  the  Asses, 
were  much  alarmed,  and  assured  me  of  his  return.  My  servants,  on 
the  other  hand,  very  unwillingly  expected  him,  and  thought  he  had 
already  taken  more  than  his  share. 

"  As  I  had  myself  a  desire  of  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  this 
Bird,  I  loaded  a  rifle-gun  with  ball,  and  sat  down  close  to  the  platter 
by  the  meat.  It  was  not  many  minutes  before  he  came,  and  a 
prodigious  shout  was  raised  by  my  attendants,  'He  is  coming,  he  is 
coming,'  enough  to  have  dismayed  a  less  courageous  animal. 
Whether  he  was  not  quite  so  hungry  as  at  his  first  visit,  or  suspected 
something  from  my  appearance,  I  know  not ;  but  he  made  a  short 
turn,  and  sat  down  about  ten  yards  from  me,  the  pan  with  the  meat 
being  between  me  and  him.  As  the  field  was  clear  before  me,  and  I 
did  not  know  but  his  next  move  might  bring  him  opposite  to  some 
of  my  people,  so  that  he  might  actually  get  the  rest  of  the  meat  and 
make  off,  I  shot  him  with  the  ball  through  the  middle  of  his  body, 


466         THE  IMPERIAL  EAGLE — HARPY  EAGLE. 

about  two  inches  below  the  wing,  so  that  he  lay  down  upon  the  grass 
without  a  single  flutter. 

"Upon  laying  hold  of  his  monstrous  carcass,  I  was  not  a  little  sur- 
prised at  seeing  my  hands  covered  and  tinged  with  yellow  powder  or 
dust.  On  turning  him  upon  his  belly,  and  examining  the  feathers 
of  his  back,  they  also  produced  a  dust,  the  color  of  the  feathers  there. 
This  dust  was  not  in  small  quantites ;  for,  upon  striking  the  breast, 
the  yellow  powder  flew  in  full  greater  quantity  than  from  a  hair- 
dresser's powder  puff.  The  feathers  of  the  belly  and  breast  which 
were  of  a  gold  color,  did  not  appear  to  have  any  thing  extraordi- 
nary in  their  formation  ;  but  the  large  feathers  in  the  shoulder  and 
wings  seemed  apparently  to  be  fine  tubes,  which,  upon  pressure, 
scattered  this  dust  upon  the  finer  part  of  the  leather ;  but  this  was 
brown,  the  color  of  the  feathers  of  the  back.  Upon  the  side  of  the 
wing,  the  ribs,  or  hard  part  of  the  feathers,  seemed  to  be  bare,  as  if 
worn ;  or,  I  rather  think,  were  renewing  themselves,  having  before 
failed  in  their  functions. 

"What  is  the  reason  of  this  extraordinary  provision  of  nature,  it  is 
not  in  my  power  tb  determine.  As  it  is  an  unusual  one,  it  is  pro- 
bably meant  for  a  defence  against  the  climate,  in  favor  of  birds  which 
live  in  those  almost  inaccessible  heights  of  a  country  doomed,  even 
in  its  lowest  parts,  to  several  month's  excessive  rain." 

THE    IMPERIAL   EAGLE. 

This  is  the  largest  species  of  Eagle  known,  measuring  three  feet 
and  a  half  from  the  tip  of  the  bill  to  the  end  of  the  tail;  and  to  it  may 
be  referred  all  the  accounts  of  the  ancients  respecting  the  strength, 
courage,  and  magnanimity  of  these  birds.  Its  color  above  is  rufous 
gray,  barred  with  black,  the  black  prevailing  most  on  the  wings ;  the 
head  is  strongly  crested  with  long  gray  feathers,  the  two  middle  ones 
being  five  inches  long ;  the  tail  is  gray,  barred  and  spotted  with  black, 
and  tipped  with  rufous :  the  under  parts  of  the  bird  are  pale  cinereous, 
very  soft  and  downy ;  the  beak  and  cere  black ;  the  feet  and  legs  yel- 
low. It  is  a  native  of  South  America,  inhabiting  the  deep  recesses  of 
the  forest ;  and  has  the  reputation  of  being  extremely  bold  and  fero- 
cious. 

THE   HARPY  EAGLE. 

It  has  been  correctly  observed  by  Mr.  Selby,  that  the  members  of 
the  aquiline  division  of  the  Eaptorial  order  do  not  possess  the  same 
facility  of  pursuing  their  prey  upon  the  wing  which  we  see  in  the 
Falcons  and  Hawks;  for  though  their  flight  is  very  powerful,  they 
are  not  capable  of  the  rapid  evolutions  that  attend  the  aerial  attacks 
of  the  above-named  groups,  in  consequence  of  which  their  prey  is 
mostly  pounced  upon  the  ground.  The  shortness  of  the  wings  of  the 
Harpy  Eagle,  when  compared  with  those  of  the  Golden  Eagle  of 
Europe,  and  their  rounded  form  and  breadth,  though  well  adapting 
them  for  a  continued  steady  flight,  render  them  less  efficient  as  organs 


THE     HARPY     EAGLE.  467 

of  rapid  and  sudden  aerial  evolutions  than  those  of  the  latter;  but 
as  it  inhabits  the  woods,  and  does  not  prey  upon  birds,  but  animals 
incapable  of  saving  themselves  by  flight,  its  powers  of  wing  (or 
rather  the  modification  of  powers)  are  in  accordance  with  the  cir- 
cumstances as  to  food  and  locality  under  which  it  is  placed.  If  the 
Harpy  Eagle  soars  not  aloft,  hovering  over  plains  and  mountains,  it 
threads  the  woods,  it  skims  amidst  the  trees,  and  marks  the  Sloth 
suspended  on  the  branch,  or  the  Monkey  in  unsuspicious  security, 
and  with  unerring  aim  strikes  its  defenceless  victims.  Mr.  Selby, 
commenting  on  the  fierceness  of  a  pair  of  Golden  Eagles  in  his  pos- 
session and  their  readiness  to  attack  every  one  indiscriminately,  ob- 
serves that  when  living  prey  (as  Hares,  Eabbits,  or  Cats)  are  thrown 
to  them,  the  animal  is  "  instantly  pounced  on  by  a  stroke  behind  the 
head  and  another  about  the  region  of  the  heart,  the  bill  appearing 
never  to  be  used  but  for  the  purpose  of  tearing  up  the  prey  when 
dead."  It  is  precisely  in  this  manner  that  the  Harpy  Eagle  deals 
with  his  victims ;  death  se^ms  the  work  of  an  instant ;  the  strongest 
Cat,  powerless  in  his  grasp,  is  clutched,  and  expires.  Nor  will  this 
surprise  any  one  who  has  contemplated  the  power  seated  in  the  talons 
of  this  bird;  strong  as  are  the  talons  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  great  as  is 
the  muscular  development  of  its  limbs,  and  formidable  as  are  its 
claws,  they  seem  almost  trifling  compared  with  those  of  the  Harpy 
Eagle.  In  the  museum  of  the  Zoological  Society  are  skeletons  of 
both  these  birds,  which  it  is  interesting  to  compare  together.  The 
thickness  of  the  bones  of  the  limbs  in  the  latter,  and  especially  of  the 
tarsus,  which  is  more  than  double  that  of  the  Golden-  Eagle,  and  the 
enormous  size  of  the  talons,  are  sufficient  to  convince  the  observer  of 
the  ease  with  which,  when  living,  the  fierce  bird  would  bury  its 
sharp-hooked  claws  in  the  vitals  of  its  prey,  and  how  vain  resistance 
when  the  fatal  grasp  was  taken.  In  its  native  regions  the  Harpy 
Eagle  is  said  to  be  by  no  means  common;  were  it  so,  the  destruction 
occasioned  by  its  presence  would,  it  might  be  naturally  expected, 
preponderate  over  the  renovation  of  the  species  which  constitute  its 
habitual  food,  and  the  balance  which  nature  has  established  between 
the  destroyed  and  the  destroying,  the  sanguinary  and  their  victims, 
be  thus  disarranged.  No  doubt  that,  as  is  the  case  with  all  carnivo- 
rous animals,  its  numerical  ratio  in  a  given  space  is  proportionate 
to  that  of  the  animals  on  which  it  is  destined  habitually  to  feed. 
Where  the  Sloth  is  most  abundant,  there  will  most  abound  the 
Harpy  Eagle. 

The  general  color  of  this  noble  bird  is  slate  black;  the  head  is  light 
slate-gray,  passing  into  dusky-black  on  the  crest;  the  under  parts  are 
white,  with  a  broad  band  of  dark  slate  color  across  the  chest.  The 
tail  is  barred  with  black  and  slate  color.  The  beak  and  claws  aro 
black ;  the  tarsi  yellow. 

30 


468 


THE   GOLDEN  EAGLE. 


THE   GOLDEN   EAGLE. 

The  Golden  Eagle  is  a  large  bird,  weighing  twelve  or  fourteen 

pounds;  measuring  in 
length  three  feet,  and 
from  tip  to  tip  of  his 
wings  seven  feet  and 
a  half.  The  bill  is 
deep  blue,  and  the 
cere  yellow.  The 
head  and  neck  are  of 
a  dark  brown,  bor- 
dered with  tawny: 
the  hind  part  o  f 
the  head  is  of  a 
Bi  bright  rust-color, 
1  and  the  rest  of  the 
body  brown.  The 
tail  is  blotched  with 
ash-color.  The  legs 
are  yellow,  and 
feathered  to  the  toes, 
which  are  scaly  :  the 
claws  are  remarka- 
bly large,  the  middle 
one  being  two  inches 
in  length. 

This  bird  is  a 
native  o  f  Europe, 
and  even  of  some  of 
the  more  mountain- 
ous parts  of  Great 
Britain. 

This  Eagle  has  generally  been  considered  by  mankind,  to  hold  the 
same  fabulous  or  imaginary  dominion  over  the  birds,  which  has  been 
attributed  to  the  Lion  over  quadrupeds.  M.  de  Buft'on,  adopting  the 
idea,  is  also  of  opinion,  that  the  Eagle  and  the  Lion  have  many  points 
of  resemblance,  both  physical  and  moral.  "  Magnanimity  (he  says)  is 
equally  conspicuous  in  both;  they  despise  the  small  animals,  and  dis- 
regard their  insults.  It  is  only  after  a  series  of  provocations,  after 
being  teased  with  the  noisy  or  harsh  notes  of  the  Eaven  or  Magpie, 
that  the  Eagle  determines  to  punish  the  temerity  or  the  insolence  of 
these  birds  with  death.  Besides,  both  disdain  the  possession  of  that 
property  which  is  not  the  fruit  of  their  own  industry;  rejecting  with 
contempt  the  -prey  which  is  not  procured  by  their  own  exertions. 
Both  are  remarkable  for  their  temperance.  This  species  seldom  de- 
vours the  whole  of  his  game,  but,  like  the  Lion,  leaves  the  fragments 


GOLDEN  EAGLE. 


THE   GOLDEN   EAGLE.  469 

and  offals  to  other  animals.  Though  famished  for  want  of  prey,  he 
disdains  to  feed  upon  carrion. 

"Like  the  Lion,  also,  he  is  solitary;  the  inhabitant  of  a  desert,  over 
which  he  reigns  supreme,  excluding  all  the  other  birds  from  his  silent 
domain.  It  is  perhaps  even  more  uncommon  to  see  two  pairs  of 
Eagles  in  the  same  tract  of  mountain,  than  two  families  of  Lions  in 
the  same  part  of  the  forest.  They  separate  from  each  other  at  such 
wide  intervals,  as  to  afford  ample  range  for  subsistence;  and  esteem 
the  value  and  extent  of  their  dominion  to  consist  in  the  abundance 
of  prey  with  which  it  is  replenished. 

"  The  eyes  of  the  Eagle  have  the  glare  of  those  of  the  Lion,  and  are 
nearly  of  the  same  color ;  the  claws  are  of  the  same  shape  ;  the  organs 
of  sound  are  equally  powerful,  and  the  cry  equally  terrible.* 
Destined,  both  of  them,  for  war  and  plunder,  they  are  equally  tierce, 
bold,  and  intractable.  It  is  impossible  to  tame  them,  unless  they  be 
caught  when  in  their  infancy.  It  requires  much  patience  and  art  to 
train  a  young  Eagle  to  the  chase ;  and  after  he  has  attained  his  proper 
age  arid  strength,  his  caprices  and  momentary  impulses  of  passion, 
are  sufficient  to  create  suspicions  and  fears  in  his  master.  Authors 
inform  us,  that  the  Eagle  was  anciently  used  in  the  East  for  Falconry ; 
but  this  practice  is  now  laid  aside.  He  is  too  heavy  to  be  carried  on 
the  hand :  nor  is  he  ever  rendered  so  tame  or  so  gentle,  as  to  remove 
all  suspicions  of  danger.  His  bill  and  claws  are  crooked  and 
formidable :  his  figure  corresponds  with  his  instinct :  his  body  is 
robust ;  his  legs  and  wings  are  strong ;  his  flesh  is  hard ;  his  bones 
are  firm;  his  feathers  stiff;  his  attitude  bold  and  erect;  his  move- 
ments quick ;  his  flight  rapid.  He  rises  higher  in  the  air  than  any 
other  of  the  winged  race;  and  hence  he  was  termed  by  the  ancients 
the  Celestial  Bird,  and  was  regarded  in  their  mythology  as  the  mes- 
senger of  Jupiter.  He  can  distinguish  objects  at  an  immense  distance; 
but  his  power  of  smell  is  inferior  to  that  of  the  Vulture.  By  means 
of  his  exquisite  sight,  he  pursues  his  prey;  and,  when  he  has  seized 
it  he  checks  his  flight,  and  places  it  upon  the  ground  to  examine  its 
weight,  before  he  carries  it  off.  Though  his  wings  are  vigorous;  yet, 
his  legs  being  stiff,  it  is  with  difficulty  he  can  rise,  especially  if  he  be 
loaded.  He  is  able  to  bear  away  Geese  and  Cranes  :  he  also  carries 
off  Hares,  young  Lambs,  and  Kids.  When  he  attacks  Fawns  or 
Calves,  he  instantly  gluts  himself  with  their  blood  and  flesh,  and 
afterwards  transports  their  mangled  carcasses  to  his  nest,  or  aery.'1 

Formed  for  war,  these  Birds  are  solitary  and  unsociable.  They  are 
also  fierce,  but  not  implacable;  and,  though  not  easily  tamed,  are 
capable  of  great  docility.  They  will  not,  however,  bear  the  least 
harsh  usage  without  endevoring  to  resent  it.  A  gentleman  who  lived 
in  the  south  of  Scotland,  had,  not  many  years  ago,  a  tame  Eagle. 
This  Bird  the  keeper  one  day  injudiciously  lashed  with  a  horsewhip. 
About  a  week  afterwards  the  man  chanced  to  stoop  within  reach 

*  The  voice  of  the  Lion  and  Eagle,  notwithstanding  this  assertion  of  M.  ae  Buffon, 
will  not  bear  comparison.  The  one  is  a  deep  and  dreadful  bass ;  and  the  other  a 
piercing  treble,  altogether  destitute  of  majesty. 


470  THE   GOLDEN    EAGLE. 

of  its  chain;  when,  recollecting  the  insult,  the  enraged  animal  flew  in 
his  face  with  so  much  fury  and  violence,  that  he  was  terribly  wounded, 
but  was  driven  so  far  back  by  the  blow,  as  to  be  out  of  further  danger. 
The  screams  of  the  Eagle  alarmed  the  family ;  who  found  the  man 
lying  at  some  distance,  covered  with  blood,  and  equally  stunned  with 
the  fright  and  the  fall.  The  Bird  was  still  pacing  and  screaming  in  a 
manner  not  less  threatening  than  majestic ;  and,  shortly,  afterwards, 
he  broke  his  chain  and  escaped. 

The  Golden  Eagles  build  their  nests  on  elevated  rocks,  ruinous  and 
solitary  castles  and  towers,  and  other  sequestered  places.  The  nest 
is  quite  flat ;  and  not  hollow,  like  the  nests  of  other  birds.  The  male 
and  female  commonly  place  it  between  two  rocks,  in  a  dry  and 
inaccessible  situation.  The  same  nest,  it  is  said,  serves  the  Eagle 
during  life.  Its  form  resembles  that  of  a  floor.  Its  basis  consists  of 
sticks  about  five  or  six  feet  in  length,  which  are  supported  at  each 
end ;  and  these  are  covered  with  several  layers  of  rushes  and  heath. 

An  Eagle's  nest  which  was,  some  years  ago,  found  in  the  Peak  of 
Derbyshire,  was  made  of  great  sticks,  and  one  end  of  it  rested  on  the 
edge  of  a  rock,  the  other  on.  a  birch-tree.  Upon  these  was  a  layer  of 
rushes,  over  them  a  layer  of  heath,  and  on  the  heath  rushes  again; 
upon  which  lay  one  young  Eagle,  and  an  addle  egg ;  and  by  them  a 
Lamb,  a  Hare,  and  three  hearth  pouts.  The  nest  was  about  .two  yards 
square,  and  had  no  hollow  in  it. 

The  females  never  lay  more  than  two  or  three  eggs.  These  they 
hatch  in  thirty  days.  They  feed  their  young  ones  with  the  slain 
carcasses  of  such  small  animals  as  come  in  their  way ;  and,  though  they 
are  at  all  times  formidable,  they  are  particularly  so  while  bringing  up 
their  offspring. 

It  is  said  that  once  during  a  summer  of  famine,  a  countryman  got  a 
comfortable  subsistence  for  his  family  out  of  an  Eagle's  nest.  He  pro- 
tracted the  assiduity  of  the  old  birds  beyond  their  usual  time,  by 
clipping  the  wings,  and  thus  retarding  the  flight,  of  their  young  ones ; 
and  tying  them  so  as  to  increase  their  cries,  which  are  always  found  to 
increase  the  dispatch  of  the  parents  in  supplying  their  wants.  It  was 
fortunate  for  him  that  the  old  ones  did  not  detect  the  plunderer, 
otherwise  their  resentment  might  have  proved  fatal.  A  peasant,  not 
many  years  ago,  resolved  to  rob  an  Eagle's  nest,  which  he  knew  to  be 
built  on  a  small  island  in  the  beautiful  lake  of  Killarney.  He  stripped 
himself  for  this  purpose,  and  swam  over  when  the  old  birds  were  gone: 
but,  in  his  return,  while  yet  up  to  the  chin  in  water,  the  parents,  coming 
home,  and  missing  their  offspring,  quickly  fell  on  the  plunderer,  and 
killed  him  on  the  spot. 

Several  instances  have  been  recorded  of-  children  being  seized  and 
carried  off  to  their  nests  by  Eagles.  In  the  year  1737,  in  the  parish 
of  Norderhougs,  in  Norway,  a  boy  somewhat  more  than  two  years  old, 
was  running  from  the  house  to  his  parents,  who  were  at  work  in  the 
fields  at  no  great  distance,  when  an  Eagle  pounced  upon  and  flew  off 
with  him,  in  their  sight.  It  was  with  bitterest  anguish  they  beheld 
their  child  dragged  away,  but  all  their  screams  and  efforts  to  prevent  it 
were  in  vain.  Anderson,  in  his  History  of  Iceland,  says,  that  in  that 


THE   OSPREY,  OR   FISHING   EAGLE. 


471 


island  children  of  four  or  five  years  of  age  have  been  sometimes  taken 
away  by  Eagles $  and  Ray  relates,  that  in  one  of  the  Orkneys,  a  child 
of  a  year  old  was  seized  in  the  talons  of  an  Eagle,  and  carried  above 
four  miles  to  its  nest.  The  mother,  knowing  the  place,  pursued  the 
bird,  found  her  child  in  the  nest,  and  took  it  away  unhurt. 

The  form  of  the  Golden  Eagle  is  extremely  muscular ;  but  their 
chief  strength  lies  in  their  beak,  their  talons,  and  their  wings.  There 
is  scarcely  any  quadruped  a  match  for  them  ;  as  they  are  capable  of 
giving  the  most  terrible  annoyance,  without  much  danger  to  themselves 
One  flap  of  their  wing  has  been  known  to  strike  a  man  dead. 

These  birds  are  remarkable  for  longevity,  and  for  their  power  of 
sustaining  abstinence  from  food  for  a  great  length  of  time.  One  that 
died  at  Vienna,  had  been  in  confinement  above  a  hundred  years ;  and 
one  that  was  in  the  possession  of  a  gentleman  of  Conway,  in  Caernarvon- 
shire was,  from  the  neglect  of  his  servants,  kept  for  three  weeks  without 
any  sustenance. 


THE  OSPKEY,  OE  FISHING  EAGLE. 

The  length,  from  the  point  of  the  beak  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  is 
about  two  feet,  and 
the  expanded  wings 
measure  somewhat 
more  than  five  feet. 
The  wings  when 
closed,  reach  beyond 
the  end  of  the  tail. 
The  head  is  small; 
and  is  black  or  brown, 
variegated  with  white 
at  the  top.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  body,  and 
the  whole  of  the  tail, 
are  brown,  and  the 
belly  is  white.  It  is 
a  singular  circum- 
stance in  this  bird, 
that  the  outer  toe  turns 
easily  backward,  so  as 
on  occasion  to  have 
the  toes  two  forward  ^ 
and  two  backward, 
and  it  has  a  much 
larger  claw  than  the 

inner  one.     This  and  the  peculiar  roughness  of  the  whole  foot  under- 
neath, are  well  adapted  for  the  securing  of  its  prey. 

The  Osprey  frequents  large  rivers,  lakes,  and  the  sea-shore  both  of 
Europe  and  America.  In  the  latter  country,  particularly,  it  often 
affords  amusement  to  strangers.  During  the  spring  and  summer, 


472 


THE   OSPREY,  OR    FISHING    EAGLE. 


months,  this  bird   is  frequently  seen  hovering  over  the  rivers,  or 

resting  on  the 
wing  for  seve- 
ral minutes  at 
a  time,  without 
the  least  visi- 
ble change  of 
place.  It  then 
suddenly  darts 
down,  and 
plunges  into 
the  water, 
whence  it  sel- 
do  m  rises 
again  without 
a  fish  in  its 
talons.  When 
it  rises  into 
the  air,  it  im- 
mediately 
shakes  off  the 
water,  which  it 
throws  around 
like  a  mist,  and 
pursues  its  way 
towards  the 
woods.  The 

Bald  Eagle,  which,  on  these  occasions,  is  generally  upon  the  watch, 
instantly  pursues,  and,  if  it  can  overtake,  endeavors  to  soar  above  it. 
The  Osprey,  solicitous  for  its  own  safety,  drops  the  fish  in  alarm  ; 
the  Eagle  immediately  pounces  at  this  prey,  and  never  fails  to  catch 
it  before  it  reaches  the  water,  leaving  the  hawk  to  begin  his  work 
afresh. 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable,  that  whenever  the  Osprey  catches  a  fish, 
it  always  makes  a  loud  screaming  noise ;  which  the  Eagle,  if  within 
hearing,  never  fails  to  take  as  a  signal.  Sometimes  it  happens,  that, 
if  the  Osprey  be  tolerably  large  and  strong,  it  will  contend  with  the 
Eagle  for  its  rightful  property ;  and,  though  generally  conquered  in 
the  end,  a  contest  of  this  sort  has.  been  sustained  for  upwards  of  half 
an  hour. 

The  Osprey  usually  builds  its  nest 
on  the  ground,  among  reeds;  and 
lays  three  or  four  white  eggs,  rather 
smaller  than  those  of  a  Hen.  Colonel 
Montague  states,  that  he  once  saw 
the  nest  of  this  Bird  on  the  top  of  a 
chimney,  of  a  ruin,  in  an  island  of 
Loch  Lomond  in  Scotland.  It  was 
^ar&e  an(^  ^at'  f°rmed  of  sticks  laid 
across,  and  lined  with  flags ;  and  it 
rested  on  jfche  sides  of  the  chimney 


OSPREY  ROBBED  OF  ITS  PRET  BY  THE  EAGLE. 


THE  BLACK,  OR  COMMON  EAGLE. 


473 


THE   BLACK,    OR   COMMON   EAGLE. 

Its  length  is  two  feet  tea  inches ;  the  bill  is  horn-colored,  and  the 
cere  reddish.     The  general  color  of  the  plumage  is  blackish ;  and  the 


COMMON  EAGLE. 


head  and  upper  parts  of  the  neck,  are  mixed  with  yellow.  The  lower 
half  of  the  tail  is  white,  with  blackish  spots ;  the  other  half  blackish  ; 
The  legs  are  covered  with  dirty  white  feathers ;  the  toes  are  yellow,  and 
the  claws  black. 

The  most  perpendicular  and  inaccessible  rocks  are  generally  selected 
as  the  habitation  of  the  Black  Eagles ;  and  from  these  they  occasion- 
ally descend  into  the  plains  to  feed.  As  these  Birds  are  sometimes 
very  destructive  amongst  Lambs  and  other  small  animals,  it  is  not 
unusual  to  lay  snares  and  traps  in  order  to  kill  them;  but  their 
sagacity  is  such,  that  they  are  seldom  caught.  They  attack  and 
devour  indiscriminately  every  kind  of  Bird  ;  and,  when  hard  pressed 
by  hunger,  will  feed  on  carrion. 

Their  aeries  are  usually  formed  amongst  the  branches  of  the  highest 
trees;  and  one  of  them,  which  was  seen  in  the  mountains  of 
Auvergne,  is  described  to  have  measured  more  than  live  superiicial 
feet. 

An  Eagle  of  this  species,  which  was  in  the  possession  of  the  Abbe 
Spallanzani,  was  so  powerful,  as  to  be  able  to  kill  Dogs  that  were 
much  larger  than  itself.  When  the  Abbe  forced  one  of  these  animals 


474 


THE  WHITE-HEADED,  OR  BALD  EAGLE. 


into  the  apartment  where  the  Eagle  was  kept,  the  Bird  immediately 
ruffled  the  feathers  on  its  head  and  neck,  cast  a  dreadful  look  at  its 
victim,  and,  taking  a  short  flight,  immediately  alighted  on  his  back. 
It  held  the  neck  firmly  with  one  foot,  by  which  the  Dog  was  prevented 
from  turning  his  head  to  bite,  and  with  the  other  grasped  one  of  his 
flanks,  at  the  same  time  driving  its  talons  into  the  body ;  and  in  this 
attitude  it  continued,  till  the  Dog  expired  with  fruitless  outcries  and 
efforts.  The  beak,  which  had  been  hitherto  unemployed,  was  now 
used  for  making  a  small  hole  in  the  skin :  this  was  gradually  enlarged  ; 
and  from  this,  the  Bird  began  to  tear  away  and  devour  the  flesh,  and 
went  on  till  he  was  satisfied. 

Notwithstanding  its  ferocity  in  attacking  animals,  this  Eagle  never 
gave  any  molestation  to  man.  Its  owner,  who  constantly  fed  it,  could 
safely  enter  the  apartment  where  the  bird  was  kept,  and  could  behold 
these  assaults  without  dread  or  apprehension;  nor  was  the  Eagle 
prevented  from  attacking  the  living  prey  he  offered  to  it,  or  rendered 
shy  by  his  presence.  In  general,  when  it  had  flesh  sufficient,  it  made 
only  one  meal  a  day.  The  Abbe  found,  by  weighing  wha^it  ate,  that 
thirty  ounces  of  flesh,  one  day  with  another,  were  fully  sufficient  for  it. 

These  birds  are  found  in  all  quarters  of  jthe  world ;  and  in  hot  as 
well  as  cold  climates.  Poiret  speaks  of  having  encountered  them  in 
the  plains  of  Barbary.  They  are  also  very  common  in  several  parts 
of  Europe,  in  Persia,  and  Arabia ;  and  also  in  most  of  the  mountainous 
districts  of  America. 


THE  WHITE-HEADED  EAGLE,  OK  BALD  EAGLE. 


WEUTB-HEADED  EAGLE. 


The  White- 
headed  Eagle,  or 
Bald  Eagle,  as  it  is 
called  by  Wilson, 
inhabits  most  parts 
of  America,  and 
especially  fre- 
quents the  cataract 
of  Niagara.  It  is 
very  accommodat- 
ing in  its  appetite, 
and  preys  indis- 
criminately on 
$  Lambs,  Pigs,  Swans 
and  the  Fish  which, 
as  related  above, 
it  takes  away  from 
the  unfortunate 
O  s  p  r  e  y.  Some 
times  it  can  take 
Fish  honorably  for 
itself  in  shallow 
water,  by  wading 


THE   COMMON  BUZZARD.  475 

as  far  as  it  can  and  snatching  up  the  fish  with  its  beak.  Audubon 
gives  a  splendid  description  of  the  chase  of  a 
swan  by  an  Eagle,  but  want  of  space  prevents 
insertion. 

Like  the  Golden  Eagle,  this  bird  lives  con- 
stantly with  its  mate,  and  hunts  in  company.  It 
lays  from  two  to  four  eggs,  of  a  dull  white  color, 
in  a  huge  nest  placed  in  a  tall  tree. 
The  claws  of  this  bird  are  grooved  beneath,  and  the  hind  claw  is 
the  longest.  The  feet  are  half-feathered,  and  the  fourth  primary 
feather  of  the  wing  is  the  longest.  When  full  grown,  the  general 
color  of  the  bird  is  a  deep,  brownish  black,  but  its  head,  neck,  tail, 
and  upper  tail-coverts  are  white. 


THE  COMMON  BUZZAKD. 

The  Buzzard  is  about  twenty  inches  in  length,  and  four  feet  and  a 
half  in  breadth.  Its  bill  is  lead-colored.  The  upper  parts  of  the  body 
are  dusky :  and  the  lower  pale,  varied  with  brown.  The  wings  and 
tail  are  marked  with  bars  of  a  darker  hue.  The  tail  is  grayish  beneath 
nd  tipped  with  dusky  white.  The  legs  are  yellowish,  and  the  claws 
black. 

This  well-known  bird  is  of  a  sedentary  and  indolent  disposition ;  it 
will  frequently  continue  perched  for  many  hours  successively  upon  a 
tree  or  eminence,  from  which  it  darts  upon  such  prey  as  come  within 
its  reach.  It  feeds  on  birds,  small  quadrupeds,  reptiles  and  insects. 
Though  possessed  of  strength,  agility,  and  weapons  to  defend  itself,  it 
is  cowardly,  inactive,  and  slothful.  It  will  fly  from  a  Sparrow-hawk ; 
and,  when  overtaken,  will  suffer  itself  to  be  beaten,  and  even  brought 
to  the  ground,  without  resistance. 

There  are  few  birds  of  the  hawk  species  more  common  in  this 
country,  than  the  buzzard.  It  breeds  in  large  woods ;  and  usually 
builds  in  an  old  crow's  nest,  which  it  enlarges,  and  lines  with  wool 
and  other  soft  materials.  It  feeds  and  tends  its  offspring,  which  are 
generally  two  or  three  in  number,  with  great  assiduity.  Mr.  Kaj- 
affirms,  that  if  the  female  be  killed  during  the  time  of  incubation,  the 
male  Buzzard  will  take  the  charge  of  the  young  ones,  and  will  patiently 
rear  them  till  they  are  able  to  provide  for  themselves. 

The  following  anecdote,  which  was  related  by  M.  Fontaine,  cure*  de 
St.  Pierre  de  Belesme,  to  M.  de  Buffon,  will  show  that  the  Buzzard 
may  be  so  far  tamed,  as  to  be  rendered  a  faithful  domestic.  "  In  1763 
(says  this  gentleman,)  a  Buzzard  was  brought  to  me  that  had  been 
taken  in  a  snare.  It  was  at  first  wild  and  ferocious.  I  undertook  to 
tame  it;  and  I  succeeded,  by  leaving  it  to  fast,  and  constraining  it  to 
come  and  eat  out  of  my  hand.  By  pursuing  this  plan,  I  brought  it  to 
be  very  familiar ;  and,  after  having  shut  it  up  about  six  weeks,  I  began 
to  allow  it  a  little  liberty,  taking  the  precaution,  however,  to  tie  both 
pinions  of  its  wings.  In  this  condition  it  walked  out  into  my  garden, 
and  returned  when  I  called  it  to  feed.  After  some  time,  when  I  judged 


476  THE    COMMON   BUZZARD. 

that  I  could  trust  to  its  fidelity,  I  removed  the  ligatures ;  and  fastened 
a  small  bell,  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  above  its  talon,  and  also 
attached  to  its  breast  a  bit  of  copper,  having  my  name  engraved  on  it. 
I  then  gave  it  entire  liberty,  which  it  soon  abused  ;  for  it  took  wing, 
and  flew  as  far  as  the  forest  of  Belesme.  I  gave  it  up  for  lost ;  but 
four  hours  afterwards,  I  saw  it  rush  into  my  hall,  pursued  by  five 
other  buzzards,  which  had  constrained  it  to  seek  again  its  asylum. 

"  After  this  adventure,  it  preserved  its  fidelity  to  me,  coming  every 
night  to  sleep  on  my  window.  It  soon  became  familiar;  attended  con- 
stantly at  dinner ;  sat  on  a  corner  of  the  table,  and  often  caressed  me 
with  its  head  and  bill,  emitting  a  weak,  sharp  cry,  which,  however,  it 
sometimes  softened.  It  is  true  that  I  alone  had  this  privilege.  It  one 
day  followed  me  when  I  was  On  horseback,  more  than  two  leagues, 
flying  above  my  head. 

"It  had  an  aversion  both  to  Dogs  and  Cats;  nor  was  it  in  the  least 
afraid  of  them  :  it  had  often  tough  battles  with  them,  but  always  came  off 
victorious.  I  had  four  strong  Cats,  which  I  collected  into  my  garden 
with  my  Buzzard.  I  threw  to  them  a  bit  of  raw  flesh :  the  nimblest 
Cat  seized  it ;  the  rest  pursued,  but  the  Bird  darted  upon  her,  bit  her 
ears  with  his  bill,  and  squeezed  her  sides  with  his  talons  so  forcibly, 
that  the  Cat  was  obliged  to  relinquish  her  prize.  Often  another  Cat 
snatched  it  the  instant  it  dropped ;  but  she  suffered  the  same  treatment, 
till  the  Buzzard  got  entire  possession  of  the  plunder.  He  was  so  dex- 
terous in  his  defence,  that,  when  he  perceived  himself  assailed  at  once 
by  the  four  Cats,  he  took  wing,  and  uttered  a  cry  of  exultation.  At 
last,  the  Cats,  chagrined  by  their  repeated  disappointment,  would  no 
longer  contend  with  him. 

.  "  This  Buzzard  had  a  singular  antipathy  :  he  would  not  suffer  a  red 
cap  to  remain  on  the  head  of  any  of  the  peasants;  and  so  alert  was  he 
in  whipping  it  off,  that  they  found  their  heads  bare  without  knowing 
what  was  become  of  their  caps.  He  also  snatched  away  wigs,  without 
doing  any  injury ;  and  he  carried  these  caps  and  wigs  to  the  tallest 
tree  in  a  neighboring  park,  which  was  the  ordinary  deposit  of  his 
booty. 

"  He  would  suffer  no  other  Birds  of  prey  to  enter  his  domain :  he 
attacked  them  boldly,  and  put  them  to  flight.  He  did  no  mischief  in 
my  court-yard ;  and  the  poultry,  which  at  first  dreaded  him,  grew  in- 
sensibly reconciled  to  him.  The  Chickens  and  Ducklings  received  not 
the  least  harsh  usage ;  and  yet  he  bathed  among  the  latter.  But,  what 
is  singular,  he  was  not  gentle  to  my  neighbors'  poultry ;  and  I  was 
often  obliged  to  publish  that  I  would  pay  for  the  damages  that  he 
might  occasion.  However,  he  was  frequently  fired  at ;  and,  at  different 
times,  received  fifteen  musket-shots  without  suffering  any  fracture. 
But  once,  early  in  the  morning,  hovering  over  the  skirts  of  a  forest, 
he  dared  to  attack  a  Fox;  and  the  keeper,  seeing  him  on  the  shoulders 
of  the  Fox,  fired  two  shots  at  him:  the  Fox  was  killed,  and  the 
Buzzard  had  his  wing  broken;  notwithstanding  this  fracture,  he 
escaped  from  the  keeper,  and  was  lost  for  seven  days.  This  man 
having  discovered,  from  the  noise  of  the  bell,  that  it  was  my  Bird  he 
had  shot,  came  the  next  morning  to  inform  me.  I  sent  to  search  near 


THE  KITE — GENTIL  FALCON.  477 

the  spot ;  but  the  Bird  could  not  be  found,  nor  did  it  return  till  seven 
days  afterwards.  I  had  been  used  to  call  him  every  evening  with  a 
whistle :  this  he  did  not  answer  for  six  days ;  but  on  the  seventh  I 
heard  a  feeble  cry  at  a  distance,  which  I  judged  to  be  that  of  my 
Buzzard:  I  repeated  the  whistle  a  second  time,  and  heard  the  same  cry. 
I  went  to  the  place  from  which  the  sound  came ;  and,  at  last,  found  my 
poor  Buzzard  with  his  wing  broken.  He  had  travelled  more  than  half 
a  league  on  foot  to  regain  his  asylum,  from  which  he  was  then  distant 
about  a  hundred  and  twenty  paces.  Though  he  was  extremely  re- 
duced, he  gave  me  many  caresses.  It  was  six  weeks  before  he  was  re- 
cruited, and  his  wounds  were  healed ;  after  which  he  began  to  fly  as 
before,  and  to  follow  his  old  habits :  these  he  continued  for  about  a 
year,  and  then  disappeared  for  ever." 


THE   KITE,    GLEDE,    OR   GLED. 

The  Kite,  Glede,  or  Gled,  is  not  uncommon  in  England,  and  is 
spread  over  Europe,  Asia,  and  Northern 
Africa.  It  is  especially  hated  by  the  farmer 
for  its  depredations  on  his  poultry,  and  its 
appearance  is  the  signal  for  a  general  outcry 
among  the  terrified  poultry,  who  perceive  it 
long  before  the  keenest-eyed  man  can  dis- 
tinguish it  from  a  casual  spot  in  the  distant 
sky.  The  sportsman  also  detests  it  for  the 
havoc  which  it  makes  among  the  game, — 
possibly  the  Kite  hates  the  sportsman  for 
the  same  reason. 

It  builds  in  tall  trees,  and  lays  three  eggs,  white,  spotted  with  red- 
dish brown  at  the  larger  end.  Its  length  is  rather  more  than  two  feet; 
the  fourth  primary  feather  is  the  longest,  the  first  and  seventh  nearly 
equal. 


THE   GENTIL   FALCON. 

The  Gentil  Falcon  measures  about  two  feet  in  length.  Its  beak  is 
of  a  red  color,  with  a  yellow  cere.  The  head  and  back  part  of  the  neck 
are  rusty,  with  oblong  black  spots.  The  back  and  wings  are  brown, 
and  each  feather  of  the  wings  is  tipped  with  rust-color.  The  quills  are 
dusky ;  the  outer  webs  barred  with  black,  and  the  lower  parts  of  the 
inner  webs  are  marked  with  white.  The  wings  reach  to  the  middle 
of  the  tail,  which  is  banded  with  black  and  ash -color,  and  tipped  with 
white.  The  legs  are  short  and  yellow,  and  the  claws  black. 

When,  in  ancient  times,  the  sport  of  falconry  was  in  high  repute, 
this  was  one  of  the  species  of  Falcons  which  was  employed.  It  is  a 
spirited  and  dauntless  bird  ;  and  in  a  wild  state  is  a  native  of  the  rocks 
of  Caernarvonshire,  and  the  Highlands  of  Scotland. 

In  Syria  there  is  a  small  variety  of  the  Gentil  Falcon,  which  the  in- 


478  THE   GOSHAWK — HEN   HARRIER. 

habitants  denominate  Shaheen;  and  which  is  of  so  fierce  and  coura- 
geous a  disposition,  that  it  will  attack  any  Bird,  however  large  or 
powerful,  which  presents  itself.  "  Were  there  not  (says  Dr.  Eussel,  in 
his  account  of  Aleppo)  several  gentlemen  now  in  England,  to  bear 
witness  to  the  fact,  I  should  hardly  venture  to  assert  that,  with  this 
bird,  which  is  about  the  size  of  a  Pigeon,  the  inhabitants  sometimes 
take  large  Eagles.  This  Hawk,  in  former  times,  was  taught  to  seize 
the  Eagle  under  the  pinion,  and  thus  depriving  him  of  the  use  of  one 
wing,  both  birds  fell  to  the  ground  together ;  but  I  am  informed  that 
the  present  mode  is  to  teach  the  Hawk  to  fix  on  the  back,  between  the 
wings,  which  has  the  same  effect,  only  that,  the  bird  tumbling  down 
more  slowly,  the  falconer  has  more  time  to  come  to  his  Hawk's 
assistance ;  but  in  either  case,  if  he  be  not  very  expeditious,  the  Falcon 
is  inevitably  destroyed. 

"  I  never  saw  the  Shaheen  fly  at  Eagles,  that  sport  having  been  dis- 
used before  my  time ;  but  I  have  often  seen  him  take  Herons  and 
Storks.  The  Hawk,  when  thrown  off,  flies  for  some  time  in  a 
horizontal  line,  not  six  feet  from  the  ground,  then  mounting  perpen- 
dicularly, with  astonishing  swiftness,  he  seizes  his  prey  under  the  wing, 
and  both  together  come  tumbling  to  the  ground.  If  the  falconer, 
however,  be  not  expeditious,  the  game  soon  disengages  itself  and 
escapes." 


THE   GOSHAWK. 

The  Goshawk  is  found  plentifully  in  most  of  the  wooded  districts  of 
Europe,  but  is  comparatively  rare  in  the  British  Isles.  It  seldom 
breeds  south  of  Scotland,  but  its  nest  is  not  unfrequently  found  in  that 
country,  built  upon  lofty  trees,  principally  firs,  and  containing  three 
eggs  of  a  bluish  white  color  with  reddish  brown  marks.  When  in 
pursuit  of  prey,  it  strikes  its  victim  to  the  ground  by  the  force  with 
which  it  dashes  through  the  air.  Should  the  terrified  quarry  hide 
itself,  the  Goshawk  takes  up  its  station  on  some  elevated  spot,  and 
there  patiently  waits  until  the  game  takes  wing.  Its  principal  food 
consists  of  Hares,  Squirrels,  Pheasants,  and  other  large  Birds,  which 
its  great  strength  enables  it  to  destroy.  Its  length  is  about  two  feet ; 
the  fourth  primary  feather  is  the  longest. 


THE   HEN  HARRIER. 

- 

The  Hen  Harrier  is  about  seventeen  inches  long,  and  three  feet 
wide.  Its  bill  is  black,  and  cere  yellow.  The  upper  parts  of  its  body 
are  of  a  bluish  gray :  and  the  back  of  the  head,  the  breast,  belly, 
and  thighs  are  white;  the  two  former  marked  with  dusky  streaks. 
The  two  middle  feathers  of  the  tail  are  gray,  and  the  outer  webs  of 
the  others  are  of  the  same  color ;  but  the  inner  ones  are  marked  with 
alternate  bars  of  white  and  rust-color.  The  legs  are  long,  slender, 
and  yellow  ;  and  the  claws  black. 


HEN    HARRIER. 


THE   HEN   HARRIER.  479 

It  is  about  forests,  heaths,  and  other  retired  places,  especially  in  the 
neighborhood  of  marshy  grounds,  where  they  destroy  vast  numbers 
of  Snipes,  that  these  birds  are  -usually  seen.  They  sail  with  great 
regularity  all  over  a  piece  of  marsh,  till  they  discover  their  prey, 
when  they  immediately  pounce  upon  and  seize  it. 

A  gentleman  who  was  shooting  in  Hampshire,  by  chance  sprung  a 
Pheasant  in  a  wheat-stubble,  and  shot  at  it :  notwith- 
standing the  report  of  the  gun,  it  was  pursued  by  a 
Hen  Harrier,  but  escaped  into  a  covert.  He  then 
sprung  a  second,  and  a  third,  in  the  same  field,  and 
these  likewise  got  away ;  the  Hawk  hovering  round 
him  all  the  while  he  was  beating  the  field,  con- 
scious, no  doubt,  of  the  game  that  lurked  in  the 
stubble.  Hence  we  may  conclude,  that  this  bird  of 
prey  was  rendered  daring  and  bold  by  hunger,  and 
that  Hawks  are  not  always  in  a  condition  to  strike 
their  game.  We  may  further  observe,  that  they 
cannot  pounce  on  their  quarry  when  it  is  on  the 
ground,  where  it  might  be  able  to  make  a  stout 
resistance ;  since  so  large  a  fowl  as  a  Pheasant  could 
not  but  be  visible  to  the  piercing  eye  of  a  Hawk,  when  hovering 
over  it.  Hence  that  propensity  in  game  to  cowering  and  squatting  till 
they  are  almost  trodden  on;  which,  doubtless,  was  intended  by  Provi- 
dence, as  a  mode  of  security,  though  it  has  long  been  rendered  destruc- 
tive by  the  invention  of  nets  and  guns. 

A  Hen  Harrier  that  was  shot  some  years  ago  near  London,  was 
first  observed  dodging  round  the  lower  parts  of  some  old  trees,  and 
then  seeming  to  strike  against  the  trunks  of  them  with  its  beak  or 
talons,  but  still  continuing  on  wing.  The  cause  of  this  singular 
conduct  could  not  even  be  conjectured,  till  after  it  was  killed ;  when 
on  opening  its  stomach,  nearly  twenty  small  brown  Lizards  were 
found  there,  which  it  had  artfully  seized,  by  coming  suddenly  upon 
them.  They  were  each  bitten  or  torn  into  two  or  three  pieces. 

These  destructive  birds  may  be  caught  by  means  of  a  trap,  baited 
with  a  stuffed  Babbit's  skin,  and  covered  nicely  over  with  moss.  They 
breed  annually  on  the  Cheviot-hills;  and  from  a  Hen  Harrier  and 
King  Tail  (Falco  pygargus)  having  been  shot  on  the  same  nest,  it  ap- 
pears that  these  are  not  two  distinct  species,  however  different  they 
may  be  in  appearance,  but  that  they  are  in  reality  the  male  and 
female  of  the  same. 

The  nest  of  the  Hen  Harrier  is  usually  formed  near  the  ground, 
amongst  furze  or  in  thickets.  It  is  constructed  of  sticks  rudely  put 
together,  and  is  nearly  flat.  The  eggs  are  about  four  in  number, 
without  spots,  and  of  a  dirty  white  color. 


480 


THE   SPARROW-HAWK. 


SPARROW  HAWK. 


THE    SPARROW-HAWK. 

The  male  Sparrow- nawk  is  about  twelve,  and  the  female,  fifteen, 
inches  in  length.  The  exterior  feathers  of  the 
upper  parts  of  the  latter  are  brown,  with  dusky 
edges;  and  on  the  back  of  the  head  there  are 
some  whitish  spots.  The  under  parts  are 
yellowish  white,  waved  with  light  brown.  The 
chin  is  streaked  with  perpendicular  lines  of 
brown.  The  tail  is  barred  with  dark  brown, 
and  is  white  at  the  end.  The  legs  are  yellow, 
and  the  claws  black.  The  male  is  somewhat 
different.  The  upper  part  of  its  breast  is  of  a 
dark  lead-color;  the  bars  on  this  part  are  more 
numerous,  and  the  under  parts  are  altogether 
darker.  In  both  sexes  the  bill  is  blue,  and  the 
cere  yellow. 

The  Sparrow-hawk  is  a  bold  bird.  It  is  the 
dread  of  the  farmyard,  for,  at  times,  it  makes 
great  havoc  among  young  poultry;  and  it  commits  its  depradations 
in  the  most  daring  manner,  even  in  the  presence  of  mankind.  In  win- 
ter it  often  makes  havoc  among  the  flocks  of  Buntings  and  Finches. 

Few  of  the  rapacious  birds  are  so  docile  and  obedient  as  this. 
When  properly  trained  it  is  capable  of  great  attachment;  and  it  is 
so  far  susceptible  of  education,  that  it  may  be  taught  to  pursue  Par- 
tridges and  other  game.  It  will  also  pounce  upon  Pigeons  when 
separated  from  their  companions. 

The  editor  of  a  respectable  publication,  entitled  the  Beauties  of 
Natural  History,  states,  that  when  he  was  a  boy  he  had  a  Sparrow- 
hawk  that  used  to  accompany  him  through  the  fields,  catch  its  game, 
devour  it  at  leisure,  and,  after  all,  find  him  out  wherever  he  went; 
nor,  after  the  first  or  second  adventure  of  this  kind,  was  he  ever 
afraid  of  losing  the  bird.  A  peasant,  however,  to  his  great  mortifica- 
tion, one  day  shot  it  for  having  made  too  free  with  some  of  his  poultry. 
It  was  about  as  large  as  a  Wood-pigeon;  and  this  gentleman  says  he 
has  seen  it  fly  at  a  Turkey-cock;  and,  when  beaten,  return  to  the 
charge  with  undaunted  intrepidity :  he  had  also  known  it  to  kill  a 
fowl  five  or  six  times  as  big  as  itself. 

The  female  builds  her  nest  in  hollow  trees,  on  high  rocks  or  lofty 
ruins;  sometimes,  however,  she  is  contented  with  the  old  nest  of  a 
Crow.  She  generally  lays  four  or  five  eggs. 


THE   SWALLOW-TAILED   HAWK — GTE-FALCON 


481 


THE   SWALLOW-TAILED   HAWK. 

This  beautiful  Kite  breeds  and  passes  the  summer  in  the  warmer 
parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  is  also 
probably  resident 
in  all  tropical  and 
temperate  Amer- 
ica, migrating  into 
the  southern  as 
well  as  the  north- 
e  r  n  hemisphere. 
In  the  forme  r, 
according  to 
Viellot,  it  is  found 
in  Peru,  and  as  far 
as  Buenos  Ayres; 
and  though  it  is 
extremely  rare  to 
meet  with  this 
species  as  far  as  the 
latitude  of  forty 
degrees  in  the 
Atlantic  states; 
yet  tempted  by  the 
abundance  of  the 
fruitful  valley  of 
the  Mississippi,  individuals  have  been  seen  along  that  river  as  far 
as  the  Falls  of  St  Anthony,  in  the  forty-forth  degree  of  north  latitude. 
Indeed,  according  to  Fleming,  two  stragglers  have  even  found  their 
devious  way  to  the  strange  climate  of  Great  Britain. 


SWALLOW-TAILED  HAWK. 


THE    GYR-FALCON. 

The  Gyr-falcon  may  be  considered  the  type  of  the  British  Falcon- 
idaa.  It  is,  however,  extremely  rare  in  England,  those  intended  for 
hawking  being  principally  brought  from  Iceland.  On  the  rocky 
coasts  of  Norway  and  Iceland  its  eggs  are  laid.  These  birds  are 
very  courageous  in  defending  their  young.  A  pair  of  them  attacked 
Dr.  Richardson  while  he  was  climbing  near  their  nest,  flying  in  circles 
round  him,  and  occasionally  dashing  at  his  face  with  loud  screams. 
The  entire  length  of  the  Gyr-falcon  is  twenty-three  inches. 


482 


THE  PEREGRINE  FALCON. 


THE  PEREGRINE  FALCON. 

The  Peregrine  Falcon,  an  inhabitant  of  most  parts  of  Europe,  Asia, 
and  South  America,  was,  in  the  palmy  days  of  hawk- 
ing, one  of  the  favorite  Falcons  chosen  for  that  sport. 
Its  strength  and  swiftness  are  very  great,  enabling  it 
to  strike  down  its  prey  with  great  ease;  indeed,  it  has 
been  known  to  disable  five  partridges  in  succession. 
From  its  successful  pursuit  of  Ducks  the  Americans 
call  it  the  Duck  Hawk. 

There  is  a  peculiarity  in  the  method  of  attack 
which  this  bird  employs  when  pursuing  small  game. 
Instead  of  merely  dashing  at  its  prey,  and  grasping- 
it  with  its  claws,  the  Peregrine  Falcon  strikes  its 
victim  with  its  breast,  and  actually  stuns  it  with  the  violence  of  the 
blow  before  seizing  it  with  its  claws.  The  boldness  of  the  Peregrine 

Falcon  is  so  great 
that  it  was  gene- 
rally employed  to 
take  the  formidable 
Heron.  After  the 
Heron  had  been 
roused  from  his 
contemplations  by 
some  marsh  or 
river,  the  Falcon, 
who  had  previously 
been  held  hooded 
on  its  master's 
hand,  was  loosed 
from  its  bonds  and 
cast  off.  A  contest 
then  generally  took 
place  between  the 
Hero  ri  and  the 
Falcon,  each  striv- 
ing to  ascend  above 
the  other.  In  this 
contest  the  Falcon 
was  always  victori- 
ous, and  after  it 
had  attained  a  cer- 
tain altitude,  it 
swept,  or  "stoop- 
ed," as  the  phrase 
was,  upon  the 
Heron.  When  the  Falcon  had  closed  with  its  prey,  they  both  came 
to  the  ground  together,  and  the  sportsman's  business  was  to  reach 


GOING    A    HAWKING. 


THE    CHAUNTING    FALCON. 


483 


the  place  of  conflict  as  soon  as  possible,  and  assist  the  Falcon  in  van- 
quishing its  prey. 
Sometimes,  how- 
ever, the  wary 
Heron  contrived  to 
receive  its  enemy 
on  the  point  of  its 
sharp  beak,  and 
transfixed  it  by  its 
own  impetus. 

It  changes  the 
color  of  its  plumage 
several  times  before 
it  arrives  at  full 
maturity,  and  in 
the  days  of  falconry 
was  known  by  dif- 
ferent names,  such 
as  "Hagard"  when 
wild,  "Eyass," 
"Red  Falcon"  when 
young,  "Tiercel" or 
"Tassel-gentle" 
when  a  full-grown 
male ;  a  term  forci- 
bly recalling  the 
words  o  f  Juliet, 
"Oh  for  a  Falcon- 
er's voice  to  lure 
this  Tassel- gentle 
back  again!" 

It  builds  on 
ledges  of  rocks, 
laying  four  eggs  of 
a  reddish  brown 
color.  Its  length 
is  from  fifteen  to 
eighteen  inches. 


DEATH  OF   THE   HEROX. 


THE   CHAUNTING   FALCON. 

This  lately-discovered  species  is  about  the  size  of  the  Common  Fal- 
con. Its  plumage  is,  in  general,  of  a  pale  lead-color,  with  the  top  of 
the  head  and  the  scapulars  inclining  to  brown.  The  under  parts  of 
the  breast  are  of  a  pearly  gray,  crossed  with  numerous  gray  stripes. 
The  quills  are  black.  The  tail  is  wedge-shaped,  the  outer  feathers 
one-third  shorter  than  the  middle  ones,  and  the  tip  white.  The  bill 
and  claws  are  black,  and  the  cere  and  legs  orange. 

During  the  breeding  season  the  male  of  this  species  is  remarkable 
31 


484 


OF    THE   OWLS   IN    GENERAL. 


for  its  song,  which  it  utters  every  morning  and  evening,  and  like  the 
Nightingale,  not  uncommonly  all  the  night  through.  It  sings  in  a 
loud  tone  for  more  than  a  minute,  and  after  an  interval  begins  anew., 
During  its  song  it  is  so  regardless  of  its  own  safety,  that  any  one 
may  approach  very  near  to  it:  but  at  other  times  it  is  suspicious,  and 
takes  flight  on  the  slightest  alarm.  Should  the  male  be  killed,  tha 
female  also  may  be  shot  without  difficulty:  for  her  attachment  to 
him  is  such,  that  she  continues  flying  round  with  the  most  plaintive 
voice;  and,  often  passing  within  a  few  yards  of  the  gunner,  it  is  an 
easy  matter  to  kill  her.  But,  if  the  female  happen  to  be  shot  first, 
the  affection  of  her  mate  does  not  prove  so  romantic;  for,  retiring  to 
the  top  of  some  distant  tree,  he  is  not  easily  approached:  he  does  not, 
however,  cease  to  sing,  but  becomes  so  wary  as,  on  the  least  alarm,  to 
fly  entirely  away  from  that  neighborhood. 

The  female  forms  her  nest  between  the  forks  of  trees,  or  in  bushy 
groves.  She  lays  four  white,  round  eggs.  This  Falcon,  for  its  size, 
is  a  very  destructive  species.  It  preys  on  Partridges,  Hares,  Quails, 
Moles,  Eats,  and  other  small  animals. 

It  is  a  native  of  Caffraria,  in  the  South  of  Africa,  and  of  some  of 
the  adjacent  countries. 


OF  THE  OWLS  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  this  tribe  as  in  the  last,  the  bill  is  hooked,  but  it  is  not  furnished 

with  a  cere.  The  nostrils 
are  oblong,  and  covered 
with  bristly  feathers. 
The  head,  ears  and  eyes, 
are  very  large;  the 
tongue  is  cleft. 

Much  in  the  same  man- 
ner as  Moths  differ  from 
Butterflies,  do  these  birds 
differ  from  the  Falcons; 
the  Owls  being  noctur- 
nal, and  pursuing  their 
prey  only  in  the  night; 
and  the  Falcons  flying  al- 
together in  the  day-time. 
They  feed  principally  on 
small  birds  and  quadru- 
peds, and  on  nocturnal 
insects:  the  exuviae  and  bones  of  which  (as  in  the  Falcons)  are 
always  discharged  at  the  mouth,  in  the  form  of  small  pellets.  Their 
eyes  are  so  constructed,  that  they  are  able  to  see  much  more  distinctly 
in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  than  in  the  broad  glare  of  sunshine.  All 
animals,  by  the  contraction  and  dilatation  of  the  eye,  have,  in  some 
degree,  the  power  of  shutting  out  or  admitting  light,  as  their  necessi- 
ties require :  but  in  the  Owls  this  property  is  observed  in  singular 


THE  GREAT  HORNED,  OR  EAGLE  OWL.         485 

perfection;  and,  in  addition  to  this,  there  is  an  irradiation  on  the  back 
of  the  eye,  which  greatly  aids  their  vision  in 
'  the  obscure  places  that  they  frequent. 

The  head  is  round,  and  formed  somewhat 
like  that  of  a  Cat.  About  the  eyes,  the 
feathers  are  ranged  as  if  proceeding  from  a 
common  centre  in  the  middle  of  the  eye ;  and 
they  extend  in  a  circle  to  some  distance.  The 
legs  are  clad  with  down  or  feathers,  even  to 
the  origin  of  the  claws,  which  are  very  sharp 
and  hooked.  Three  of  the  toes  can  occasion- 
ally be  turned  back;  to  suit  either  for  perching 
or  climbing,  as  occasion  may  require. 

In  winter  Owls  retire  into  holes  in  towers  and  old  walls,  and 
pass  that  season  in  sleep.  The  number  of  species  is  about  fifty ;  of 
which  twenty  are  furnished  with  long  feathers,  surrounding  the  open- 
ings of  the  ears,  and  called,  from  the  appearance  they  give  to  the 
animals,  horns.  In  their  general  modes  of  life,  the  Owls  may  be 
considered  as  the  Cats  of  the  feathered  species. 


THE  GREAT  HORNED,  OR  EAGLE  OWL. 

The  body  of  this  Owl  is  of  a  tawny  red  color,  marked  with  lines  and 
spots,  elegantly  varied,  of  black,  brown,  ash,  and 
rust  color.  The  wings  are  long,  and  the  tail  is 
short,  and  marked  with  transverse  dusky  streaks. 
The  legs  are  thick,  of  a  brick-dust  red  color,  and 
(except  in  one  variety)  feathered  to  the  claws, 
which  are  large,  hooked,  and  dusky. 

Although  Owls  are  superstitiously  considered 
by  the  inhabitants  of  most  countries  as  birds  of 
ill-omen ;  yet  the  Athenians  alone,  among  the 
ancients,  seem  to  have  been  free  from  this  popular  prejudice,  and 
to  have  regarded  them  rather  with  veneration  than  abhorrence.  The 
present  species,  which  is  common  in  many  parts  of  Greece,  was  even 
considered  a  favorite  bird  of  Minerva  ;  and  at  Athens  the  inhabitants 
had  a  proverb,  "  to  send  Owls  to  Athens,"  which  was  precisely 
equivalent  to  one  used  by  the  English,  "  to  send  coals  to  Newcastle." 

This  Owl  is  equal  in  size  to  some  of  the  Eagles :  it  inhabits  inaccesible 
rocks  and  desert  places,  in  most  parts  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  America ; 
and  is  sometimes,  though  rarely  found  in  this  country.  Its  eyes  are 
so  constructed,  that  it  is  able  to  see  much  better  during  the  day-time 
than  almost  any  other  of  the  tribe.  It  has  been  frequently  observed 
preying,  on  its  game  of  birds  and  small  quadrupeds,  in  full  day-light. 

M.  Cronstedt  has  recorded  a  pleasing  instance  of  the  attachment  of 
these  birds  to  their  offspring.  This  gentleman  resided  several  years 
at  a  farm  in  Sudermania,  near  a  steep  mountain,  on  the  summit  of 
which  two  Eagle  Owls  had  their  nest.  One  day  in  the  month  of  July, 
a  young  Owl  having  quitted  the  nest  was  seized  by  some  of  his  servants, 


486 


THE   GREAT   HORNED,    OR    EAGLE   OWL. 


search  in 
time  for 
young- 
had  been 


This  bird,  after  it  was  caught  was  shut  up  in  a  large  hen-coop  ;  and 
the  next  morning  M.  Cronstedt  found  a  young  Partridge  lying  dead 
before  the  door  of  the  coop.  He  immediately  concluded  that  this 

provision    had   been 
brought    thither    by 
the     parent     birds ; 
which    he   supposed 
had    been    making 
the  night- 
their    lost 
one   and 
led  to  the 

place  of  its  confine- 
ment by  its  cry. 
This  proved  to  have 
been  the  case,  by 
the  same  mark  of 
attention  being  re- 
peated for  fourteen 
successive  nights. 
The  game  which  the 
old  ones  carried  to  it 
consisted  principally 
of  young  Partridges, 
for  the  most  part 
newly  killed,  but 
sometimes  a  little 
spoiled.  One  day  a 
moo  r-fo  wl  was 
brought,  s  o  fresh, 
that  it  was  still  warm 
under  the  wings.  A 
putrid  Lamb  was 
EAGLE  OWL.  found,  at  another 

time.     M.   Cronstedt 

and  his  servant  watched  at  a  window  several  nights,  that  they  might 
observe,  if  possible,  when  this  supply  was  deposited.  Their  plan  did  not 
succeed:  but  it  appeared  that  the  Owls,  which  are  very  sharp-sighted, 
had  discovered  the  moment  when  the  window  was  not  watched  ;  as  food 
was  found  to  have  been  deposited  before  the  coop,  one  night  when  this 
had  been  the  case.  In  the  month  of  August  the  parents  discontinued 
this  attention ;  but  at  that  period  all  birds  of  prey  abandon  their 
offspring  to  their  own  exertions.  From  this  instance,  some  idea  may 
be  formed  of  the  great  quantity  of  game  that  must  be  destroyed  by  a 
pair  of  these  Owls,  during  the  time  they  are  employed  in  rearing  their 
young. 

It  is  said  that  sometimes,  when  falconers  wish  to  lure  the  Kite  for 
the  purpose  of  training  the  Falcon,  they  disfigure  an  Owl  of  this  species, 
by  fastening  to  it  the  tail  of  a  Fox.  The  animal,  rendered  thus  grotesque 
is  let  loose;  and  he  sails  slowly  along,  flying,  as  he  usually  does,  very 


THE   WHITE,   OR    SCREECH   OWL. 


487 


low.  The  poor  Kite,  either  curious  to  observe  so  strange  an  animal, 
or,  perhaps  inquisitive  to  know  whether  it  may  not  be  eligible  prey, 
flies  after  it.  He  approaches  near,  and  hovers  immediately  over  it ; 
when  the  falconer,  loosing  a  strong-winged  Falcon  against  him,  seizes 
him  at  once,  and  drags  him  into  captivity. 


THE   WHITE,    OR   SCREECH   OWL. 

The  plumage  of  these  Owls  is  very  elegant.  A  circle  of  soft  white 
feathers  surrounds  each  of  the  eyes.  All  the  upper  parts  of  the  body 
are  of  a  fine  pale  yellow  color,  variegated  with  white  spots  ;  and  the 
under  parts  are  entirely  white.  The  legs  are  feathered  down  to  the 
claws. 

Incapable  of  seeing  their  prey,  or  even  of  avoiding  danger 
ciently,  in  the  full  blaze 
of  day,  these  Birds  keep 
concealed,  during  this 
time,  in  some  secure 
retreat  suited  to  their 
gloomy  habits,  and  there 
continue  in  solitude  and 
silence.  If  they  venture 
abroad,  every  thing  daz- 
zles and  distracts  them. 
Legions  of  Birds  flock 
around  them,  and  single 
them  out  as  objects  of 
derision  and  contempt. 
The  Black-bird,  the 
Thrush,  the  Jay,  the 
Bunting,  and  the  Ked- 
breast,  all  come  in  a 
crowd,  and  employ  their 
little  arts  of  insult  and 
abuse.  The  smallest,  the 
feeblest,  and  the  most 
contemptible  enemies  of 
this  bewildered  creature 
are  then  the  foremost  to  injure  and  torment  him.  They  increase 
their  cries  and  turbulence  around  him,  flap  him  with  their  wings, 
and,  like  cowards,  are  ready  to  exhibit  their  courage  when  they  are 
sensible  that  the  danger  is  but  small.  The  unfortunate  wanderer, 
not  knowing  where  he  is,  whom  to  attack,  or  whither  to  fly,  patiently 
sits  and  suffers  all  their  indignities  with  the  utmost  stupidity.  An 
aversion  which  the  smaller  birds  bear  to  the  Owl,  with  a  temporary 
assurance  of  their  own  security,  urge  them  to  pursue  him.  whilst  they 
encourage  each  other,  by  their  mutual  cries,  to  lend  assistance  in  the 
general  cause.  Bird-catchers,  aware  of  this  singular  propensity, 
having  first  limed  several  of  the  outer  branches  of  a  hedge,  hide  them- 


EAR  OF  AN  OWL. 


488  THE   WHITE,  OR   SCREECH   OWL. 

selves  near  it,  and  imitate  the  cry  of  an  Owl ;  when  instantly  all  the 
small  birds  who  hear  it  flock  to  the  place,  in  hopes  of  their  accustomed 
game ;  but,  instead  of  meeting  a  stupid  and  dazzled  antagonist,  they 
find  themselves  ensnared  by  an  artful  and  unrelenting  foe. 

This  want  of  sight  is  compensated  by  their  peculiar  quickness  of 
hearing ;  for  the  latter  sense  is  much  more  acute  in  the  Owls  than  in 
most  other  birds. 

The  White  Owl  generally  quits  its  hiding  place  about  the  time  of 
twilight,  and  takes  a  regular  circuit  round  the  fields,  skimming  along 
the  ground  in  search  of  its  food,  which  consists  chiefly  of  Field-mice 
and  small  birds.  Like  the  rest  of  its  tribe,  it  afterwards  emits  the 
bones,  feathers,  hair,  and  other  indigestible  parts,  at  the  mouth,  in  the 
form  of  small  pellets.  A  gentleman,  on  digging  up  a  decayed  pollard- 
ash  that  had  been  frequented  by  Owls  for  many  generations,  found  at 
the  bottom  many  bushels  of  this  kind  of  refuse.  Sometimes  these 
Owls,  when  they  have  satisfied  their  appetite,  will,  like  Dogs,  hide  the 
remainder  of  their  meat.  Mr.  Stackhouse,  of  Pendarvis  in  Cornwall, 
informed  me,  that  in  his  pleasure-grounds  he  often  found  Shrew-mice 
lying  in  the  gravel-walk,  dead,  but  with  no  external  wound.  He  con- 
jectured that  they  had  been  struck  by  the  Owls,  in  mistake  for  Field- 
mice  ;  and  that  these  birds,  afterwards  finding  their  error,  in  having 
destroyed  animals  to  which  they  have  a  natural  antipathy,  had  left 
them  untouched.  This  gentleman  discovered,  by  accident,  another  of 
the  antipathies  of  White  Owls.  A  Pig  having  been  newly  killed,  he 
offered  a  tame  Owl  a  bit  of  the  liver ;  but  nothing,  he  says,  could 
exceed  the  contemptuous  air  with  which  the  bird  spurned  it  from 
him. 

The  Mogul  and  Kalmuck  Tartars  pay  almost  divine  honors  to  the 
White  Owl ;  for  they  attribute  to  it  the  preservation  of  Jenghis  Khan, 
the  founder  of  their  empire.  That  prince,  with  a  small  army,  happened 
to  be  surprised  and  put  to  flight  by  his  enemies.  Compelled  to  seek 
concealment  in  a  coppice,  an  Owl  settled  on  the  bush  under  which  he 
was  hidden.  This  circumstance  induced  his  pursuers  not  to  search 
there,  since  they  supposed  it  impossible  that  that  bird  would  perch 
where  any  man  was  concealed.  The  Prince  escaped ;  and  thenceforth 
his  countrymen  held  the  White  Owl  sacred,  and  every  one  wore  a 
plume  of  feathers  of  this  bird  on  his  head.  To  this  day,  the  Kalmucks 
continue  the  custom  on  all  their  great  festivals;  and  some  of  the  tribes 
have  an  idol,  in  the  form  of  an  Owl,  to  which  they  fasten  the  real  legs 
of  the  Bird. 

The  Screech  Owl  is  well  known  in  all  parts  of  England,  from  the 
circumstance  of  its  frequenting  churches,  old  houses,  and  uninhabited 
buildings;  where  it  continues  during  the  day,  and  whence,  in  the 
evening,  it  ranges  abroad  in  quest  of  food.  It  received  its  name  from 
the  singular  cry  which  it  emits  during  its  flight.  In  its  repose  it  makes 
a  blowing  kind  of  noise,  like  the  snoring  of  a  man.  The  female  forms 
no  nest ;  but  deposits  her  eggs,  generally  five  or  six  in  number,  in  the 
holes  of  decayed  walls,  or  under  the  eaves  of  old  buildings.  While  the 
young-ones  are  in  the  nest,  the  male  and  female  alternately  sally  out 
in  quest  of  food.  They  are  seldom  absent  more  than  five  minutes, 


THE    BROWN   OWL. 


489 


when  they  return  with  the  prey  in  their  claws  ;  but,  as  it  is  necessary 
to  shift  it  from  these  into  their  bill,  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  their 
young-ones,  they  always  alight  so  do  that  before  they  enter  the  nest. 
As  the  young  Owls  continue  for  a  great  length  of  time  in  the  nest, 
and  are  fed  even  long  after  they  are  able  to  fly,  the  old  birds  have  to 
supply  them  with  many  hundreds  of  Mice ;  on  this  account  they 
are  generally  considered  useful  animals  in  the  destruction  of  vermin 
of  this  description. 


THE    BROWN  OWL. 

The  Brown  Owl  measures  somewhat  more  than  a  foot  in  length ;  and 
is  spotted  with  black  on  the 
head,  wings,  and  back.  Its 
breast  is  of  a  pale  ash-color, 
with  dusky,  jagged,  longitudinal 
streaks ;  and  the  circle  round 
the  eyes  is  ash-colored,  spotted 
with  brown. 

Few  of  the  Owls  are  more 
rapacious  than  these.  They  re- 
side in  woods  during  the  day ; 
but  at  the  approach  of  evening, 
when  many  animals,  sn  h  as 
Hares,  Kabbits,  and  Partridges, 
come  out  to  feed  they  begin  to 
be  clamorous  and  active;  they 
destroy  such  multitudes  of  small 
animals,  as,  on  calculation, 
would  appear  astonishing.  In 
the  dusk  of  the  evening,  the 
Brown  Owls  approach  the 
farmers'  dwellings;  and  fre- 
quently enter  the  Pigeon-houses, 
where  they  sometimes  commit 

dreadful  ravages.  They  also  kill  great  numbers  of  Mice,  and  skin 
them  with  as  much  dexterity  as  a  cook-maid  does  a  Eabbit.  They  seize 
their  prey  with  great  ferocity,  and,  always  beginning  at  the  head,  tear 
it  in  pieces  with  much  violence.  Were  they  to  appear  abroad  at  any 
time  but  in  the  night,  when  all  the  poultry  are  gone  to  roost,  the  havoc 
they  would  commit  in  the  farm-yard  would  be  prodigious.  They  do 
not  devour  every  part  of  the  animals  they  destroy  ;  the  hinder  parts 
they  generally  leave  untouched. 

On  examining  a  nest  of  these  Owls  that  had  in  it  two  young  ones, 
several  pieces  of  Rabbits,  Leverets,  and  other  small  animals,  were  found. 
The  hen  and  one  of  the  young  ones  were  taken  away;  the  other  was 
left  to  entice  the  cock,  which  was  absent  when  the  nest  was  discovered. 
On  the  following  morning  there  were  found  in  the  nest  three  young 
Babbits,  that  had  been  brought  to  this  young-one  by  the  cock  during 


490 


THE    GREAT    VIRGINIAN    HORNED    OWL. 


the  night.  These  birds  are  occasionally  very  bold  and  furious  in 
defence  of  their  young.  A  carpenter  some  years  ago,  passing  through 
a  field  near  Gloucester,  was  suddenly  attacked  by  an  Owl  that  had  a 
nest  in  a  tree  near  the  path.  It  flew  at  his  head ;  and  the  man  struck 
at  it  with  a  tool  that  he  had  in  his  hand,  but  missed  his  blow.  The 
enraged  bird  repeated  the  attack ;  and  fastening  her  talons  in  his  face, 
lacerated  him  in  a  most  shocking  manner. 

When  these  animals  hoot,  they  inflate  their  throats  to  the  size  of  a 
hen's  egg.  They  breed  in  hollow  trees,  or  ruined  buildings,  laying 
commonly  four  whitish  oval  eggs.  It  is  not  difficult  to  catch  them  in 
traps ;  or  they  may  easily  be  shot  in  the  evenings,  by  any  person  who 
can  allure  them  by  imitating  the  squeaking  of  a  Mouse. 


THE  GREAT  VIRGINIAN  HORNED  OWL. 

This  species,  so  neafty  related  to  the  Great -Eared  Owl  of  Europe,  is 

met  with  occasion- 
ally from  Hudson's 
Bay  to  Florida,  and 
in  Oregon;  it  ex- 
ists even  beyond 
the  tropics,  being 
very  probably  the 
same  bird  describ- 
ed by  Marcgrave 
as  inhabiting  the 
forests  of  Brazil. 
All  climates  are 
alike  to  this  Eagle 
of  the  night,  the 
king  of  the  noc- 
turnal tribe  of 
American  birds. 
The  aboriginal 
inhabitants  of  the 
country  dread  his 
boding  howl,  dedi- 
cating his  effigies  to 
their  solemnities, 
and,  as  if  he  were 
their  sacred  bird  of 
Minerva,  forbid  the 
mockery  of  his 
ominous,  dismal, 
and  almost  super- 
natural cries.  His 
favorite  resort,  in 
the  dark  and  im- 
chosen  solitude 


GREAT    HORNED    OWL. 


penetrable   swompy  forests,   where   he    dwells    in 


THE    HAWK    OWL.  491 

secure  from  the  approach  of  every  enemy,  agrees  with  the  melancholy 
and  sinister  traits  of  his  character.  To  the  surrounding  feathered  race 
he  is  the  Pluto  of  the  gloomy  wilderness,  and  would  scarcely  be  known 
out  of  the  dismal  shades  where  he  hides,  but  to  his  victims,  were  he 
as  silent  as  he  is  solitary.  Among  the  choking,  loud,  gutteral  sounds 
which  he  sometimes  utters,  in  the  dead  of  night,  and  with  a  suddenness 
which  always  alarms,  because  of  his  noiseless  approach,  is  the  ^waugh 
hdl  'waugh  h6  !  which,  Wilson  remarks,  was  often  uttered  at  the  instant 
of  sweeping  down,  around  his  camp-fire.  Many  kinds  of  Owls  are 
similarly  dazzled  and  attracted  by  fire-lights,  and  occasionally  finding 
no  doubt,  some  offal  or  flesh,  thrown  out  by  those  who  encamp  in  the 
wilderness,  they  come  round  the  nocturnal  blaze  with  other  motives 
than  barely  those  of  curiosity.  The  solitary  travellers  in  these  wilds, 
apparently  scanning  the  sinister  motive  of  his  visits,  pretend  to  interpret, 
his  address  into  "'  Who  cooks  for  you  all!"  and  with  a  strong  gutteral 
pronunciation  of  the  final  syllable,  to  all  those  who  have  heard  this 
his  common  cry,  the  resemblance  of  sound  is  well  hit,  and  instantly 
recalls  the  ghastly  serenade  of  his  nocturnal  majesty  in  a  manner  which 
is  not  easily  forgotten.  The  shorter  cry,  whicjp.  we  have  mentioned, 
makes  no  inconsiderable  approach  to  that  uttered  by  the  European 
brother  of  our  species,  as  given  by  Buffon,  namely,  'he-hoo,  'hoo-hoo, 
boo-hoo,  &c.  The  Greeks  called  this  transatlantic  species  Byas,  either 
from  its  note,  or  from  the  resemblance  this  bore  to  the  bellowing  of  an 
Ox.  The  Latin  name  Bubo  has  also  reference  to  the  same  note  of  this 
nocturnal  bird.  According  to  Frisch,  who  kept  one  of  these  birds 
alive,  its  cries  varied  according  to  circumstances ;  when  hungry  it  had 
a  muling  cry  like  Puhu.  I  have  remarked  the  young,  probably,  of 
our  species  utter  the  same  low,  quailing  cry,  while  yet  daylight,  as  it 
sat  on  the  low  branch  of  a  tree ;  the  sound  of  both  is,  at  times,  also  not 
unlike  that  made  by  the  Hawks  or  diurnal  birds  of  prey.  Indeed  in 
gloomy  weather,  I  have  seen  our  species  on  the  alert,"  flying  about 
many  hours  before  dark,  and  uttering  his  call  of  'ko  ko,  ko  ko  ho. 
Their  usual  prey  is  young  Kabbits,  Squirrels,  Rats,  Mice,  Quails,  and 
small  birds  of  various  kinds,  and  when  these  resources  fail  or  diminish 
they  occasionally  prowl  pretty  boldly  around  the  farm-yard  in  quest 
of  chickens,  which  they  seize  on  the  roost.  Indeed  the  European 
Horned  Owl  frequently  contends  with  the  Buzzard  for  its  prey,  and 
generally  comes  off  conqueror ;  blind  and  infuriate  with  hunger,  one 
of  these  has  been  known  to  dart  even  upon  a  man,  as  if  for  conflict, 
and  was  killed  in  the  encounter. 


THE  HAWK  OWL. 

This  remarkable  species,  forming  a  connecting  link  with  the  preceding 
genus  of  the  Hawks,  is  nearly  confined  to  the  Arctic  wilds  of  both 
continents,  being  frequent  in  Siberia  and  the  fur  countries  from  Hudson's 
Bay  to  the  Pacific.  A  few  stragglers,  now  and  then,  at  distant  intervals 
and  in  the  depths  of  winter,  penetrate  on  the  one  side  into  the  northern 
parts  of  the  United  States ;  and,  on  the  other,  they  occasionally  appear 


492 


THE  GOAT  SUCKER. 


in  Germany,  and  more  rarely  in  France. 


At  Hudson's  Bay  they  are 
observed  by  day  flying 
high,  and  preying  on 
the  White  Grouse  and 
other  birds,  sometimes 
even  attending  the 
hunter  like  a  Falcon, 
and  boldly  taking  up 
the  wounded  game  as  it 
flutters  on  the  ground. 
They  are  also  said  to 
feed  on  Mice  and  in- 
sects, and  (according  to 
Meyer)  they  nest  upon 
trees,  laying  two  white 
eggs.  They  are  said  to 
be  constant  attendants 
on  the  Ptarmigans  in 
their  spring  migrations 
towards  the  north  ;  and 
are  observed  to  hover 
round  the  camp  fires 
of  the  natives,  in  quest 
probably  of  any  offal 
or  rejected  game. 


HAWK  OWL. 


THE  GOAT  SUCKER. 

The  Accipitres,  it  will  be  remembered,  possess  strong  hooked  beaks 
and  sharp  curved  claws.  The  foot  and  head  of  the  Passeres  are  entirely 
different ; — the  beak  being  without  the  formidable  curved  tip,  and  the 
claws  being  of  a  quiet  and  peaceful  character. 

The  first  tribe  of  this  order,  the  Fissirostres,  are  so  called  from  the 
peculiar  formation  of  their  mouths,  which 
appear  as  if  they  had  been  slit  up  from  their 
ordinary  termination  to  beyond  the  eyes,  much 
resembling  the  mouth  of  a  Frog.  In  the 
insect-eating  Fissirostres  this  formation  is 
admirably  adapted  for  capturing  their  active 
prey,  and  in  the  Kingfishers  it  is  equally 
adapted  for  securing  the  slippery  inhabitants 
of  the  waters. 

The  CaprimulgidaB  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits,  chasing  their  insect 
prey  by  night  or  at  the  dusk,  when  the  Chaffers  and  the  large  Moths 
are  on  the  wing.  In  order  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  insect  when 
taken,  the  mouth  is  fringed  with  long  stiff  bristles,  called  "  vibrissas." 


GOAT  SUCKER. 


THE   GOAT    SUCKER. 


493 


CHUCK-WELL'S-WIDOW. 


The  name  of  Goat  Sucker  is  derived  from  a  silly  notion  that  they  suck 
Goats,  a  piece  of  credulity  only  equalled  by  the  Hedgehog's  supposed 
crime  of  sucking  Cows,  and  the  accusation  against  the  Cat  of  sucking 
the  breath  of  children.  The  genus  Caprimulgus  is  furnished  with  a 
kind  of  comb  on  the  middle  claw  of  its  foot,  but  for  what  purpose  is 
not  clearly  ascertained.  The  power  of  wing  in  these  birds  is  very 
great,  and  hardly  surpassed  by  that  of  the  Swallow,  both  birds  obtaining 
their  food  in  a  similar  manner. 

The  Night-Jar,  or  Goat  Sucker,  sometimes  called  the  Fern  Owl,  is 
spread  over  Europe,  and  is  tolera- 
bly common  in  England.  It  may 
be  seen  at  the  approach  of  even- 
ing, silently  wheeling  round  the 
trees,  capturing  the  nocturnal 
Moths  and  Beetles ;  then  occa- 
sionally settling  and  uttering  its 
jarring  cry.  When  flying  the 
bird  sometimes  makes  its  wings 
meet  over  its  back,  and  brings 
them  together  with  a  smart  snap. 
It  arrives  in  England  about  the 
beginning  of  May,  and  leaves  in 
December.  It  makes  no  nest,  but 
lays  two  mottled  eggs  on  the  bare  ground.  Its  length  is  ten  inches. 
The  Whip-poor-will  and  the  Chuck-will's-widow  both  belong  to  this 
family. 

These  two  birds  derive  their  singular  names  from  their  cry  which  is 
said  closely  to  imitate  the  words  that  have  been  assigned  to  them  as 
their  names.  Of  course  the  English  language  must  feel  itself  highly 
honored  that  an 
American  bird 
should  prefer 
the  language  of 
the  "Britisher" 
to  that  of  the 
Delaware  or 
the  Sioux. 
Both  the  birds 
fly  by  night  or 
rather  in  the 
dusk  of  the 
evening,  and 
like  the  Owl 
are  much  dis- 
tressed  by 
being  forced  to 
face  a  brilliant 
light.  The 
Chuck-will's- 
widow  is 


wmp-poorv-wiLL. 


494  THE   PAPUAN   PODARGUS. 

partially  migratory,  and  dwells  in  the  more  southern  parts  of  America 
during  the  winter.  Audubon  relates  that  this  bird  applies  its 
enormous  mouth  to  rather  an  unexpected  use,  viz.,  that  of  removing 
its  eggs  if  it  finds  that  they  have  been  disturbed.  Of  this  curious 
circumstance  he  was  an  eye-witness.  He  saw  the  bird  that  first 
discovered  that  an  intruder  had  touched  the  eggs  wait  for  its  mate  and 
then  saw  each  of  them  take  an  egg  in  its  mouth  and  carry  it  offl 


THE  PAPUAN  PODARGUS. 

This  species  of  the  Night-Jar  family  is  exclusively  confined  to 
Australia  and  the  islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago.  It  appears  to  be 
closely  allied  to  a  very  rare  species  from  Java,  described  by  Dr. 
Horsfield,  under  the  name  of  Podargus  Javanensis.  Even  more  con- 
fused by  the  light  than  is  the  common  Goat  Sucker,  the  members  of 
the  genus  Podargus  are  completely  nocturnal ;  they  haunt  the  solitudes 
of  the  woods,  and  the  sombre,  but  intermingled  tints  of  their  plumage 
screen  them  from  observation.  They  issue  forth  only  at  night,  but 
on  the  approach  of  day  retire  to  their  seclusion. 

In  connexion  with  our  observations  on  the  genus  Podargus,  we 
cannot  omit  a  short  notice  of  a  most  extraordinary  bird,  in  many 
respects  closely  related  to  this  genus,  but  which  truly  forms  the  type 
of  a  distinct  generic  group,  under  the  title  of  Steatornis.  We  allude  to 
the  Guacharo  (Steatornis  caripensis,  Humb.,)  of  which  a  memoir  is 
published  in  the  'Nouvelles  Annales  du  Museum,'  vol.  III.,  part  4,  by 
M.  1'  Herminier.  The  Guacharo  is  a  native  of  the  range  of  deep  and 
gloomy  caverns  of  Caripe,  in  the  province  of  Cumana,  where  it  was 
first  discovered  by  MM.  Humboldt  and  Bonpland  in  the  year  1799 
These  caverns  are  formed  in  the  sides  of  tremendous  calcareous  rocks, 
divided  by  a  stupendous  chasm,  over  which  are  thrown  the  famous 
bridges  of  Icononzo.  "Numberless  flights  of  nocturnal  birds,"  says 
Humboldt  "  haunt  the  crevice,  and  which  we  were  led  at  first  to 
mistake  for  Bats  of  a  gigantic  size.  Thousands  of  them  are  seen 
flying  over  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  Indians  assured  us  that  they 
are  of  the  size  of  a  fowl  with  a  curved  beak  and  an  Owl's  eye.  They 
are  called  Cacas,  and  the  uniform  color  of  their  plumage,  which  is  bluish 
grey,  leads  me  to  think  that  they  belong  to  the  genus  of  Caprimulgus, 
the  species  of  which  are  so  various  in  the  Cordilleras.  It  is  impossible 
to  catch  them  on  account  of  the  depth  of  the  valley,  and  they  can  only 
be  examined  by  throwing  down  rockets  to  illuminate  the  sides  of  the. 
rock." 

M.  Depens,  in  his  '  History  of  South  America,'  alludes  to  the  same 
bird,  of  which  he  says,  millions  inhabit  the  cavern  Called  Guacharo, 
which  is  immense,  and  that  their  fat  yields  the  "  oil  of  Guacharo." 
Two  Guacharo  (for  the  bird  takes  the  name  of  the  cavern)  were  at 
last  shot  by  M.  Bonpland,  by  torchlight,  and  drawn  by  M.  Humboldt : 
they  were,  however,  lost  by  shipwreck,  on  their  way  to  France,  in 
1801. 


PIES. 


IN  all  birds  of  this  order  the  bill  is  sharp-edged  and  convex  on  its 
upper  surface.  The  legs  are  short,  tolerably  strong,  and,  in  some  species, 
formed  for  perching ;  (that  is,  with  three  toes  forward  and  one  backward ;) 
in  other?  formed  for  climbing,  with  two  toes  forward  and  two  backward ; 
and  in  others  for  walking,  that  is,  without  any  back  toe. 


UK  THE  SHRIKES  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  these  birds  the  bill  is  strong,  straight  at  the  base  and  hooked  or 
bent  towards  the  end ;  and  the  upper  mandible  is  notched  near  the  tip. 
The  base  is  not  furnished  with  a  cere.  The  tongue  is  jagged  at  the 
end.  The  outer  toe  is  connected  to  the  middle  one  as  far  as  the  first 
joint. 

Although  the  Shrikes  have  been  arranged  by  Linnasus  amongst  the 
rapacious  birds,  yet,  with  Mr.  Pennant  and  Dr.  Latham,  I  am  inclined 
to  place  them  amongst  the  Pies.  If  we  retain  the  Shrike  in  the  former 
order,  on  account  of  its  chiefly  feeding  upon  animal  food,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  dispose  properly  of  the  Kingfisher,  the  Woodpecker,  and 
some  other  genera  which  do  the  same.  If  we  dwell  on  the  curvature 
of  the  bill,  how  will  this  agree  with  the  Parrots,  whose  natural  food  is 
fruit  ?  And  as  to  the  Shrikes  living  on  other  birds,  whenever  oppor- 
tunity offers,  several  of  the  Crows  and  other  tribes  do  the  like.  Their 
habits  resemble,  in  a  great  measure,  those  of  the  Pies ;  as  Linnasus  has 
himself  acknowledged :  and  although  he  has  arranged  them  among 
the  rapacious  birds,  he  seems  to  consider  them  as  holding  a  kind  of 
middle  place  between  the  Pies  and  (on  account  of  their  smallness)  the 
Passerine  order.  They  seem,  however,  to  stand,  with  greater  propriety 
at  the  head  of  the  Pies  ;  forming  there  a  connecting  link  between  them 
and  the  rapacious  birds. 

They  are  inhabitants  of  every  quarter  of  the  world  :  and  are  found 
in  all  climates,  except  within  the  Arctic  Circle. 


THE   GKEAT   OR   CINEREOUS   SHRIKE. 

The  Great  Shrike  or  Butcher-bird,  is  a  native  both  of  Europe  and 
America ;  and  is,  in  general,  about  ten  inches  in  length.  Its  bill  is 
black,  about  an  inch  long,  and  hooked  at  the  end.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  plumage  are  of  a  pale  ash-color ;  and  the  wings  and  tail 
are  black,  varied  with  white.  The  throat,  breast,  and  belly,  are  of  a 
dirty  white  ;  and  the  legs  are  black.  The  female  differs  very  little  in 
appearance  from  the  male 

(495) 


496  THE   GREAT   OR   CINEREOUS   SHRIKE. 

The  muscles  which  move  the  bill  of  this  Shrike  are  very  thick  and 
strong;  an  apparatus  that  is  peculiarly  necessary  to  a  species  whose 
mode  of  killing  and  devouring  its  prey  is  very  singular.  The  Shrike 
seizes  the  smaller  birds  by  the  throat,  and  thus  strangles  them ;  and  it 
is  probably  for  this  reason  that  the  Germans  call  him  by  a  name 
signifying  "  The  suffocating  Angel"  When  his  prey  is  dead,  he  fixes 
it  on  some  thorn  ;  and,  thus  spitted,  tears  it  to  pieces  with  his  bill. 
Even  when  confined  in  a  cage,  he  will  often  treat  his  food  in  much  the 
same  manner,  by  sticking  it  against  the  wires  before  he  devours  it. 

In  spring  and  summer,  he  imitates  the  voices  of  other  birds,  by 
way  of  decoying  them  within  his  reach,  that  he  may  devour  them; 
excepting  this,  his  natural  note  is  the  same  throughout  all  seasons. 
When  kept  in  a  cage,  even  where  he  seems  perfectly  contented,  he 
is  always  mute. 

Mr.  Bell  who  travelled  from  Moscow,  through  Siberia  to  Pekin, 
says,  that  in  Eussia  these  birds  are  often  kept  tame  in  houses.  He 
had  one  of  them  given  to  him,  and  taught  it  to  perch  on  a  sharpened 
stick,  fixed  in  the  wall  of  his  apartment.  Whenever  a  small  bird 
was  let  loose  in  the  room,  the  Shrike  would  immediately  fly  from  his 
perch,  and  seize  it  by  the  throat  in  such  a  manner  as  almost  in  a 
moment  to  suffocate  it.  He  would  then  carry  it  to  his  perch,  and 
spit  it  on  the  sharpened  end,  drawing  it  on,  carefully  and  forcibly, 
with  his  bill  and  claws.  If  several  birds  were  given  him,  he  would 
use  them  all,  one  after  another,  in  a  similar  manner.  These  were  so 
fixed,  that  they  hung  by  the  neck  till  he  had  leisure  to  devour  them. 
This  uncommon  practice  seems  necessary  to  these  birds,  as  an  equiv- 
alent for  the  want  of  strength  in  their  claws  to  tear  their  food  to 
pieces.  From  this  they  derive  their  appellation  of  Butcher-birds. 

In  America,  the  Great  Shrike  has  been  observed  to  adopt  avi  odd 
stratagem,  for  the  apparent  purpose  of  decoying  its  prey.  A  gentle- 
man there,  accidentally  observing  that  several  Grasshoppers  were 
stuck  upon  the  sharp  thorny  branches  of  the  trees,  inquired  the 
cause  of  the  phenomenon;  and  was  informed  that  they  were  thus 
spitted  by  this  bird.  On  further  inquiry  he  was  led  to  suppose,  that 
this  was  an  instinctive  stratagem  adopted  by  the  Great  Shrike,  in 
order  to  decoy  the  smaller  birds,  which  feed  on  insects,  into  a  situa- 
tion from  which  he  could  dart  on  and  seize  them.  He  is  called  in 
America  Nine-killer,  from  the  supposition  that  he  sticks  up  nine 
Grasshoppers  in  succession.  That  the  insects  are  placed  there  as  food 
to  tempt  other  birds,  is  said  to  appear  from  their  being  frequently 
left  untouched  for  a  considerable  length  of  time. 

The  female  forms  her  nest  of  heath  and  moss,  and  lines  it  with 
wool  and  gossamer.  She  lays  six  eggs;  which  are  about  as  big  as 
those  of  a  Thrush,  and  of  a  dull  olive-green  color,  spotted  at  the  end 
with  black.  These  birds  are  supposed  to  live  to  the  age  of  five  or 
six  years;  and  they  are  much  valued  by  husbandmen,  on  the  suppo- 
sition that  they  destroy  Rats,  Mice,  and  other  vermin.  They  inhabit 
only  mountainous  wilds,  among  furze  and  unfrequented  thickets,  and 
are  rarely  found  in  the  cultivated  parts  of  our  island.  , 


THE    TYRANT   SHRIKE. 


497 


THE   TYRANT   SHRIKE. 


THE  TYRANT   SI1KIKE. 


This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  a  Thrush.  The  bill  is  of  a  blackish- 
brown  color,  and 
furnished  with 
bristles  at  the 
base.  The  upper 
parts  of  the 
plumage  are  of  a 
lead-color.  The 
under  parts  are 
white,  and  the 
breast  inclines  to 
ash -color.  The 
tail  is  brown,  and 
the  legs  are  dark 
brown.  It  is  an 
inhabitant  of  Car- 
olina. 

The  dauntless 
courage  of  this 
bird  is  very  re- 
markable. It  is 
stated  that  he 
will  pursue,  and  is  able  to  put  to  flight,  all  kinds  of  birds  that  ap- 
proach his  station,  from  the  smallest  to  the  largest,  none  escaping 
his  fury:  "nor  did  I  ever  see  (says  Catesby  in  his  account  of  South 
Carolina)  any  that  dared  to  oppose  him  while  flying;  for  he  does  not 
offer  to  attack  them  when  sitting.  I  have  seen  one  of  them  fix  on 
the  back  of  an  Eagle,  and  persecute  him  so,  that  he  has  turned  on  his 
back,  and  into  various  postures  in  the  air,  in  order  to  get  rid  of  him; 
and  at  last  was  forced  to  alight  on  the  top  of  the  next  tree,  from 
which  he  dared  not  move  till  the  little  Tyrant  was  tired,  or  thought 
fit  to  leave  him.  This  is  the  constant  practice  of  the  cock  while  the 
hen  is  brooding.  He  sits  on  the  top  of  a  bush,  or  small  tree,  not  far 
from  her  nest,  near  which,  if  any  small  birds  approach,  he  drives 
them  away;  but  the  great  ones,  as  Crows,  Hawks,  and  Eagles,  he  will 
not  suffer  to  come  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  him  without  attack- 
ing them.  These  birds  have  only  a  chattering  note,  which  they  utter 
with  great  vehemence  all  the  time  they  are  fighting.  When  their 
young-ones  are  flown,  they  are  as  peaceable  as  other  birds. 

From  authority  so  deservedly  great  as  that  of  Catesby,  we  cannot 
but  feel  it  unpleasant  to  dissent;  but  by  a  letter  received  by  Dr. 
Latham,  from  Mr.  Abbot  of  Georgia,  observations  seems  to  have 
been  made  somewhat  different  from  the  above: — UA  Tyrant  Shrike 
(he  says)  having  built  its  nest  on  the  outside  of  a  large  lofty  pine,  I 
was  one  day  considering  how  I  could  procure  the  eggs;  when,  view- 
ing the  nest,  I  perceived  a  Crow  alight  on  the  branch,  break  and  suck 


498  THE  BRAZILIAN   GREEN"   MACAW. 

the  eggs,  and  displace  the  nest,  appearing  all  the  while  unconcerned, 
notwithstanding  both  the  cock  and  hen  continued  flying  at  and  strik- 
ing him  with  their  bills  all  the  while;  and  as  soon  as  the  Crow  had 
completed  the  robbery,  he  departed." 

The  eggs  of  this  bird  are  flesh-colored,  and  prettily  marked  at  the 
larger  end  with  dark  pink  and  a  few  black  spots. 


OF  THE  PAEEOT  TEIBE  IN  GENEKAL. 

THIS  most  extensive  tribe  is  remarkably  distinct  from  all  others. 
The  beak  is  hooked  all  the  way  from  the  base  to  the  tip,  and  the 
upper  mandible,  or  division,  is  moveable.  The  nostrils  are  round; 
and  placed  in  the  base  of  the  bill,  which  in  some  species  is  furnished 
with  a  cere.  The  tongue  is  broad  and  blunt;  the  head  is  large,  and 
the  crown  flat.  The  legs  are  short,  with  two  toes  placed  before  and 
two  behind,  for  the  purpose  of  climbing. 

The  Parrots  are  natives  chiefly  of  tropical  regions,  where  they  live, 
for  the  most  part,  on  fruit  and  seeds ;  though  when  kept  in  a  cage, 
they  will  occasionally  eat  both  flesh  and  fish.  They  are  gregarious, 
and  excessively  noisy  and  clamorous;  yet,  though  they  associate  in 
vast  multitudes,  they  live  chiefly  in  pairs  of  one  male  and  a  female. 
The  place  they  hold  among  the  birds  seems  to  be  exactly  that  which 
the  Apes  and  Monkeys  occupy  among  the  quadrupeds;  for,  like  these, 
they  are  very  numerous,  imitative,  and  mischievous.  They  breed  in 
the  hollows  of  trees,  like  the  Owls;  and  it  is  said  that  the  male  and 
female  sit  alternately  upon  the  eggs.  In  Europe,  they  have  some- 
times been  known  to  lay  eggs ;  but  they  seldom  sit  upon  them  in 
these  cool  climates. 

The  toes  of  Parrots  are  sufficiently  flexible  to  answer  every  purpose 
of  hands,  for  holding  their  food,  or  carrying  it  to  their  mouths.  In 
climbing  they  always  use  their  bill  to  assist  the  feet.  They  are,  in 
general,  long-livtfd. 

In  a  domestic  state  they  are  exceedingly  docile,  and  very  imitative 
of  sounds;  most  of  the  species  being  able  to  counterfeit  even  the 
human  voice,  and  to  articulate  words  with  great  distinctness;  but 
their  natural  voice  is  a  loud,  harsh  and  unpleasant  scream.  Alexan- 
der the  Great  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  who  introduced 
Parrots  into  Europe. 


THE   BRAZILIAN   GREEN   MACAW. 

The  length  of  this  bird  is  about  seventeen  inches.  Its  bill  is  black ; 
and,  on  the  cheeks,  there  is  a  bare  white  patch,  marked  with  black 
lines,  in  which  the  eyes  are  placed.  The  general  color  of  the  plu- 
mage is  green.  The  forehead  is  of  a  chesnut  purple ;  and  the  crown 
is  blue,  which  color  blends  itself  with  the  green  as  it  passes  backward. 
On  the  lower  part  of  the  thighs  the  feathers  are  red ;  and  the  wings 
are,  in  different  parts,  crimson,  blue  and  black.  The  tail  is  green 


GREEN  MACAVT. 


THE  GUINEA  PARROT.  499 

above,  near  the  ends  blue,  and  beneath  of  a  dull  red.     The  legs  are 
brown,  and  the  claws  black. 

This 'Macaw,  a  native  of  Jamaica,  Guiana,  and  the  Brazils,  is  as 
beautiful  as  it  is  rare ;  and  it  is  still  more  interesting,  from  its  social 
and  gentle  disposition.  It  soon  becomes  familiar  with  persons  whom 
it  sees  frequently^  and  it  seems  delighted  in 
receiving  and  returning  their  caresses.  But  it 
has  an  aversion  to  strangers,  and  particularly 
to  children ;  for  it  flies  at,  and  sometimes 
attacks  them  with  great  fury. 

The  Green  Macaw  is  exceedingly  jealous ;  it 
becomes  enraged  at  seeing  a  young  child 
sharing  its  mistress's  caresses  and  favors ;  it 
tries  to  dart  at  the  infant ;  but,  as  its  flight  is 
short  and  laborious,  it  can  only  exhibit  its 
displeasure  by  gestures  and  restless  move- 
ments, and  continues  to  be  tormented  by  these 
fits  till  she  leaves  the  child,  and  takes  the  bird 
on  her  finger.  It  is  then  overjoyed,  murmurs  satisfaction,  and  some- 
times makes  a  noise  resembling  the  laugh  of  an  old  person.  Nor 
can  it  bear  the  company  of  other  Parrots ;  and  if  one  be  lodged  in 
the  same  room  it  seems  to  enjoy  no  comfort. 

It  eats  almost  every  article  of  human  food.  It  is  particularly  fond 
of  bread,  beef,  fried  fish,  pastry,  and  sugar.  It  cracks  nuts  with  its 
bill,  and  picks  the  kernel  out  dexterously  with  its  claws.  It  does 
not  chew  the  soft  fruits;  but  it  sucks  them  by  pressing  its  tongue 
against  the  upper  part  of  the  beak:  and  the  harder  sorts  of  food,  such 
as  bread  and  pastry,  it  bruises  or  chews,  by  pressing  the  tip  of  the 
lower  mandible  upon  the  most  hollow  part  of  the  upper. 

Like  all  the  other  Parrots,  the  Green  Macaw  uses  its  claws  with 
great  dexterity ;  it  bends  forward  the  hinder  toe  to  lay  hold  of  the 
fruits  and  other  things  which  are  given  it,  to  carry  them  to  its  bill, 
The  Parrots  employ  their  toes,  nearly  in  the  manner  as  Squirrels  and 
Monkeys  do  their  fore  paws;  they  also  cling  and  hang  by  them.  There 
is  another  habit  common  to  the  Parrots :  they  never  climb  or  creep 
without  fastening  by  the  bill;  with  this  they  begin,  and  they  use 
their  feet  only  as  secondary  instruments  of  motion. 


THE  GUINEA,    OR  LITTLE   RED-HEADED  PARROT. 

The  general  color  of  the  Guinea  Parrot  is  green;  its  bill,  chin,  and 
forehead  are  red ;  and  the  rurnp  is  blue. 

In  size  but  little  larger  than  the  Lark,  and  in  brilliancy  of  plumage 
exceeded  by  few  of  its  tribe,  this  pleasing  bird  claims  our  greatest 
admiration.  In  a  native  state  it  is  found  amidst  the  forests  of  Guinea, 
and  also  in  Ethiopia,  Java,  and  the  East  Indies,  where  immense  flocks 
of  them  are  seen.  In  these  countries  they  often  commit  as  much  de- 
vastation amongst  he  corn  and  fruit,  as  Sparrows  do  in  Europe. 

The  trading  vessels  from  these  countries  seldom  fail  to  bring  with 
32 


500 


THE   GUINEA   PARROT. 


them  considerable  numbers  of  Guinea  Parrots;  but  they  are  so  tender, 
that  most  of  them  die  in  their  passage  to  our  colder  climate..  It  has 
also  been  observed,  that  the  firing  of  a  vessel's  great  guns  is  fatal  to 
many  of  them,  which  drop  down  dead  from 
fear.  Although  very  imitative  of  the  manners 
of  other  birds,  it  is  a  difficult  thing  to  teach 
the'm  to  articulate  words.  Some  have  attained 
this  art,  but  the  instances  are  rare. 

They  are  exceedingly  kind  and  affectionate 
towards  each  other ;  and  it  is  observed  that  the 
male  generally  perches  on  the  right  side  of  the 
female.  She  seldom  attempts  to  eat  before  him. 
A  male  and  female  of  this  species  were 
]o^d  ^g^\  ™  a  l&TgQ  squo.TQ  cage.  The 
vessel  which  held  their  food  was  placed  at  the 
bottom.  The  male  usually  sat  on  the  same  perch  with  the  female, 
and  close  beside  her^  Whenever  one  descended  for  food,  the  other 
always  followed ;  and  when  their  hunger  was  satisfied,  they  returned 
together  to  the  highest  perch  of  the  cage.  They  passed  four  years 
together  in  this  state  of  confinement ;  and,  from  their  mutual  attentions 
and  satisfaction,  it  was  evident  that  a  strong  affection  for  each  other 
had  been  excited.  At  the  end  of  this  period  the  female  fell  into  a 
state  of  languor,  which  had  every  symptom  of  old  age;  her  legs 
swelled,  and  knots  appeared  upon  them,  as  if  the  disease  had  been  of 
the  nature  of  gout.  It  was  no  longer  possible  for  her  to  descend  and 
take  her  food  as  formerly ;  but  the  male  assiduously  brought  it  to 
her,  carrying  it  in  his  bill,  and  delivering  it  into  hers.  He  continued 
to  feed  her  in  this  manner,  with  the  utmost  vigilance,  for  four 
months.  The  infirmities  of  his  mate,  however,  increased  every  day; 
and  at  length  she  became  no  longer  able  to  sit  upon  the  perch  :  she , 
remained  now  crouched  at  the  bottom,  and  from  time  to  time  made  a 
few  useless  efforts  to  regain  the  lower  perch ;  while  the  male,  who 
remained  close  by  her,  seconded  these  feeble  attempts  with  all  his 
power.  Sometimes  he  seized  with  his  bill  the  upper  part  of  her 
wing,  to  try  to  draw  her  up  to  him ;  sometimes  he  took  hold  of  her  bill, 
and  attempted  to  raise  her  up,  repeating  his  efforts  for  that  purpose 
several  times,  His  countenance,  his  gestures,  his  continual  solicitude : 
every  thing,  in  short,  indicated,  in  this  affectionate  bird,  an  ardent 
desire  to  aid  the  weakness  of  his  companion,  and  to  alleviate  her 
sufferings.  But  the  scene  became  still  more  interesting  when  the 
female  was  at  the  point  of  expiring.  Her  unfortunate  partner  went 
round  and  round  her  without  ceasing;  he  redoubled  his  assiduities 
and  his  tender  cares ;  he  attempted  to  open  her  bill,  in  order  to  give 
her  nourishment;  his  emotion  every  instant  increased;  he  went  to 
her,  and  returned  with  the  most  agitated  air,  and  with  the  utmost  in- 
quietude: at  intervals  he  uttered  the  most  plaintive  cries ;  at  other 
times,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  her,  he  preserved  a  sorrowful  silence. 
His  faithful  companion  at  length  expired ;  he  languished  from  that 
time,  and  survived  her  only  a  few  months. 


THE  COMMON  ASH-COLORED  PARROT. 


501 


THE  COMMON  ASH-COLORED   PARROT. 


THE   COMMON  ASH-COLORED   PARROT. 

This  Parrot  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  Pigeon  ;  and,  including  the 
tail  measures  about  twenty  inches  in 
length.  The  bill  is  black ;  the  cere,  and 
the  skin  round  the  eyes,  are  mealy  and 
white.  The  plumage  is  chiefly  ash- 
colored  :  the  rump  and  lower  part  of 
the  belly  are  hoary,  with  ash- colored 
edges:  the  feathers  on  the  head,  neck, 
and  under  parts,  are  hoary  on  their 
edges.  The  tail  is  of  a  bright  red 
color,  having  the  shafts  of  the  feathers 
blackish.  The  legs  are  ash -colored,  and 
the  claws  blackish. 

It   is   a    native   of    Guinea,   and   of 
several  of  the  inland  parts  of  Africa. 

This  well-known  species  is  that 
which  is  now  most  commonly  brought 
into  Europe.  It  is  superior  to  most 
others,  both  in  the  facility,  and  the 
eagerness  with  which  it  imitates  the 
human  voice;  it  listens  with  attention,  and  strives  to  repeat;  it 
dwells  constantly  on  some  syllables  which  it  has  heard,  and  seeks  to 
surpass  every  voice  by  the  loudness  of  its  own.  We  are  often 
surprised  by  its  repeating  words  or  sounds  which  were  never  taught 
it,  and  which  it  could  scarcely  be  supposed  to  have  noticed.  It 
seems  to  prescribe  to  itself  tasks,  and  tries  every  day  to  retain  its 
lesson.  This  engages  its  attention  even  in  sleep ;  and,  according  to 
Marcgrave,  it  prattles  in  its  dreams.  Its  memory,  if  early  cultivated, 
becomes  sometimes  astonishing.  Rhodiginus  mentions  a  Parrot 
which  could  recite  correctly  the  whole  of  the  Apostles'  Creed. 

A  Parrot  which  Colonel  O'Kelly  bought  for  a  hundred  guineas  at 
Bristol,  not  only  repeated  a  great  number  of  sentences,  but  answered 
many  questions :  it  was  also  able  to  whistle  many  tunes.  It  beat  time 
with  all  the  appearance  of  science  ;  and  so  accurate  was  its  judgment 
that,  if  by  chance  it  mistook  a  note,  it  would  revert  to  the  bar  where 
the  mistake  was  made,  correct  itself,  and  still  beating  regular  time, 
go  through  the  whole  with  wonderful  exactness.  Its  death  was  thus 
anounced  in  the  General  Evening  Post  for  the  ninth  of  October, 
1802 :  "  A  few  days  ago  died,  in  Half- moon-street,  Piccadilly,  the 
celebrated  Parrot  of  Colonel  O'Kelly.  This  singular  bird  sang  a 
.  number  of  songs  in  perfect  time  and  tune.  She  could  express  her 
wants  articulately,  and  give  her  orders  in  a  manner  approaching 
nearly  to  rationality.  Her  age  was  not  known ;  it  was,  however, 
more  than  thirty  years,  for  previously  to  that  period,  Mr.  O'Kelly 
bought  her  at  Bristol  for  a  hundred  guineas.  The  Colonel  was  re- 
peatedly offered  five  hundred  guineas  a  year  for  the  bird,  by  persons 


502  THE   COMMON   ASH-COLORED   PARROT. 

who  wished  to  make  a  public  exhibition  of  her ;  but  this,  out  of 
tenderness  to  the  favorite,  he  constantly  refused.  The  bird  was  dis- 
sected by  Dr.  Kennedy  and  Mr.  Brookes ;  and  the  muscles  of  the 
larynx,  which  regulate  the  voice,  were  found,  from  the  effect  of 
practice,  to  be  uncommonly  strong." 

The  sister  of  M.  deBuffon  had  a  Parrot  of  this  species  which  would 
frequently  talk  to  himself,  and  seemed  to  fancy  that  some  one 
addressed  him.  He  often  asked  for  his  paw,  and  answered  by 
holding  it  up.  Though  he  liked  to  hear  the  voice  of  children, 
he  appeared  to  have  an  antipathy  to  them ;  he  pursued  them,  and 
bit  them  till  he  drew  blood.  He  had  also  his  objects  of  attachment ; 
and  though  his  choice  was  riot  very  nice  it  was  constant.  He  was 
excessively  fond  of  the  cook-maid  ;  followed  her  every  where,  sought 
for,  and  seldom  missed  finding  her.  If  she  had  been  some  time  out 
of  his  sight,  the  bird  climbed  with  his  bill  and  claws  to  her  shoulders 
and  lavished  on  her  his  caresses.  His  fondness  had  all  the  marks  of 
close  and  warm  friendship.  The  girl  happened  to  have  a  sore  finger, 
which  was  tedious  in  healing,  and  so  painful  as  to  make  her  scream. 
Whilst  she  uttered  her  moans,  the  Parrot  never  left  her  chamber. 
The  first  thing  he  did  every  day  was  to  pay  her  a  visit ;  and  this 
tender  condolence  lasted  the  whole  time  of  the  cure,  when  he  again 
returned  to  his  former  calm  and  settled  attachment.  Yet  this  strong 
predilection  for  the  girl  seems  to  have  been  more  directed  to  her 
office  in  the  kitchen,  than  to  her  person ;  for,  when  another  cook- 
maid  succeeded  her,  the  Parrot  showed  the  same  degree  of  fondness 
to  the  new-comer,  the  very  first  day. 

Parrots  not  only  imitate  discourse,  but  also  mimic  gestures  and 
actions.  Scaliger  saw  one  that  performed  the  dance  of  the  Savoyards 
at  the  same  time  that  it  repeated  their  song.  The  one  last  mentioned, 
was  fond  of  hearing  a  person  sing ;  and  when  he  saw  him  dance,  he 
also  tried  to  caper,  but  with  the  worst  grace  imaginable,  holding  in 
his  toes,  and  tumbling  back  in  a  most  clumsy  manner. 

The  society  which  the  Parrot  forms  with  man  is,  from  its  use  of 
language,  much  more  intimate  and  pleasing,  than  what  the  monkey 
can  claim  from  its  antic  imitation  of  our  gestures  and  actions.  It 
highly  diverts  and  amuses  us ;  and  in  solitude  it  is  company :  the 
bird  takes  part  in  conversation,  it  laughs,  it  breathes  tender  expres- 
sions, or  mimics  grave  discourse ;  and  its  words,  uttered  indiscrimi- 
nately, please  by  their  incongruity,  and  sometimes  excite  surprise  by 
their  aptness.  Willughby  tells  us  of  a  Parrot,  which,  when  a  person 
said  to  it,  "  Laugh,  Poll,  laugh,"  laughed  accordingly,  and  the  instant 
after  screamed  out,  "  "What  a  fool  to  make  me  laugh  1"  Another, 
which  had  grown  old  with  its  master,  shared  with  him  the  infirmities 
of  age.  Being  accustomed  to  hear  scarcely  any  thing  but  the  words, 
"  I  am  sick;"  when  a  person  asked  it,  "How  d'ye  do.  Poll?  how 
d'ye  do?"  "  I  am  sick,"  it  replied  in  a  doleful  tone,  stretching  itself 
along,  "  I  am  sick." 

Dr.  Goldsmith  says,  that  a  Parrot  belonging  to  King  Henry  the 
Seventh,  having  been  kept  in  a  room  next  the  Thames,  in  his  palace 
at  Westminster,  had  learned  to  repeat  many  sentences  from  the  boat 


THE  YELLOW-WINGED  PARROT.  503 

men  and  passengers.  One  day,  sporting  on  its  perch,  it  unluckily 
fell  into  the  water.  The  bird  had  no  sooner  discovered  its  situation, 
than  it  called  aloud,  "  A  boat !  twenty  pounds  for  a  boat !"  A 
waterman,  happening  to  be  near  the  place  where  the  Parrot  was 
floating,  immediately  took  it  up,  and  restored  it  to  the  king;  demand- 
ing, as  the  bird  was  a  favorite,  that  he  should  be  paid  the  reward  that 
it  had  called  out.  This  was  refused;  but  it  was  agreed  that,  as  the 
Parrot  had  offered  a  reward,  the  man  should  again  refer  to  its  deter- 
mination for  the  sum  he  was  to  receive — "  Give  the  knave  a  groat," 
the  bird  screamed  aloud,  the  instant  the  reference  was  made. 

Mr.  Locke,  in  his  Essay  on  the  Human  Understanding,  has  related 
an  anecdote  concerning  a  Parrot,  of  which,  however  incredible  it 
may  appear,  he  seems  to  have  had  so  much  evidence,  as  at  least  to  have 
believed  it  himself.  The  story  is  this :  During  the  government  of 
Prince  Maurice  in  Brazil,  he  had  heard  of  an  old  Parrot  that  was  much 
celebrated  for  answering,  like  a  rational  creature,  many  of  the  com- 
mon questions  that  were  put  to  it  So  much  had  been  said  respecting 
this  bird,  that  the  curiosity  of  the  Prince  was  roused,  and  he  directed 
it  to  be  sent  for.  When  he  was  introduced  into  the  room  where  the 
Prince  was  sitting,  in  company  with  several  Dutchmen,  it  immediately 
exclaimed  in  the  Brazilian  language,  "  What  a  company  of  white 
men  are  here  1"  They  asked  it,  "  Who  is  that  man  ?"  pointing  to 
the  Prince:  the  Parrot  answered,  "Some  general  or  other."  When 
the  attendants  carried  it  up  to  him,  he  asked  it,  through  the  medium 
of  an  interpreter,  (for  he  was  ignorant  of  its  language,)  "  From  whs^- 
place  do  you  come?"  The  Parrot  answed,  "  From  Marignan."  The 
Prince  asked,  "  To  whom  do  you  belong?"  It  answered,  "  To  a 
Portuguese."  He  asked  again,  "  What  do  you  do  there  ?n  It 
answered,  "  I  look  after  chickens  !"  The  Prince,  laughing,  exclaimed, 
"  You  look  after  chickens  !"  The  Parrot  in  answer  said,  "  Yes,  I; 
and  I  know  well  enough  how  to  do  it;"  clucking  at  the  same  time,  in 
imitation  of  the  noise  made  by  the  hen  to  call  together  her  young 
ones. 

The  females  of  this  species  lay  their  eggs  in  the  hollows  of  trees ; 
and  there  is  no  way  of  getting  at  them,  except  by  cutting  down  and 
cleaving  the  trees. 

THE    YELLOW-WINGED    PARROT. 

The  length  of  the  Yellow-winged  Parrot  is  about  tnirteen  inches. 
The  bill  is  whitish,  and  the  cere  hoary.  The  general  color  of  the 
body  is  green ;  and  the  feathers  on  the  hind  part  of  the  neck  and  on 
the  back,  have  black  margins.  The  forehead  is  of  a  whitish- 
ash  color ;  and  the  top  of  the  head,  cheeks,  throat,  and  forepart 
of  the  neck  are  yellow :  the  hind  head  is  yellow-green.  The  thighs 
and  the  ridges  of  the  wings  are  yellow,  the  remainder  of  the  wings 
are,  in  different  parts,  red,  yellow,  and  green,  with  the  greater  quills 
black.  The  four  middle  tail-feathers  are  green,  and  yellowish  near 
the  end;  the  others  are  partly  red  and  partly  green.  The  legs  are 
hoary,  and  the  claws  ash-colored.  It  is  a  native  of  South  America. 


504  THE   YELLOW-WINGED    PARROT. 

We  know  nothing  respecting  the  habits  of  this  bird  in  a  state  of 
nature,  but  Father  Bougot,  who  had  one  of  them  for  some  time  in  his 
possession,  communicated  to  M.  de  Buffbn,  the  following  account  of 
its  manners  and  disposition  in  a  tame  state: 

"  It  is  (he  says)  extremely  susceptible  of  attachment  to  its  master ; 
it  is  fond  of  him,  but  requires  frequent  caresses,  and  seems  disconso- 
late if  neglected,  and  vindictive  if  provoked.  It  has  fits  of  obstinacy  ; 
it  bites  during  its  ill-humor,  and  immediately  laughs,  exulting  in  its 
mischief.  Correction  and  rigorous  treatment  only  harden  it ;  gentle 
usage  alone  succeeds  in  mollifying  its  temper. 

uThe  inclination  to  gnaw  whatever  it  can  reach,  is  very  destructive  ; 
it  cuts  the  cloth  of  the  furniture,  splits  the  wood  of  the  chairs,  and  tears 
in  pieces  paper,  pens,  &c.  And  if  it  be  removed  from  the  spot  where 
it  stands,  its  proneness  to  contradiction  will  instantly  hurry  it  back. 
But  this  mischievous  disposition  is  counterbalanced  by  agreeable 
qualities,  for  it  remembers  readily  whatever  it  is  taught  to  say.  Before 
articulating  it  claps  its  wings  and  plays  on  its  roost ;  in  a  cage  it  be- 
comes dejected,  and  continues  silent ;  and  it  never  prattles  well  except 
when  it  enjoys  its  liberty. 

'"  In  its  cheerful  days  it  is  affectionate,  receives  and  returns  caresses, 
and  listens  and  obeys;  though  a  peevish  fit  often  interrupts  the  harmony. 
It  seems  affected  by  the  change  of  weather,  and  becomes  silent ;  the 
way  to  reanimate  itis  to  sing  beside  it,  and  it  then  strives,  by  its  noisy 
screams,  to  surpass  the  voice  which  excites  it.  It  is  fond  of  children ; 
in  which  respect  it  differs  from  most  other  Parrots.  It  contracts  a 
predilection  for  some  of  them,  and  suffers  them  to  handle  and  carry  it ; 
it  caresses  them,  and  will  bite  ferociously  any  person  who  then  attempts 
to  touch  them.  If  its  favorite  children  leave  it,  it  is  unhappy,  follows, 
and  calls  loudly  after  them.  During  the  time  of  moulting  it  is  much 
reduced,  and  seems  to  endure  great  pain  ;  and  this  state  lasts  for  nearly 
three  months." 

The  power  of  imitating  exactly  articulate  discourse,  implies  in  the 
Parrot  a  very  peculiar  and  perfect  structure  of  organ ;  and  the  accuracy 
of  its  memory  (though  independent  of  understanding)  manifests  a 
closeness  of  attention,  and  a  strength  of  mechanical  recollection,  that 
no  other  bird  possesses  in  so  high  a  degree.  Accordingly,  all  natural- 
ists have  remarked  the  singular  form  of  its  bill,  of  its  tongue,  and  its 
head.  Its  bill,  round  on  the  outside  and  hollow  within,  has,  in  some 
degree,  the  capacity  of  a  mouth,  and  allows  the  tongue  to  play  freely ; 
and  the  sound,  striking  against  the  circular  border  of  the  lower 
mandible,  is  there  modified  as  on  a  row  of  teeth,  while  the  concavity 
of  the  upper  mandible  reflects  it  like  a  palate  ;  hence  the  animal  does 
not  utter  a  whistling  sound,  but  a  full  articulation.  The  tongue  which 
modulates  all  sounds,  is  proportionably  larger  than  in  man ;  and  would 
be  more  voluble,  were  it  not  harder  than  flesh  ;  and  invested  with  a 
strong  horny  membrane. 

From  the  peculiar  structure  of  the  upper  mandible  of  its  bill,  the 
Parrot  has  a  power,  which  no  other  birds  have,  of  chewing  its  food. 
The  Parrot  seizes  its  food  sideways,  and  gnaws  it  deliberately.  The 
lower  mandible  has  little  motion,  but  that  from  right  to  left  is  most 


THE   MACAWS. 


505 


perceptible  ;  and  this  is  often  performed  when  the  bird  is  not  eating, 
whence  some  persons  have  supposed  it  to  ruminate.  In  such  cases, 
however,  the  bird  may  be  only  whetting  the  edge  of  this  mandible,  with 
which  it  cuts  and  bites  its  aliment. 


THE   MACAWS. 

Many  naturalists  imagine,  and  with  some  reason,  that  the  Psittacidae 
ought  to  be  formed  into 
an  o  r  d  e  r  by  them- 
selves. In  this  family 
the  construction  of  the 
bill  is  very  remarkable. 
As  the  curved  tip  of 
the  bill  would  prevent 
the  bird  from  opening 
it  wide  enough  to  ad- 
mit its  food,  the  upper 
mandible  is  united  to 
the  skull  by  a  kind  of 
hinge  joint,  of  equal 
strength  and  flexibility. 
When  climbing  among 
the  branches  of  trees, 
or  about  their  cages, 
the  Parrots  invariably 
make  great  use  of  their 
hooked  bills  in  assist- 
ing themselves  both  in 
ascending  and  descend- 
ing. The  crossbills  have  been  observed  to  climb  much  in  the  same  way. 

The  Parrots  are  said  to  be  very  long  lived,  some  have  certainly  been 
known  to  live  upwards  of  eighty  years  in  captivity,  and  may  be 
imagined  to  exceed  that  period  in  a  wild  state. 

The  Macaws  are  natives  of  South  America.  The  blue  and  yellow 
Macaw  inhabits  Brazil,  Guiana  and  Surinam,  living  principally  on  the 
banks  of  rivers.  Of  one  of  the  Macaws,  the  Carolina  Parrot,  or  Parra- 
keet  as  Wilson  calls  it,  the  following  anecdote  is  told  by  that  enterprising 
naturalist : — 

"  Having  shot  down  a  number,  some  of  which  were  only  wounded, 
the  whole  flock  swept  repeatedly  round  their  prostrate  companions,  and 
again  settled  on  a  low  tree,  within  twenty  yards  of  the  spot  where  I 
stood.  At  each  successive  discharge,  though  showers  of  them  fell,  yet 
the  affection  of  the  survivors  seemed  rather  to  increase ;  for,  after  a  few 
circuits  round  the  place,  they  again  alighted  near  me,  looking  down  on 
their  slaughtered  companions  with  such  manifest  symptoms  of  sympathy 
and  concern,  as  entirely  disarmed  me." 

Wilson  also  makes  mention  of  a  singular  idea,  that  the  brains  and 
intestines  of  the  Carolina  Parrot  (which  lives  on  cockle-burs)  are 
poisonous  to  Cats.  Why  the  brains  should  be  so  is  rather  incomprehen- 


BLUE  AND  YELLOW  MACAW. 


506 


THE   RINGED   PARRAKEET. 


sibie,  although  we  can  easily  understand  that  the  Parrot  might  take 

some  substance  into  its 
stomach  injurious  to 
Cats.  Wilson  tried  the 
experiment  after  being 
repeatedly  disappointed 
of  a  patient,  but  came 
to  no  conclusion  on  the 
subject. 

"  Having  shut  up  a 
Cat  and  her  two  Kit- 
tens,  the  latter  only  a 
few  days  old,  in  a  room 
with  the  head,  neck, 
and  the  whole  intestines 
of  the  Parrakeet,  I  found 
on  the  next  morning 
the  whole  eaten  except 
a  small  part  of  the  bill. 
The  Cat  exhibited  no 
symptom  of  sickness, 
and  at  this  moment, 
three  days  after  the 
experiment  had  been 
made,  she  and  her 
Kittens  are  in  their 
usual  health.  Still 
however  the  effect 


CAROLINA    PARROT. 


might    have   been   dif- 

ferent, had  the  daily  food  of  the  bird  been  cockle-burs  instead  of 
Indian  corn." 


THE   RINGED   PARRAKEET. 

Is  frequently  seen  domesticated  in  this  country,  where  its  pleasing 
manners  and  gentle  disposition  render  it  a  great  favorite.  It  seems  to 
be  exceedingly  'fond  of  ripe  walnuts,  divided  in  halves ;  and,  while  it 
is  picking  out  the  kernel,  continually  utters  a  short  clucking  sound 
indicative  of  pleasure. 

It  soon  learns  to  repeat  words  and  short  sentences,  and  to  speak  with 
tolerable  distinctness.  Sometimes  when  excited,  it  utters  most  ear- 
piercing  screams,  and  always  appears  to  practice  any  new  accomplish- 
ment when  it  thinks  that  no  one  is  within  hearing.  A  Kinged 
Parrakeet  belonging  to  one  of  my  scholars  was  accustomed  to  live  in  the 
school-room.  At  first  it  used  to  become  angry  that  it  was  not  noticed 
during  school-hours,  and  to  utter  a  succession  of  screams ;  but  after 
being  shut  up  in  a  dark  closet  several  times,  it  learned  to  behave  very 
demurely, — giving  an  example  worthy  of  imitation  to  several  of  its 
human  play -fellows.  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  the  bird  escaped  from  its 
cage,  and  was  shot  by  an  ignorant  farmer  in  the  neighborhood. 


THE   COCKATOOS. — TOUCANS. 


507 


THE   COCKATOOS 

Are  remarkable  for  the  powdery  surface  of  their  wings,  and  the 
crest  on  the  head,  which  can  be 
raised  or  depressed  at  pleasure.  The 
Sulphur-crested  Cockatoo  is  an  inhab- 
itant of  New  Guinea.  Its  color  is 
white,  and  the  crest  is  of  a  sulphur 
yellow.  Its  white  plumage  glancing 
among  the  dense  dark  foliage  of  its 
native  forests,  imparts  a  wonderful 
beauty  to  the  scene ;  and  as  Sir 
Thomas  Mitchell  remarks,  "  amidst 
the  umbrageous  foliage,  forming 
dense  masses  of  shade,  the  white 
Cockatoo  sported  like  spirits  of  light." 
This  Cockatoo  is  easily  tamed,  and  is 
of  a  very  affectionate  disposition. 
When  in  captivity  it  has  been  known 
to  live  to  the  age  of  one  hundred  and 

twenty  years.  Its  nest  is  built  in  hollow  trees,  and  the  crevices  of 
rocks.  The  eggs  are  white.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  about  eighteen 
inches. 


THE    COCEATOO. 


OF  THE  TOUCANS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  beaks  of  all  the  Toucans  are  enormously  large,  and  convex ; 
they  are  bent  at  the  end,  hollow,  very  light,  and  jagged  at  the  edges. 
The  nostrils  are  small,  round,  and  situated  close  to  the  head.  The 
tongue  is  long,  narrow,  and  feathered  at  the  edges.  The  feet  are 
adapted  for  climbing,  and  have  the  toes  placed  two  forward  and  two 
backward. 

These  birds  are  all  natives  of  the  hotter  parts  of  South  America, 
where  they  feed  on  fruit.  They  are  very  noisy,  and  are  generally 
seen  in  small  flocks  of  eight  or  ten  in  number :  they  are  continually 
moving  from  place  to  place  in  quest  of  food,  going  northward  or 
southward  as  the  fruits  ripen.  If  brought  up  young  they  are  easily 
tamed,  and,  in  this  state,  are  very  familiar.  They  breed  in  the  hollows 
of  trees,  frequently  in  places  deserted  by  Woodpeckers :  and  the 
female  lays  two  eggs.  It  is  probable  that  they  have  more  than  one 
brood  in  the  year. 


508  THE    RED-BELLIED   TOUCAN. 


THE   RED-BELLIED  TOUCAN. 

This  Toucan,  winch  is  a  native  of  Guiana  and  Brazil,  is  about 

twenty  inches  in  length.  The  bill  is  six 
inches  long,  and  nearly  two  inches  thick 
at  the  base;  it  is  of  a*  yellowish  green 
color,  reddish  at  the  tip.  The  nostrils 
are  at  the  base  of  the  bill ;  but  are  not, 
as  in  some  of  the  species,  covered  with 
feathers.  The  principal  upper  parts  of 
the  body,  and  the  throat  and  neck,  are 
of  a  glossy  black,  with  a  tinge  of  green: 
the  lower  part  of  the  back,  the  rump, 
upper  part  of  the  tail,  and  small  feathers 
of  the  wings,  are  the  same,  with  a  cast  of 

ash-color.  The  breast  is  orange-color.  The  belly,  sides,  thighs,  and 
the  short  feathers  of  the  tail,  are  bright  red :  the  remainder  of  the 
tail  is  of  a  greenish  black,  tipped  with  red.  The  legs  and  claws  are 
black. 

In  several  parts  of  South  America  these  birds  have  the  name  of 
Preacher  Toucan ;  from  the  circumstance  of  one  of  the  flock  being 
always  perched  at  the  top  of  a  tree,  above  its  companions,  while  they 
are  asleep.  This  makes  a  continual  noise,  resembling  ill-articulated 
sounds,  moving  its  head  during  the  whole  time  to  the  right  and  left, 
in  order,  it  is  said,  to  deter  birds  of  prey  from  seizing  on  them. 

They  feed  chiefly  on  fruits.  The  females  build  their  nests  in  the 
holes  of  trees ;  and  no  bird  better  secures  its  offspring  from  external 
injury  than  this.  It  has  not  only  birds,  men,  and  serpents  to  guard 
against ;  but  a  numerous  train  of  Monkeys,  which  are  more  prying, 
mischievous,  and  hungry,  than  all  the  rest.  The  Toucan,  however, 
sits  in  its  hole,  defending  the  entrance  with  its  great  beak ;  and  if  the 
Monkey  ventures  to  offer  a  visit  of  curiosity,  the  Toucan  gives  him 
such  a  welcome,  that  he  is  soon  glad  to  escape.* 

The  Bed-bellied  Toucans  are  easily  tamed,  and,  in  that  state,  they 
will  eat  of  almost  any  thing  that  is  offered  to  them.  Pozzo,  who  bred 
up  one  of  these  birds,  and  had  it  perfectly  domesticated,  informs  us 
that  it  leaped  up  and  down,  wagged  its  tail,  and  cried  with  a  voice 
resembling  that  of  a  Magpie.  It  fed  upon  the  same  things  as  Parrots; 
but  was  most  greedy  of  grapes.  These  being  plucked  off  one  by  one, 
and  thrown  to  it,  it  would  with  great  dexterity  catch  in  the  air  before 
they  fell  to  the  ground.  Its  bill,  he  adds,  was  hollow,  and  on  that 

*  There  appears  to  be  some  doubt  as  to  the  real  strength  of  the  beak  of  the  Tou- 
can. This  assertion  of  M.  de  Buffon  seems  to  contradict  what  he  has  before  said  of 
the  weakness  of  this  enormous  and  apparently  disproportionate  member.  Willughby, 
p.  129,  says,  that,  notwithstanding  its  extreme  lightness,  "  it  is  of  a  bony  substance  ; 
and  therefore  is  not  to  be  wondered  that,  dexterously  used,  it  should  by  many  strokes 
pierce  a  tree ;  the  bird  having,  perchance,  the  instinct  to  choose  a  rotten  one."  It  is 
from  this  writer  that  Buffon  has  derived  the  latter  part  of  the  above  account. 


THE   TOCO  TOUCAN. 


509 


account  very  light,  so  that  the  bird  had  but  little  strength  in  this 
apparently  formidable  weapon ;  nor  could  it  peck  or  strike  smartly 
with  it.  But  its  tongue  seemed  to  assist  the  efforts  of  this  unwieldy 
machine;  it  was  long,  thin,  and  flat,  not  much  -unlike  one  of  the 
feathers  on  the  neck  of  a  Dunghill-cock ;  this  the  bird  moved  up  and 
down,  and  often  extended  five  or  six  inches  from  the  bill.  It  was  of 
a  flesh-color,  and  remarkably  fringed  on  each  side  with  small  fila- 
ments. 

It  is  probable  that  this  long  tongue  has  greater  strength  than  the 
thin  hollow  beak  that  contains  it ;  and  that  the  beak  is  only  a  kind 
of  sheath  for  this  peculiar  instrument,  used  by  the  Toucan  in  making 
its  nest,  and  in  obtaining  its  provision. 

These  birds  are  stated  to  be  in  great  request  in  South  America ; 
both  on  account  of  the  delicacy  of  their  flesh,  and  the  beauty  of  their 
plumage,  particularly  the  feathers  of  the  breast.  The  skin  of  this 
part  the  Indians  pluck  off,  and,  when  dry,  glue  to  their  cheeks:  they 
consider  these  feathers  an  irresistible  addition  to  their  beauty. 


THE  TOCO   TOUCAN". 

The  Toco  Toucan  is  distinguished  by  the  enormous  size  of  its 
serrated    bill.     It   is 
found  in  Brazil. 

The  Curl-crested 
Aracari,  found  also 
in  Brazil,  is  distin- 
guished by  a  crest  of 
curled  feathers. 

The  Toucan  family 
is  very  numerous, 
including  a  great 
many  species,  diffused 
over  all  the  tropical 
regions  of  the  earth. 
They  all  agree,  how- 
ever, in  the  character- 
istic of  a  bill,  very 
large,  as  compared 
with  the  other  parts 
of  the  bird.  This 
characteristic  is  so 
strongly  marked,  that 
of  all  the  different  species  of  Toucans,  not  one  would  ever  be  mis- 
taken for  a  bird  of  any  other  class. 


TOCO  TOUCAX. 


510  THE   MALABAR   HORNBILL. 


OF  THE  HOENBILLS  IN  GENEEAL. 

THE  nostrils  of  these  birds  are  small,  round,  and  situated  behind 
the  base  of  the  bill.  The  tongue  is  small  and  short.  The  legs  are 
scaly:  the  toes  placed  three  forward,  and  one  backward;  the  middle 
toe  is  connected  to  the  outermost^  as  far  as  the  third  joint,  and  to  the 
innermost,  as  far  as  the  first. 

The  animals  of  this,  as  well  as  the  last  tribe,  have  all  singularly 
disproportioned  bills.  Those  of  the  Hornbills  are  bent,  jagged  at  the 
edges,  and  have  frequently  on  the  upper  mandible,  a  protuberance, 
somewhat  resembling  another  bill. 

These  birds  seem  to  hold  the  same  place  on  the  old  continent,  as 
the  Toucans  do  on  the  new ;  and  probably  they  subsist  on  similar 
food. 


THE   MALABAR  HORNBILL. 

This  bird  is  about  two  feet  six  inches  long,  and  in  bulk  somewhat 
bigger  than  a  Crow.  The  bill  is  more  than  five  inches  in  length, 
having  on  its  upper  part  a  protuberance  rounded  at  the  top,  reaching 
two-thirds  of  its  length,  and  tending  to  a  sharp  edge  in  front :  this 
extends  beyond  the  eyes,  and  in  the  fore  part  is  black.  The  base 
and  edges  of  both  mandibles,  as  well  as  a  small  portion  of  the  upper 
part  are  also  black :  the  general  color  of  both  of  these  is  a  dingy  yel- 
low. The  plumage  is  in  general  black,  some  of  the  feathers  inclining, 
on  their  margins,  to  green;  but  the  lower  part  of  the  breast,  the  belty, 
the  thighs,  and  the  tip  of  the  wings  and  tail,  (except  one  outer  feather 
in  each  of  the  former,  and  the  two  middle  feathers  in  the  latter,  which 
are  colored  like  the  rest  of  the  body,)  are  black.  The  legs  are  black, 
and  very  short. 

In  a  wild  state  these  extraordinary  birds  inhabit  the  great  woods  of 
Malabar  and  the  East  Indies,  where  they  usually  roost  on  the  highest 
and  most  inaccessible  trees,  and  in  preference,  upon  the  dead  and 
withered  branches.  The  females  form  their  nests  in  the  worm-eaten 
holes  of  the  trunk,  and  generally  lay  four  or  five  dingy  white  eggs.  The 
young-ones,  when  first  produced,  are  completely  naked,  and,  for  some 
time,  the  protuberance  on  their  bill  is  not  more  than  two  or  three 
lines  in  depth.  This,  by  degrees,  increases,  but  does  not  attain  its 
full  growth  until  the  birds  are  two  years  old :  their  plumage  then 
assumes  its  proper  colors. 

The  protuberance  upon  the  bill  is  frequently  observed  to  be  injured 
by  the  use  to  which  the  birds  apply  it,  in  beating  the  branches  of 
trees  for  the  purpose  of  "detaching  the  bark,  in  order  to  discover  in- 
sects, and  even  small  Lizards,  which  take  refuge  there,  and  on  which 
they  feed. 

In  the  island  of  Ceylon  these  birds  are  in  great  request  by  the 
inhabitants  who  carefully  rear  them  in  a  domestic  state  from  their 


THE  AFRICAN   HORNBILL,  AND  RHINOCEROS  HORNBILL.       511 

propensity  to  chase  and  devour  Mice  and  other  vermin,  of  which 
they  clear  the  houses  with  as  much  address  as  Cats. 

One  of  these  birds,  which  was  brought  into  England  some  years 
ago,  exhibited  several  interesting  peculiarities  in  its  manners.  It 
would  leap  forward,  or  sideways,  with  both  legs  at  once,  like  a  Mag- 
pie or  Jay,  and  never  walked.  Its  general  air  was  rather  stupid  and 
dull;  though  when  agitated,  it  would  sometimes  put  on  a  fierce  look. 
It  would  eat  lettuce,  and  some  other  esculent  vegetables,  after  bruising 
them  with  its  bill;  it  would  also  devour  Eats,  Mice,  small  birds  or  raw 
flesh.  It  had  different  tones  of  voice  on  different  occasions ;  sometimes 
a  hoarse  sound  in  the  throat,  like  ouck,  ouck  ;  at  other  times  a  hoarse 
and  weak  noise,  not  unlike  the  clucking  of  a  Turkey-hen.  It  used  to 
display  its  wings,  and  enjoy  itself  in  the  sunshine;  but  it  shivered  in 
the  cold.  'At  the  approach  of  winter  it  died,  unable  to  bear  the  se- 
verity of  our  climate,  so  different  to  its  nature  from  that  which  it  had 
left.  " 


THE  AFRICAN  HORNBILL ,  AND   RHINOCEROS  HORNBILL. 

The  length  of  the  African  Hornbill  is  nearly  four  feet.  Its  bill  is 
about  ten  inches  long,  and  the  horny  protuberance  upon  it  appears 
as  if  cut,  with  an  aperture  somewhat  resembling  the  form  of  a  club  on 
cards,  or  an  iron  lance. 
This  excrescence  is  of 
the  same  substance  as 
the  bill,  but  thinner, 
and  yields  to  pressure. 
The  aperture  is  about 
an  inch  long,  and  half 
an  inch  wide,  having 
on  the  inside  a  black 
membrane,  of  use  in 
preventing  the  intro- 
duction of  any  foreign 
body  into  the  horn, 
which  communicates 
interiorly  with  the 
head.  The  general 
color  of  the  plumage 
is  a  sooty  black  ;  some 
of  the  large  feathers  of 
the  wings  are,  however 
perfectly  white. 

The  former  of  these 
species  are  found  in 
various  parts  of  Africa,  but  are  not  common  near  the  sea-coasts.  The 
females  build  in  large,  thick  trees,  and  form  a  covered  nest,  like  that 
of  a  Magpie,  but  three  or  four  times  as  large.  This  is  placed  firmly 


RHINOCEROS  HORNBILL. 


512  THE   CROW   TRIBE   IN   GENERAL. 

on   the   trunk,  and  the  entrance   to  it  is   always  on  the   east   side. 
They  sometimes  have  as  many  as  eighteen  young  ones. 

These  birds,  in  general,  only  run  along  the  ground ;  but,  being  of 
a  distrustful  disposition,  they  are  soon  raised  by  alarm,  when  they 
usually  fly  to  a  great  distance,  before  they  again  alight.  Their  food 
consists  principally  of  insects  and  Lizzards.  The  male  and  female  are 
always  to  be  seen  in  company ;  or  sometimes  there  are  two  females  to 
one  male,  but  never  more.  The  Negroes  esteem  this  Hornbill  sacred, 
never  killing  it  themselves,  and  always,  if  possible,  preventing  the 
Europeans  from  firing  at  it.  They  have  a  superstition  that  the  death 
of  one  of  these  birds  gives  cold  to  the  whole  district.  M.  Geoftroy, 
who  examined  several  of  them,  was  observed  to  kill  one :  they  re- 
proached him  with  the  utmost  severity,  and  every  one  present  put  his 
nose  to  the  excrescence  on  the  bill,  in  order  to  secure  himself  from  the 
injurious  consequences  which  he  imagined  would  attend  its  death. 


THE  KHINOCEROS  HORNBILL. — The  protuberance  of  the  beak  of  the 
.Rhinoceros  Hornbill  is  so  large,  and  so  much  recurved,  as  to  appear 
rather  an  enormous  deformity,  than  a  natural  production.  This  bird 
is  somewhat  smaller  than  a  Turkey,  and  of  a  black  color,  except  the 
tail,  which  is  white,  and  marked  with  a  bar  of  black.  The  beak  is 
nearly  a  foot  long,  and  of  a  pale  yellow  color. 

These  birds  which  are  found  in  Sumatra  and  several  other"  parts 
of  the  east,  feed  on  flesh  and  carrion.  They  are  said  to  follow  the 
hunters,  for  the  purpose  of  feeding  on  the  entrails  of  the  beasts  that 
are  killed.  We  are  told  also  that  they  chase  rats  and  mice,  and  after 
pressing  them  flat  with  their  bill,  in  a  peculiar  manner,  toss  them  up 
into  the  air,  and  swallow  them  whole  immediately  on  their  descent. 


OF  THE  CEOW  TKIBE  IN  GENEKAL. 


THESE  birds  have  a  strong  bill ;  with  the  upper  mandible  a  little 
bent,  the  edges  sharp,  and,  in  general,  a  small  notch  near  the  tip. 
The  nostrils  are  covered  with  bristles  reflected  over  them ;  and  the 
tongue  is  divided  at  the  end.  The  toes  are  placed  three  forward,  and 
one  backward ;  and  the  middle  toe  is  united  to  the  outer  one  as  far 
as  the  first  joint. 

lew  animals  are  more  generally  dispersed  over  the  world  than  the 
different  species  of  Crow  ;  some  of  them  being  found  in  almost  every 
climate.  They  are  prolific,  clamorous,  and  usually  associate  in  flocks. 
Most  of  them  make  their  nests  in  trees,  and  the  number  of  young-ones 
which  they  produce  is  five  or  six.  They  feed  promiscuously  on 
animal  and  vegetable  substances.  Some  of  the  species,  when  in  great 
numbers,  are  supposed  to  be  injurious  to  man,  by  devouring  grain ; 
but  they  make  amends  for  this  injury,  by  the  immense  quantities  of 
noxious  insects  and  other  vermin  which  they  destroy. 


THE  RIVEN. 


513 


THE  RAVEN. 

Among  the  ancients  the  Raven  was  esteemed  a  bird  of  much  import- 
ance in  augury; 
and  the  various 
changes  and  modu- 
lations of  its  voice 
were  studied  with 
the  greatest  atten- 
tion, and  were  too 
often  used  by  de- 
signing men  to 
mislead  the  un- 
wary. 

It  frequents  the 
neighborhood  of 
great  towns ;  where 
it  is  useful  in  de- 
vouring carrion 
and  filth,  which  it 
scents  at  a  vast 
distance.  It  is  a 
cunning  bird,  and 
generally  careful 
in  keeping  beyond 

the     r  e  a  C  h     of     a  THE  RAVEN. 

gun. 

When  brought  up  young,  the  Raven  becomes  very  familiar;  and, 
in  a  domestic  state,  he  possesses  many  qualities  that  render  him 
highly  amusing.  Busy,  inquisitive,  and  impudent,  he  goes  every- 
where, affronts  and  drives  off  the  dogs,  plays  his  tricks  on  the 
poultry,  and  is  particularly  assiduous  in  cultivating  the  good  will  of 
the  cook-maid,  who  is  generally  his  favorite  in  the  family.  But, 
with  these  amusing  qualities,  he  often  also  has  the  vices  and  defects 
of  a  favorite.  He  is  a  glutton  by  nature,  and  a  thief  by  habit.  He 
does  not  confine  himself  to  petty  depredations  on  the  pantry  or  the 
larder;  he  aims  at  more  magnificent  plunder — at  spoils  which  he  can 
neither  exhibit  nor  enjoy,  but  which,  like  a  miser,  he  rests  satisfied 
with  having  the  satisfaction  of  sometimes  visiting  and  contemplating 
in  secret.  A  piece  of  money,  a  teaspoon,  or  a  ring,  is  always  a 
tempting  bait  to  his  avarice :  these  he  will  slily  seize  upon,  and,  if 
not  watched,  will  carry  to  some  hiding-place. 

Mr.  Montagu  was  informed  by  a  gentleman,  that  his  butler,  having 
missed  many  silver  spoons,  and  other  articles,  without  being  able  to 
account  for  the  mode  in  which  they  disappeared,  at  last  observed  a 
tame  Raven  that  was  kept  about  the  house,  with  one  in  his  mouth, 
and,  on  watching  him  to  his  hiding-place,  discovered  there  upwards 
of  a  dozen  more. 


514  THE    RAYEN. 

Notwithstanding  the  injury  these  birds  do  to  the  farmer,  a  popular 
respect  is  paid  to  them/ from  their  having  been  the  birds  that  fed  the 
prophet  Elijah  in  the  wilderness.  This  prepossession  in  favor  of  the 
Kaven  is  of  a  very  ancient  date :  the  Romans,  who  thought  the  bird 
ominous,  paid  to  it,  from  motives  of  fear,  the  most  profound  vene- 
ration. 

A  Raven,  as  Pliny  informs  us,  that  had  been  kept  in  the  Temple 
of  Castor,  flew  down  into  the  shop  of  a  tailor,  who  was  highly 
delighted  with  its  visits.  He  taught  the  bird  several  tricks;  but 
particularly  to  pronounce  the  names  of  the  emperor  Tiberius,  and  of 
the  whole  royal  family.  The  tailor  was  beginning  to  grow. rich  by 
those  who  came  to  see  this  wonderful  Raven;  till  an  envious 
neighbor,  displeased  at  his  success,  killed  the  bird,  and  deprived  the 
tailor  of  all  his  hopes  of  future  fortune.  The  Romans,  however, 
thought  it  necessary  to  take  the  poor  tailor's  part ;  they  accordingly 
punished  the  man  who  offered  the  injury,  and  gave  to  the  Raven  all 
the  honors  of  a  splendid  interment. 

The  female  builds  her  nest  early  in  the  spring,  in  trees,  and  the 
holes  of  rocks;  in  which  she  lays  five  or  six  bluish-green  eggs, 
spotted  with  brown.  She  sits  about  twenty  days :  during  which  time 
she  is  constantly  attended  by  the  male,  who  not  only  furnishes  her 
with  abundance  of  food,  but  also,  whenever  she  leaves  the  nest,  takes 
her  place. 

Of  the  perseverance  of  the  Raven  in  the  act  of  incubation,  Mr. 
White  has  related  the  following  singular  anecdote : — In  the  centre  of 
a  grove  near  Selborne,  there  stood  an  oak,  which,  though  on  the 
whole  shapely  and  tall,  bulged  out  into  a  large  excrescence  near  the 
middle  of  the  stem.  .On  this  tree  a  pair  of  Ravens  had  fixed  their 
residence  for  such  a  series  of  years,  that  the  oak  was  distinguished 
by  the  title  of  "The  Raventree."  Many  were  the  attempts  of  the 
neighboring  youths  to  get  at  this  nest:  the  difficulty  whetted  their 
inclinations,  and  each  was  ambitious  of  surmounting  the  arduous 
task;  but,  when  they  arrived  at  the  swelling,  it  jutted  out  so  in  their 
way,  and  was  so  far  beyond  their  grasp,  that  the  boldest  lads  were 
deterred,  and  acknowledged  the  undertaking  to  be  too  hazardous. 
Thus  the  Ravens  continued  to  build,  nest  upon  nest,  in  perfect 
security,  till  the  fatal  day  on  which  the  wood  was  to  be  levelled. 
This  was  in  the  month  of  February,  when  those  birds  usually  sit. 
The  saw  was  applied  to  the  trunk,  the  wedges  were  inserted  into  the 
opening,  the  woods  echoed  to  the  heavy  blows  of  the  beetle  or  mallet, 
the  tree  nodded  to  its  fall ;  but  still  the  darn  persisted  in  sitting.  At 
last,  when  it  gave  way,  the  bird  was  flung  from  her  nest;  and,  though 
her  parental  affection  deserved  a  better  fate,  was  whipped  down  by 
the  twigs,  which  brought  her  dead  to  the  ground. 

The  Raven  feeds  chiefly  on  small  animals;  and  is  said  to  destroy 
Rabbits,  young  Ducks,  and  Chickens ;  and  sometimes  even  Lambs, 
when  they  happen  to  be  dropped  in  a  weak  state.  In  the  northern 
regions,  it  preys  in  concert  with  the  White  Bear,  the  Arctic  Fox,  and 
the  Eagle :  it  devours  the  eggs  of  other  birds  and  eats  shore-fish, 
and  shell-fish ;  with  the  latter  it  soars  into  the  air,  and  drops  them 


THE  CARRION,  OR  COMMON  CROW 


515 


from  on  high  to  break  the  shells,  and  thus  to  get  at  the  contents. 
"Willughby  says,  that  Eavens  may  be  trained  to  fowling  like  hawks, 
The  faculty  of  scent  in  these  birds  must  be  very  acute;  for  in  the 
coldest  of  the  winter-days,  at  Hudson's  Bay,  when  every  kind  of 
effluvia  is  almost  instantaneously  destroyed  by  the  frost,  Buffaloes 
and  other  beasts  have  been  killed  where  not  one  of  these  birds  was 
seen ;  but,  in  a  few  hours,  scores  of  them  have  been  found  collected 
about  the  spot,  to  pick  up  the  blood  and  offal. 


CARRION  CROW. 


THE   CARRION,    OR  COMMON   CROW. 

These  birds  live  chiefly  in  pairs,  in  the  woods  where  they  build 
their  nests  on  the  trees. 
The  female  lays  five  or 

J    ,  ,.,  n ^r^nfiffifilTTf?^ 

six    eggs,    much     like 

those  of  the  Kaven ;  and, 

while  sitting,  is  always 

fed  by  the  male.     They 

feed  on  putrid  flesh  of 

all  sorts ;  as  well  as  on 

worms,  insects,  and 

various  kinds  of  grain. 

Like  the  Eavens,  they 

sometimes  pick  out  the 

eyes  of  Lambs  when  just 

dropped.     They   also 

do   much    mischief    in 

Eabbit-w  a  r  r  e  n  s,    by 

killing   and   devouring 

the  young  Eabbits ;  and  Chickens  and  young  Ducks  do  not  always 

escape  their  attacks. 

Mr.  Montagu  states,  that  he  once  saw  a  Crow  in  pursuit  of  a 
Pigeon,  at  which  it  made  several  pounces  like  a  Hawk;  but  the 
Pigeon  escaped  by  flying  in  at  the  door  of  a  house.  He  saw  another 
strike  a  Pigeon  dead  from  the  top  of  a  barn.  It  is  so  bold  a  bird, 
that  neither  the  Kite,  the  Buzzard,  nor  the  Eaven,  approaches  its  nest 
without  being  driven  away.  When  it  has  young-ones  it  will  even 
insult  the  Peregrine  Falcon,  and  at  a  single  pounce  will  bring  that 
bird  to  the  ground. 

When  poultry-hens  lay  their  eggs  in  hedge-bottoms  or  stack-yards, 
Crows  are  often  caught  in  the  act  of  devouring  them.  On  the 
northern  coast  of  Ireland,  a  friend  of  Dr.  Darwin  saw  above  a 
hundred  Crows  at  once  preying  upon  Muscles :  each  Crow  took  a 
Muscle  up  into  the  air  twenty  or  thirty  yards  high,  and  let  it  fall  on 
the  stones,  and  thus,  by  breaking  the  shell,  got  possession  of  the 
animal.  It  is  related  that  a  certain  ancient  philosopher,  walking 
along  the  sea-shore  to  gather  shells,  one  of  these  unlucky  birds 
mistaking  his  bald  head  for  a  stone  dropped  a  shell-fish  upon  it,  and 
killed  at  once  a  philosopher  and  an  Oyster. 
33 


516 


THE  CARRION,  OR  COMMON  CROW. 


The  familiarity  and  audacity  of  the  Crows  in  some  parts  of  the  East 
is  astonishing.  They  frequent  the  courts  of  houses  belonging  to  the 
Europeans ;  and,  as  the  servants  are  carrying  in  dinner,  will  alight  on 
the  dishes,  and  fly  away  with  the  meat,  if  not  driven  off  by  persons 
who  attend  with  sticks  for  that  purpose. 

In  some  parts  of  North  America  they  are  extremely  numerous,  and 
destroy  the  new-sown  maize  by  pulling  it  out  of  the  ground  and 
devouring  it.  The  ripening  plants  they  also  injure,  by  picking  holes 
in  the  leaves  which  surround  the  ears,  and  thus  exposing  them  to  cor- 
ruption by  letting  in  the  rain.  The  inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  allowed  a  reward  of  three-pence  or  four-pence  a-head  for 
destroying  these  birds ;  but  the  law  was  soon  repealed,  on  account  of 
the  expense  which  it  brought  upon  the  public  treasury. 

There  are  at  present  more  of  these  birds  bred  in  England  than  in 
any  other  country  of  Europe.  In  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  Crows 
had  become  so  numerous,  and  were  thought  so  prejudicial  to  the 
farmer,  that  they  were  considered  an,  evil  worthy  of  parliamentary 
redress ;  and  an  act  was  passed  for  their  destruction,  in  which  also 
Rooks  and  Choughs  were  included.  Every  hamlet  was  ordered  to 
destroy  a  certain  number  of  Crows'  nest  for  ten  successive  years  ;  and 
the  inhabitants  were  compelled  to  assemble  at  stated  times  during  that 
period,  in  order  to  consult  on  the  most  proper  and  effectual  means  of 
extirpating  them. 

The  following  are  modes  adopted  in  some  countries  for  catching 
these  birds: — A  Crow  is  fastened  alive  on  its  back  firmly  to  the 
ground,  by  means  of  a  brace  on  each  side,  at  the  base  of  the  wings. 
In  this  painful  position  the  animal  struggles  and  screams ;  the  rest  of 
its  species  flock  to  its  cries  from  all  quarters,  with  the  intention,  prob- 
ably, of  affording  relief.  But  the  prisoner,  to  extricate  himself,  grasp- 
ing at  every  thing  within  reach,  seizes  with  his  bill  and  claws,  which 
are  left  at  liberty,  all  that  come  near  him,  and  thus  delivers  them  a 
prey  to  the  bird-catcher.  Crows  are  also  caught  by  cones  of  paper 
baited  with  raw  flesh;  as  the  Crow  introduces  his  head  to  devour  the 
bait,  which  is  near  the  bottom,  the  paper,  being  besmeared  with  bird- 
lime, sticks  to  the  feathers  of  the  neck,  and  he  remains  hooded. 
Unable  to  get  rid  of  this  bandage,  which  entirely  covers  his  eyes,  the 
Crow  rises  almost  perpendicularly  into  the  air,  the  better  to  avoid 
striking  against  any  object ;  till,  quite  exhausted,  he  sinks  down  near 
the  spot  from  which  he  mounted. 

If  a  Crow  be  put  into  a  cage,  and  exposed  in  the  fields,  his  calls 
generally  attract  the  attention  of  others  that  are  in  the  neighborhood, 
which  flock  round  their  imprisoned  companion.  This  plan  is  some- 
times adopted  in  order  to  get  these  birds  within  gun-shot ;  for,  however 
shy  they  may  otherwise  be,  their  care  is  said  in  this  case  to  be  so  much 
occupied  on  their  friend,  aS  to  render  them  almost  heedless  of  the  gun- 
ner's approach. 

Willughby  states,  that  this  bird  is  capable  of  being  taught  to  articu- 
late words  with  considerable  distinctness.  By  the  ancients  it  was 
esteemed  a  bird  of  bad  omen.  The  Crow  is  so  rare  in  Sweden,  that  Lin- 
naeus speaks  of  it  as  a  bird  that  he  never  knew  killed  in  that  country 
but  once. 


THE  BOOK. 


517 


THE  BOOK. 

The  Eook  is  about  the  size  of  the  Carrion  Crow,  but  its  plumage  is 
more  glossy.  It  also  differs  in 
having  its  nostrils  and  the 
root  of  the  bill  naked :  in  the 
Crow,  these  are  covered  with 
bristly  hair.  This  difference 
arises  from  the  Book's  thrust- 
ing its  bill  continually  into 
the  earth,  in  search  of  worms 
and  other  food. 

Besides  insects,  the  Books 
feed  on  different  kinds  of 
grain,  thus  causing  some 
inconvenience  to  the  farmer; 
but  this  seems  greatly  repaid 

by  the  good  they  do  to  him,  THJS  BOOK. 

in  extirpating  the  maggots  of 

some  of  the  most  destructive  insects  of  the  Beetle  tribe.  In  some 
parts  of  Great  Britain,  the  farmers  find  it  their  interest  to  encourage 
the  breed  of  Books,  as  the  only  means  of  freeing  their  grounds 
from  the  grub  which  produces  the  Cock-chafer,  and  which  in  this  state 
destroys  the  roots  of  corn  and  grass  to  such  a  degree,  "  that  (says  Mr. 
Stillingfleet,  one  of  the  most  accurate  observers  of  nature  which  that 
country  ever  produced)  I  have  myself  seen  a  piece  of  pasture-land 
where  you  might  turn  up  the  turf  with  your  foot."  An  intelligent 
farmer  in  Berkshire  informed  this  gentleman  that  one  year,  while  his 
men  were  hoeing  a  field  of  turnips,  a  great  number  of  Books  alighted 
in  a  part  of  it  where  they  were  not  at  work.  The  consequence  was  a 
remarkable  fine  crop  in  this  part,  while  in  the  remainder  of  the  field 
there  were  scarcely  any  turnips  that  year. 

These  birds  are  gregarious,  being  sometimes  seen  in  flocks  so  great 
as  to  darken  the  air  in  their  flight.  They  build  their  nests  on  high 
trees,  close  to  each  other;  generally  selecting  a  large  clump  of  the 
tallest  trees  for  this  purpose.  When  once  settled,  they  every  year  fre- 
quent the  same  place.  Books  are,  however,  bad  neighbors  to  each 
other;  for  they  are  continually  fighting  and  pulling  to  pieces  each 
other's  nests.  These  proceedings  seem  unfavorable  to  their  living  in 
such  close  community :  and  yet,  if  a  pair  offer  to  build  on  a  separate 
tree,  the  nest  is  plundered  and  demolished  at  once.  Some  unhappy 
couples  are  not  permitted  to  finish  any  nest  till  the  rest  have  all  com- 
pleted their  buildings ;  for  as  soon  as  they  arrange  a  few  sticks  to- 
gether, a  party  comes  and  demolishes  the  fabric.  It  generally  happens 
that  one  of  the  pair  is  stationed  to  keep  guard,  while  the  other  goes 
abroad  for  materials.  From  their  conduct  in  these  circumstances  our 
cant- word  rooking,  for  cheating,  originated. 

As  soon  as  the  Books  have  finished  their  nests,  and  before  they  lay, 


518  THE    ROOK. 

the  cock  birds  begin  to  feed  the  hens.  These  receive  the  bounty  of 
their  mates  with  a  fondling,  tremulous  voice,  and  fluttering  wings,  and 
with  all  the  little  blandishments  that  are  expressed  by  the  young  while 
in  a  helpless  state.  This  gallant  deportment  of  the  males  is  continued 
through  the  whole  season  of  incubation. 

New-comers  are  often  severely  beaten  by  the  old  inhabitants,  (who 
are  not  fond  of  intrusions  from  other  societies,)  and  are  even  frequently 
driven  quite  away.  Of  this  an  instance  occurred  near  Newcastle,  in 
the  year  1783.  A  pair  of  Books,  after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  es- 
tablish themselves  in  a  rookery  at  no  great  distance  from  the  Exchange, 
were  compelled  to  abandon  the  attempt,  and  take  refuge  on  the  spire 
of  that  building ;'  and,  though  constantly  interrupted  by  other.  Books, 
they  built  their  nest  on  the  top  of  the  vane,  and  reared  their  young-ones 
undisturbed  by  the  noise  of  the  populace  below  them : — the  nest  and 
its  inhabitants  were  of  course  turned  about  by  every  change  of  the 
wind.  They  returned  and  built  their  nest  every  year  on  the  same  place, 
till  the  year  1793,  soon  after  which  the  spire  was  taken  down.  A 
small  copper-plate  was  engraved,  of  the  size  of  a  watch-paper,  with  a 
representation  of  the  top  of  the  spire  and  the  nest ;  and  so  much 
pleased  were  the  inhabitants  and  other  persons  with  it,  that  as  many 
copies  were  sold  as  produced  to  the  engraver  the  sum  of  ten  pounds. 

A  remarkable  circumstance  respecting  these  birds  occurred  a  few 
years  ago  at  Dallam  Tower,  in  Westmoreland,  the  seat  of  Daniel  Wil- 
son Esq.  There  were  two  groves  adjoining  to  the  park,  one  of  which 
had,  for  many  years,  been  the  resort  of  a  number  of  Herons,  that  regu- 
larly every  year  built  and  bred  there.  In  the  other  was  a  large  rook- 
ery. For  a  long  time  the  two  tribes  lived  peaceably  together.  At 
length,  the  trees  of  the  heronry  were  cut  down,  and  the  young  brood 
perished  by  the  fall  of  the  timber.  The  parent  birds,  not  willing  to  be 
driven  from  the  place,  endeavored  to  effect  a  settlement  in  the  rookery. 
The  Books  made  an  obstinate  resistance ;  but,  after  a  desperate  contest, 
in  the  course  of  which  many  of  the  Books  and  some  of  the  Herons  lost 
their  lives,  the  latter  at  length  succeeded  in  obtaining  possession  of 
some  of  the  trees,  and  that  very  spring  built  their  nests  afresh.  The 
next  season  a  similar  conflict  took  place ;  which,  like  the  former,  was 
terminated  by  the  victory  of  the  Herons.  Since  this  time,  peace  seems 
to  have  been  agreed  upon  between  them ;  the  Books  have  relinquished 
part  of  the  grove  to  the  Herons,  to  which  part  alone  they  confine  them- 
selves ;  and  the  two  communities  appear  to  live  together  in  as  much 
harmony  as  they  did  before  the  dispute. 

The  following  anecdote  of  this  sagacious  community  is  related  by 
Dr.  Percival,  in  his  Dissertations:  "A  large  colony  of  Books  had 
subsisted  many  years  in  a  grove  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Irwell,  near 
Manchester.  One  serene  evening  I  placed  myself  within  the  view  of 
it,  and  marked  with  attention  the  various  labors,  pastimes,  and  evolu- 
tions of  this  crowded  society.  The  idle  members  amused  themselves 
with  chasing  each  other  through  endless  mazes ;  and,  in  their  flight, 
they  made  the  air  sound  with  an  infinitude  of  discordant  noises.  In 
the  midst  of  these  playful  exertions,  it  unfortunately  happened  that 
one  Book,  by  a  sudden  turn,  struck  his  beak  against  the  wing  of 


THE    ROOK.  519 

I 

another.  The  sufferer  instantly  fell  into  the  river.  A  general  cry  of 
distress  ensued.  The  Birds  hovered,  with  every  expression  of  anxiety, 
over  their  distressed  companion.  Animated  by  their  sympathy,  and, 
perhaps,  by  the  language  of  counsel  known  to  themselves,  he  sprang 
into  the  air,  and  by  one  strong  effort,  reached  the  point  of  a  rock  which 
projected  into  the  water.  The  joy  became  loud  and  universal ;  but, 
alas !  it  was  soon  changed  into  notes  of  lamentation ;  for  the  poor 
wounded  Bird,  in  attempting  to  fly  towards  his  nest,  again  dropped 
into  the  river,  and  was  drowned,  amidst  the  moans  of  his  whole 
fraternity." 

There  seems  to  exist  a  wonderful  antipathy  between  these  birds 
and  the  Eaven.  Mr.  Markwick  says,  that  as  soon  as  a  Eaven  had 
built  her  nest  in  a  tree  adjoining  a  very  numerous  rookery,  all  the 
Eooks  immediately  left  the  spot,  and  did  not  return  to  build  there 
afterwards.  At  the  Bishop  of  Chester's  rookery  at  Broomham,  near 
Hastings,  upon  a  Eaven's  building  her  nest  in  one  of  the  trees,  all  the 
Eooks  forsook  the  spot;  they  however  returned  to  their  haunts  in  the 
autumn,  and  formed  their  nests  there  the  succeeding  year.  It  is  no 
very  difficult  task  to  account  for  this  antipathy.  The  Eaven  will 
scarcely  suffer  any  bird  to  come  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  its  nest, 
being  very  fierce  in  defending  it.  It  besides  seizes  the  young  Eooks 
from  their  nests,  to  feed  its  own  offspring.  This  Mr.  Lambert  was  an 
eye-witness  to,  at  Mr.  Seymer's  at  Harford,  in  Dorsetshire ;  for  there 
was  no  peace  in  the  rookery  night  or  day,  till  one  of  the  old  Eavens 
was  killed,  and  the  nest  was  destroyed. 

Eooks  begin  to  build  in  March ;  and,  after  the  breeding-season  is 
over,  they  forsake  their  nesting- trees,  and  for  sometime  roost  elsewhere ; 
but  they  have  always  been  observed  to  return  in  August.  In  October 
they  repair  their  nests. 

When  the  first  brood  of  Eooks  are  sufficiently  fledged,  they  leave 
their  nest-trees  in  the  day-time,  and  resort  to  some  distant  place  in 
search  of  food ;  but  they  return  regularly  every  evening  in  vast  flights. 
to  their  nests;  where,  after  flying  round  several  times  with  much 
noise  and  clamor,  till  they  are  all  assembled  together,  they  take  up 
their  abode  for  the  night. 

Mr.  White,  in  his  Natural  History  of  Selborne,  speaking  of  the 
evening  exercises  of  Eooks  in  the  autumn,  remarks,  that,  just  before 
dusk,  they  return  in  long  strings  from  the  foraging  of  the  day,  and 
rendezvous  by  thousands  over  Selborne  Down,  where  they  wheel 
round,  and  dive  in  a  playful  manner  in  the  air,  exerting  their  voices, 
which  being  softened  by  the  distance,  become  a  pleasing  murmur,  not 
unlike  the  cry  of  a  pack  of  Hounds  in  deep  echoing  woods.  When 
this  ceremony  is  over,  with  the  last  gleam  of  light  they  retire  to  the 
deep  beech-woods  of  Tisted  and  Kepley.  We  remember  (says  Mr. 
White)  a  little  girl,  who,  as  she  was  going  to  bed,  used  to  remark,  on 
such  an  occurrence,  in  the  true  spirit  of  physico-theology,  that  the 
Eooks  were  saying  their  prayers;  and  yet  this  child  was  much  too 
young  to  be  aware  that  the  Scriptures  have  asserted  of  the  Deity — that 
*•  He  feedeth  the  Ravens,  who  call  upon  him." 

In  the  parts  of  Hampshire  adjacent  to  the  New  Forest,  when  the 


520 


'  THE    JACKDAW. 


Kook  lias  reared  his  progeny,  and  has  carried  off  such  of  them  as  have 
escaped  the  arts  of  men  and  boys,  he  retires  every  evening  at  a  late 
hour,  during  the  autumn  and  winter  months,  to  the  closest  coverts  of 
the  forest,  after  having  spent  the  day  in  the  open  fields  and  enclosures, 
in  quest  of  food. 

Among  all  the  sounds  of  animal  nature,  few  are  more  grateful  than 
the  cawing  of  Eooks.  The  Eook  has  but  two  or  three  notes,  and 
\vhen  he  attempts  a  solo  we  cannot  praise  his  song;  but  when  he  per- 
forms in  concert,  which  is  his  chief  delight,  these  notes,  although  rough 
in  themselves,  being  intermixed  with  those  of  the  multitude,  have,  as 
it  were,  all  their  rough  edges  worn  off,  and  become  harmonious, 
especially  when  softened  in  the  air,  where  the  bird  chiefly  performs. 
We  have  this  music  in  perfection,  when  the  whole  colony  is  raised  by 
the  discharge  of  a  gun. 

Dr.  Darwin  has  remarked,  that  a  consciousness  of  danger  from  man- 
kind is  much  more  apparent  in  Rooks  than  in  most  other  birds.  Any 
one  who  has  in  the  least  attended  to  them,  will  see  that  they  evidently 
distinguish  that  the  danger  is  greater  when  a  man  is  armed  with  a  gun, 
than  when  he  has  no  weapon  with  him.  In  the  spring  of  the  year,  if 
a  person  happen  to  walk  under  a  rookery  with  a  gun  in  his  hand,  the 
inhabitants  of  the  trees  rise  on  their  wings,  and  scream  to  the  un- 
fledged young  to  shrink  into  their  nests  from  the  sight  of  the  enemy. 
The  country-people,  observing  this  circumstance  so  uniformly  to  occur, 
assert  that  Rooks  can  smell  gunpowder. 

In  England  these  birds  remain  during  the  whole  year ;  and  both  in 
France  and  Silecia  they  migrate. 


THE   JACKDAW. 

Jackdaws  are  common  birds  in  England,  where  they  remain  during 

the  whole  year ;  but  in  some 
parts  of  the  Continent  they 
are  migratory. 

They  frequent  old  towers 
and  ruins  in  great  flocks, 
where  they  construct  their 
nests;  and  they  have  been 
sometimes  known  to  build 
in  hollow  trees,  near  a  rook 
ery,  and  to  join  the  Rooks 
in  their  foraging  parties. 
In  some  parts  of  Hampshire, 
from  the  great  scarcity  of 
towers  or  steeples,  they  are 
obliged  to  form  their  nests 
under-ground,  in  the  Rabbit- 
holes;  they  also  build  in  the  interstices  between  the  upright  and 
cross  stones  of  Stonehenge,  far  out  of  the  reach  of  the  shepherd- 
boys,  who  are  always  idling  about  that  place.  In  the  Isle  of  Ely, 


THE  JAY.  521 

from  the  want  of  ruined  edifices,  they  often  build  their  nests  in 
chimneys.  In  the  grate  below  one  of  these  nests,  which  had  not 
been  used  for  some  time,  a  fire  was  lighted;  the  materials  of  the  nest 
caught  fire,  andg  they  were  in  such  quantity,  that  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  the  house  could  be  preserved  from  the  flames. 

These  birds  feed  principally  on  worms,  and  the  grubs  of  insects ; 
but  I  was  once  witness  to  a  very  singular  deviation  from  their  usual 
mode  in  this  respect.  I  was  walking  with  a  friend  in  the  Inner 
Temple  garden,  about  the  middle  of  May,  1802,  when  we  observed  a 
Jackdaw  hovering,  in  a  very  unusual  manner,  over  the  Thames.  A 
small  barrel  was  floating  near  the  place,  a  buoy  to  a  net  that  some 
fishermen  were  hauling ;  and  we  at  first  thought  the  bird  was  about 
to  alight  upon  it.  This,  however,  proved  a  mistake ;  for  he  descended 
to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  fluttered  for  a  few  seconds  with  his 
bill  and  feet  immersed ;  he  then  rose,  flew  to  a  little  distance,  and 
again  did  the  same ;  after  which  he  made  a  short  circuit,  and  alighted 
on  a  barge,  about  fifty  yards  from  the  garden,  where  he  devoured  a 
small  fish.  When  this  was  done,  he  made  a  third  attempt,  caught 
another,  and  flew  off  with  it  in  his  mouth. 

Jackdaws  are  easily  tamed ;  and  may,  with  a  little  difficulty,  be 
taught  to  pronounce  several  words.  They  conceal  such  parts  of 
their  food  as  they  cannot  eat ;  and  often  along  with  it,  small  pieces  of 
money  or  toys,  frequently  occasioning,  for  the  moment,  suspicions  of 
theft  in  persons  who  are  innocent.  They  may  be  fed  on  insects,  fruit, 
grain,  and  small  pieces  of  meat. 

In  Switzerland  there  is  found  a  variety  of  Jackdaws  which  has  a 
white  ring  round  its  neck.  In  Norway,  and  other  cold  countries, 
Jackdaws  have  been  seen  entirely  white. 


THE   JAY. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  well  known  in  our  woods ;  it  builds,  in  trees, 
an  artless  nest,  of  sticks,  fibres,  and  twigs,  in 
which  it  lays  five  or  six  eggs.  Its  delicate 
cinnamon-colored  back  and  breast,  with 
blue  wing  coverts,  barred  with  black  and 
white,  render  it  one  of  the  most  elegant 
birds  produced  in  this  country.  Its  bill  is 
black,  and  chin  white ;  and,  on  its  forehead, 
there  is  a  beautiful  tuft  of  white  feathers, 
streaked  with  black,  which  it  has  the  power 
of  erecting  at  pleasure.  Its  voice  is  harsh, 
grating,  arid  unpleasant. 

When  kept  in  a  domestic  state,  the  Jay  THE  JAY. 

may  be  rendered  familiar,  and  it  will  catch 

and  repeat  a  variety  of  sounds.  One  of  these  birds  has  been  heard  to 
imitate  so  exactly  the  noise  made  by  the  action  of  a  saw,  a&  to  induce 
passengers  to  suppose  that  a  carpenter  was  at  work  in  the  house. 

A  Jay  kept  by  a  person  in  the  north  of  England,  had  learned  a* 


522  THE   JAY. 

the  approach  of  cattle,  to  set  a  Cur-Dog  upon  them,  by  whistling  and 
calling  him  by  his  name.  One  winter,  during  a  severe  frost,  the  Dog  was 
by  this  means  excited  to  attack  a  Cow,  that  was  big  with  Calf;  when  the 
poor  animal  fell  on  the  ice,  and  was  much  hurt.  Tke  Jay  was  com- 
plained of  as  a  nuisance,  and  its  owner  was  obliged  to  destroy  it. 

The  young  Jays  continue  with  the  old  ones  till  the  next  pairing 
time;  they  then  choose  each  its  mate,  and  separate,  in  order  to  pro- 
duce a  new  progeny.  The  old  birds,  when  enticing  their  fledged 
young-ones  to  follow  them,  make  a  noise  not  unlike  the  mewing  of 
a  Cat. 

These  birds  feed  in  general  on  acorns,  nuts,  seeds,  and  fruit ;  and 
in  summer  they  are  often  found  injurious  to  gardens,  from  their 
devouring  peas  and  cherries.  Mr.  Wallis,  in  his  Natural  History  of 
Northumberland,  says,  "  They  come  two  or  three  together  out  of 
the  wood  into  my  little  garden  at  Simonburn,  in  tfce  raspberry  and 
gooseberry  season,  and  can  hardly  be  frightened  away ;  in  loud 
clamors,  from  tree  to  tree,  proclaiming  it  (as  it  were)  to  be  their  own 
property." 

So  habitual  is  the  sentinel  cry  of  alarm,  and  so  expressive,  that  all 
the  birds  within  call,  as  well  as  other  wild  animals,  are  instantly  on 
the  alert,  so  that  the  fowler  and  hunter  become  generally  disappointed 
of  their  game  by  his  garrulence  and  noisy  propensity;  he  is  there- 
fore for  his  petulance,  frequently  killed  without  pity  or  profit,  as 
his  flesh,  though  eaten,  has  but  little  to  recommend  it.  His  more 
complaisant,  notes,  when  undisturbed,  though  guttural  and  echoing, 
are  by  no  means  unpleasant,  and  fall  in  harmoniously  with  the 
cadence  of  the  feathered  choristers  around  him,  so  as  to  form  a  finish- 
ing part  to  the  general  music  of  the  grove.  His  accents  of  blandish- 
ment, when  influenced  by  the  softer  passions,  are  low  and  musical, 
so  as  to  be  scarcely  heard  beyond  the  thick  branches  where  he  sits 
concealed ;  but,  as  soon  as  discovered,  he  bursts  out  into  notes  of 
rage  and  reproach,  accompanying  his  voice  by  jerks  and  actions  of 
temerity  and  defiance.  Indeed  the  Jay  of  Europe,  with  whom  our 
beau  agrees  entirely  in  habits,  is  so  irrascible  and  violent  in  his 
movements,  as  sometimes  to  strangle  himself  in  the  narrow  fork  of  a 
branch  from  which  he  has  been  found  suspended. 

In  times  of  scarcity  he  falls  upon  carrion,  and  has  been  known  to 
venture  into  the  barn,  through  accidental  openings  ;  when  as  if  sensi- 
ble of  the  danger  of  purloining,  he  is  active  and  silent,  and  if  sur- 
prised, postponing  his  garrulity,  he  retreats  with  noiseless  precipita- 
tion, and  with  all  the  cowardice  of  a  thief.  The  worst  trait  of  his 
appetite,  however,  is  his  relish  for  the  eggs  of  other  birds,  in  quest  of 
which  he  may  frequently  be  seen  prowling,  and  with  a  savage  cruelty 
he  sometimes  also  devours  the  callow  young,  spreading  the  plaint  of 
sorrow  and  alarm  wherever  he  flits.  The  whole  neighboring  com- 
munity of  little  birds,  assembled  at  the  cry  of  distress,  sometimes, 
however,  succeed  in  driving  off  the  ruthless  plunderer,  who  not 
always  content  with  the  young,  has  been  seen  to  attack  the  old, 
though  with  dubious  success ;  but  to  the  gallant  and  quarrelsome 
^King-bird,  he  submits  like  a  coward,  and  driven  to  seek  shelter,  even 


THE   MAGPIE. 


523 


on  the  ground,  from  the  repeated  blows  of  his  antagonist,  sneaks  off, 
well  contented  to  save  his  life. 


THE    MAGPIE. 

Like  the  Crow,  this  bird  feeds  on  almost  all  substances  animal  as 
well  as  vegetable, 
that  come  in  its 
way.  It  forms  its 
nest  with  great 
art ;  leaving  a  hole 
in  the  side  for 
admittance,  and 
covering  the  whole 
upper  part  with  a 
texture  of  thorny 
branches  closely 
entangled,  by 
which  a  retreat  is 
secured  from  the 
rude  attacks  of 
other  birds ;  the 
inside  is  furnished 
with  a  sort  of  mat-  MAGPIE. 

tress,  composed  of 

wool  and  other  soft  materials,  on  which  the  young-ones,  which  are 
generally  seven  or  eight  in  number,  repose. 

It  is  a  crafty,  and,  in  a  tame  state,  a  familiar  bird  ;  and  may  be  taught 
to  pronounce  not  only  words,  but  short  sentences,  and  even  to  imitate 
any  particular  noise  that  it  hears. 

Plutarch  relates  a  singular  story  of  a  Magpie  belonging  to  a  barber 
at  Kome.  This  bird  could  imitate,  to  a  wonderful  extent,  almost  every 
noise  that  it  heard.  Some  trumpets  happened  one  day  to  be  sounded 
before  the  shop  ;  and  for  a  day  or  two  afterwards  the  Magpie  was  quite 
mute,  and  seemed  pensive  and  melancholy.  _This  surprised  all  who 
knew  it;  and  they  supposed  that  the  sound  of  the  trumpets  had  so 
stunned  the  bird,  as  to  deprive  it  at  the  same  time  both  of  voice  and 
hearing.  This,  however,  was  not  the  case ;  for,  says  this  writer,  the 
bird  had  been  all  the  time  occupied  in  profound  meditation,  and  was 
studying  how  to  imitate  the  sound  of  the  trumpets :  accordingly,  in  the 
first  attempt,  it  perfectly  imitated  all  their  repetitions,  stops  and 
changes.  This  new  lesson,  however,  made  it  entirely  forget  every 
thing  that  it  had  learned  before. 

In  certain  districts  of  Norway,  the  Magpie  is  so  uncommon  a  bird, 
that  its  appearance  is  considered  a  sign  of  the  approaching  death  of 
some  principal  person  in  the  neighborhood.  In  England  also  it  is  es- 
teemed a  bird  of  omen.  In  the  north  of  England,  if  one  of  these  birds 
be  observed  flying  by  itself,  it  is  accounted  by  the  common  people  to 


524 


THE   RED-LEGGED   CROW. 


be  a  sign  of  ill  luck :  if  there  be  two  together,  they  forebode  something 

fortunate:  three 
indicate  a  fune- 
ral :  and  four  a 
wedding. 

Like  the  other 
birds  of  its 
tribe,  the  Mag- 
pie is  addicted 
to  stealing; 
and,  when  it  is 
satiated,  will 
hoard  up  its 
provisions.  It 
frequently  com- 
mits ravages  in 
Rabbit  -  warrens 
and  poultry- 
yards,  by  killing 
the  young  ani- 
mals, and  des- 
troying the  eggs. 
It  may  be  caught 
by  means  of  a 
steel  trap  baited 
with  a  Eat  or 
a  dead  bird. 


TAME  MAGPIE. 


THE    RED-LEGGED    CROW. 

The  color  of  this  Crow  is  a  fine  blue  or  purple  black ;  and  its  bill 

and  legs  are  of  a  bright 
and  deep  orange. 

These  birds,  which  are 
partial  to  rocky  and 
mountainous  habitations, 
are  not  very  common  in 
any  part  of  the  world. 
In  England  they  frequent 
some  places  in  Cornwall 
and  North  Wales,  inhab- 
iting cliffs  and  ruinous 
castles  along  the  shores. 
A  few  are  found  on 
Dover  Cliff,  where  they 
came  entirely  by  acci 


BED-LEGGED  CKOW,  OB  CHOUGH. 


THE    CINEREOUS   CROW.  525 

dent:  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  received  from  Cornwall,  a 
pair,  which  escaped,  and  stocked  those  rocks.  They  are  not  constant 
to  their  abode ;  but  frequently,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  desert  the 
place  for  a  week  or  ten  days  at  a  time. 

The  Eed-legged  Crow  •  is  a  very  tender  bird,  of  elegant  form  and 
unable  to  bear  severe  weather.  Active,  restless,  and  meddling,  it  is 
not  to  be  trusted  where  things  of  consequence  lie.  It  is  much  taken 
with  glittering  objects ;  and  is  apt  to  snatch  up  bits  of  lighted  sticks, 
so  that  instances  have  occurred  of  houses  having  been  set  on  fire  by  it. 
The  injury  that  it  does  to  thatched  houses  is  sometimes  very  great , 
for,  tearing  holes  into  them  with  its  long  bill,  in  search  of  worms  and 
insects,  the  rain  is  admitted,  and  quickens  their  decay.  It  also  often 
picks  out  lime  from  walls,  in  search  of  spiders  and  flies. 

These  birds  commonly  fly  very  high,  and  they  make  a  more  shrill 
noise  than  the  Jackdaw.  The  Cornish  peasantry  attend  so  much  to 
them,  that  it  is  very  common  to  see  them  tame  in  their  gardens.  They 
shriek  out  aloud  at  the  appearance  of  any  thing  strange  or  frightful ; 
but,  when  applying  for  food,  or  desirous  of  pleasing  those  who  usually 
fondle  them,  their  chattering  ft  very  soft  and  engaging. 

When  tame,  they  are  very  docile  and  amusing;  and  they  are -ex- 
tremely regular  to  their  time  of  feeding.  But,  however  familiar  they 
may  be  to  their  immediate  friends,  they  will  not  permit  a  stranger  to 
touch  them. 

Their  nests  are  built  about  the  middle  of  the  cliffs,  or  in  the  most 
inaccessible  parts  of  ruins.  The  eggs,  which  are  four  or  five  in 
number,  are  somewhat  longer  than  those  of  the  Jackdaw,  and  of  a 
cinereous  white  color,  marked  with  irregular  dusky  blotches.  From 
their  being  very  tender,  these  birds  are  seldom  seen  abroad  except  in 
fine  weather. 


THE   CINEREOUS   CROW. 

This  bird  is  so  small  as  seldom  to  weigh  more  than  two  or  three 
ounces.  Its  plumage  is  brown-gray.  The  feathers  are  long,  soft,  and 
silky,  and  in  general  so  much  un  webbed,  as,  in  many  parts  of  the 
body,  to  resemble  hair. 

The  Cinereous  Crow,  which  is  a  native  of  North  America,  and  ia 
extremely  common  in  the  neighborhood  of  Hudson's  Bay,  is  a  very 
familiar  bird,  and  is  fond  of  frequenting  habitations,  either  houses  or 
tents.  But  so  much  is  it  given  to  pilfering,  that  no  kind  of  provisions 
it  can  come  at,  either  fresh  or  salted,  is  safe  from  its  depredations.  It 
is  so  bold  as  to  come  into  tents,  sit  on  the  edge  of  the  kettle  when  hang- 
ing over  the  fire,  and  steal  victuals  out  of  the  dishes. 

Few  creatures  are  more  troublesome  to  the  hunters  than  these. 
They  will  sometimes  follow  them  a  day  together :  will  perch  on  a  tree 
while  the  hunter  is  baiting  his  martin-traps,  and  as  soon  as  his  back 
is  turned,  will  go  and  eat  the  baits.  The  Cinereous  Crows  are  easily 
tamed,  but  they  never  live  long  in  confinement. 

The  care  that  this  bird  takes  in  laying  up  in  summer  a  stock  of 


526 


THE    HOODED    CROW. 


fruit  for  winter  provision,  when  no  fruit  is  to  be  had  abroad,  is  a  re- 
markable instance  of  foresight  in  the  bird  tribe.  Its  nest  is  built  in 
trees,  and  is  not  unlike  the  nest  of  the  Blackbird-  and  Thrush.  The 
female  lays  four  blue  eggs,  but  seldom  hatches  more  than  three  young- 
These  birds  breed  early  in  the  spring.  They  sometimes  steal 


ones. 


flesh,  but  never  eat  it,  feeding  principally  on  fruit,  moss,  and  worms. 


scattered      over 
every     portion     of 


THE   HOODED   CEOW 

The  Hooded  Crow,  otherwise  called  the  Royston  Crow  or  the  Grey 

Crow,  is  rather  a  scarce  bird 
in      the     British      Islands, 
although 
nearly 

Great  Britain,  even  includ 
ing  Scotland. 

It  is  one  of  the  winter 
visitors  to  England,  gene- 
rally leaving  there  about 
April,  although  it  some- 
times remains  during  the 
summer,  and  brings  up  a 
brood  of  young.  Like  most 
of  its  congeners,  it  builds  its 
nest  on  the  tops  of  very  tall 
trees,  such  as  the  pine,  but 
is  also  known  to  build  on 

precipitous  rocks.  It  is  said  to  use  these  rocks  in  the  stead  of  an 
oyster-knife,  for  as  it  is  very  fond  of  Oysters,  and  does  not  possess  a 
knife  to  open  them  with,  it  must  discover  some  other  method  of 
getting  at  the  enclosed  animal.  To  attain  this  purpose,  it  is  said 
to  seize  the  Oyster  in  its  beak,  soar  up  to  a  great  height  in  the  air, 
and  to  let  the  Oyster  drop  from  that  elevation  upon  the  hard  rock, 
when  the  shell  is  dashed  to  pieces,  and  the  Crow  is  enabled  to  pick 
out  the  animal  with  ease. 

There  is  but  little  of  the  usual  Corvine  black  hue  about  this  bird, 
only  the  head,  throat,  wings  and  tail  being  so  decorated,  the  remainder 
of  the  bird  being  of  an  ashy  grey.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  about 
twenty-two  inches. 


THE   RED-WINGED   ORIOLE. 


527 


OF  THE   ORIOLES  IN  GENERAL.  . 

THE  characteristics  of  this  tribe  are,  a  straight,  conic,  sharp-pointed 
bill ;  with  the  mandibles  equal  in  length,  and  the  edges  sharp  and  in- 
clining inward.  The  nostrils  are  small :  they  are  situated  at  the  base 
of  the  bill,  and  are  partly  covered:  The  tongue  is  cleft  at  the  end. 
The  toes  stand  three  forward  and  one  backward,  and  the  middle  one 
is  joined  near  the  base  to  the  outer  toe. 

This  is  a  noisy,  gregarious,  and  voracious  race ;  and  is  confined  almost 
exclusively  to  America.  Most  of  the  species  form  pendulous  nests. 
upon  the  exterior  branches  of  trees,  which  secure  them  from  rapacious 
animals.  Several  nests  are  constructed  on  one  tree.  The  Orioles  in 
general  feed  on  fruit,  but  some  of  them  subsist  on  insects  and  grain. 


THE   RED-WINGED  ORIOLE. 

This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  a  Starling,  being  nearly  nine  inches 
long.  The  bill  is 
black,  and  almost 
an  inch  in  length. 
The  whole  body 
is  of  a  deep  black 
color:  except  the 
upper  part  of  the 
wings,  which  is  of 
a  full  red.  The 
legs  are  black. 

In  some  parts 
of  America  these 
birds  occasionally 
appear  in  such 
immense  flocks, 
that  frequently  at 
one  draw  of  a  net 
more  than  three 
hundred  are 
caught.  They 
feed  on  insects, 
wheat,  and  maize ; 
and  are  exceed- 
ingly destructive 
to  the  grain. 
Their  common 
name  in  America 
is  Maize-thief: 
they  seldom  attack  the  maize  except  just  after  it  is  sown,  or  when  the 
ear  becomes  green:  then,  pecking  a  hole  in  the  side,  the  rain  is 


RED  WISOED,   OB  BALTIMORE  ORIOLE. 


528  THE  ICTERIC    ORIOLE. 

admitted,  and  the  grain  spoiled.  They  are  supposed  to  do  this  in 
search  of  insects.  The  farmers  sometimes  attempt  their  destruction, 
by  steeping  the  maize  before  it  is  sown,  in  a  decoction  of  white 
hellebore:  the  birds  that  eat  this  prepared  corn,  are  seized  with  a 
vertigo,  and  fall  down  stupified.  They  are  so  bold  and  voracious, 
that  a  flock  of  them  may  frequently  be  shot  at  two  or  three  times 
before  they  can  be  driven  off;  indeed  it  often  happens,  that  during 
the  second  loading  of  the  gun  their  number  increases. 

Catsby  informs  us,  that  in  Carolina  and  Virginia,  these  birds  breed 
in  swampy  places,  among  the  rushes  ;  the  points  of  which  the}'  weave 
so  as  to  form  a  sort  of  roof  or  shed,  under  which  they  build  their  nest, 
at  so  judicious  a  height,  that  it  can  never  be  reached  even  by  the 
highest  floods.  Dr.  Latham  states,  that  they  build  between  the  forks 
of  trees,  three  or  four  feet  from  the  ground,  in  swarnps  which  are 
seldom  penetrable  by  man.- 

They  are  easily  caught  in  traps;  and  can,  without  difficulty,  be 
rendered  tame,  and  even  taught  to  speak.  They  are  fond  of  singing ; 
and  are  exceedingly  playful,  either  when  confined  or  when  suffered 
to  run  about  the  house.  With  the  liveliness  and  familiarity  which 
they  possess,  it  is  said  to  be  highly  diverting  to  place  these  birds 
before  a  looking-glass,  and  observe  their  strange  and  whimsical  ges- 
ticulations: sometimes  they  erect  the  feathers  of  the  head,  and  hiss  at 
the  image;  then,  lowering  their  crest,  they  set  up  their  tail,  quiver 
their  wings,  and  strike  at  it  with  their  bills.  Whether  taken  young 
or  old,  they  become  immediately  tame.  It  is  not  unusual  to  keep 
them  in  cylindrical  cages  with  bells;  and  these  cages  they  turn  round 
in  the  same  manner  as  Squirrels  do.  But  when  they  have  been  con- 
lined  in  a  cage  for  some  years,  they  are  said  to  become  white,  and  so 
stupid  and  inanimate,  as  at  last  not  to  be  able  to  feed  themselves. 


THE   ICTERIC   ORIOLE,   AND   WEAVER   ORIOLE. 

The  cteric  Oriole  is,  in  size,  somewhat  smaller  than  a  Blackbird : 
of  a  tawny  color,  with  the  head,  throat, 
back,  quill,  and  tail-feathers  black.  The 
wings  have  each  a  white  spot. 

It  is  a  native  of  Carolina  and  Jamaica. 
The   chief   food    of    the    Icteric    Oriole 
consists  of  insects ;  and,  for  the  purpose  of 
killing   these,    the   Americans   domesticate 
and    keep   this   bird   in   their   houses.      It 
hops  about  in  a  similar  manner  to  the  Mag- 
pie ;  and  has  many  other  gestures  of  that 
ICTERIC  OKIOLE.  bird.     Albin  states,  that,  in  all  its  actions, 

it  resembles  the  Starlings;  and  adds,  that 

sometimes  four  or  five  of  them  will  unite  to  attack  a  larger  bird, 
which,  after  they  have  killed,  they  eat  in  a  very  orderly  manner, 
each  choosing  his  part  according  to  his  valor.  In  a  wild  state  the 


THE  WEAVER   ORIOLE.  529 

Icteric  Orioles  are  so  fierce  and  bold,  that,  when  disturbed,  they  will 
attack  even  mankind ;  but,  when  introduced  into  our  society,  they 
are  said  to  be  easily  tamed. 

Their  nests  are  constructed  in  a  cylindrical  form ;  several  on  the 
same  tree,  and  suspended  from  the  extremity  of  the  branches;  where 
they  wave  freely  in  the  air.  In  these  situations  they  are  far  out  of 
the  reach  of  such  animals  as  would  otherwise  destroy  the  young-ones. 
Several  other  species  construct  their  nests  in  a  similar  manner. 


THE  WEAVER   ORIOLE 

This  bird  is  of  a  yellow  color ;  the  head  is  brown,  with  a  golden 
shade,  and  the  quill  and  tail-feathers  are  blackish,  edged  with  orange. 
It  is  chiefly  found  in  Senegal,  and  some  other  parts  of  Africa. 

Of  two  females  of  the  Weaver  Oriole,  which  were  brought  some 
years  ago  from  Senegal  to  England,  it  was  observed,  that,  being  kept 
together  in  a  cage,  they  entwined  among  the  wires  some  of  the  stalks 
of  the  pimpernal,  with  which  they  were  fed.  As  this  seemed  to  show 
a  disposition  for  forming  a  nest,  some  rushstalks  were  put  into  the  cage. 
Of  these  they  presently  made  a  large  nest ;  but  it  was  as  often  deranged 
as  made,  the  work  of  one  day  being  spoiled  the  next.  This  seemed  to 
prove  that  the  fabrication  of  the  nest  in  a  state  of  nature,  is  the  work 
of  both  male  and  female,  and  that  the  female  is  not  able  to  finish  this 
important  structure  by  herself. 

A  bird  of  this  species  having,  by  accident,  obtained  a  thread  of 
sewing-silk,  wove  it  among  the  wires  of  its  cage ;  and,  on  being  sup- 
plied with  more,  it  interlaced  the  whole  very  confusedly,  so  as  to 
prevent  most  part  of  that  side  of  the  cage  from  being  seen  through. 
It  was  found  to  prefer  green  and  yellow  silks  to  those  of  any  other 
color. 


530 


THE  GREATER   BIRD   OF   PARADISE. 


OF  THE  BIRDS  OF  PAKADISE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Birds  of  Paradise  have  their  bills  slightly  bent,  and  the  base 
clad  with  velvet-like  feathers.  The  nostrils  are  small,  and  covered 
The  tail  consists  of  ten  feathers ;  the  two  middle  ones  of  which,  in 
several  of  the  species,  are  very  long,  and  webbed  only  at  the  base  and 
tips.  The  legs  and  feet  are  large  and  strong ;  having  three  toes 
forward  and  one  backward,  and  the  middle  toe  connected  to  the  outer 
one  as  far  as  the  first  joint. 

No  class  of  birds  has  given  rise  to  more  fables  than  this.  By 
different  writers  we  are  taught  to  understand  that  they  never  touch 
the  ground,  from  the  time  of  their  exclusion  from  the  egg,  to  their 
death;  that  they  live  wholly  on  dew,  and  that  they  are  produced 
without  legs ;  that,  when  they  sleep,  they  hang  themselves  by  the  two 
long  feathers  of  the  tail,  to  the  branch  of  a  tree ;  that  the  female 
produces  her  eggs  in  the  air,  which  the  male  receives  in  an  orifice  in 
his  body,  where  it  is  hatched ;  and  a  thousand  other  stories  that  are 
too  absured  even  to  be  mentioned. 

The  whole  race,  as  far  as  we  are  at  present  acquainted  with  them, 
are  natives  of  New  Guinea,  whence  they  migrate  into  the  neighboring 
islands.  Their  plumage  is  in  general  of  extremely  brilliant  colors. 


THE   GREATER   BIRD   OF   PARADISE. 

The  general  color  of  these  birds  is  chestnut,  with  the  neck  of  a  gold- 

green  beneath.  The 
feathers  of  the  back 
and  sides  are  consid- 
erably longer  than 
those  of  the  body. 
They  have  two  long 
tail-feathers,  which  are 
straight  and  taper  to 
the  tip. 

There  are  two  vari- 
eties of  this  species, 
both  of  which  inhabit 
the  islands  of  Arrou. 
They  are  supposed  to 
breed  in  New  Guinea, 
and  to  reside  there 
during  the  wet  mon- 
.  soon  ;  but  they  retire 
to  the  Arrou  islands, 
about  a  hundred  and 
forty  miles  eastward, 


during  the  dry  or 


3REATKR   BIRD  OF   PARADISE.—  FEMALE. 


THE   GREATER  BIRD   OF   PARADISE. 


531 


They  always  migrate  in  flocks  of  thirty  or  forty,  and  have  a  leader, 
which  the  inhabitants 
of    Arrou    call     the 
king. 


He  is  said  to 
be  black,  to  have  red 
spots,  and  to  fly  far 
above  the  flock,  which 
never  desert  him,  but 
always  settle  in  the 
same  place  that  he 
does.  They  never  fly 
with  the  wind,  as  in 
that  case  their  loose 
plumage  would  be 
ruffled  and  blown 
over  their  heads ;  and 
a  change  of  wind 
often  compels  them 
to  alight  on  the 
ground,  from  which 
they  cannot  rise  with- 
out difficulty.  When 
surprised  by  a  heavy 
gale,  they  soar  to  a 
higher' region,  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  tem- 
pest. There,  in  a 
serene  sky,  they  float 
at  ease  on  their  light 
flowing  feathers,  or 
pursue  their  journey 
in  security.  During 
their  flight  they  cry 
like  Starlings ;  but, 
when  a  storm  blows  in 
their  rear,  they  express  their  distressed  situation  by  a  note  somewhat 
resembling  the  croaking  of  a  Raven.  In  calm  weather,  great  numbers 
of  these  birds  may  be  seen  flying,  both  in  companies  and  singly,  in 
pursuit  of  the  larger  butterflies  and  other  insects  on  which  they  feed. 
They  never  willingly  alight,  except  on  the  highest  trees. 

Tneir  arrival  at  Arrou  is  watched  by  the  natives,  who  either  shoot 
them  with  blunt-arrows,  or  catch  them  by  means  of  bird-lime  or  in 
nooses.  When  caught,  they  make  a  vigorous  resistance,  and  defend 
themselves  stoutly  with  their  beaks.  After  being  killed,  the  entrails 
and  breast-bone  are  taken  out,  and  they  are  dried  with  smoke  and  sul- 
phur, for  exportation  to  Banda,  where  they  are  sold  for  half  a  rix-dollar 
each.  Thus  prepared,  they  are  sent  to  all  parts  of  India  and  Persia,  to 
adorn  the  turbans  of  persons  of  rank,  and  even  the  trappings  of  the 
horses.  Not  long  ago,  they  formed  an  additional  ornament  to  the 
head-dresses  of  the  British  fair. 
34 


GREATER  BIRD  OF   PARADISE.— MALE. 


532 


THE   GOLDEN   BIRD    OF  PARADISE. 


THE   SUPERB  BIRD   OF   PARADISE. 


In  this  species  the 
scapulary  feathers 
form  a  long  spreading 
plume  which  can  be 
elevated  at  pleasure, 
and  there  are  two 
pointed  lappets  on 
the  chest;  with  the 
exception  of  these 
latter,  which  are  of 
the  most  brilliant 
burnished  steel-green, 
the  color  of  the  plum- 
age is  velvet- black, 
iridescent  with  green 
and  violet,  length 
nine  inches. 


THE  SUPERB  BIRD  OP  PARADISE. 


THE   GOLDEN   BIRD   OF  PARADISE. 

The  general  color  of  this  species  is  velvety -black ;  the  tops  of  the 

head  is  clothed  with 
a  greyish  crest,  and 
each  side  of  the  occi- 
put is  ornamented 
with  three  long  slen- 
der shafts,  ending  in 
a  small  oval  vane ; 
back  of  the  neck 
changeable  golden- 
green  ;  flanks  cover- 
ed with  black  loose, 
long  feathers,  cover- 
ing the  wings  and 
hiding  the  tail,  and 
capable  of  being 
raised  up  obliquely. 
Feathers  of  the 
throat  large  and 
scale-shaped,  border- 
ed with  reflecting 
green  and  gold  ;  tail- 
feathers  velvety, 


<>U>:-.N   B1KD   OF    PARADISE. 


with  some  long  floating  filaments.     Length,  about  eleven  inches. 


THE   MAGNIFICENT   BIRD    OF   PARADISE. 


533 


THE   MAGNIFICENT  BIKD   OF   PARADISE. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  of  an  orange- chestnut  above,  deeper  on  the 
top  of  the  head  and 
back,  and  sometimes 
inclining  to  purple 
the  tips  of  the  wings 
and  tail  are  brown  ; 
the*  throat  is  black- 
ish, with  a  purple 
gloss ;  the  breast  and 
under  parts  are 
covered  with  scaled- 
shape  feathers  of  a 
deep  changeable 
golden-green,  with  a 
blue  reflection  down 
the  breast.  From 
back  of  the  neck 
springs  a  double  ruff, 
composed  of  slender 
plumes,  with  slightly 
dilated  extremities. 
The  wing-coverts 
are  orange-colored, 
with  transverse 


THE  MAGNIFICENT   BIRD  OF   PARADISE. 


blackish     crescents ; 

from  the  tail-coverts  spring  two  long  slender  shafts  of  golden-green. 


THE   KING   BIRD   OF   PARADISE. 

This  rare  species,  one  of  the  very  smallest  of  the  group,  is  a  native 
of  the  Moluccas.  It  is  about  the  size  of  a  sparrow.  Its  upper  plum- 
age is  intense  purplish  chestnut ;  a  zone  of  golden-green  extends  across 
the  chest ;  from  each  side  under  the  shoulder  springs  a  fan-like  plume 
of  six  or  seven  dusky  feathers,  tipped  with  the  richest  golden-green. 
From  the  tail  spring  two  long  slender  shafts,  each  elegantly  termina- 
ting in  a  broad  emerald  web,  rising  from  one  side  only  of  the  shaft,  and 
disposed  into  a  flat  curl ;  under  parts  of  the  body,  white.  In  its  habits 
this  species  is  said  to  be  solitary,  feeding  on  fruits  and  berries. 


534 


THE   COMMON   CUCKOO. 


OF  THE  CUCKOO  TEIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  birds  have  their  bill  weak,  and  more  or  less  bending.  The 
nostrils  are  bounded  by  a  small  rim;  and  the  tongue  is  short  and 
pointed.  The  toes  are  situated  two  forward  and  two  backward.  The 
tail  is  wedge-shaped,  and  consists  of  ten  soft  feathers. 

The  different  species  of  Cuckoos  are  scattered  through  the  four 
quarters  of  the  globe,  but  they  are  much  more  common  in  the  hot  than 
in  temperate  or  cold  climates.  One  species  only  is  found  in  Great 
Britain. 


THE   COMMON   CUCKOO. 

The  Cuckoo  is  about  fourteen  inches  in  length,  and  twenty-five  in 

breadth.  The  bill 
is  black,  strong, 
and  somewhat 
curved.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  plum- 
age are  chiefly  of  a 
dove-color;  the 
throat  is  pale  grey ; 
and  the  breast  and 
belly  are  white, 
crossed  with  undu- 
lated lines  of  black. 
The  vent  feathers 
are  of  a  buff-color, 
marked  with  a  few 
dusky  spots.  The 
two  middle  tail 
feathers  are  black, 
tipped  with  white. 
The  plumage  of  the 
young  birds  is 
chiefly  brown, 
mixed  with  fer- 
ru  g  ino  us  and 
black. 

The  Cuckoo  visits  us  early  in  the  spring.  Its  well-known  cry  is 
generally  heard  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  ceases  about  the  end 
of  June :  its  stay  is  short,  the  old  Cuckoos  being  said  to  quit  this 
country  early  in  July.  These  birds  are  generally  supposed  to  build 
no  nest;  but,  what  is  also  extraordinary,  the  female  Cuckoo  deposits 
Her  solitary  egg  in  the  nest  of  another  bird,  by  which  it  is  hatched. 
The  nests  she  ohooses  for  this  purpose  are  generally  those  of  the  Hedge- 
Sparrow,  Water- Wagtail,  Titlark,  Yellow-Hammer,  Green  Linnet,  or 


COMMON   CUCKOO. 


THE   COMMON   CUCKOO.  535 

Winchat :  but  of  these  it  lias  been  observed,  that  she  shows  the  greatest 
partiality  to  tne  nest  of  the  Hedge-Sparrow. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  observations  of  Dr.  Jenner,  for  the  following 
account  of  the  habits  and  economy  of  this  singular  bird,  in  the  dis- 
posal of  its  egg.  He  states  that,  during  the  time  the  Hedge-Sparrow 
is  laying  her  eggs,  which  generally  occupies  four  or  five  days,  the 
Cuckoo  contrives  to  deposit  her  egg  among  the  rest,  leaving  the  future 
care  of  it  entirely  to  the  Hedge-Sparrow.  This  intrusion  often  occa- 
sions some  disorder ;  for  the  old  Hedge- Sparrow,  at  intervals,  while  she 
is  sitting,  not  only  throws  out  some  of  her  own  eggs,  but  sometimes 
injures  them  in  such  a  way,  that'  they  become  addle,  so  that  it  fre- 
quently happens,  that  not  more  that  two  or  three  of  the  parent-bird's 
eggs  are  hatched :  but,  what  is  very  remarkable,  it  has  never  been 
observed  that  she  has  either  thrown  out  or  injured  the  egg  of  the 
Cuckoo.  When  the  Hedge-Sparrow  has  set  her  usual  time,  and  has 
disengaged  the  young  Cuckoo  and  some  of  her  own  offspring  from  the 
shell,  her  own  young-ones,  and  any  of  her  eggs  that  remain  unhatched, 
are  soon  turned  out:  the  young  Cuckoo  then  remains  in  full  posses- 
sion of  the  nest,  and  is  the  sole  object  of  the  future  care  of  the  foster- 
parent.  The  young  birds  are  not  previously  killed,  nor  are  the  eggs 
demolished ;  but  they  are  left  to  perish  together,  either  entangled  in 
the  bush  that  contains  the  nest,  or  lying  on  the  ground  beneath  it. 
On  the  18th  of  June,  1787,  Dr.  Jenner  examined  a  nest  of  a  Hed^e- 
Sparrow,  which  then  contained  a  Cuckoo's  and  three  Hedge-Sparrow's 
eggs.  On  inspecting  it  the  day  following,  the  bird  had  hatched  :  but 
the  nest  then  contained  only  a  young  Cuckoo  and  one  young  Hedge- 
Sparrow.  The  nest  was  placed  so  near  the  extremity  of  a  hedge,  that 
he  could  distinctly  see  what  was  going  forward  in  it ;  and,  to  his  great 
astonishment,  he  saw  the  young  Cuckoo,  though  so  lately  hatched,  in 
the  act  of  turning  out  the  young  Hedge-Sparrow.  The  mode  of  accom- 
plishing this  was  curious  ;  the  little  animal,  with  the  assistance  of  its 
rump  and  wings,  contrived  to  get  the  bird  upon  its  back,  and,  making 
a  lodgment  for  its  burden  by  elevating  its  elbows,  climbed  backward 
with  it  up  the  side  of  the  nest,  till  it  reached  the  top ;  where,  resting 
for  a  moment,  it  threw  off  its  load  with  a  jerk,  and  quite  disengaged 
it  from  the  nest.  After  remaining  a  short  time  in  this  situation,  and 
feeling  about  with  the  extremities  of  its  wings,  as  if  to  be  convinced 
that  the  business  was  properly  executed,  it  dropped  into  the  nest 
again.  Dr.  Jenner  made  several  experiments  in  different  nests,  by 
repeatedly  putting  in  an  egg  to  the  young  Cuckoo ;  but  this  he  always 
found  to  be  disposed  of  in  the  same  manner.  It  is  very  remarkable, 
that  nature  seems  to  have  provided  for  the  singular  disposition  of  the 
Cuckoo,  in  its  formation  at  this  period ;  for,  different  from  other  newly- 
hatched  birds,  its  back,  from  the  scapube  downward,  is  very  broad, 
with  a  considerable  depression  in  the  middle,  which  seems  intended  for 
the  express  purpose  of  giving  a  more  secure  lodgment  to  the  egg  of 
the  Hedge-Sparrow  or  its  young-one,  while  the  young  Cuckoo  is  em- 
ployed in  removing  either  of  them  from  the  nest.  When  it  is  about 
twelve  days  old,  this  cavity  is  quite  rilled  up,  the  back  assumes  the 
shape  of  that  of  nestling  birds  in  general,  and  at  that  time  the  dispo 


536  THE    COMMON    CUCKOO. 

sition  of  turning  out  its  companion  entirely  ceases.  The  smallness  of 
the  Cuckoo's  egg,  which  in  general  is  less  than  that  of  the  House- 
Sparrow,  is  another  circumstance  to  be  attended  to  in  this  surprising 
transaction,  and  seems  to  account  for  the  parent  Cuckoo's  depositing 
it  in  the  nests  of  such  small  birds  only  as  have  been  mentioned.  If 
she  were  to  do  this  in  the  nest  of  a  bird  that  produced  a  larger  egg,  and 
consequently  a  larger  nestling,  the  design  would  probably  be  frus- 
trated ;  the  young  Cuckoo  would  be  unequal  to  the  task  of  becoming 
sole  possessor  of  the  nest,  and  might  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  superior 
strength  of  its  partners. 

Dr.  Jenner  observes,  that  the  eggs  of  two  Cuckoos  are  sometimes 
deposited  in  the  same  nest :  he  gives  the  following  instance,  which 
fell  under  his  observation.  Two  Cuckoos  and  a  Hedge-sparrow  were 
hatched  in  the  same  nest ;  one  Hedge-Sparrow's  egg  remained  un- 
hatched.  In  a  few  hours  a  contest  began  between  the  Cuckoos  for 
possession  of  the  nest ;  and  this  continued  undetermined  till  the  after- 
noon of  the  following  day,  when  one  of  them,  which  was  somewhat 
superior  in  size,  turned  out  the  other,  together  with  the  young 
Hedge-Sparrow,  and  the  unhatched  egg.  The  contest,  he  adds,  was 
very  remarkable :  the  combatants  alternately  appeared  to  have  the 
advantage,  as  each  carried  the  other  several  times,  nearly  to  the  top 
of  the  nest,  and  again  sank  down,  oppressed  by  the  weight  of  its 
burden;  till  at  length,  after  various  efforts,. the  strongest  of  the  two 
prevailed,  and  was  afterwards  brought  up  by  the  Hedge-Sparrow. 

No  reason  can  be  assigned,  from  the  formation  of  this  bird,  why,  in 
common  with  others,  it  should  not  build  a  nest,  incubate  its  eggs,  and 
rear  its  own  offspring ;  for  it  is  in  every  respect  perfectly  formed  for 
all  these  offices.  To  what  cause  then  may  we  attribute  the  above 
singularities  ?  May  they  not  be  owing  to  the  following  circumstances  ? 
— the  short  residence  this  bird  makes  in  the  country  where  it  is  des- 
tined to  propagate  its  species,  and  the  necessity  that  exists  of  its 
producing,  during  that  short  residence,  a  numerous  progeny.  The 
Cuckoo's  first  appearance  in  England,  is  about  the  middle  of  April : 
its  egg  is  not  ready  for  incubation  till  some  weeks  after  its  arrival, 
seldom  before  the  middle  of  May.  A  fortnight  is  taken  up  by  the 
sitting  bird  in  hatching  the  egg.  The  young  bird  generally  continues 
three  weeks  in  the  nest  before  it  can  fly,  and  the  foster-parents  feed  it 
more  than  five  weeks  after  this  period ;  so  that,  if  a  Cuckoo  should  fee 
ready  with  an  egg  much  sooner  than  the  time  pointed  out,  not  a 
single  nestling  would  be  fit  to  provide  for  itself  before  its  parent 
would  be  instinctively  directed  to  seek  a  new  residence,  and  be  thus 
compelled  to  abandon  its  offspring  ;  for  the  old  birds  take  their  final 
leave  of  this  country  the  first  week  in  July. 

"  There  seems  (says  Dr.  Jenner)  no  precise  time  fixed  for  the  depar- 
ture of  young  Cuckoos.  I  believe  they  go  off  in  succession,  probably 
as  soon  as  they  are  capable  of  taking  care  of  themselves ;  for  although 
they  stay  here  till  they  become  nearly  equal  in  size,  and  in  growth  of 
plumage,  to  the  parent,  yet  in  this  very  state  the  fostering  care  of  the 
Hedge-Sparrow  is  not  withdrawn  from  them.  I  have  frequently  seen 
the  young  Cuckoo  of  such  a  size,  that  the  Hedge-Sparrow  has  perched 


THE   COMMON   CUCKOO.  537 

on  its  back,  or  on  its  half-expanded  wing,  in  order  to  gain  sufficient 
elevation  to  put  the  food  into  its  mouth.  At  this  advanced  age  it  is 
probable  that  the  young  Cuckoos  procure  some  food  for  themselves ; 
like  the  young  Book,  for  instance,  which  in  part  feeds  itself,  and  is 
partly  fed  by  the  old  ones,  till  the  approach  of  the  pairing  season." 

The  same  instinctive  impulse  which  directs  the  Cuckoo  to  deposit 
her  eggs  in  the  nests  of  other  birds,  directs  her  young-one  to  throw  out 
the  eggs  and  young  of  the  owner  of  the  nest.  The  scheme  of  nature 
would  be  incomplete  without  it ;  for  it  would  be  difficult,  if  not  im- 
possible, for  the  birds  destined  to  find  nourishment  for  the  Cuckoo,  to 
find  it  also  for  their  own  young-ones,  after  a  certain  period  ;  nor  would 
there  be  room  for  them  all  to  inhabit  the  nest. 

The  above  are  certainly  well-attested  instances  of  the  Cuckoo's 
laying  its  eggs  in  the  nests,  and  trusting  its  young  to  the  protection 
of  other  birds  ;  but  there  are  instances,  equally  well  attested,  of  their 
hatching  and  feeding  their  own  nestlings.  The  Eev.  Mr.  Stafford,  one 
day  walking  in  Blossopdale,  in  Derbyshire,  saw  a  Cuckoo  rise  from  its 
nest ;  which  was  on  the  stump  of  a  tree  that  had  been  some  time  felled. 
In  this  nest  there  were  two  young  Cuckoos ;  one  of  which  he  fastened 
to  the  ground  by  a  peg  and  line  ;  and,  for  many  days  beheld  the  old 
Cuckoo  feed  them.  Mr.  Daines  Barrington,  who  recorded  this  account, 
had  been  informed  of  two  other  instances  of  Cuckoo's  nests,  in  which 
the  proper  parents  fed  their  young ;  the  one  within  four  miles  of  London, 
and  the  other  on  the  south-west  coast  of  Merionethshire. 

It  has  been  conjectured  by  some  persons,  that,  during  winter,  the 
Cuckoo  remains  in  England,  hidden  in  hollow  trees,  and  in  a  torpid 
state.  In  support  of  this  opinion,  Mr.  Willoughby,  in  his  Ornithology, 
relates  the  following  story  :  "  The  servants  of  a  gentleman  in  the  coun- 
try, having  stocked  up,  in  one  of  the  meadows,  some  old,  dry,  rotten 
willows,  thought  proper,  on  a  certain  occasion,  to  carry  them  home. 
In  heating  a  stove,  two  logs  of  this  timber  were  put  into  the  lower 

Eart,  and  fire  was  applied  as  usual.  But  soon,  to  the  surprise  of  the 
imily,  was  heard  the  voice  of  a  Cuckoo,  chirping  three  times  from 
under  the  stove.  Wondering  at  so  extraordinary  a  cry  in  winter-time, 
the  servants  drew  the  willow  logs  from  the  furnace,  and  in  the  midst 
of  one  of  them  they  saw  something  move  ;  when,  taking  an  axe,  they 
opened  the  hole,  and,  thrusting  in  their  hands,  first  they  plucked  out 
nothing  but  feathers  ;  afterwards  they  got  hold  of  a  living  animal,  and 
this  was  the-  Cuckoo  that  the  fire  had  awaked.  It  was,  indeed, 
(continues  our  historian,)  brisk  and  lively,  but  wholly  naked  and  bare 
of  feathers,  and  without  any  winter  provision  in  its  hole.  This  Cuckoo 
the  boys  kept  two  years  afterwards  alive  in  the  stove ;  but  whether  it 
repaid  them  with  a  second  song,  the  author  of  the  tale  has  not  thought 
fit  to  inform  us." 

A  few  years  ago  a  young  Cuckoo  was  found,  in  a  torpid  state,  in 
the  thickest  part  of  a  furze  bush.  When  taken  up,  it  soon  exhibited 
signs  of  life,  but  was  quite  destitute  of  feathers.  Being  kept  warm, 
and  carefully  fed,  it  grew  and  recovered  its  coat.  In  the  ensuing 
spring  it  made  its  escape;  and,  in  flying  across  the  river  Tyne,  was 
heard  to  give  its  usual  call. 


538  THE  BEE  CUCKOO,  OR  MOROC. 

It  would  be  wrong  to  assert  as  a  general  fact,  that  Cuckoos  remain 
torpid  in  England  during  winter,  because  half  a  dozen  (or  perhaps 
not  so  many)  instances  are  recorded  of  their  having  been  found  in 
this  state.  \Ve  are  much  rather  led  to  suppose,  that  these  accidental 
occurrences  have  arisen  from  their  being  young  birds,  which  had  not 
been  strong  enough  to  leave  us  at  the  usual  time  of  migration,  and 
which  had  therefore  sought  for  shelter  and  warmth  in  the  places 
where  they  have  been  discovered. 

It  is  supposed  that  there  are  more  male  Cuckoos  than  females:  Mr. 
Pennant  observes,  that  five  male  birds  were  caught  in  a  trap  in  one 
season;  and  Dr.  Latham  says,  that  out  of  about  half  a  dozen  that  he 
had  examined,  chance  never  directed  him  to  a  female.  The  males 
alone  being  vocal,  may,  however,  be  one  cause  why  our  specimens 
are  chiefly  of  this  sex;  their  note  directing  the  gunner  to  take  aim, 
whilst  the  female  is  secured  by  he*-  silence. 

The  young  birds,  though  helpless  and  foolish  for  a  great  length 
of  time,  may  be,  and  often  are,  brought  up  tame,  so  as  to  become 
familiar.  In  this  state  they  will  eat  bread  and  milk,  fruits,  insects, 
eggs,  and  flesh  either  cooked  or  raw;  but  in  a  state  of  nature,  they 
are  supposed  to  live  principally  on  Caterpillars.  When  fat,  they  are 
said  to  be  as  good  eating  as  the  Land-rail. 


THE   BEE   CUCKOO,    OR   MOROC. 

The  Bee  Cuckoo,  in  its  external  appearance,  does  not  much  differ 
from  the  common  Sparrow:  except  that  it  is  somewhat  larger,  and 
of  a  lighter  color:  it  has  also  a  yellow  spot  on  each  shoulder,  and  the 
feathers  of  its  tail  are  dashed  with  white. 

To  this  bird  is  ascribed  the  faculty  of  discovering  and  pointing  out 
to  man,  and  to  the  quadruped  called  the  Eatel,  the  nests  of  wild  Bees. 
It  is  itself  exceedingly  fond  both  of  honey,  and  of  the  Bee  maggots; 
and  it  knows  that  when  a  nest  is  plundered,  some  of  the  honey  must 
fall  to  the  ground,  which  consequently  comes  to  its  share;  but,  in  gen- 
eral, a  part  is  purposely  left  by  the  plunderers,  as  a  reward  for  its 
services.  The  way  in  which  this  bird  communicates  to  others  the  disco- 
very it  has  made,  is  as  surprising  as  it  is  well  adapted  to  the  purpose. 

The  morning  and  evening  are  its  principal  meal-times ;  at  least,  it 
is  then  that  it  shows  the  greatest  inclination  to  come  forth,  and  with 
a  grating  cry  of  cheer,  cheer,  cheer,  to  excite  the  attention  of  the  Eatel, 
as  well  as  of  the  Hottentots  and  colonists,  of  whose  country  it  is  a 
native.  Somebody  then  generally  repairs  to  the  place  whence  the 
sound  proceeds;  when  the  bird,  continually  repeating  its  cry  of  cheer, 
cheer,  cheer,  flies  on  slowly,  and  by  degrees,  towards  the  quarter  where 
the  swarm  of  Bees  has  taken  up  its  abode.  The  persons  thus  invited 
accordingly  follow;  taking  care  at  the  same  time  not  to  frighten  their 
guide  by  any  unusual  noise,  but  rather  to  answer  it  now  and  then 
with  a  soft  and  gentle  whistle,  by  way  of  letting  the  bird  know  that 
its  call  is  attended  to.  When  the  Bees'  nest  is  at  some  distance,  the 
bird  often  makes  long  stages  or  flights,  waiting  for  its  sporting  com- 


THE  BEE  CUCKOO,  OR  MOROC. 


539 


pairions  between  each  flight,  and  calling  to  them  again  to  come  on ; 
but  it  flies  to  shorter 
distances,  and  repeats 
its  cry  more  fre- 
quently and  with 
greater  earnestness, 
in  proportion  as  they 
approach  nearer  to 
the  nest.  When  the 
bird  has  sometimes, 
in  consequence  of  its 
great  impatience,  got 
too  far  ahead  of  its 
followers,  but  parti- 
cularly when,  on 
account  of  the  un- 
e venne  ss  of  the 
ground,  they  have 
not  been  able  to  keep 
pace  with  it,  it  has 
flown  back  to  meet 
them,  and  with 
redoubled  cries  has 
denoted  still  greater 
impatience,  upbraid- 
ing them,  as  it  were, 
for  being  so  tardy. 
When  it  comes  to  the 
Bees'  nest,  whether 

built  in  the  cleft  of  a  rock,  in  a  hollow  tree,  or  in  some  cavity  of  the 
earth,  it  hovers  over  the  spot  for  a  few  seconds;  after  which  it  sits  in 
silence,  and  for  the  most  part  concealed,  in  some  neighboring  tree, 
or  bush,  in  expectation  of  what  may  happen,  and  with  a  view  of 
receiving  its  share  of  the  booty.  It  is  probable  that  this  bird  always 
hovers,  more  or  less,  in  the  manner  just  mentioned,  over  the  Bees7 
nest,  before  it  hides  itself;  though  the  people  do  not  always  pay 
attention  to  this  circumstance:  at  all  events,  however,  one  may  be 
assured  that  the  Bees'  nest  is  very  near,  when,  after  the  bird  has 
guided  its  followers  to  some  distance,  it  is  on  a  sudden  silent. 

Having,  in  consequence  of  the  bird's  directions,  found  and  plun- 
dered the  nest,  the  hunters,  by  way  of  acknowledgment,  usually  leave 
to  the  bird  a  considerable  share  of  that  part  of  the  comb  in  which 
the  young  Bees  are  hatching;  and  which  is  probably  to  it  the  most 
acceptable  morsel. 

The  above  account  of  Dr.  Sparrman  has  undergone  some  severe 
though  ill-natured  animadversions,  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Bruce.  I 
shall  insert  them  in  his  own  words.  "I  cannot  (he  says)  conceive 
that,  in  a  country  where  there  are  so  .many  thousand  hives  there  was 
any  use  for  giving  to  a  bird  a  peculiar  instinct  or  faculty  of  discover- 
ing honey,  when,  at  the  same  time,  nature  hath  deprived  him  of  the 


BEE  CUCKOO. 


540  THE  BEE  CUCKOO,  OR  MOROC. 

power  of  availing  himself  of  any  advantage  from  the  discovery ;  for 
man  seems  in  this  case  to  be  made  for  the  service  of  the  Moroc,  which 
is  very  different  from  the  common  or  ordinary  course  of  things:  man 
certainly  needs  not  this  bird ;  for  on  every  tree  and  on  every  hillock 
he  may  see  plenty  of  honey  at  his  own  deliberate  disposal.  I  cannot 
then  but  think,  with  all  submission  to  these  natural  philosophers, 
(  Dr.  Sparrman,  and  Jerome  Lobo,  who  has  also  given  an  account  of 
this  bird,)  that  the  whole  of  this  is  an  improbable  fiction :  nor  did  I 
ever  hear  a  single  person  in  Abyssinia  suggest,  that  either  this,  or 
any  other  bird,  had  such  a  property.  Sparrman  says  it  was  not  known 
to  any  inhabitant  of  the  Cape,  any  more  than  that  of  the  Moroc  was 
in  Abyssinia ;  it  was  a  secret  of  nature,  hid  from  all  but  these  two 
great  men,  and  I  most  willingly  leave  it  among  the  catalogue  of  their 
particular  discoveries." 

Dr.  Sparrman  says,  that  a  nest  which  was  shown  to  him  as  belong- 
mg  to  this  bird,  was  composed  of  slender  filaments  of  bark,  woven 
together  in  the  form  of  a  bottle :  the  neck  and  opening  hung  down- 
wards ;  and  a  string,  in  an  arched  shape,  was  suspended  across  the 
opening,  fastened  by  the  two  ends,  perhaps  for  the  bird  to  perch  on. 

Mr.  Barrow,  who  in  the  years  1797  and  1798  travelled  into  the 
interior  of  the  southern  extremity  of  Africa,  fully  confirms  the  truth 
of  Dr.  Sparrman's  account.  He  says,  that  every  one  there  is  too  well 
acquainted  with  the  Moroc  to  have  any  doubt  as  to  the  certainty, 
either  respecting  the  bird,  or  its  mode  of  giving  information  concern- 
ing the  repositories  of  the  Bees.  He  tells  us  further,  that  it  indicates 
to  the  inhabitants  with  equal  certainty,  the  dens  of  Lions,  Tigers, 
Hya3nas,  and  other  beasts  of  prey  and  noxious  animals.  M.  Le 
Vaillant  says  that  the  Hottentots  are  very  partial  to  the  Moroc,  on 
account  of  the  service  it  renders  them  ;  and  that,  once,  when  he  was 
about  to  shoot  one,  they  on  that  account  begged  him  to  spare  its 
life. 


THE   BLACK   WOODPECKER.  541 


OF  THE  WOODPECKERS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  bill  is  straight,  strong,  and  angular ;  and  at  the  end,  in  most 
of  the  species,  is  formed  like  a  wedge,  for  the  purpose  of  piercing  the 
trees.  The  nostrils  are  covered  with  bristles.  The  tongue  is  very 
long,  slender,  cylindrical,  bony,  hard,  and  jagged  at  the  end.  The 
toes  are  placed  two  forward,  and  two  backward ;  and  the  tail  consists 
of  ten  hard,  stiff,  and  sharp-pointed  feathers. 

The  Woodpeckers  are  a  very  singular  race  of  birds,  that  live 
almost  entirely  on  insects,  which  they  pick  out  of  decayed  trees,  and 
from  the  bark  of  such  as  are  sound.  These  they  transfix  and  draw 
from  the  crevices  by  means  of  their  tongue,  which  is  bony  at  the 
end,  barbed,  and  furnished  with  a  curious  apparatus  of  muscles,  for 
the  purpose  of  throwing  it  forward  with  great  force.  Their  bill  is 
also  so  strong  and  powerful,  that  by  means  of  it  they  are  able  to  per- 
forate even  such  trees  as  are  perfectly  sound.  In  the  holes  which 
they  thus  make,  they  construct  their  nests.  Their  voice  is  acute,  and 
very  unpleasant. 


THE    BLACK    WOODPECKEE. 

This  bird  weighs  about  eleven  ounces.     Its  plumage  is  black  •  ex 
cept  the  crown  of  the  heac^  which  is  of  a  rich 
crimson.     The  head  of  the  female  is  only  marked 
with  red  behind. 

It  inhabits  Switzerland,  Germany,  and  several 
of  the  northern  regions  ;  and  is  migratory.  It  is 
also  quite  common  in  this  country. 

The   Black    Woodpecker   subsists   on    insects, 
which  it  catches  on  the  bark  of  trees,  or  between 
the  bark  and   the  wood.     It  darts  out  its  long 
tongue,  sometimes  three  or  four  inches  beyond  its 
bill,  transfixes  the  insects  with  the  end,  and  then  •       BLACK  WOODPECKER 
with  a  very  quick  motion  retracts  it  and  swallows 
them.     The  feathers  of  the  tail  are  very  stiff;  and  so  firmly  set  into 
the  rump,  that,  when  the  bird  has  fastened  its  claws  into  the  inequal- 
ities of  the  bark,  he  places  his  strong  tail-feathers  against  it,  and  thus 
standing  as  it  were  erect,  forms  a  hole  by  means  of  his  bill.     He  is 
able  to  pierce  not  only  sound,  but  even  hard  trees,  as  the  oak  and 
hornbeam.    The  hole  thus  made  is  enlarged  within,  for  the  greater 
convenience   of  depositing  its   nest.     The   damage  that   the   Black 
Woodpecker  does  to  timber  by  this  means  is  very  great. 

The  female  lays  two  or  three  white  eggs.     This  bird  has  a  very 
loud  note;  and  feeds  on  caterpillars  and  insects. 


542  THE    RED-HEADED    WOODPECKER. 


THE   WHITE-BILLED  WOODPECKER. 

This  species  is  about  the  size  of  a  crow.  The  bill  is  white,  three 
inches  long,  and  channelled.  On  the  head  is  a  red  pointed  crest:  the 
head  itself  and  the  body  in  general  are  black ;  but  the  lower  part  of 
the  back,  the  rump,  and  upper  tail  coverts,  are  white.  From  the  eye 
a  white  stripe  arises,  and  passes,  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  down  to 
the  back. 

The  White-billed  Woodpecker  is  -found  in  Carolina,  Virginia,  and 
other  parts  of  North  America. 

The  Spanish  settlers  of  South  America  have  given  to  the  White- 
billed  Woodpecker  the  name  of  Carpenter,  from  the  noise  that  it 
makes  with  its  bill  against  the  trees  in  the  woods.  This  is  heard  at 
a  great  distance;  and  when  several  of  these  birds  are  at  work  toge- 
ther, the  sound  is  not  much  unlike  that  proceeding  from  woodmen  or 
carpenters.  This  Woodpecker  rattles  its  bill  against  the  sides  of  the 
orifice,  till  even  the  woods  resound.  A  bushel  of  chips,  a  proof  of  its 
labors,  is  often  to  be  found  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  On  examination 
its  holes  have  been  generally  found  of  a  winding  form,  the  better  to 
protect  the  nest  from'  the  effects  of  the  weather. 

The  Canadian  Indians  make  a  kind  of  coronet  with  the  bills  of 
these  birds,  by  setting  them  in  a  wreath  with  the  points  outward ; 
and  for  this  purpose  they  will  purchase  them  at  the  rate  of  two  or 

three  buckskins  per  bill. 

*• 

THE  RED-HEADED  WOODPECKER. 

This  species  is  about  nine  inches  long.  The  bill  is  about  an  inch 
and  a  quarter  in  length,  of  a  lead  color  with  a  black  tip.  The  head 
and  neck  are  of  a  most  beautiful  crimson  ;  the  back  and  wings  are 
black,  the  rump,  breast,  and  belly,  white;  the  first  ten  quills  are 
black,  the  eleventh  black  and  white,  and  the  rest  white  with  black 
shafts.  It  inhabits  Carolina,  Canada,  and  most  other  parts  of  North 
America;  migrating  southwards,  according  to  the  severity  of  the 
weather. 

In  various  parts  of  America  these  Woodpeckers  are  extremely 
common:  and  few  animals  can  be  more  destructive  than  they  are,  in 
maize-fields  and  orchards.  They  attack  the  trees  in  flocks,  and  eat 
so  much  of  the  fruit  that  nothing  but  the  skin  is  left.  In  some  years 
they  are  much  more  numerous  than  in  others.  A  premium  of  four 
cents  per  head  was  formerly  paid  from  the  public  funds  of  some  of 
the  States,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  extirpate  the  breed :  but  this  has 
of  late  been  much  neglected. 

They  remain  during  the  whole  year  in  Virginia  and  Carolina,  but 
are  not  seen  in  such  numbers  in  winter  as  during  summer.  In  the 
winter  they  are  very  tame ;  and  they  are  frequently  known  to  come 
into  the  houses,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Redbreast  does  in  Eng- 
land. 


THE  TVRYXKCK. 


THE   WRYNECK.  543 

These  Woodpeckers,  like  the  other  species,  build  their  nests  in 
holes,  which  they  form  in  the  trees ;  and  it  is  said  that  the  noise  they 
make  with  their  bills  in  this  operation,  may  be  heard  more  than  a 
mile.  Their  flesh  is  by  many  people  accounted  good  eating. 


THE   WRYNECK. 

The  bill  of  the  Wryneck  is  roundish,  slightly  curved,  and  weak. 
The  nostrils  are  bare  of  feathers,  and  somewhat 
concave.  The  tongue  is  long,  slender,  and 
armed  at  the  point.  There  are  are  ten  flexi- 
ble feathers  in  the  tail ;  and  the  feet  are 
formed  for  climbing,  the  toes  being  placed 
two  backward  and  two  forward.  This  bird 
is  about  the  size  of  a  lark,  and  its  plumage 
consists  of  different  shades  of  brown,  ele- 
gantly blended  together.  The  tail-feathers 
are  of  a  pale  ash-color,  marked  with  black 
and  red,  and  having  four  equi-distant  bars  of  black. 

This  bird  (for  there  is  only  one  ascertained  species  of  its  tribe) 
is  well  known  in  most  parts  of  England.  In  the  form  of  its  tongue 
and  toes  it  resembles  the  Woodpeckers,  but  the  slenderness  of  the 
bill  prevents  its  being  arranged  amongst  them. 

The  female  builds  an  artless  nest  in  the  hole  of  a  tree,  and  deposits 
in  it  eight  or  ten  perfectly  white  eggs.  Dr.  Derham  informs  us,  that 
although  these  birds  are  far  from  being  any  way  terrible,  yet  when  in 
danger,,  they  have  such  singular  contortions  of 'their  neck,  and  such 
odd  motions  with  their  head,  that,  when  he  was  a  boy,  he  used  to  be 
so  much  alarmed  at  them,  that  he  was  deterred  from  either  taking 
their  nests  or  touching  the  birds,  daring  no  more  to  venture  his  hands 
into  their  holes,  than  if  a  Serpent  had  lodged  in  them.  The  young 
ones,  while  in  the  nest,  will  also  hiss  like  Snakes ;  which  may  afford 
an  additional  preventive  against  the  nest  being  plundered. 

Their  food  consists  principally  of  Ants  and  other  insects,  of  which 
they  find  great  abundance  lodged  in  the  bark  and  crevices  of  trees. 
They  also  frequent  grass-plots  and  Ant-hills ;  into  which  they  dart, 
their  tongues,  and  from  which  they  draw  out  their  prey.  Mr.  White, 
in  his  Naturalist's  Calendar,  tells  us  that  these  are  so  long  as  to  coil 
round  their  heads. 

The  manners  of  this  species  were  minutely  examined  by  taking 
a  female  from  her  nest,  and  confining  her  in  a  cage  for  some  days.  A 
quantity  of  mould,  with  Ants  and  their  grubs,  was  given  to  her ;  and 
it  was  curious  to  observe  the  tongue  darted  forward  and  retracted,  with 
such  velocity,  and  such  unerring  aim,  that  it  never  returned  without 
either  an  Ant  or  a  grub  adhering  to  its  viscous  extremity,  and  not 
transfixed  by  it  as  is  generally  supposed.  While  feeding,  the  body 
was  altogether  motionless  ;  the  head  only  being  turned ;  and  the  motion 
of  the  tongue  so  rapid,  that  the  grubs,  which  were  of  a  light  color,  and 
were  more  conspicuous  than  the  tongue,  had  somewhat  the  appearance 


544  THE    EUROPEAN    NUT-HATCH. 

of  moving  to  the  mouth  by  attraction,  as  a  small  particle  of  iron  flies 
to  a  magnet.  The  bill  was  rarely  used,  except  to  remove  the  mould 
in  order  to  get  more  readily  at  the  insects.  Where  the  earth  was 
hollow,  the  tongue  was  thrust  into,  the  cavities,  in  order  to  rouse  the 
Ants :  for  this  purpose  the  horny  extremity  is  very  serviceable,  as  a 
guide  to  it  into  the  interior. 

The  Wryneck  is  a  solitary  bird,  never  being  seen  in  any  other 
society  than  that  of  its  own  mate :  and  even  this  is  only  transitory  ;  for 
as  soon  as  the  domestic  union  is  dissolved,  which  is  in  the  month  of 
September,  each  retires  and  migrates  by  itself,  and  does  not  return  till 
the  ensuing  spring.  The  voice  of  these  birds  is  very  much  like  that 
of  the  smaller  species  of  Hawks.  They  also  sometimes  make  a  noise 
like  a  Grasshopper. 

OF  THE  NUT-HATCH  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  characters  of  this  tribe  are,  a  bill  for  the  most  part  straight, 
having,  on  the  lower  mandible,  a  small  angle  :  small  nostrils,  covered 
with  bristles :  a  short  tongue,  horny  at  the  end  and  jagged  :  toes  placed 
three  forward  and  one  backward  ;  the  middle  toe  joined  closely  at  the 
base  to  both  the  outer ;  and  the  back  toe  as  large  as  the  middle  one. 

In  the  habits  and  manners  of  the  different  species  of  Nut-hatch,  we 
observe  a  very  close  alliance  to  the  Wood-peckers.  Most  of  them  feed 
on  insects ;  and  some  on  nuts,  whence  their  appellation  has  been  acquired. 


THE   EUROPEAN  NUT-HATCH. 

The  length  of  this  bird  is  five  inches  and  three-quarters.  The  bill 
is  strong  and  straight,  about  three-quarters  of 
an  inch  long;  the  upper  mandible  is  black, 
and  the  lower  white.  All  the  upper  parts  of 
the  body  are  of  a  bluish  gray :  the  cheeks 
and  chin  are  white ;  the  breast  and  belly  pale 
orange- color ;  and  the  quills  dusky.  The  tail 
is  short ;  and  consists  of  twelve  feathers,  the 
HUt.HATCH  two  middle  ones  of  which  are  gray,  the  two 

outer  spotted  with  white,  and  the  rest  dusky. 

The  legs  are  pale  yellow ;  the  claws  are  large,  and  the  back  one  very 
strong. 

The  Nut-hatch,  the  Squirrel,  and  the  Field-mouse,  which  all  live 
much  on  hazel-nuts,  have  each  a  curious  way  of  getting  at  the  kernel. 
Of  the  two  latter,  the  Squirrel  after  rasping  off  the  small  end,  splits 
the  shell  in  two  with  his  long  fore-teeth,  as  a  man  does  with  his  knife ; 
the  Field-mouse  nibbles  a  hole  with  his  teeth,  as  regular  as  if  it  were 
drilled  with  a  whimble,  and  yet  so  small  that  one  would  wonder  how 
the  kernel  could  be  extracted  through  it ;  while  the  Nut-hatch  picks 
an  irregular  ragged  hole  with  his  bill ;  but,  as  he  has  no  paws  to  hold 
the  nut  firm  while  he  pierces  it,  he,  like  an  adroit  workman,  fixes  it, 
as  it  were  in  a  vice,  in  some  cleft  of  a  tree,  or  in  some  crevice  ;  when, 


OF   THE   KINGFISHER    TRIBE   IN    GENERAL.  545 

standing  over  it,  "he  perforates  the  stubborn  shell.  On  placing  nuts 
in  the  chink  of  a  gate-post  where  Nut-hatches  have  been  known  to 
haunt,  it  has  always  been  found  that  these  birds  have  readily  penetrated 
them.  While  at  work  they  make  a  rapping  noise,  which  may  be  heard 
at  a  considerable  distance.  Dr.  Plott  informs  us  that  this  bird,  by 
putting  its  bill  into  a  crack  in  the  bough  of  a  tree,  sometimes  makes  a 
loud  sound,  as  if  the  branch  were  rending  asunder.  Besides  nuts,  it 
feeds  also  on  Caterpillars,  Beetles  and  various  other  insects. 

The  female  deposits  her  eggs,  six  or  seven  in  number,  in  some  hole 
of  a  tree,  frequently  in  one  that  has  been  deserted  by  the  Woodpecker, 
or  rotten  wood  mixed  with  moss.  If  the  entrance  be  too  large,  she 
nicely  stops  up  part  of  it  with  clay,  leaving  only  a  small  hole  for  herself 
to  pass  in  and  out.  While  the  hen  is  sitting,  if  a  stick  be  put  into  the 
hole  she  hisses  like  a  snake  ;  and  she  is  so  much  attached  to  her  eggs, 
that  she  will  sooner  suffer  any  one  to  pluck  off  the  feathers  than  fly 
away.  During  the  time  of  incubation,  she  is  assiduously  attended  by  the 
male  who  supplies  her  with  food.  If  the  barrier  of  plaster  at  the  entrance 
of  the  hole  be  destroyed  whilst  these  birds  have  eggs,  it  is  speedily 
replaced ;  this  is  a  peculiar  instinct,  to  prevent  the  nest  from  being 
destroyed  by  Woodpeckers  and  other  birds  of  superior  size  and 
strength,  which  build  in  similar  situations. 

The  Nut-hatch  is  supposed  not  to  sleep  perched  (like  most  other 
birds)  on  a  twig ;  for  it  has  been  observed,  that  when  kept  in  a  cage, 
notwithstanding  it  would  perch  now  and  then,  yet  at  night  it  generally 
crept  into  some  hole  or  corner  to  sleep :  and  it  is  remarkable  that  when 
perched,  or  otherwise  at  rest,  it  had  mostly  the  head  downward,  or  at 
least  even  with  the  body,  and  not  elevated  like  other  birds. 

These  are  shy  and  solitary  birds.  Like  the  Woodpeckers  they 
frequent  woods,  and  run  up  and  down  the  trees  with  surprising 
facility.  They  often  move  their  tail  in  the  manner  of  the  Wagtail. 
They  do  not  migrate  ;  but,  during  the  winter,  they  approach  nearer  to 
inhabited  places,  and  are  sometimes  seen  in  orchards  and  gardens. 


OF  THE  KINGFISHER  TKIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  bill  is  sharp,  triangular,  long,  straight  and  thick.  The  tongue 
is  fleshy,  short,  flat  and  sharp. 
The  feet,  except  in  a  few  species, 
are  formed  for  climbing,  with 
the  toes  two  backward  and  two 
forward. 

These  birds  frequent  the  banks 
of  rivers ;  living  principally  on 
fish,  which  they  catch  with  great 
dexterity.  They  swallow  their 
prey  whole  but  afterwards  throw 
up  the  indigestible  parts.  Their 
wings  are  short;  yet  they  fly  very 
swiftly. 


546  THE  COMMON   KINGFISHER. 


THE   COMMON   KINGFISHER. 

The  length  of  the  Kingfisher  is  seven  inches,  and  its  breadth  eleven. 
The  bill  is  nearly  two  inches  long,  and  black ;  but  the  base  of  the 
lower  mandible  is  yellow.  The  top  of  the  head,  and  the  sides  of  the 
body,  are  of  a  dark  green,  marked  with  transverse  spots  of  blue.  The 
tail  is  of  a  deep  blue  ;  and  the  other  parts  of  the  body  are  of  a  dusky 
orange,  white,  and  black.  The  legs  are  red. 

In  the  beauty  and  brilliancy  of  its  plumage,  the  Common  Kingfisher 
far  excels  all  the  other  species  of  British  birds.  Its  shape  is,  however, 
somewhat  inelegant,  from  the  great  disproportion  there  is,  in  size, 
between  the  head  and  bill,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  body. 

Its  usual  prey  consists  of  the  smaller  kinds  of  fish,  It  frequently 
sits  on  a  branch  projecting  over  the  current:  there  ii  remains  motion- 
less, and  often  watches  whole  hours,  to  catch  the  moment  when  a  little 
fish  rises  to  the  surface  of  the  water  under  its  station;  it  dives  perpen- 
dicularly into  the  water,  where  it  continues  several  seconds,  and  then 
brings  up  the  fish,  which  it  carries  to  land,  beats  to  death,  and  after- 
wards swallows. 

When  the  Kingfisher  cannot  find  a  projecting  bough,  it  sits  on 
some  stone  near  the  brink,  or  even  on  the  gravel;  but  the  moment  it 
perceives  the  fish,  it  takes  a  spring  upward,  of  twelve  or  fifteen  feet, 
and  drops  perpendicularly  from  that  height.  Often  it  is  observed  to 
stop  short  in  its  rapid  course,  and  remain  stationary,  hovering  (in  a 
manner  not  unlike  some  of  the  Hawk  tribe)  over  the  same  spot  for 
several  seconds.  Such  is  its  mode  in  winter,  when  the  muddy  swell 
of  the  stream,  or  the  thickness  of  the  ice,  constrains  it  to  leave  the 
rivers,  and  ply  along  the  sides  of  the  unfrozen  brooks.  At  each  pause 
it  continues,  as  it  were,  suspended  at  the  height  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
feet;  and,  when  it  would  change  its  place,  it  sinks,  and  skims  along 
within  a  foot  of  the  surface  of  the  water,  then  rises  and  halts  again. 
This  repeated  and  almost  continual  exercise,  shows  that  the  bird  dives 
for  many  small  objects,  fishes  or  insects,  and  often  in  vain ;  for  in  this 
way  it  passes  over  many  a  league. 

u  Kingfishers  (says  Mr.  Gmelin)  are  seen  all  over  Siberia ;  and  their 
feathers  are  employed  by  the  Tartars  and  the  Ostiacs  for  many  super- 
stitious uses.  The  former  pluck  them,  cast  them  into  water,  and 
carefully  preserve  such  as  float ;  and  they  pretend,  that  if  with  one 
of  these  feathers  they  touch  a  woman,  or  even  her  clothes,  she  must 
fall  in  love  with  them.  The  Ostiacs  take  the  skin,  the  bill,  and  the 
claws,  of  this  bird,  and  shut  them  in  a  purse ;  and,  as  long  as  they 
preserve  this  sort  of  amulet,  they  believe  that  they  have  no  ill  to  fear. 
The  person  who  taught  me  this  means  of  living  happy,  could  not  for- 
bear shedding  tears;  he  told  me  that  the  loss  of  a  Kingfisher's  skin 
that  he  had,  caused  him  to  lose  also  his  wife  and  his  goods.  I  ob- 
served, that  such  a  bird  could  not  be  very  rare,  since  a  countryman 
of  his  had  brought  me  one,  with  its  skin  and  feathers;  he  was  much 
surprised,  and  said  that  if  he  had  the  luck  to  find  one,  he  would  give 
it  to  no  person." 


THE    BELTED    KINGFISHER. 


547 


M.  D'Aubenton  was  enabled  to  keep  several  of  these  birds  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  by  supplying  them  with  small  fish,  which 
he  put  into  basins  of  water,  and  on  which  they  fed.  They  refused  all 
other  kinds  of  nourishment. 

The  Kingfisher  lays  its  eggs,  to  the  number  of  seven  or  more,  in  a 
hole  in  the  bank  of  the  river  or  stream  that  it  frequents.  Dr.  Hey- 
sham  had  a  female  brought  alive  to  him  at  Carlisle,  by  a  boy,  who 
said  he  had  taken  it  the  preceding  night  when  sitting  on  its  eggs. 
His  information  on  the  subject  was,  that  "  having  often  observed  these 
birds  frequent  a  bank  upon  the  river  Peteril,  he  had  watched  them 
carefully,  and  at  last  he  saw  them  go  into  a  small  hole  in  the  bank. 
The  hole  was  too  narrow  to  admit  his  hand  ;  but,  as  it  was  made  in 
soft  mould,  he  easily  enlarged  it.  .  It  was  upwards  of  half  a  yard  long : 
at  the  end  of  it,  the  eggs,  which  were  six  in  number,  were  placed  upon 
the  bare  mould,  without  the  smallest  appearance  of  a  nest."  The  eggs 
were  considerably  larger  than  those. of  the  Yellow-hammer,  and  of°a 
transparent  white  color.  It  appears  from  a  still  later  account  than 
this,  that  the  direction  of  the  holes  is  always  upward ;  that  they  are 
enlarged  at  the  end ;  and  have  there  a  kind  of  bedding  formed  of  the 
bones  of  small  fish,  and  some  other  substances,  evidently  the  castings 
of  the  parent  animals.  This  bedding  is  generally  about  half  an  inch 
thick,  and  mixed  with  earth.  There  is  reason  to  believe,  that  both 
male  and  female  come  to  this  spot  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  eject 
the  refuse  of  their  food,  for  some  time  before  the  latter  begins  to  lay : 
and  that  they  dry  it  with  the  heat  of  their  bodies ;  as  they  are  fre- 
quently known  to  continue  in  the  hole  for  hours,  long  before  the 
period  for  laying.  On  this  disgorged  matter  the  female  deposits  and 
hatches  her  eggs.  When  the  young- ones  are  nearly  full-feathered, 
they  are  extremely  voracious;  and  the  old  birds  not  supplying  them 
with  all  the  food  they 
could  devour,  they  are 
continually  chirping, 
and  maybe  discovered 
by  their  noise. 

It  was  once  believed 
that,  when  the  body 
of  a  Kingfisher  was 
suspended  by  a  thread, 
some  magnetic  influ^ 
ence  always  turned 
its  breast  to  the  north. 
This,  however,  is  as 
fabulous  as  the  tradi- 
tion, that  it  will  pre- 
serve woolen  cloth 
from  the  depredations 
of  Moths. 

The   Belted    King- 
fisher is  an  American 
variety  of  this  bird. 
35 


THE  BELTED  KHK3FISHER. 


548  THE    COMMON    CREEPER. 


OF  THE  CBEEPER  TKIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  bills  of  these  birds  are  curved,  slender,  and  pointed.  The 
tongue  is  generally  sharp,  fringed,  or  tubular.  The  legs  are  strong, 
and  formed  with  three  toes  forward. 

The  Creepers  are  dispersed  through  most  countries  of  the  globe. 
They  feed  chiefly  on  insects,  in  search  of  which  they  run  up  and 
down  the  stems  and  branches  of  trees.  Most  of  the  species  breed  in 
hollows  of  trees,  where  they  lay  many  eggs. 


THE   COMMON  CREEPER,   AND   RED  CREEPER. 

The  bill  of  the  Common  Creeper  is  hooked ;  and  its  legs  are 
slender,  with  the  claws  very  long,  to  enable 
it  to  creep  up  and  down  the  bodies  of  trees 
in  search  of  insects.  Its  color  is  a  mixed 
gray,  with  the  under  parts  white.  The  quill- 
feathers  of  the  wings  are  brown,  and  several 
of  them  are  tipped  with  white.  The  tail  is 
long,  and  consists  of  twelve  stiff  feathers. 

It  is  found  both  in  Europe  and  Asia;  and 
is  also  very  common  in  some  parts  of  North 
America,  particularly  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Philadelphia. 

Except    the   Humming-bird,   this   is   the 
smallest  of  all  the  feathered  tribes ;  its  weight 
being   no    more   than    five    drachms.     The 
CHEEPERS.  length  of  its  feathers,  and  the  manner  that  it 

has   of  ruffling  them,  give    it,  however,  an 

appearance  much  beyond  its  real  size.  It  is  a  bird  which  seems 
peculiarly  fond  of  the  society  of  man;  and  in  some  parts  of  the 
world  it  is  often  protected  by  his  interested  care.  From  observing 
its  utility  in  destroying  insects,  it  has  long  been  a  custom,  with  the 
inhabitants  of  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  to  fix  a  small  box  at 
the  end  of  a  long  pole,  in  gardens  and  about  houses,  as  a  place  for  it 
to  build  in.  .  In  these  boxes  the  animals  form  their  nests,  and  hatch 
their  young-ones ;  which  the  parent  birds  feed  with  a  variety  of  dif- 
ferent insects,  particularly  those  species  that  are  injurious  in  gardens. 
A  gentleman,  who  was  at  the  trouble  of  watching  these  birds, 
observed  that  the  parents  generally  went  from  the  nest  and  returned 
with  insects  from  forty  to  sixty  times  in  an  hour,  and  that,  in  one 
particular  hour,  they  carried  food  no  fewer  than  seventy-one  times. 
In  this  business  they  were  engaged  during  the  greatest  part  of  the 
day.  Allowing  twelve  hours  to  be  thus  occupied,  a  single  pair  of 
these  birds  would  destroy  at  least  six  hundred  insects  in  the  course 
of  one  day ,  on  the  supposition  that  the  two  birds  took  only  a  single 
insect  each  time.  But  it  is  highly  probable  that  they  often  took  more. 


THE    RED   CREEPER.  549 

I  suspect  that  this  is  the  bird  which  Mr.  St.  John,  in  his  Letters  of 
an  American  farmer,  has  called  a  Wren,  and  of  which  he  records  the 
following  story. — Three  birds  had  built  their  nests  almost  contiguous 
to  each  other.  A  Swallow  had  affixed  hers  in  the  corner  of  a  piazza 
next  his  house ;  a  bird  which  he  calls  a  Phebe  in  the  other  corner ; 
and  a  Wren  possessed  a  little  box,  which  he  had  made  on  purpose, 
and  hung  between.  These  were  all  quite  tame.  The  Wren  had  for 
some  time,  shown  signs  of  dislike  to  the  box  which  had  been  given 
to  it,  though  it  was  not  known  on  what  account.  At  length,  how- 
ever, small  as  it  was,  it  resolved  to  drive  the  Swallow  from  its  habita- 
tion ;  and,  astonishing  to  say,  it  succeeded.  "  Impudence."  says  Mr. 
St.  John,  "gets  the  better  of  modesty ;  and  this  exploit  was  no  sooner 
performed,  than  the  Wren  removed  every  material  to  its  own  box, 
with  the  most  admirable  dexterity.  The  signs  of  triumph  appeared 
very  visible ;  it  fluttered  its  wings  with  uncommon  velocity ;  and  an 
universal  joy  was  preceptible  in  all  its  movements.  The  peaceable 
Swallow,  like  the  passive  Quaker,  meekly  sat  at  a  small  distance,  and 
never  offered  the  least  opposition.  But  no  sooner  was  the  plunder 
carried  away,  than  the  injured  bird  went  to  work  with  unabated 
ardor,  and  in  a  few  days  the  depredations  were  repaired."  Mr.  St. 
John,  to  prevent  any  repetition  of  the  same  violence,  removed  the 
Wren's  box  to  another  part  of  the  house. 

The  Creeper  hatches  twice  during  the  summer,  and  has  generally 
from  eighteen  to  twenty  eggs  at  a  time. 


THE   BED   CREEPER. 

This  diminutive  inhabitant  of  New  Spain,  smaller  than  even  the 
last-mentioned  species,  I  mention  merely  for  the  purpose  of  descri- 
bing its  nest ;  which,  differing,  in  this  respect,  from  those  of  most  of 
the  other  species  of  Creepers,  is  pensile. 

The  nest  is  formed  not  unlike  a  chemist's  retort  placed  with  the 
mouth  downward,  through  which  the  bird  ascends  to  its  offspring  in 
the  bulb  at  the  top.  Its  length  is  fourteen  or  sixteen  inches;  and  it 
is  suspended  to  the  most  extreme  and  tender  branches  of  the  trees, 
by  means  of  a  kind  of  woven  work,  of  similar  materials  to  the  exte- 
rior of  the  nest.  In  the  broadest  part  of  the  bulb,  it  measures  about 
six  inches  in  diameter.  Within  it  is  lined  with  soft  and  downy 
materials,  to  guard  the  bodies  of  the  tender  young-ones  from  injury; 
and  it  is  altogether  so  very  light,  as  to  be  driven  about  by  the  mosit 
gentle  breeze. 


550  THE  RED-THROATED  HUMMING-BIRD. 


OF  THE  HUMMING-BIRDS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  characters  of  this  tribe  are,  a  slender,  weak  bill,  in  some  species 

curved,    in    others 
straight;    the   nostrils 
are   minute:    the 
^H     ^^^  tongue   is   very  long, 

and  formed  of  two 
conjoined  cylindrical 
tubes:  the  legs  are 
weak :  the  toes  placed 
three  forward  and  one 
backward :  and  the  tail 

H.MMIXO-BIBI,  c o ns  i s t  i  ii g  of  ten 

feathers. 

The  Humming-birds  are  the  most  diminutive  of  all  the  feathered 
tribes.  They  are  natives  of  the  warmer  parts  of  America,  and  of 
some  of  the  West-India  islands ;  and  bear  a  great  resemblance  to 
each  other  in  manners.  Their  principal  food,  is  the  nectar  at  the 
bottom  of  tubular-shaped  flowers:  this  they  extract,  while  on  wing, 
by  means  of  their  long  and  slender  bill.  Their  name  is  derived  from 
the  humming  noise  they  make  with  their  wings.  They  are  grega- 
rious; and  construct  an  elegant  hemispherical  nest,  in  which  they  lay 
two  small  white  eggs,  that  are  hatched  by  the  sitting  of  the  male  and 
female  alternately,  The  young- ones  are  often  attacked  and  devoured 
by  Spiders.  These  birds  may  be  caught  by  blowing  water  upon  them 
from  a  tube;  or,  like  many  of  our  small  birds,  they  may  be  shot  with 
sand.  Small  as  they  are,  they  are  extremely  bold  and  pugnacious. 
Their  colors  are  too  brilliant  to  be  expressed  by  any  pencil. 

THE   RED-THROATED    HUMMIMG-BIRD 

The  length  of  this  diminutive  creature  is  somewhat  more  than 
three  inches;  of  which  its  bill  occupies  three  quarters  of  an  inch. 
The  male  is  of  a  green -gold  color  on  the  upper  part,  with  a  change- 
able copper  gloss ;  and  the  under  parts  are  gray.  The  throat  and 
forepart  of  the  neck  are  of  a  ruby  color,  in  some  lights  as  bright  as 
fire.  When  viewed  sideways,  the  feathers  appear  mixed  with  gold, 
and  beneath  they  are  of  a  dull  garnet  color.  The  two  middle  feathers 
of  the  tail  are  similar  in  color  to  the  upper  plumage,  and  the  rest  are 
brown. 

The  female,  instead  of  the  bright  ruby  throat,  has  only  a  few 
obscure  brown  spots ;  and  all  the  outer  tail-feathers,  which  in  the  male 
are  plain,  are  in  the  female  tipped  with  white. 

This  beautiful  little  creature  is  as  admirable  for  its  vast  swiftness 
in  the  air,  and  its  manner  of  feeding,  as  for  the  elegance  and  brilliancy 
of  its  colors.  It  flies  so  swiftly,  that  the  eye  is  incapable  of  following 
its  course ;  and  the  motion  of  its  wings  is  so  rapid,  as  to  be  imper- 


THE   RED-THROATED  HUMMING-BIRD. 


551 


THE  RED-THROATED  HUMMING-BIRD. 


ceptible  to  the  nicest  observer.     Lightning  is  scarcely  more  transient 
than     its     flight, 
nor    the    glare 
more  bright  than 
its  colors. 

It  never  feeds 
but  upon  the 
•wing,  suspended, 
over  the  flower 
from  which  it 
extracts  nourish- 
ment ;  f o  r  its 
only  food  is  the 
honeyed  juice 
lodged  in  flowers, 
and  this  it  sucks 
through  the  tubes 
of  its  curious 
tongue.  Like  the 
bee,  having  ex- 
hausted the  honey 
of  one  flower,  it 
wanders  to  the 
next  in  search  of 

new  sweets.  It  admires  most  those  flowers  that  have  the  deepest 
tubes ;  and  in  the  countries  which  these  birds  inhabit,  whoever  sets 
plants  of  this  description  before  his  windows,  is  sure  to  be  visited  by 
great  numbers  of  them.  It  is  very  entertaining  to  see  them  swarming 
around  the  flowers,  and  trying  every  tube  by  putting  in  their  bills. 
If  they  find  that  their  brethren  have  anticipated  them,  and  robbed 
the  flower  of  its  honey,  they  will  pluck  it  off  in  a  rage,  and  throw  it 
on  the  ground ;  and  sometimes  they  tear  it  in  pieces. 

The  most  violent  passions  animate  at  times  these  diminutive  crea- 
tures. They  have  often  dreadful  contests,  when  numbers  of  them 
happen  to  dispute  the  possession  of  the  same  flower.  They  tilt  against 
one  another  with  such  fury,  as  if  they  meant  to  transfix  their  anta- 
gonists with  their  long  bills.  During  the  fight  they  frequently  pursue 
the  conquered  birds  into  the  apartments  of  houses  where  the  windows 
are  left  open;  they  take  a  turn  round  the  room,  as  flies  do  in  England; 
and  then  suddenly  regain  the  open  air.  'They  are  fearless  of  man- 
kind; and,  in  feeding,  will  suffer  persons  to  come  within  two  yards 
of  them ;  but,  on  a  nearer  approach,  they  dart  away  with  wonderful 
swiftness. 

The  Ked-throated  Humming-Bird  generally  builds  on  the  middle 
branch  of  a  tree,  but  sometimes  in  a  low  bush,  or  even  on  a  tobacco- 
stalk  :  and  the  nest  is  very  small.  It  is  quite  round:  the  outside  is 
for  the  most  -part  composed  of  the  green  moss  common  on  old  pales 
and  trees;  and  the  inside,  of  the  softest  vegetable  down  the  birds 
can  collect.  The  female  lays  two  eggs,  of  the  size  of  a  pea;  which 
are  white,  and  equal  in  thickness  at  both  ends. 


552 


THE   RED-THROATED  HUMMING-BIRD. 


HUMMING-BIRDS  AND  NEST. 


Fernandez  Oviedo,  an  author  of  great  repute,  speaks,  from  his  own 

knowledge,  of  the  spirited  conduct  even 
of  these  diminutive  birds,  in  defence  of 
their  young-ones:  "When  they  observe 
any  one  climbing  a  tree  in  which  they 
have  a  nest,  they  attack  him  in  the  face, 
attempting  to  strike  him  in  the  eyes  ;  and 
coming,  going,  and  returning,  with  almost 
incredible  swiftness." 

.  The  Humming-Bird  is  seldom  caught 
alive ;  a  friend  of  M.  du  Pratz  had,  how- 
ever, this  pleasure.  He  had  observed 
one  of  these  birds  enter  the  bell  of  a 
convolvulas ;  and,  as  it  had  quite  buried  itself  to  get  at  the  bottom, 
he  ran  immediately  to  the  place,  closed  the  flower,  cut  it  from  the 
stalk,  and  carried  off  the  bird  a  prisoner.  He  could  not,  however, 
prevail  with  it  to  eat ;  and  it  died  in  the  course  of  three  or  four  days. 
Carlevoix  informs  us,  that,  in  Canada,  he  had  possession  of  one  of 

these  birds,  for 
about  twenty- 
four  hours.  It 
suffered  itself  to 
be  handled ;  and 
even  counter- 
feited death  that 
it  might  escape. 
A  slight  frost  in 
the  night  des- 
troyed it. 

"My  friend 
Captain  Davis 
informs  me," 
says  Dr.  Latham, 
in  his  Synopsis 
of  Birds,  "that 
he  kept  these 
birds  alive  for 
four  months  by 
the  following 
method : — He 
made  an  exact 
representation  of 
some  of  the 
tubular  flowers, 
with  paper  fast- 
ened round  a 
tobacco-pipe,  and 
painted  them  of 

a  proper  color :  these  were  placed  in  the  order  of  nature,  in  the  cage 
in  which  the  little  creatures  were  confined  :  the  bottoms  of  the  tubes 


GROUP  OF  HUMMING-BIRDS. 


HUMMING   BIRDS. 


553 


sugar 


per- 
they 
and, 


HUMMIXG-BIRD  OP   CANADA  AND  THE   UNITED  STATES. 


were  filled  with  a  mixture  of  brown 
emptied;     and     lie    had     the 
pleasure  of  seeing  them 
form   every  action ;    for 
soon   grew  familiar, 
though  close  under  the  eye, 
took  their  nourishment  in  the 
same  manner  as  when  ranging 
at  large  in  the  open  air." 

The  tongue  of  the  Humming- 
bird is  formed  much  like  that 
of  the  Woodpecker,  being 
curled  round  the  head,  under 
the  skin,  and  thus  capable  of 
being  darted  to  a  considerable 
distance. 

There  is  a  fable  of  a  wren 
and  an  Eagle.  The  two  birds 
entered  into  a  contest  respect- 
ing the  height  to  which  they 
could  severally  attain.  A  day 
was  fixed,  and  the  birds  started. 
Away  went  the  Eagle,  soaring  in  lessening  spires,  until  his  form  was 
lost  in  the  clouds.  But  where  was  the  wren  ?  The  Eagle  had  lost 
sight  of  his  pigmy  opponent  long  ago,  but  in  his  pride  to  show  what 
he  could  do,  he  still  soared  on  and  on,  until  the  lighter  air  would 
scarcely  bear  his  weight.  As  he  hovered  with  wearied  and  rapidly 
beating  wings,  unable  to  gain  another  yard,  up  sprang  the  wren  from 
among  the  Eagle's  feathers,  where  it  had  sat  very  comfortably  all  the 
while,  and  fluttered  above  his  head  with  a  song  of  triumph. 

But  truth,  as  has  been  often  said,  is  stranger  than  fiction,  as  appears 
from  the  fact  that  the  Eagle  can  be  vanished  by  a  more  insignificant 
foe  than  even  the  Wren,  by  the  Humming-Bird,  which  is  not  content 
with  a  mere  racing  victory,  but  drives  the  Eagle  before  it.  The  Euby- 
throated  Humming-Bird  has  been  seen  to  dart  between  the  wings  of  a 
flying  Eagle,  to  perch  upon  its  head,  deliberately  to  strip  off  the 
feathers,  and  send  them  floating  in  a  stream  after  the  flight  of  the 
persecuted  Eagle,  which  seemed  almost  driven  to  madness  by  its  tiny 
foe. 

Like  many  other  little  creatures,  the  assurance  and  impudence  of 
the  Humming-bird  is  remarkable.  It  is  easily  tamed  for  that  very 
reason,  and  has  been  known  to  domesticate  itself  in  an  hour  from  the 
time  of  its  capture,  and  even  when  released,  it  has  returned  again  to 
partake  of  the  dainties  which  it  had  tasted  during  its  captivity. 


PASSERINE     BIRDS. 


THE  birds  of  this  order  have  their  bills  of  a  conical  form,  and 
pointed  at  the  end  ;  and  the  feet  are  formed  for  perching  and  hopping, 
the  toes  being  slender  and  divided,  with  slender,  bent,  and  sharp 
claws. 


OF  THE  STAKE  TEIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  the  present  tribe  the  bill  is  straight,  and  depressed.  The  nostrils 
are  guarded  above  by  a  prominent  rim.  The  tongue  is  hard  and 
cloven ;  and  the  middle  toe  is  connected  to  the  outermost  as  far  as  the 
first  joint. 

There  are,  belonging  to  this  tribe,  about  twenty  known  species,  some 
of  which  are  found  exclusively  upon  the  Old,  and  others  on  the  New 
Continent.  They  chiefly  feed  on  insects  and  worms. 


THE   STARLING. 

Few  Birds  are  more  generally  known  than  the  Starling.  It  is  an 
inhabitant  of  almost  all  climates,  and  is  common  in  every  part  of 
England. 

In  the  winter  season  Starlings  collect  in  vast  flocks,  and  may  be 
known  at  a  great  distance  by  their  whirling 
mode  of  flight ;  which  M.  de  Buffon  compares 
to  a  sort  of  vortex,  in  which  the  collective 
body  performs  a  uniformly  circular  revolution, 
and  at  the  same  time  continues  to  make  a 
progressive  advance.  The  evening  is  the  time 
when  Starlings  assemble  in  the  greatest  num- 
bers, and  betake  themselves  to  the  fens  and 
marches.  In  the  fens  of  Lincolnshire  they 
STABLING.  collect  in  myriads,  and  do  great  damage  to  the 

inhabitants    by   roosting   on    the   reeds,    (the 
thatch  of  that  country, )  and  breaking  them  down  by  their  weight. 

They  chatter  much  in  the  evening  and  morning,  both  when  they 
assemble  and  disperse.  So  attached  are  they  to  society,  that  they  not 
only  join  those  of  their  own  species,  but  also  birds  of  different  kinds, 
and  are  frequently  seen  in  company  with  Redwings,  Fieldfares,  and 
even  with  Owls,  Jackdaws,  and  Pigeons.  Their  principal  food  consists 
of  Snails,  Worms,  and  insects :  they  likewise  eat  various  kinds  of  grain, 
seeds,  and  fruit,  and  are  said  to  be  particularly  fond  of  cherries.  It  is 
(554) 


THE   STARLING. 


555 


reported  of  them  that  they  get  into  pigeon-houses  for  the  purpose  of 
sucking  the  eggs. 

The  female  builds  an  artless  nest  of  straw  and  small  fibres,  in  the 
hollows  of  trees,  rocks,  or  old  walls,  and  sometimes  in  cliffs  that  over- 
hang the  sea.  She  lays  four  or  five  eggs,  of  a  pale  greenish-ash  color. 

The  Starling  is  a  familiar  bird,  and  in  a  state  of  captivity  is  easily 
trained.  Its  natural  voice  is  strong  and  hoarse  ;  but  it  may  be  taught, 
without  difficulty,  to  repeat  short  sentences,  or  to  whistle  tunes  with 
great  exactness.  In  a  state  of  confinement  it  will  eat  small  pieces  of 
raw  flesh,  or  bread  soaked  in  water. 

This  well 
known  harmless 
inhabitant  of 
meadows  and  old 
fields  is  not  only 
found  in  every 
part  of  the  United 
States,  but  ap- 
pears to  b  e  a 
resident  in  all  the 
intermediate 
region,  from  the 
frigid  latitude  of 
53°,  and  the  terri- 
tory of  Oregon, 
to  the  mild  table 
land  of  Mexico, 
and  the  tropical 

savannahs  of  Guiana.  In  the  winter  they  abound  in  Alabama  and 
West  Florida,  so  that  in  some  degree,  like  the  Jays,  and  the  legit- 
imate Starlings,  they  partially  migrate  in  quest  of  food  during  the 
severity  of  the  weather  in  the  colder  states.  It  is  not  however  improb- 
able, but  that  most  of  the  migrating  families  of  this  bird,  which  we  find 
at  this  season,  have  merely  travelled  eastward  from  the  cold  western 
plains  that  are  annually  covered  with  snow.  They  are  now  seen  in 
considerable  numbers  in  and  round  the  salt  marshes,  roving  about  in 
flocks  of  ten  to  thirty  or  more,  seeking  the  shelter  of  the  sea-coast, 
though  not  in  such  dense  flocks  as  the  true  Starlings ;  these  in  the 
manner  of  our  common  Blackbirds  assemble  in  winter,  like  dark  clouds, 
moving  as  one  body,  and  when  about  to  descend,  perform  progressive 
circular  evolutions  in  the  air,  like  a  phalanx  in  the  order  of  battle  ;  and 
when  settled,  blacken  the  earth  with  their  numbers,  as  well  as  stun  the 
ears  with  their  chatter.  Like  crows  also,  they  seek  the  shelter  of  reed 
marshes  to  pass  the  night,  and  in  the  day  take  the  benefit  of  every 
sunny  and  sheltered  covert. 


AMERICAN  STABLING   OR  MEADOW   LARK. 


VTATER  OUZEL. 


556  THE  WATER  OUZEL. 


THE  WATER  OUZEL. 

The  Water  Ouzel  is,  in  size,  somewhat  less  than  the  Blackbird. 
Its  bill  is  black,  and  almost  straight.  The 
eyelids  are  white.  The  upper  parts  of  the 
head  and  neck  are  of  a  deep  brown ;  and  the 
rest  of  the  upper  parts,  the  belly,  the  vent, 
and  the  tail,  are  black.  The  chin,  the  forepart 
of  the  neck,  and  breast,  are  white  or  yellow- 
ish. The  legs  are  black. 

This  bird  frequents  the  banks  of  springs 
and  brooks ;  and  prefers  those  of  limpid 
streams  whose  fall  is  rapid,  and  whose  bed  is  broken  with  stones  and 
fragments  of  rocks. 

Its  habits  are  singular.  Aquatic  birds,  with  palmated  feet,  swim 
or  dive ;  those  which  inhabit  the  shores,  wade  by  means  of  their  tall 
legs,  without  wetting  their  body ;  but  the  Water  Ouzel  walks  quite 
into  the  flood,  following  the  declivity  of  the  ground.  It  is  observed 
to  enter  by  degrees,  till  the  water  reaches  its  neck  ;  and  it  still  advances 
holding  its  head  not  higher  than  usual,  though  completely  immersed. 
It  continues  to  walk  under  the  water :  arid  even  descends  to  the  bottom, 
where  it  saunters  as  on  a  dry  bank.  The  following  is  an  account  of 
this  extraordinary  habit,  which  was  communicated  by  M.  Herbert  to 
M.  de  Buffon : 

"I  lay  concealed  on  the  verge  of  the  lake  Nantua,  in  a  hut  formed 
of  pine-branches  and  snow ;  where  I  was  waiting  till  ^  boat,  which 
was  rowing  on  the  lake,  should  drive  some  wild  ducks  to  the  water's 
edge.  Before  me  was  a  small  inlet,  the  bottom  of  which  gently 
shelved,  till  the  water  was  two  or  three  feet  deep  in  the  middle. 
A  Water  Ouzel  stopped  here  more  than  an  hour,  and  I  had  full  leis- 
ure to  view  its  manoeuvres.  It  entered  the  water,  disappeared,  and 
again  emerged  on  the  other  side  of  the  inlet,  which  it  thus  repeatedly 
forded.  It  traversed  the  whole  of  the  bottom,  and  in  so  doing  seemed 
not  to  have  changed  its  element,  and  discovered  no  hesitation  or  re- 
luctance in  the  immersion.  However,  I  perceived  several  times,  that 
as  often  as  it  waded  deeper  than  the  knee,  it  displayed  its  wings,  and 
allowed  them  to  hang  to  the  ground.  I  remarked  too,  that,  when  I 
could  discern  it  at  the  bottom  of  the  water,  it  appeared  enveloped  with 
air,  which  gave  it  a  brilliant  surface;  like  that  on  some  sorts  of 
beetles,  which  in  water  are  always  enclosed  in  a  bubble  of  air.  Its  view 
in  dropping  its  wings  on  entering  the  water,  might  be  to  confine  this 
air ;  it  was  certainly  never  without  some,  and  it  seemed  to  quiver. 
These  singular  habits  were  unknown  to  all  the  sportsmen  with  whom 
I  talked  on  the  subject ;  and  perhaps,  had  it  not  been  for  the  accident 
of  the  snow-hut  in  which  I  was  concealed,  I  should  also  have  for  ever 
remained  ignorant  of  them  ;  but  the  above  facts  I  can  aver,  as  the 
bird  came  quite  to  my  feet,  and  that  I  might  observe  it,  I  refrained 
from  killing  it." 


THE   RING    OUZEL.  557 

The  Water  Ouzel  is  found  in  many  parts  of  Europe.  The  female 
makes  her  nest  on  the  ground,  in  some  mossy  bank  near  the  water,  ot 
hay  and  dried  fibres,  lining  it  with  dry  oak-leaves,  and  forming  to  it 
a  portico  or  entrance  of  moss.  The  eggs  are  five  in  number ;  white, 
tinged  with  a  fine  blush  of  red.  A  pair  of  these  birds,  which  had 
for  many  years  built  under  a  small  wooden  bridge  in  Caermarthen- 
shire,  were  found  to  have  a  nest  early  in  May  :  this  was  taken,  but  it 
contained  no  eggs,  although  the  bird  flew  out  of  it  at  the  time. 
About  a  fortnight  afterwards  they  had  completed  another  nest  in  the 
same  place,  enclosing  five  eggs;  this  was  taken;  and,  in  a  month, 
a  third  nest,  under  the  same  bridge,  was  taken,  that  had  in  it  four 
eggs ;  undoubtedly  the  work  of  the  same  birds,  as  no  others  were 
seen  about  that  part.  At  the  time  that  the  last  nest  was  taken,  the 
female  was  sitting ;  and  the  instant  she  quitted  the  nest,  she  plunged 
into  the  water,  and  disappeared  for  a  considerable  while,  till  at  last 
she  emerged  at  a  great  distance  down  the  stream.  At  another  time,  a 
nest  of  the  Water  Ouzel  was  found  in  a  steep  projecting  bank  (over 
a  rivulet)  clothed  with  moss.  The  nest  was  so  well  adapted  in  color 
to  the  surrounding  materials,  that  nothing  but  one  of  the  old  birds 
flying  in  with  a  fish  in  its  bill  could  have  led  to  the  discovery.  The 
young-ones  were  nearly  feathered,  but  incapable  of  flight ;  and  the 
moment  the  nest  was  disturbed  they  fluttered  out  and  dropped  into 
the  water,  and,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  persons  present,  instantly 
vanished  ;  but  in  a  little  time  they  re-appeared  at  some  distance  down 
the  stream,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  two  out  of  the  five  were 
taken. 

The  Water  Ouzel  will  sometimes  pick  up  insects  at  the  edge  of  the 
water.  When  disturbed,  it  usually  flirts  up  its  tail,  and  makes  a 
chirping  noise.  Its  song  in  spring  is  said  to  be  very  pretty.  In 
some  places  this  bird  is  supposed  to  be  migratory. 


THE   KING   OUZEL. 

This  bird  is  found  in  various  parts  of  Europe,  and  is  somewhat 
larger  than  the  common  Blackbird.  They  haunt  the  wildest  and 
most  rocky  parts  of  glens  and  ravines,  and  make  their  nest  on  some 
steep  bank,  under  the  covert  of  grass  or  heath,  or  on  some  shelf 
amidst  mosses,  which,  the  outside  being  made  of  the  same  materials, 
entirely  conceal  it  from  view.  The  upper  parts  of  the  body  of  the 
male  bird  is  black,  the  feathers  being  margined  with  blackish -grey. 
On  the  upper  part  of  the  breast  is  a  large  crescent-shaped  gorget  of 
pure  white.  The  plumage  of  the  female  bird  is  more  clouded  with 
grey,  and  the  pectoral  gorget  is  much  smaller,  and  clouded  with  red- 
dish-brown and  grey. 


558 


WHEATEAR — THE   REDSTART. 


THE   WHEATEAR. 

The  Wheatear  is  one  of  our  early  visitors,  appearing  at  the  begin- 
ning of  March.  It  is  a  very  conspicuous  bird,  and  can  be  readily 
distinguished  by  the  black  mark  that  surrounds  the  eye,  and  stretches 
from  the  base  of  the  bill,  to  beyond  the  ear-coverts.  It  is  a  very 
pretty  songster,  its  notes  being  soft  and  sweet,  although  wanting  in 
power. 

It  is  killed  in  great  numbers  for  the  table,  as  its  flesh  is  so  delicate 
as  to  entitle  it  to  the  name  of  the  English  Ortolan.  In  the  proper 
season,  the  bird  is  covered  with  fat  to  such  an  extent,  tnat  the 
plumage  is  often  spoiled  by  the  fat  running  from  the  holes  made 
by  the  shot. 

The  nest  of  the  Wheatear  is  made  of  the  usual  materials,  and  is 
placed  in  some  sheltered  spot  where  it  is  well  concealed  from  prying 
eyes.  The  eggs  are  five  or  six  in  number,  of  a  delicate  feint  bluish 
tinge,  and  very  smooth  on  the  exterior. 


THE   REDSTART. 

The  Redstart  derives  its  name  from  the  bright  reddish  chestnut 

color  of  the  upper  tail  coverts  and 
tail  feathers,  which  appear  very 
conspicuous  as  the  bird  flits  from 
one  tree  to  another,  or  dashes  off 
when  startled.  It  inhabits  the 
skirts  of  forests,  copses,  gardens, 
and  especially  frequents  old  ivied 
walls,  where  numbers  of  the  nests 
may  be  found.  In  1847, 1  found  a 
Redstart's  nest  built  in  a  hole  of  a 
wall,  forming  one  side  of  a  narrow 
passage  in  Merton  College,  Oxford. 
The  eggs  were  nearly  hatched, 
and  the  birds  did  not  seem  to  be 
disturbed  by  the  constant  passing  of  servants  with  their  parapher- 
nalia of  brooms,  pails,  and  other  implements.  The  nest  was  so  placed 
that  every  passer  by  could  not  fail  to  perceive  it,  but  the  birds  sat  on 
their  eggs  quite  unconcernedly. 

The  song  of  this  bird  is  not  very  powerful,  but  the  notes  are  pecu- 
liarly sweet.  While  singing,  it  often  changes  its  situation,  occasionally 
singing  as  it  flies. 

The  nest  is  placed  usually  in  a  hole  in  a  wall,  or  in  a  hollow  tree. 
The  eggs  are  five  in  number,  of  a  greenish-blue  color,  closely  resem- 
bling those  of  the  Hedge  Accentor.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  rather 
more  than  five  inches.  The  fourth  primary  feather  is  the  longest. 


THE   GARDEN   WARBLER. 


559 


THE   GARDEN  WARBLER 

This  bird  is  one  of  our  sweetest  songsters,  and  is  supposed  by  some 
to  be  little  inferior  to  the  Nightingale  itself.  So  we  may  well  pardon 
its  occasional  depredations  on  our  garden  fruit  for  the  sake  of  its 
melody. 

It  is  a  migratory  bird,  arriving  in  England  in  April,  and  leaving 
towards  the  end  of  August  or  the  beginning  of  September.  Almost 
every  part  of  England  is  visited  by  this  bird,  and  especially  those 
counties  where  are  thick  woods  and  plenty  of  water. 

The  color  of  this  Pettichaps  is  an  olive  green,  shot,  as  the  ladies 
say,  with  a  greyish  shading;  while  some  parts  of  the  body,  such  as 


GARDEN  \VARBLER. 


the  sides  of  the  neck,  the  throat,  and  under  parts,  are  either  ash  grey 
or  greyish  white.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  about  six  inches. 

Its  nest  is  built  in  hedges,  and  situated  near  the  ground.  In  it  are 
laid  four  or  five  eggs,  of  a  whitish  grey  color,  spotted  with  brown, 
the  spots  being  collected  towards  the  larger  end. 

This  is  the  Beccafico  of  the  Italians,  so  celebrated  as  a  dainty  for 
tlie  table. 


560 


THE    SONG-THRUSH   OR    THROSTLE. 


OF  THE  THRUSH  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Thrushes  have  the  following  generic  character:  a  straightish 
bill,  bending  towards  the  point,  and  slightly  notched  near  the  end  of 
the  upper  mandible:  the  nostrils  oval  and  for  the  most  part  naked: 
the  tongue  slightly  jagged  at  the  end;  the  corners  of  the  mouth  fur- 
nished with  a  fe^v  slender  hairs:  and  the  middle  toe  connected  to  the 
outer  one  as  far  as  the  first  joint.  » 

Most  of  the  species  of  Thrush,  which  are  very  numerous,  feed  upon 
berries  and  other  kind  of  fruit.  They  are  stated  to  be  particularly 
fond  of  the  berries  of  the  juniper.  Many  of  them  have  a  melodious 
song. 


THE   SONG -THRUSH,   OR   THROSTLE. 

The  song  of  this  bird  is  heard  during  nearly  nine  months  of  the 

year.  The  com- 
pass of  its  voice 
is  very  consider- 
able, and  when 
brought  up  from 
the  nest  with 
Woodlarks,  o  r 
even  with  Night- 
ingales, it  is  cap- 
able of  adopting 
their  notes.  Few 
of  the  choristers 
of  the  woods  are 
heard  with  great- 
er delight  than 
this.  It  will  some- 
times sit  for  hours 
together  on  the 
top  of  an  elevated 
tree,  and  make  the  woods  re-echo  with  its  song. 

The  Thrush  continues  to  reside  in  England  through  the  whole  year, 
but  on  the  Continent  it  is  migratory;  usually  disappearing  during  the 
frost,  and  re-appearing  for  a  short  visit  in  the  months  of  March  and 
April,  before  its  migration  in  May. 

These  birds  occasionally  breed  twice,  and  sometimes  even  thrice 
in  thfc  year,  if  their  former  hatches  happen  to  have  been  destroyed 
Their  nests  are  built  in  woods  or  orchards,  and  not  unfrequently  in 
thick  hedges  near  the  ground.  The  outside  of  the  nest  consists  of 
fine  and  soft  moss,  interwoven  with  dried  grass  or  hay;  and  the  inside 
is  curiously  plastered  with  Cow-dung.  The  eggs  are  usually  five  or 
six  in  number,  of  a  deep  blue  color  marked  with  black  spots.  Each 


SONG-THRCSH 


THE   MISSELTOE   THRUSH. 


561 


brood,  for  a  little  while,  follows  separately  its  parents;  but  this  does 
not  long  continue,  for,  as  soon  as  the  individuals  are  capable  of  obtain- 
ing their  own  subsistence,  they  disperse. 

We  are  informed  by  M.  de  Buffon,  that  in  a  few  of  the  districts  of 
Poland  such  immense  numbers  of  Thrushes  are  sometimes  caught, 
that  the  inhabitants  load  small  vessels  with  them  for  exportation. 
The  Eedwing  is  a  variety  of  the  Thrush. 


THE   MISSEL,    OR  MISSELTOE  THRUSH,   OR  STORMCOCK. 

The  Missel,  or  Misseltoe  Thrush,  or  Stormcock,  according  to 
Waterton,  u  surpasses  all 
other  Thrushes  in  size, 
and  is  decidedly  the 
largest  songster  of  the 
European  birds.  He 
remains  with  us  the 
whole  of  the  year,  and 
he  is  one  of  three  birds 
which  charm  us  with 
their  melody  during  the 
dreary  winter,  when  the 
Throstle  and  Lark  are 
silent  and  all  the  migra- 
tory birds  have  left  us,  to 
sojourn  in  warmer  clim- 
ates. He  appears  to  be 
gregarious  in  the  months 

of  August  and  September."  "  This  bird,  though  usually  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Misseltoe  Thrush  in  many  parts  of  England,  is  invariably 
called  the  Stormcock  by  all  the  lower  orders  in  our  neighborhood: 
not  that  it  delights  in  storms  more  than  in  fine  weather;  but  that 
nature  has  taught  it  to  pour  forth  its  melody  at  a  time  of  the  year 
when  the  bleak  winds  of  winter  roar  through  the  leafless  trees. 

It  is  very  fond  of  the  berries  of  the  misseltoe,  but  when  they  fail 
it  turns  its  attention  to  those  of  the  mountain  ash,  which  are  almost 
certain  to  attract  this  beautiful  and  powerful  songster.  In  the  sum- 
mer it  devours  all  kinds  of  garden-fruits,  especially  cherries  and 
raspberries. 

During  the  breeding  season  it  is  very  pugnacious,  attacking  and 
driving  away  not  only  small  birds,  but  the  Crow,  the  Magpie,  or  even 
the  prowling  Cat.  The  nest  is  very  large,  almost  as  large  as  a  "  wide- 
awake" hat,  is  always  built  in  a  tree,  and  contains  about  five  reddish 
spotted  eggs.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  eleven  inches. 


MISSELTOE-THROSH. 


562 


THE  BLACK-CAP — BLUE-THROATED  REDSTART. 


THE  BLACK  CAP. 


This  is  an  En- 
glish bird  hardly 
inferior  to  the 
Nightingale  in 
its  musical  pow- 
ers. It  is  a  shy 
bird,  very  fond  of 
ivy  berries;  and 
sings  at  twilight 
and  into  the 
later  hours  of 
the  evening.  Its 
favorite  resorts 
are  woods  and 
orchards.  It 
extends  its  visits 
in  summer  to 
the  north  of 
Europe,  as  far  as 
Lapland. 


THE   BLUE-THROATED  REDSTART. 


This  bird  is 
found  in  France, 
Holland,  Italy, 
and  Germany, 
but  rarely  in 
England.  It 
builds  in  bushes 
and  holes  of 
trees.  Its  gen- 
eral color  is 
ashy  brown; 
but  its  breast 
is  of  a  rich  azure 
blue. 


BLUE  THROATED   REDSTART. 


THE  MOUNTAIN   SHOOTWING — FIELDFARE. 


563 


THE  MOUNTAIN  SHOOTWING. 


This  is  a  Ja- 
van  bird,  found 
only  on  moun- 
tain  peaks, 
living  on  the 
lowest  branches 
of  the  trees, 
nearest  the 
ground.  It 
feeds  on  worms 
and  insects. 
The  shortness 
of  its  wings 
incapacitates  it 
for  elevated  or 
distant  flights. 


MOUNTAIN  SHOOTWING. 


THE   FIELDFARE. 

Fieldfares,  which  are  well-known  winter  inhabitants  of  England ; 
arrive  here  in  great  flocks 
from  Russia,  Siberia,  and 
other  more  northern  parts 
of  the  Continent,  about  the 
beginning  of  October,  and 
feed  during  that  season  on 
the  hawthorn,  holly,  and 
other  berries.  They  leave 
in  March,  for,  their  breed- 
ing places  in  Sweden  and 
Norway. 

36 


564 


THE    BLACKBIRD. 


There  is  reason  to  suppose  that  the  flocks  of  these  birds  keep  a 
kind  of  watch,  to  remark  and  announce  the  appearance  of  danger. 
On  any  person  approaching  a  tree  that  is  covered  with  them,  they 
continue  fearless,  till  one  at  the  extremity  of  the'bush,  rising  on  its 
wings,  gives  a  loud  and  peculiar  note  of  alarm.  They  then  all  fly 
away,  except  one  other,  which  continues  till  the  person  approaches 
still  nearer,  to  certify  as  it  were,  the  reality  of  the  danger,  and  after- 
wards he  also  flies  off,  repeating  the  note  of  alarm. 

Though  Fieldfares  build  their  nests  in  high  trees,  and  sit  on  trees  in 
the  day-time,  yet  they  always  roost  on  the  ground.  These  birds  were 
held  in  high  esteem  by  the  Koman  epicures ;  who  had  them  in  their  avia- 
ries, and  fattened  them  with  crumbs  of  bread  mixed  with  minced  figs. 


.  THE   BLACKBIRD. 

The  food  of  the  Blackbird  consists  principally  of  Worms  and  shelled 

Snails  ;  the  latter  of  which,  in  order 
to  get  at  the  animal,  it  dashes  with 
great  dexterity  against  the  stones. 
All  kinds  of  insects,  as  well  as 
fruit,  it  also  eagerly  seeks  after. 
In  confinement  it  will  eat  crumbs 
of  bread ;  and  even  flesh,  either 
raw  or  cooked. 

This  is  a  solitary  bird;  never 
congregating,  and  in  general  prefer- 
ing  woods  and  retired  situations. 
Its  song  is  a  shrill  kind  of  whistle 
of  various  notes ;  which,  although 
extremely  fine,  is  too  loud  for  any 
place  except  woods  or  open  grounds. 
It  commences  this  early  in  the 
spring,  and  continues  it  through 
some  part  of  summer;  it  desists 
during  the  moulting  season,  but 

BLACKBIRD.  resumes  it,  for  some  time,  in  Sep- 

tember and  the  first  winter  months. 
Blackbirds  breed  early  in  the  spring.     They  prepare  a  nest  composed 

externally  of  green  moss,  fibrous  roots, 

and  other  similar  materials:  the  inside 

is  plastered  with  earth,  and  afterwards 

lined  with  fine  dry  grass.     The  nest  is 

usually  placed  in  a  thick  bush,  against 

the  side  of  a  tree,  or  on  a  stump  in  the 

side  of  a  bank.     The  female  lays  four  or 

five  light-blue  eggs,  thickly  covered  with 

pale  rust-colored  spots,   particularly  at 

the  large  end. 

When  the  young  ones  are  taken  from  the  nest,  they  should  for 


THE   COW   BLACKBIRD. 


565 


some  time  be  fed  on  raw  meat,  bread,  and  bruised  hempseed :  the  meat 
should  be  chopped  small,  the  bread  a  little  wetted,  and  then  the  whole 
mixed  together.  It  is  necessary  to  keeu  them  clean. 


THE   BED-WIN7 GED   BLACK  BIRD,   OB  TBOOPIAL. 

The  Eed-winged  Blackbird  in  summer  inhabits  the  whole  of  North 
America  from 
Nova  Scotia  to 
Mexico.  It  is  mi- 
gratory north  df 
Maryland,  but 
passes  the  winter 
and  summer  in  all 
the  southern 
States,  frequenting 
chiefly  the  settle- 
ments and  rice  and 
cornfields,  towards 
the  sea-coast, 
where  they  move 
about  like  blacken- 
ing clouds,  rising 
suddenly  at  times 
with  a  noise  like 
thunder,  and  exhibiting  amidst  the  broad  shadows  of  their  funereal 
plumage,  the  bright  flashing  of  the  vermilion  with  which  their  wings 
are  so  singularly  decorated.  After  whirling  and  waving  a  little 
distance,  like  the  Starling,  they  descend  as  a  torrent,  and  darkening 
the  branches  of  the  trees  by  their  numbers,  they  commence  a  general 
concert  that  may  be  heard  for  more  than  two  miles. 

When  their  food  begins  to  fail  in  the  fields,  they  assemble  with 
the  Purple  Grakles,  very  familiarly  around  the  corn-cribs  and  in  the 
barn-yards,  greedily  and  dexterously  gleaning  up  every  thing  within 
their  reach.  In  the  month  of  March,  Mr.  Bullock  found  them  very 
numerous  and  bold  near  the  city  of  Mexico. 


RED-\VINGED  J3LACKBIP.D. 


THE   COW  TBOOPIAL,    OB   COW   BLACK-BIBD. 

The  Cow-pen  Bird,  perpetually  gregarious  and  flitting,  is  observed 
to  enter  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  in  the  latter  end  of  March 
or  the  beginning  of  April.  They  make  their  migration  now  chiefly 
under  cover  of  the  night,  or  early  dawn;  and  as  the  season  becomes 
milder  they  pass  on  to  Canada,  and  perhaps  follow  the  Warblers  and 
other  small  birds  into  the  farthest  regions  of  the  north,  for  they  are 
seen  no  more  after  the  middle  of  June,  until  the  return  of  autumn, 
when,  with  the  colds  of  October,  they  again  reappear  in  numerous 
and  augmented  flocks,  usually  associated  with  their  kindred  Ked- 


566 


THE    RICE   BIRD,    OR   BOB-0-LINK. 


wings,  to  whom  they  bear  a  sensible  likeness,  as  well  as  a  similarity 
in  notes  and  manners.  They  pass  the  winter  in  the  warmer  parts 

of  America  as 
well  as  in  the 
Southern  States, 
where  I  have 
observed  them 
in  the  ploughed 
fields,  gleaning 
along  with  the 
Ked-wings  and 
the  co  m  m  o  n 
B  1  a  c  k-b  i  r  d  s. 
They  are  also 
very  familiar 
around  the  cat- 
tle, picking  up 
insects  which 
they  happen  to 
disturb,  or  that 

exist  in  their  ordure.  When  on  the  ground,  they  scratch  up  the  soil 
and  appear  very  intent  after  their  food.  Sometimes  even,  infringing 
on  the  rights  of  the  Plover,  individuals  in  the  winter,  frequent  the 
margins  of  ponds  in  quest  of  aquatic  insects  and  small  Shell-fish;  and 
they  may  be  seen  industriously  occupied  in  turning  over  the  leaves 
of  the  water-plants  to  which  they  adhere.  They  also  frequent  occa- 
sionally the  rice  and  corn-fields,  as  well  as  their  more  notorious 
associates,  but  are  more  inclined  to  native  food  and  insects  at  all 
times,  so  that  they  are  more  independent  and  less  injurious  to  the 
farmer.  As  they  exist  in  Mexico,  and  California,  it  is  probable,  that 
they  are  also  bred  in  the  higher  table  lands,  as  well  as  in  the  regions 
of  the  north.  In  Louisiana,  however,  according  to  Audubon,  they 
are  rare  visitors  at  any  season,  seeming  more  inclined  to  follow  their 
route  through  the  maritime  districts.  Over  these  countries,  high  in 
the  air,  in  the  month  of  October,  they  are  seen  by  day  winging  their 
way  to  the  remoter  regions  of  the  south. 


THE   BICE   BIRD,   OR  BOB-0-LINK. 

The  whole  continent  of  America,  from  Labrador  to  Mexico,  and 
the  great  Antilles,  are  the  occasional  residence  of  this  truly  migratory 
species.  About  the  middle  of  March,  or  beginning  of  April,  the 
cheerful  Bob-o-link  makes  his  appearance  in  the  southern  extremity 
of  the  United  States,  becoming  gradually  arrayed  in  his  nuptial  livery, 
and  accompanied  by  troops  of  his  companions,  who  often  precede  the 
arrival  of  their  more  tardy  mates.  According  to  Eichardson  it  is  the 
beginning  of  June  when  they  arrive  at  their  farthest  boreal  station 
in  the  fifty-forth  degree.  We  observed  them  in  the  great  western 
plains  to  the  base  of  the  Eocky  Mountains,  but  not  in  Oregon.  Their 


THE   RICE    BIRD,   OR    BOB-0-LINK 


567 


wintering  resort  appears  to  be  rather  the  West  Indies  than  the  tropi- 
cal continent,  as  their  migrations  are  observed  to  take  place  generally 
to  the  east  of  Louisiana, 
where  their  visits  are  rare 
and  irregular.  At  this 
season  also  they  make 
their  approaches  chiefly 
by  night,  obeying,  as  it 
were,  more  distinctly,  -the 
mandates  of  an  overruling 
instinct,  which  prompts 
them  to  seek  out  their 
natal  regions;  while  in 
autumn,  their  progress,  by- 
day  only,  is  alone  insti- 
gated by  the  natural  quest 
of  food.  About  the  1st  of 
May  the  meadows  of  Mas- 
sachusetts begin  to  re-echo 
their  lively  .ditty.  At  this 
season,  in  wet  places,  and 
by  newly  ploughed  fields, 
they  destroy  many  insects 

and  their  Iarva3.  According  to  their  success  in  obtaining  food,  parties 
often  delay  their  final  northern  movement  as  late  as  the  middle  of 
May,  so  that  they 
appear  to  be  in  no 
haste  to  arrive  at  their 
destination  at  any 
exact  period.  The 
principal  business  of 
their  lives,  however, 
the  rearing  of  their 
young,  does  not  take 
place  until  they  have 
left  the  parallel  of  the 
fortieth  degree.  In  the 
savannahs  of  Ohio  and 
Michigan,  and  the  cool 
grassy  meadows  of  New 
York,  Canada,  and  New 
England,  they  fix  their 
abode,  and  obtain  a 
sufficiency  of  food 
throughout  the  sum- 
mer, without  molesting 
the  harvest  of  the 
farmer,  until  the  ripen- 
ing of  the  latest  crops  of 
oats  and  barley,  when 


BOB-O-LINK   PLUCKING   VTHEAT. 


568 


THE   COMMON    CROW-BLACKBIRD. 


in  their  autumnal  and  changed  dress,  hardly  now  known  as  the 
same  species,  they  sometimes  show  their  taste  for  plunder,  and  flock 
together  like  the  greedy  and  predatory  Blackbirds. 


THE   COMMON   CROW-BLACKBIRD. 

This  very  common  bird  is  an  occasional  or  constant  resident  in 
every  part  of  America,  from  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  northern  interior 
to  the  great  Antilles,  within  the  tropic.  In  most  parts  of  this  wide 
region  they  also  breed,  at  least  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Louisiana,  and 
probably  farther  south.  Into  the  States  north  of  Virginia  they  begin 
to  migrate  from  the  beginning  of  March  to  May,  leaving  those  coun- 
tries again  in  numerous  troops  about  the  middle  of  November.  Thus 
assembled  from  the  north  and  west  in  increasing  numbers,  they 
wholly  overrun,  at  times,  the  warmer  maritime  regions,  where  they 
assemble  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  company  of  their  well  known 
cousins  the  Ked- winged  Troopials  or  Blackbirds;  for  both,  impelled 
by  the  same  predatory  appetite,  and  love  of  comfortable  winter  quar- 
ters, are  often 
thus  accident- 
ally associated 
in  the  plun- 
dering and 
gleaning  o  f 
the  planta- 
tions. The 
amazing  num- 
bers in  which 
the  present 
species  associ- 
ate are  almost 
in  credible. 
Wilson  relates 
that  on  the 
20th  of  Janu- 
ary, a  few 
miles  from  the 
banks  of  the 
Koanoke  in 

Virginia,  he  met  with  one  of  those  prodigious  armies  of  Blackbirds, 
which,  as  he  approached,  rose  from  the  surrounding  fields  with  a 
noise  like  thunder,  and  descending  on  the  stretch  of  road  before  him, 
covered  it  and  the  fences  completely  with  black;  rising  again,  after  a 
few  evolutions,  they  descended  on  the  skirt  of  a  leafless  wood,  so  thick 
as  to  give  the  whole  forest,  for  a  considerable  extent  the  appearance 
of  being  shrouded  in  mourning,  the  numbers  amounting  probably  to 
many  hundreds  of  thousands.  Their  notes  and  screams  resembled 
the  distant  sound  of  a  mighty  cataract,  but  strangely  attuned  into  a 


CROW   BLACK  BIRD. 


THE   MOCKING   BIRD.  569 

musical  cadence,  which  rose  and  fell  with  the  fluctuation  of  the  breeze, 
like  the  magic  harp  of  JEolus. 

Their  depredations  on  the  maize  crop  or  Indian  corn  commence 
almost  with  the  planting.  The  infant  blades  no  sooner  appear  than 
they  are  hailed  by  the  greedy  Blackbird  as  the  signal  for  a  feast; 
and,  without  hesitation,  they  descend  on  the  fields,  and  regale  them- 
selves with  the  sweet  and  sprouted  seed,  rejecting  and  scattering  the 
blades  around  as  an  evidence  of  their  mischief  and  audacity.  Again, 
about  the  beginning  of  August,  while  the  grain  is  in  the  milky  state, 
their  attacks  are  renewed  with  the  most  destructive  effect,  as  they 
now  assemble  as  it  were  in  clouds,  and  pillage  the  fields  to  such  a 
degree  that  in  some  low  and  sheltered  situations,  in  the  vicinity  of 
rivers,  where  they  delight  to  roam,  one  fourth  of  the  crop  is  devoured 
by  these  vexatious  visitors.  The  gun,  also,  notwithstanding  the  havoc 
it  produces,  has  little  more  effect  than  to  chase  them  from  one  part 
of  the  field  to  the  other.  In  the  Southern  States,  in  winter,  they 
hover  round  the  corn-cribs  in  swarms,  and  boldly  peck  the  hard 
grain  from  the  cob  through  the  air  openings  of  the  magazine.  In 
consequence  of  these  reiterated  depredations  they  are  detested  by 
the  farmer  as  a  pest  to  his  industry;  though,  on  their  arrival  their 
food  for  a  long  time  consists  wholly  of  those  insects  which  are  calcu- 
lated to  do  the  most  essential  injury  to  the  crops. 


THE   MOCKING   BIRD,  OR   MIMIC   THRUSH. 

This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  a  Blackbird,  but,  in  its  general  form, 
is  somewhat   more   slender.     Its   plumage  is 
gray,  paler  on  the  under  parts  of  the  body 
than  above. 

This  capricious  little  mimic  is  common 
throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  North  Amer- 
ica, as  well  as  in  several  of  the  West  Indian 
Islands.  It  cannot,  indeed,  vie  with  the 
feathered  inhabitants  of  those  countries  in 
brilliancy  of  plumage ;  but  it  is  contented 
with  much  more  rare  and  estimable  qualifica-  MOCKIXG  BIRD. 

tions.     It  possesses  not  only  natural  notes  of 

its  own,  which  are  truly  musical  and  solemn ;  but  it  can  at  pleasure 
assume  the  tone  of  every  other  animal  in  the  forest,  from  the  Humming- 
bird to  the  Eagle,  and  descending  even  to  the  Wolf  or  the  Raven. 
One  of  them,  confined  in  a  cage,  has  been  heard  to  mimic  the  mewing 
of  a  Cat,  the  chattering  of  a  Magpie,  and  the  creaking  of  the  hinges  of 
a  sign -post  in  high  winds. 

The  Mocking  Bird  seems  to  have  a  pleasure  in  leading  other  birds 
astray.  He  is  said  at  one  time  to  allure  the  smaller  birds  with  the 
call  of  their  mates ;  and  when  they  come  near,  to  terrify  them  with  the 
scream  of  an  Eagle.  There  is  scarcely  a  bird  of  the  forest  that  is  not 
at  times  deceived  by  his  call. 

But  he  is  not  like  the  mimics  among  mankind,  who  seldom  possess 


570 


THE   MOCKING    BIRD. 


MOCKING  BIRD. 


any  independent  merit.     A  Garrick  and  a  Foote  have  not  pleased 
more  in  their  own  characters,  than  the  Mocking  Bird  does  in  his.    He 

is  the  only  one  of  the 
American  singing- 
birds  that  can  be  com- 
pared with  those  of 
Europe  ;  and,  were  it 
not  for  the  attention 
that  he  pays  to  every 
sort  of  disagreeable 
noise,  which  tends  to 
debase  his  best  notes, 
there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  he  would 
be  fully  equal  to  the 
song  of  the  Night- 
ingale in  its  whole 
compass.  He  fre- 
quents the  dwellings 
of  the  American 
farmers;  where, 
sitting  on  the  roof  or 
chimney,  he  sometimes  pours  forth  the  most  sweet  and  varied  notes 
imaginable.  The  Mexicans,  on  account  of  his  various  notes  and  his 
imitative  powers,  call  him,  "  The  Bird  of  Four  Hundred  Tongues." 
In  the  warmer  parts  of  America  he  sings  incessantly  from  March  to 
August,  both  day  and  night :  beginning  with  his  own  compositions, 
and  frequently  finishing  by  borrowing  from  those  of  the  whole 
feathered  choir.  He  repeats  his  tunes  with  such  artful  sweetness  as 
to  excite  both  pleasure  and  surprise. 

It  is  not,  however,  in  the  powers  of  voice  alone  that  these  birds  are 
pleasing ;  they  may  even  be  said  to  dance.  When  excited  into  a  kind 
of  ecstacy  by  their  own  music,  they  gradually  raise  themselves  from 
the  place  where  they  stand,  and,  with  their  wings  extended,  drop  with 
their  head  down  to  the  same  spot,  and  whirl  round,  accompanying 
their  melody  with  a  variety  of  interesting  gesticulations. 

They  frequently  build  their  nests  in  bushes  or  fruit-trees,  in  the 
vicinity  of  houses ;  but  they  are  so  shy,  that  if  a  person  only  look  at 
the  nest,  they  immediately  forsake  it.  The  young-ones  may  be  brought 
up  in  a  cage,  and  rendered  domestic  ;  but  this  cannot  be  done  without 
great  difficulty,  not  one  attempt  in  ten  being  successful  for  that  purpose. 
If  the  young-ones  are  caught  in  the  nest,  the  mother  will  feed  them  for 
a  few  days,  but  is  sure  to  desert  them  afterwards.  If  a  cat  happen  to 
approach  the  nest,  the  parent  bird  will  fly  at  the  head  of  the  animal, 
and,  with  a  hissing  noise,  scare  it  away. 

The  Mocking  Bird  feeds  its  young-ones  with  Grasshoppers  ;  and, 
when  it  wants  any  of  these  insects,  it  flies  into  the  pastures,  flaps  its 
wings  near  the  ground,  and  makes  a  booty  of  three  or  four  at  a  time, 
with  which  it  returns  to  the  nest.  It  also  feeds  on  different  kinds  of 
berries ;  and  is  itself  eaten,  and  is  very  delicate  food. 


THE   LOCUST-EATING   THRUSH  571 


THE   LOCUST-EATING  THKUSH. 

The  head,  breast,  and  back  of  the  Locust-eating  Thrush  are  of  a 
pale  ash-color,  and  the  abdomen  and  rump 
are  white.  The  wings  and  tail  are  black : 
the  latter  short,  and  a  little  forked.  From 
the  angle  of  the  mouth  a  naked  space  of  sul- 
phureous yellow  extends  under  the  eye,  and 
a  little  beyond  it ;  and  there  are  two  naked 
black  streaks  under  the  throat. 

To  this  new  species,  which  is  found  in  the  LOCU8T.EATING  THEU8H. 

interior  of  the  southern  districts  of  Africa, 

and  is  only  met  with  in  places  where  the  migrating  Locusts  frequent, 
Mr.  Barrow  has  affixed  the  specific  name  of  Gryllivorus.  This  he  has 
done  with  great  propriety,  as,  when  such  is  to  be  obtained,  its  whole 
food  seems  to  consist  of  the  larvas  of  these  insects,  and,  except  when 
the  Locust  infests  any  particular  district,  this  bird  is  seldom  to  be 
found  there. 

Providence,  which  has  not  often  given  a  bane  without  accompany- 
ing it  with  an  antidote,  seems  to  have  peculiarly  ordained  this  bird 
as  a  relief  to  the  inhabitants  of  Africa,  from  the  dreadful  attacks  of 
these  most  voracious  and  most  numerous  of  all  insects.  But.  however 
astonishing  the  multitudes  of  Locusts  may  be,  the  numbers  of  the 
Locust-eating  Thrushes  are  not  less  so.  Their  nests,  which  at  a  dis- 
tance seem  of  enormous  size,  appear  on  examination  to  consist  of  a 
number  of  cells,  each  of  which  forms  a  separate  nest,  with  a  tube  that 
leads  into  it  through  the  side ;  so  that  what  seemed  but  one  great  nest, 
is  found  to  consist  of  a  little  republic,  of  perhaps  ten  or  twenty.  One 
roof  of  interwoven  twigs  covers  the  whole,  like  that  made  over  the 
nest  of  the  Magpie  of  England. 

Mr.  Barrow  saw  a  vast  number  of  these  birds  in  the  district  of 
Sneuberg,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  leagues  north-east  of  the  Cape. 
They  had  not  visited  that  colony  for  thirteen  years  before ;  that  is  to 
say,  since  the  last  time  the  Locusts  had  infested  it.  They  had,  how- 
ever, now  taken  up  a  temporary  abode,  in  a  place  which  they  were 
not  likely,  in  a  short  space  of  time,  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  quit- 
ting for  want  of  food.  Of  the  innumerable  multitudes  of  the  incomplete 
insects  or  larvae  of  the  Locusts,  that  at  this  time  infected  the  southern 
districts  of  Africa,  no  adequate  idea  could  possibly  be  formed;  for,  in 
an  area  of  nearly  two  thousand  square  miles,  the  whole  surface  of  the 
earth  might  literally  be  said  to  be  covered  with  them. 


572 


THE   CROSS-BILL. 


OF  THE   GROSBEAKS  IN   GENERAL. 


IN  the  Grosbeaks  we  observe  a  strong,  thick,  and  convex  beak ; 
rounded  from  the  base  to  the  point  of  each  mandible,  and  admirably 
adapted  for  breaking  in  pieces  the  shells  of  the  seeds  on  which  they 
feed.  The  nostrils  are  small  and  round ;  and  the  tongue  is  formed  as 
if  the  end  were  cut  off.  The  toes,  except  in  one  species,  are  placed 
three  forwards. 


CROSS-BILL. 


THE   CROSS-BILL. 

The  male  Cross-bills  are  red,  varied  with  brown  or  green ;  and  at 
certain  seasons  of  the  year  they  change  to 
deep  red,  to  orange,  or  pale  yellow.  The 
females  are  of  an  olive  green  color,  which 
they  also  change  occasionally. 

Doctor  Townson,  whilst  he  resided  at 
Gottingen,  possessed  several  Cross-bills. 
These,  by  kind  treatment,  soon  becoming 
tame,  he  suffered  to  be  at  liberty  in  his 
study.  He  had  thus  constant  opportunities 
of  observing  them,  and  as  often  of  admiring  their  docility  and 
sagacity ;  but  the  singular  structure  of  their  bills  chiefly  engaged  his 
attention. 

This  structure  M.  de  Buffon,  perhaps  unthinkingly,  and  certainly 
unjustly,  has  considered  as  one  of  Nature's  freaks,  calculated  to  render 
the  bird  much  less  essential  service  than  a  beak  in  some  other  form 
would  have  done.  But,  notwithstanding  the  apparently  awkward 
and  useless  shape  of  this  member,  it  has  been  found  to  have  the  best 
possible  adaptation  to  the  destination  and  habits  of  the  bird. 

The  two  mandibles  do  not  lie  straight ;  but  pass,  for  a  considerable 
part  of  their  length,  on  the  side  of  each  other,  like  the  blades  of  a  pair 
of  scissors.  By  means  of  this  peculiar  construction,  the  Cross-bills 
are  able  to  procure  their  food  with  the  utmost  address.  They  live 
principally  on  the  seeds  that  .are  contained  in  the  cones  of  the  fir  or 
pine;  and  it  is  to  extract  these  that  this  structure  is  principally 

adapted.  In  this  operation,  they  fix 
themselves  across  the  cone,  then  bring 
the  points  of  the  beak  from  their 
crossed  or  lateral  position  to  be 
immediately  opposite  to  each  other. 
In  this  reduced  compass,  they  insin- 
uate it  between  the  scales,  and,  dis- 
tending the  two  mandibles  to  their 
usual  position  sideways,  force  the  scales  open;  and  then,  again 
bringing  the  points  into  contact,  pick  out  the  seed,  in  the  same  manner 
as  if  their  bills  were  formed  like  those  of  other  birds.  While  in  this 


BILL  OP   CROSS-BILLS. 


THE   GREENFINCH.  573 

act,  they  are  so  intent  on  the  business,  as  frequently  to  suffer  them- 
selves to  be  caught  by  means  of  a  horse-hair  noose  fixed  to  a  long 
fishing-rod.  They  are  discovered  by  the  twittering  noise  they  make 
while  feeding. 

The  degree  of  lateral  force  which  they  are  able  to  exert,  is  very 
surprising.  This,  which  they  are  at  times  fond  of  exercising  for  mere 
amusement,  renders  them,  in  a  tame  state,  not  a  little  mischievous. 
The  Cross-bills  which  Dr.  Townson  had  at  Gottingen  would  often 
come  to  his  table  while  he  was  writing,  and  carry  off  his  pencils,  little 
chip  boxes  in  which  he  occasionally  kept  insects,  and  other  similar 
objects,  and  tear  them  to  pieces  almost  instantaneously.  Their  mode 
of  operation  was  first  to  peck  a  little  hole ;  to  insert  into  this  their 
bill,  and  then  to  split  or  tear  the  object  by  the  lateral  force.  When 
he  gave  them,  as  he  often  did,  almonds  in  their  shell,  they  got  at  the 
kernel  in  the  samo  manner;  first  pecking  a  hole,  and  then  enlarging 
this  by  wrenching  off  the  pieces  by  the  lateral  force. 

Notwithstanding  the  apparent  awkwardness  of  this  beak,  the  Cross- 
bills are  able,  by  bringing  the  mandibles  point  to  point,  even  to  pick 
up  and  eat  the  smallest  seeds.  The  German  bird-catchers  usually  feed 
them  with  poppy  and  other  small  seeds;  and  they  shell  hempseeds  in 
eating  them,  as  well  as  any  other  birds  whatever.  These  birds  breed 
in  Austria ;  building  their  hemispherical  nests  in  the  branches  of  high 
trees.  In  these  they  lay  a  few  whitish  eggs,  spotted  towards  the 
thicker  end  with  red.  They  are  somewhat  rare  in  England. 


THE   GREENFINCH. 

The  upper  parts  of  the  body  are  of  a  yellowish  green,  and  some  of 
the  lower  parts  are  white.    The  outer  quill-feathers 
are  edged  with  yellow.     The  tail  is  forked,  and 
the  four  lateral  feathers  are  yellow  at  the  base. 
The  bill  is  brownish,  and  the  legs  flesh-colored. 

Greenfinches  are  very  common  birds  in  Eng- 
land. They  build  their  nests  in  hedges,  and 
lay  five  or  six  eggs,  of  a  pale  green  color, 
marked  with  blood-colored  spots.  During  the 
breeding-time,  the  bird  that  is  not  immediately 
engaged  in  incubation  or  nutrition,  may  often  GREENFINCH. 

be  seen  sporting  on  the  wing,  in  a  pleasing  manner,  over  the  bush. 

They  are  so  easily  tamed,  as  sometimes  to  eat  out  of  the  hand  in 
five  or  ten  minutes  after  they  are  taken,  if  there  be  an  opportunity  of 
immediately  carrying  them  into. the  dark.  The  bird  should  then  be 
put  upon  the  finger,  from  which,  not  knowing  how  to  fly  in  the  dark, 
it  will  not  attempt  to  move :  the  fing.er  of  the  other  hand  should  after- 
wards be  put  under  its  breast,  on  which  it  will  climb.  This  must  be 
repeated  eight  or  ten  times ;  and  by  stroking  and  caressing  the  bird 
at  the  intervals,  it  will  find  that  no  injury  is  intended.  The  light 
being  then  let  in  by  degrees,  it  will  very  frequently  eat  bruised  seed 
out  of  the  hand,  and  afterwards  continue  tame. 


574 


THE  CARDINAL  GROSBEAK. 


THE  CARDINAL  GROSBEAK. 

The  Cardinal  Grosbeak  is  about  eight  inches  in  length.  The  bill 
is  stout,  and  of  a  pale  red  color.  On  the  head  there  is  a  pointed 
crest :  the  plumage  is  in  general  of  a  fine  red,  but  round  the  bill  and 

throat  it  is  black. 
The  legs  are  of  the 
same  color  as  the  bill. 
This  is  an  inhabi- 
tant of  several  parts 
of  North  America. 
The  melody  of  its 
song  is  said  some- 
what to  resemble  that 
of  the  Nightingale. 
In  spring,  and  during 
great  part  of  the 
summer,  it  sits  on 
the  tops  of  the  high- 
est trees,  and  with 
its  loud  and  piercing 
notes  makes  the  for- 
ests echo. 

The  Cardinal  Gros- 
beaks  are  chiefly 
remarkable  for  laying 
up,  during  summer, 
their  winter  provi- 
sion of  maize  and 
buckwheat.  Nearly 
a  bushel  of  maize  has 
been  found  in  the 
retreat  of  one  of  these 
birds,  artfully  covered 
with  leaves  and  small 
branches  of  trees,  and 
only  a  small  hole  left 
for  the  bird  to  enter 
at. 

The  Americans  frequently  keep  these  birds  in  cages ;  where  they 
sing,  with  a  very  short  interval  of  silence,  through  the  whole  year. 


CARDINAL  GROSBEAK. 


THE  GRENADIER  GROSBEAK. 


The  Grenadier  Grosbeak  is  of  about  the  size  of  a  sparrow.  The  body 
is  in  general  of  a  beautiful  red  color.  The  forehead,  sides  of  the  head, 
chin,  breast,  and  belly,  are  black.  The  wings  are  brown,  and  the  legs 
pale  brown. 


THE  ABYSSINIAN  GROSBEAKS — PHILLIPPINE  GROSBEAKS.     575 

The  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  some  other  parts  of  Africa,  are  fre- 
quented by  this  bird  ;  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  Finch  described  by 
Kolben  in  his  account  of  that  colony.  He  says  that  it  is  chiefly  found 
in  marshy  and  reedy  grounds,  where  it  makes  its  nest  and  produces 
its  offspring.  The  nest  is  formed  among  the  reeds,  with  small  twigs 
interwoven  so  closely  with  cotton  as  not  to  be  penetrated  by  any 
weather.  It  is  also  divided  into  two  compartments ;  of  which  the 
upper  is  for  the  male,  and  the  lower  for  the  female  and  the  young  ones. 
In  winter,  the  color  of  these  birds  is  changed  from  scarlet  to  ash-color. 

The  appearance  of  the  Grenadier  Grosbeaks,  among  the  green  reeds 
of  their  native  climates,  is  said  to  be  very  beautiful ;  for,  from  the 
extreme  brightness  of  their  colors,  they  appear  like  so  many  scarlet 
lilies. 

THE   ABYSSINIAN   GROSBEAKS. 

This  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  last  species ;  having  the  bill  strong 
and  black;  the  head,  throat,  and  breast, 
black ;  the  upper  parts  of  the  body,  the  belly, 
and  thighs,  of  a  pale  yellowish  brown ;  the 
quills  and  tail  brown,  edged  with  yellow ;  and 
the  legs  reddish  gray. 

The  Abyssinian  Grosbeak  forms  a  curious 
nest,  of  pyramidal  shape ;  which  is  suspended 
from  the  ends  of  branches,  like  the  nests  of 
some  other  birds  of  this  tribe.  The  opening 
is  on  one  side  facing  the  east ;  the  cavity  is 
separated  in  the  middle  by  a  partition  to  half 
its  height;  up  this  the  bird  ascends  perpendicularly,  and  then,  de- 
scending on  the  other  side,  forms  its  nest  in  the  further  chamber.  By 
this  means  the  brood  is  defended  from  Snakes,  Squirrels,  Monkeys, 
and  other  mischievous  animals ;  besides  being  secured  from  the  rains, 
which  in  that  country  last  sometimes  for  five  or  six  months  successively. 


THE   PHILIPPINE   GROSBEAKS. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  about  five  inches  and  a  half.  The  bill 
and  some  adjacent  parts  are  brown.  The  top  of  the  head,  and  the  hind 
part  of  the  neck  and  back,  are  yellow.  The  lower  part  of  the  back  is 
brown.  The  fore  parts  of  the  neck  and  breast  are  yellow,  and  from 
thence  under  the  belly  the  color  is  yellowish  white.  The  legs  are 
also  yellowish. 

It  is  found  in  the  Philippine  Islands,  and  in  some  parts  of  Abyssinia. 

The  Philippine  Grosbeaks  construct  their  nests  in  the  form  of  a  long 
cylinder,  which  swells  out  into  a  globular  or  somewhat  oval  shape. 
This  is  composed  of  various  kinds  of  fine  vegetable  fibres,  and  fastened, 
by  its  upper  extremity,  to  the  outer  branch  of  a  tree.  The  entrance 
is  from  beneath,  whence  a  passage  is  made  to  the  globular  cavity,  in 
which  an  inner  nest  and  the  eggs  are  placed  in  perfect  security. 


ABYSSINIA*   GROSBEAK. 


576  THE  BENGAL  GROSBEAK. 


THE  BENGAL  GKOSBEAK. 

This  bird  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  Sparrow.  Its  general  plumage 
is  yellow  brown.  The  head  and  legs  are  yellowish.  The  beak  is 
conical,  and  very  thick  in  proportion  to  the  body. 

This  bird,  says  Sir  William  Jones  in  his  Asiatic  Researches,  is  ex- 
ceedingly common  in  Hindostan.     He  is  astonish- 
ingly sensible,  faithful,  and   docile ;    never  volun- 
tarily deserting  the  place  where  his  young-ones  are 
hatched,  but  not  averse,  like  most  other  birds,  to 
the  society  of  mankind,  and  easily  taught  to  perch 
on  the  hand  of  his  master.     In  a  state  of  nature  he 
generally  builds  his  nest  on  the  highest  trees  that 
he    can    find,    especially   on   the   palmyra,   or   the 
Indian  fig-tree,  and  he  prefers  that  which  happens 
to  overhang  a  well  or  a  rivulet;  he  makes  his  nest 
of  grass,  which  he  weaves  like  cloth,  and  shapes 
BENGAL  GROSBEAK.         like    B,   large   bottle,  suspending  it   firmly  on  the 
branches,  but   so  as  to  rock   with  the  wind,  and 
placing  it  with  its  entrance  downward,  to  secure  it  from  birds  of  prey. 
The  nest  usually  consists  of  two  or  three  chambers ;  and  it  is  popu- 
larly believed  that  he  lights  them  with  Fire-flies,  which  he  is  said  to 
catch  alive  at  night,  and  confine  with  moist  clay  or  with  cow-dung. 
That  such  flies  are  often  found  in  his  nest,  where  pieces  of  cow-dung 
are  also  stuck,  is  indubitable;  but  as  their  light  could  be  of  little  use 
to  him,  it  seems  probable  that  he  only  feeds  on  them. 

He  may  be  taught  with  ease  to  fetch  a  piece  of  paper,  or  any  small 
thing  that  his  master  points  out  to  him.  It  is  an  attested  fact,  that  if 
a  ring  be  dropped  into  a  deep  well,  and  a  signal  given  to  one  of  these 
birds,  he  will  fly  down  with  amazing  celerity,  catch  the  ring  before  it 
touches  the  water,  and  bring  it  up  to  his  master  with  apparent  exulta- 
tion ;  and  it  is  confidently  asserted,  that  if  a  house  or  any  other  place 
be  once  or  twice  shown  to  him,  he  will  carry  a  note  thither  imme 
diately,  on  a  proper  signal  being  made.  One  instance  of  his  docility 
Sir  William  Jones  was  himself  an  eye-witness  of.  The  young  Hindoo 
women  at  Benares,  and  in  other  places,  wear  thin  plates  of  gold,  called 
ticas,  slightly  fixed,  by  way  of  ornament,  between  their  eye-brows: 
and,  when  they  pass  through  the  streets,  it  is  not  uncommon  for  the 
youthful  libertines,  who  amuse  themselves  with  training  these  birds,  to 
give  them  a  signal,  which  they  understand,  and  send  them  to  pluck 
the  pieces  of  gold  from  the  foreheads  of  their  mistresses,  which  they 
bring  in  triumph  to  their  lovers. 


THE  SOCIABLE   GROSBEAK. 


577 


THE   SOCIABLE   GROSBEAK. 

The  length  of  the  Sociable  Grosbeak  is  about  five  inches  and  a 
half.  Its  color  is 
rufus-brown  above, 
and  yellowish 
beneath.  The  bill 
and  fo  re  he  ad  are 
black,  the  region  of 
the  ears  is  yellowish, 
and  the  legs  are 
brown.  The  tail  is 
short. 

This  species  is  an 
inhabitant  of  the 
interior  country  of 
the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope. 

Few  birds  live 
together  in  such 
large  societies,  or 
have  a  mode  of  nidifi- 
cation  so  uncommon, 
as  these.  They  con- 
struct their  nests  in  a 
species  of  mimosa ; 
which  grows  to  an 
uncommon  size,  and 
seems  well  suited  to 
them,  on  account  of 
its  ample  head,  and 
strong  wide-spread- 
ing branches.  The 
tallness  and  smooth- 
ness of  its  trunk  is 
also  a  perfect  defence 
against  the  serpent  and  monkey  tribes.  The  mode  in  which  the  nests 
are  fabricated  is  highly  curious.  In  one  tree,  described  by  Mr. 
Patterson,  there  could  not  be  fewer  than  from  eight  hundred  to  a 
thousand  under  one  general  roof.  Mr.  P.  calls  it  a  roof,  because  he 
says  it  resembles  that  of  a  thatched  house ;  and  projects  over  the 
entrance  of  the  nest  below,  in  a  very  singular  manner.  The  industry 
of  these  birds  "seems  almost  equal  (observes  this  traveller)  to  that  of 
the  bee.  Throughout  the  day  they  appear  to  be  busily  employed  in 
carrying  a  fine  species  of  grass ;  which  is  the  principal  material  they 
employ  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  this  extraordinary  work,  as  well 
as  for  additions  and  repairs.  Though  my  short  stay  in  the  country 
was  not  sufficient  to  satisfy  me,  by  ocular  proof,  that  they  added  to 


SOCIABLE  GR03SEAK. 


578 


THE   BULFINCn. 


their  nest  as  they  annually  increased  in  numbers ;  still,  from  the 
many  trees  which  I  have  seen  borne  down  by  the  weight,  and  others 
which  I  have  observed  with  the  boughs  completely  covered  over,  it 
would  appear  that  this  is  really  the  case.  When  the  tree,  which  is 
the  support  of  this  aerial  city,  is  obliged  to  give  way  to  the  increase 
of  weight,  it  is  obvious  that  the  birds  are  no  longer  protected,  and  are 
under  the  necessity  of  rebuilding  in  other  trees.  One  of  these 
deserted  nests  I  had  the  curiosity  to  break  down,  for  the  purpose  of 
informing  myself  of  the  internal  structure  of  it ;  and  found  it  equally 
ingenious  with  that  of  the  external.  There  were  many  entrances; 
each  of  which  formed  a  regular  street,  with  nests  on  both  sides  about 
two  inches  distant  from  each  other.  The  grass  with  which  the  birds 
build  is  called  the  Bushman's  grass ;  and  I  believe  the  seed  of  it  to  be 
their  principal  food ;  though  on  examining  their  nests,  I  found  the 
wings  and  legs  of  different  insects.  From  every  appearance,  the  nest 
which  I  dissected  had  been  inhabited  for  many  years ;  and  some 
parts  of  it  were  much  more  complete  than  others.  This,  therefore,  I 
conceive  to  amount  nearly  to  a  proof,  that  the  animals  added  to  it  at 
different  times,  as  they  found  necessary,  from  the  increase  of  their 
family,  or  rather  of  the  nation  or  community." 


THE   BULFINCH. 

In  a  state  of  nature  the  Bulfinch  has  but  three  cries,  all  of  which  are 

unpleasant :  but  if 
instructed  methodi- 
cally, and  accustomed 
to  finer,  mellower, 
and  more  lengthened 
strains,  it  will  listen 
with  attention  ;  and 
the  docile  bird, 
whether  male  or 
female,  without  relin- 
quishing its  native 
airs,  will  imitate 
exactly,  and  some- 
times even  surpass, 
its  master.  "  I  know 
a  curious  person, 
(says  the  author  of 
the  jdEdonolgiej)  who 
having  whistled 
some  airs  quite  plain 
to  a  Bulfinch,  was 
agreeably  surprised 
to  hear  the  bird  add 
such  graceful  turns, 
that  the  master  could 


THE   ARABIAN   BULFINCH — BLUE   BULFINCH.  579 

scarcely  recognise  his  own  music,  and  acknowledged  that  the  scholar 
excelled  him."  It  must,  however,  be  confessed  that,  if  the  Bulfinch 
be  ill-directed,  it  acquires  harsh  strains.  A  friend  of  M.  de  Buffon 
saw  one  that  had  never  heard  any  persons  whistle  but  carters ;  and  it 
whistled  like  them,  with  the  same  strength  and  coarseness.  The  Bul- 
finch also  easily  learns  to  articulate  words  and  sentences;  and  utters 
them  with  so  tender  an  accent,  that  we  might  almost  suppose  it  felt 
their  force. 

These  birds  are  susceptible  of  personal  attachment,  which  is  often 
strong  and  durable.  Some  have  been  known,  after  escaping  from 
confinement  and  living  a  whole  year  in  the  woods,  to  recognise  the 
voice  of  their  mistress,  and  return  to  her.  Others  have  died  of 
melancholy,  on  being  removed  from  the  first  object  of  their  attach- 
ment. They  will  also  remember  injuries  received :  a  Bulfinch  that 
had  been  thrown  to  the  ground  in  its  cage  by  some  of  the  rabble, 
though  it  did  not  appear  much  affected  at  the  time,  fell  into  convul- 
sions ever  afterwards  at  the  sight  of  any  mean-looking  person,  and 
expired  in  one  of  these  fits,  eight  months  after  the  accident. 

Bulfinches  are  not  uncommon  in  England:  they  construct  their 
nests  in  bushes,  about  the  middle  of  May.  These  are  usually  built  in 
orchards,  woods,  or  parks,  where  the  trees  are  numerous.  The  nest 
of  the  Bulfinch  is  a  fabric  apparently  constructed  with  little  art ;  but 
it  so  nearly  resembles  the  color  of  the  surrounding  foliage,  as  not 
easily  to  be  discovered.  The  female  lays  four  or  five  eggs,  of  a  bluish 
color,  marked  at  the  larger  end  with  dark  brown  and  faintly  reddish 
spots. 

In  the  summer-time  these  birds  chiefly  frequent  woods  and  retired 
places ;  but  in  winter  they  approach  gardens  and  orchards.  Here 
as  soon  as  the  vegetation  commences,  they  make  great  havoc  among 
the  buds  of  the  trees. 


THE  ARABIAN   BULFINCH. 

This  species  was  found  by  Mr.  Hemprich  near  Mount  Sinai  in 
Arabia ;  and  appears  also  to  extend  into  Egypt.  It  was  one  of  the 
discoveries  of  the  travellers  sent  some  time  since  into  that  county 
by  the  king  of  Prussia  to  obtain  specimens  of  natural  history.  The 
male  has  red  and  white  feathers  about  the  head,  and  the  body  is  ash 
colored  varied  with  rose  red ;  the  wings  are  brown. 


THE  BLUE   BULFINCH. 

This  is  one  of  the  American  varieties.     It  is  found  in  Brazil.     It 
is  ash-colored,  varied  with  blue  and  white,  with  a  red  bill. 

37     ' 


580  THE   COMMON   BUNTING,   ETC. 


THE  BUNTING  TKIBE. 

THESE  birds  have  a  conical  bill,  and  the  sides  of  each  mandible 
bending  inward.  On  the  roof  of  the  upper  mandible  is  a  hard  knob, 
used  for  the  breaking  of  hard  seeds. 


THE    COMMON   BUNTING. 

A  hard  round  knob  in  the  roof  of  the  upper  mandible,  points  ou 
the  genus  Emberiza.     This  knob  is  probably  used  for  the  purpose  of 
breaking  the  shells  of  the  small  but  hard  seeds  on  which  the  bird 
feeds. 

Large  flocks  of  these  birds  collect  together  in  the  autumn  and  win- 
ter in  their  attacks  upon  the  farm-yard  or  the  field.  Partly  in  revenge 
for  their  depredations,  and  partly  on  account  of  the  price  that  they 
will  fetch  in  the  market,  great  numbers  are  annually  caught  in  nets  or 
shot. 

The  nest  is  always  placed  either  on  or  near  the  ground,  and  contains 
four  or  five  darkish  eggs,  covered  very  irregularly  with  deep  brown 
marks. 


THE  YELLOW  HAMMER,  OR  YELLOW 

Is  a  very  delicately  marked  little  bird,  very  common  in  our  hedges, 
where  it  flits  before  the  traveller,  always  keeping  about  twenty  yards 
in  front.  It  makes  its  nest  on  the  ground,  and  lays  five  eggs  curiously 
scribbled  over  with  dark  chocolate  lines,  just  as  if  a  child  had  been 
trying  to  write  Arabic  on  the  eggs. 


THE    BLACKHEADED 

Is  a  very  beautiful  bird,  frequenting  marshes,  and  singing  only  at 
night.  This  bird  has  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  songster,  which,  it 
derives  from  the  fact,  that  the  Sedge-warbler,  whose  merits  are  supe- 
rior, frequents  the  same  haunts,  and  conceals  himself  from  view  while 
warbling  his  liquid  notes,  while  the  former  renders  himself  prominent. 


THE  WHIDAH  BIRD. 

In  its  summer  plumage  the  neck  of  the  Whidah  Bird  has,  at  the 
back,  a  broad  semi-collar,  of  orange  yellow  color.  The  breast  is  red- 
dish, the  under  parts  of  the  body  and  the  thighs  «re  white ;  and  the 
neck,  the  back,  the  wings,  and  tail,  are  black.  In  the  tail  there  are 
four  feathers  much  longer  than  the  others  :  of  these,  two  are  about 
thirteen  inches  in  length,  and  are  bent  somewhat  like  those  of  a  cock  ; 


THE   LINNET.  581 

the  other  two  are  shorter,  considerably  broader,  and  each  terminate 
in  a  slender  thread. 

The  winter  plumage  is  entirely  different  from  the  above.  The  four 
long  tail-feathers  fall  off:  the  head  is  varied  with  black  and  white : 
the  breast  is  black ;  and  the  upper  wing-coverts  are  dirty  yellow. 
The  feathers  of  the  tail  and  wings  are  dark  brown ;  and  those  of  the 
under  part  of  the  body  are  white. 

In  the  kingdom  of  Angola,  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  and  in 
the  country  around  Mosambique,  on  the  eastern  coast  of  that  quarter 
of  the  world,  these  birds  are  found  in  great  numbers.  They  are  some- 
what larger  than  a  Sparrow,  and  subsist  on  seeds  of  various  kinds. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  the  Whidah  Birds  have  in  winter  a 
plumage  entirely  different  from  that  by  which  they  are  distinguished 
during  the  summer ;  and  that  even  their  most  characteristic  feathers 
are  every  year  shed,  without  being  renewed  for  several  months.  When 
the  birds  are  brought  into  northern  climates,  this  change  generally 
takes  place  about  the  beginning  of  November.  Their  winter  plumage 
continues  till  the  spring ;  and  the  tail-feathers  are  not  again  completed 
till  the  end  of  June  or  the  beginning  of  July.  The  color  of  the  beak 
and  legs,  the  former  blackish  and  the  latter  flesh-colored,  is  perma- 
nent. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1820,  Mr.  Carlisle  favored  me  with  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  a  bird  of  this  species,  which  I  have  often  seen  in 
his  possession :  "  The  habits  and  manners  of  my  Whidah  Bird  have 
proved  both  entertaining  and  instructive.  It  has  been  my  constant 
companion  for  more  than  five  years,  and  our  mutual  good  understand- 
ing has  increased  every  day.  As  an  intelligent  creature,  it  readily 
distinguishes  me  from  other  persons,  and  never  fails  to  show  its 
preferable  attachment,  by  a  little  note  and  by  fluttering  towards  the 
nearest  side  of  the  cage,  on  my  entering  and  leaving  the  room. 
When  clad  in  its  black  and  orange  plumage,  and  ornamented  with  its 
long  and  crested  tail-feathers,  it  sings  much  like  the  warble  of  the 
House-Swallow,  and,  during  its  song,  it  shakes  its  head  rapidly  side- 
ways, looking  steadily  at  me  as  if  to  attract  my  regard.  It  then,  as  if 
in  a  state  of  ecstacy,  jumps  quickly  from  perch  to  perch,  rattling  its 
tail  with  a  noise  somewhat  resembling  that  which  is  made  by  the 
Eattlesnake.  When  it  wants  fresh  water,  sand,  or  food,  it  taps  quickly 
with  its  beak  against  the  cage,  until  it  attracts  my  notice.  Its  only 
food  is  canary-seed.  I  have  observed  that,  on  first  uncovering  its  cage 
it  begins  to  stretch  out  its  legs  and  wings,  then  it  hops  down  to  sip 
water,  afterwards  it  eats  for  about  half  an  hour,  picks  some  sand,  and 
then  carefully  prunes  its  feathers.  In  its  ordinary  plumage  this  bird 
nearly  resembles  the  Eeed-Sparrow ;  and  so  complete  is  its  change, 
that  not  one  of  the  former  feathers,  remain  after  either  of  the  two 
moultings.  ^  These  moultings  take  place  half  yearly,  and  the  shedding- 
of  its  principal  tail-feathers,  has  been,  for  five  autumns.,  within  three 
days  of  the  same  date  in  each  year. 

"As  the  claws  of  confined  birds  grow  inconveniently  long,  I  have 
generally  found  it  expedient  to  clip  those  of  my  bird  twice  a  year, 
and  this  process  was  at  first  attended  with  anger;  but  lately  the 


582 


THE   LINNET. 


occasion  is  remembered,  the  bird  quitely  suffers  itself  to  be  caught, 
and  lies  patiently  in  my  hand  until  the  operation  is  over.  During 
this  operation  it  sometimes  eats  sugar  out  of  my  mouth;  and  when 
so  indulged,  it  forgets  its  position  so  far  as  to  sing  a  few  notes." 

A  pair  of  Whidah  Birds  kept  in  France  for  many  years,  were  very 
lively  and  active.  They  were  fed  chiefly  on  millet  and  canary-seed, 
and  occasionally  on  chickweed  and  chicory.  The  male  had  a  shrill 
kind  of  song,  which  he  generally  commenced  about  the  time  that  his 
long  tail-feathers  began  to  grow.  These  birds  did  not  breed,  i 
indeed  did  they  make  any  preparations  for  the  formation  of  a  nest. 


nor 


OF  THE  FINCH  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Finches  are  easily  distinguished  from  other  birds,  by  their 
having  a  bill  very  conical  and  sharp-pointed,  and  somewhat  slender 
towards  the  end.  They  are  a  numerous  and  active  race,  dispersed 
widely  over  the  world,  and  feeding  principally  on  insects  and  grain. 


THE   LINNET. 

The  length  of  the  Linnet  is  about  five  and  a  half  inches.     The  bill 

is  bluish  grey.  The  eyes 
are  hazel :  the  upper  parts 
of  the  head,  neck,  and  back, 
are  of  a  dark  reddish  brown, 
the  edges  of  the  feathers 
pale:  the  under  parts  are 
of  a  dirty  reddish  white; 
the  breast  is  of  a  deeper 
color  than  the  rest,  and  in 
spring  changes  to  a  beau- 
tiful crimson;  the  sides  are 
UNITET  spotted  with  brown;  the 

quills     are     dusky,    edged 

with  white ;  the  tail  is  brown,  and  with  white  edges,  except  the  two 
middle  feathers,  which  have  reddish  margins;  the  legs  are  brown; 
the  female  wants  the  red  color  on  the  breast,  instead  of  which  she  is 
there  marked  with  streaks  of  brown;  she  has  less  white  on  her,  and 
her  colors,  in  general,  are  less  bright  than  those  of  the  male. 

For  the  sweetness  of  its  song  the  Linnet  is  much  admired :  its  notes 
are  considered  little  inferior  to  those  of  the  most  musical  of  our  birds. 
The  Linnet  may  also  easily  be  taught  to  imitate  the  song  of  any  other 
bi^d,  if  brought  up  with  it  from  the  nest. 

Linnets  have  young-ones  about  the  month  of  May.  They  usually 
form  their  nest  in  a  thick  bush  or  hedge.  This  is  small :  the  outside 
is  composed  of  bents,  dried  weeds,  and  straw;  and  the  inside  of  horse- 
hairs, and  wool  or  cotton,  mixed  with  downy  materials  collected  from 


THE   COMMON    SPARROW  583 


dried  plants.     The  female  lays  four  or  five  white  eggs,  speckled  par- 
ticularly towards  the  large  end,  with  red. 

The  season  in  which  the  bird-catchers  "usually  take  these  birds,  is 
during  the  months  of  June,  July  or  August,  or  about  Michaelmas. 
They  employ  for  this  purpose  limed  twigs  or  clap-nets.  If,  when 
caught,  they  be  put  into  store-cages,  and  fed  on  any  favorite  seed  for 
two  or  three  days,  they  will  soon  become  tame.  After  this  they  may 
be  put  into  separate  cages,  and  fed  with  rape  or  canary-seed.  If  it 
be  intended  that  the  Linnet  should  imitate  the  notes  of  any  other 
bird,  it  ought  to  be  taken  from  the  nest  when  about  ten  days  old. 


THE   COMMON   SPARROW. 

No  bird  is  better  known  in  every  part  of  Great  Britain  than  the 
Sparrow.  It  is  a  very  familiar  bird, 
but  so  crafty  as  not  to  be  easily  taken 
in  snares.  In  a  wild  state  its  note 
is  only  a  chirp :  this  arises,  however, 
not  from  want  of  powers,  but  from  its 
attending  solely  to  the  note  of  the 
parent  birds.  A  Sparrow,  when 
fledged,  was  taken  from  the  nest,  and 
educated  under-  a  Linnet ;  it  also 
heard,  by  accident,  a  Goldfinch;  and 
its  song  was,  in  consequence,  a  mix- 
ture of  the  two. 

Few  birds  are  more  execrated  by  the 
farmers,  and  perhaps  more  unjustly 
so,  than  Sparrows.  It  is  true,  they 
do  some  injury  in  devouring  corn;  TIIE  COMMON  SPARROW. 

but   they  are  probably   more   useful 

than  noxious.  Mr.  Bradley,  in  his  General  Treatise  on  Husbandry  and 
Gardening,  shows,  that  a  pair  of  Sparrows,  during  the  time  they  have 
their  young-ones  to  feed,  destroy  on  an  average,  every  week,  about 
three  thousand  three  hundred  and  sixty  Caterpillars.  This  calcula- 
tion he  founded  upon  actual  observation.  He  discovered  that  the 
two  parents  carried  to  the  nest  forty  Caterpillars  in  an  hour.  He 
supposed  the  Sparrows  to  enter  the  nest  only  during  twelve  hours 
each  day,  which  would  cause  a  daily  consumption  of  four  hundred 
and  eighty  Caterpillars;  and  this  average  gives  three  thousand  three 
hundred  and  sixty  Caterpillars  extirpated  weekly  from  a  garden. 
But  the  utility  of  these  birds  is  not  limited  to  this  circumstance 
alone;  for  they  likewise  feed  their  young-ones  with  Butterflies  and 
other  winged  insects,  each  of  which,  if  not  destroyed,  would  be  the 
parent  of  hundreds  of  Caterpillars. 

Sparrows  build  early  in  the  spring ;  and  generally  form  their  nests 
under  the  eaves  of  houses,  or  in  holes  in  the  walls.  But  when  such 
convenient  situations  are  not  to  be  had,  they  build  in  trees  a  nest 
bigger  than  a  man's  head,  with  an  opening  at  the  side.  It  is  formed 


584  THE   COMMON   SPARROW. 

of  straw  and  hay,  and  lined  with  feathers,  and  so  nicely  managed  as 
to  be  a  defence  against  both  wind  and  rain.  Sparrows  sometimes  form 
their  nest  in  the  bottoms  of  Books'  nests ;  and  this  seems  a  favorite 
situation  with  them. 

Mr.  Smellie  relates  a  pleasing  anecdote  of  the  affection  of  these 
birds  towards  their  offspring: — "When  I  was  a  boy,  (says  this  gentle- 
man,) I  carried  off  a  nest  of  young  Sparrows,  about  a  mile  from  my 
place  of  residence.  After  the  nest  was  completely  moved,  and  while 
I  was  marching  home  with  them  in  triumph,  I  perceived,  with  some 
degree  of  astonishment,  both  the  parents  following  me  at  some 
distance,  and  observing  my  motions  in  perfect  silence.  A  thought 
then  struck  me,  that  they  might  follow  me  home,  and  feed  the  young 
according  to  their  usual  manner.  When  just  entering  the  door  I 
held  up  the  nest,  and  made  the  young-ones  utter  the  cry  which  is 
expressive  of  the  desire  of  food.  I  immediately  put  the  nost  and  the 
young  in  the  corner  of  a  wire  cage,  and  placed  it  on  the  outside  of  a 
windo*w.  I  chose  a  situation,  in  the  room  where  I  could  perceive  all 
that  should  happen,  without  being  myself  seen.  The  young  birds 
soon  cried  for  food.-  In  a  short  time  both  parents,  having  their  bills 
filled  with  small  Caterpillars,  came  to  the  cage ;  and  after  chatting  a 
little,  as  we  would  do  with  a  friend  through  the  lattice  of  a  prison, 
gave  a  small  worm  to  each.  This  parental  intercourse  continued  regu- 
larly for  some  time;  till  the  young-ones  were  completely  fledged,  and 
had  acquired  a  considerable  degree  of  strength.  I  then  took  one  of 
the  strongest  of  them,  and  placed  him  on  the  outside  of  the  cage,  in 
order  to  observe  the  conduct  of  the  parents  after  one  of  their  offspring 
was  emancipated.  In  a  few  minutes  both  parents  arrived,  loaded,  as 
usual,  with  food.  They  no  sooner  perceived  that  one  of  their  children 
had  escaped  from  prison,  than  they  fluttered  about,  and  made  a  thou- 
sand noisy  demonstrations  of  joy,  both,  with  their  wings  and  their 
voices.  These  tumultuous  expressions  of  unexpected  happiness  at 
last  gave  place  to  a  more  calm  and  soothing  conversation.  By  their 
voices  and  their  movements  it  was  evident  that  they  earnestly  en- 
treated him  to  follow  them,  and  to  fly  from  his  present  dangerous 
state.  He  seemed  to  be  impatient  to  obey  their  mandates;  but  by  his 
gestures,  and  the  feeble  sounds  he  uttered,  he  plainly  expressed*  that 
he  was  afraid  to  try  an  exertion  he  had  never  before  attempted. 
They,  however,  incessantly  repeated  their  solicitations:  by  flying 
alternately  from  the  cage  to  a  neighboring  chimney-top,  they  endeav- 
ored to  show  him  how  easily  the  journey  was  to  be  accomplished. 
He  at  last  committed  himself  to  the  air,  and  alighted  in  safety.  On 
his  arrival,  another  scene  of  clamorous  and  active  joy  was  exhibited. 
Next  day  I  repeated  the  same  experiment,  by  exposing  another  of 
the  young-ones  on  the  top  of  the  cage.  I  observed  the  same  conduct 
with  the  remainder  of  the  brood,  which  consisted  of  four.  I  need 
hardly  add,  that  not  one  either  of  the  parents  or  children  ever  after- 
wards re-visited  the  execrated  cage." 


THE  SONG-SPARROW — GOLDFINCH. 


585 


THE  SONG-SPARROW. 

THIS  familiar  and  almost  domestic  bird  is  one  of  the  most  common 
and  numerous 
Sparrows  in  the 
United  States ; 
it  is,  also,  with 
the  Blue-bird, 
which  it  seems 
to  accompany, 
one  of  the  two 
earliest,  sweet- 
est, and  most 
enduring  war- 
blers. Though 
many  pass  on 
to  the  Southern, 
States  at  the 
commencement 
of  winter,  yet  a 

few  seem  to  brave  the  colds  of  New  England,  as  long  as  the  snowy 
waste  does  not  conceal  their  last  resource  of  nutriment.  When  the 
inundating  storm  at  length  arrives,  they  no  longer,  in  the  sheltering 
swamps,  a*nd  borders  of  bushy  streams,  spend  their  time  in  gleaning 
an  insufficient  subsistence,  but  in  the  month  of  November,  begin  to4 
retire  to  the  warmer  States ;  and  here,  on  fine  days,  even  in  January, 
whisper  forth  their  usual  strains.  As  early  as  the  4th  of  March,  the 
weather  being  mild,  the  Song-Sparrow  and  the  Blue-Bird  here  jointly 
arrive,  and  cheer  the  yet  dreary  face  of  nature  with  their  familiar 
songs.  The  latter  flits  restlessly  through  the  orchard  or  neighboring 
fields ;  the  Sparrow,  more  social,  frequents  the  garden,  barn-yard,  or 
road-side  in  quest  of  support,  and  from  the  top  of  some  humble  bush, 
stake,  or  taller  bough,  tunes  forth  his  cheering  lay,  in  frequent  repeti- 
tions, for  half  an  hour  or  more  at  a  time.  These  notes  have  some 
resemblance  to  parts  of  the  Canary's  song,  and  are  almost  uninter- 
ruptedly and  daily  delivered,  from  his  coming  to  the  commencement 
of  winter. 


THE  SONG-SPARROW. 


THE   GOLDFINCH. 

Goldfinches  are  very  beautiful  and  well-known  birds,  much  esteemed 
for  their  docility,  and  the  sweetness  of  their  song.  They  are  fond  of 
orchards,  and  frequently  build  their  elegant  mossy  nest  in  an  apple  or 
pear-tree.  They  commence  this  operation  about  the  month  of  April, 
when  the  fruit-trees  are  in  blossom.  As  they  excel  nearly,  all  our 
small  birds  in  beauty  of  plumage,  so  also  they  do  in  the  art  which 
they  employ  in  the  formation  of  this  structure.  The  nest  is  small ;  its 


586  THE   CANARY-FINCH. 

outside  consists  of  fine  moss,  curiously  interwoven  with  other  mate- 
rials ;  and  the  inside  is  lined  with  grass,  horse-hair,  wool,  feathers,  and 
down.  •  The  eggs  are  five  in  number,  of  a  white  color,  speckled  and 
marked  with  reddish  brown. 

These  birds  may  be  caught  in  great  numbers,  at  almost  any  season 
of  the  year,  either  with  limed  twigs,  or  the  clap-net ;  but  the  best  time 
is<  said  to  be  about  Michaelmas.  They  are  easily  tamed ;  and  are 
remarkable  for  their  extreme  docility,  and  the  attention  they  pay  to 
instructions.  It  requires  very  little  trouble  to  teach  them  to  perform 
several  movements  with  accuracy ;  to  fire  a  cracker,  and  to  draw  up 
small  cups  containing  their  food  and  drink. 

Some  years  ago,  the  Sieur  Eoman  exhibited  in  this  country  the 
wonderful  performances  of  his  birds.  These  were  Goldfinches,  Linnets, 
and  Canary-birds.  One  appeared  dead,  and  was  held  up  by  the  tail 
or  claw  without  exhibiting  any  signs  of  life.  A  second  stood  on  its 
head,  with  its  claws  in  the  air.  A  third  imitated  a  Dutch  milkmaid 
going  to  market,  with  pails  on  its  shoulders.  A  fourth  mimicked  a 
Venetian  girl  looking  out  at  a  window.  A  fifth  appeared  as  a  soldier, 
and  mounted  guard  as  a  sentinel.  The  sixth  was  a  cannoneer,  with  a 
cap  on  its  head,  a  firelock  on  its  shoulder,  and  a  match  in  its  claw ; 
and  discharged  a  small  cannon.  The  same  bird  also  acted  as  if  it  had 
been  wounded :  it  was  wheeled  in  a  little  barrow,  to  convey  it  (as  it 
were)  to  the  hospital ;  after  which  it  flew  away  before  the  company. 
The  seventh  turned  a  kind  of  windmill.  And  the  last  bird  stood  in 
the  midst  of  some  fire- works  which  were  discharged  all  round  it ;  and 
this  without  exhibiting  the  least  sight  of  fear. 

In  solitude  the  Goldfinch  delights  to  view  its  image  in  a  mirror ; 
'fancying,  probably,  that  it  sees  another  of  its  own  species :  and  this 
attachment  to  society  seems  to  equal  the  cravings  of  nature  ;  for  it  is 
often  observed  to  pick  up  the  hemp-seed,  grain  by  grain,  and  advance 
to  eat  it  at  the  mirror  imagining,  no  doubt,  that  it  is  thus  feeding  in 
company.  . 

If  a  young  Goldfinch  be  educated  under  a  Canary-bird,  a  Wood- 
lark,  or  any  other  singing  bird,  it  will  readily  catch  its  song.  Mr. 
Albin  mentions  a  lady  who  had  a  Goldfinch  which  was  even  able 
distinctly  to  speak  several  words. 

Towards  winter  these  birds  usually  assemble  in  flocks.  They  feed 
on  various  kinds  of  seeds,  but  are  more  partial  to  those  of  the  thistle 
than  any  others.  They  sometimes  have  been  known  to  attain  a  great 
age.  Willoughby  speaks  of  one  that  was  twenty-three  years  old ;  and 
Albin  says,  that  they  not  unfrequently  arrive  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years. 


THE   CANARY-FINCH. 

If,  observes  M.  de  Buffon,  the  Nightingale  is  the  songster  of  the 
woods,  the  Canary-bird  must  be  considered  as  the  musician  of  the 
chamber.  It  is  a  social  and  familiar  bird,  capable  of  recollecting 
kindnesses,  and  even  of  some  degree  of  attachment  towards  those  by 


THE    CANARY-FINCH. 


587 


whom  it  is  fed  and  attended.  In  a  state  of  nature  we  know  but  little 
of  its  manners  and 
economy.  Like 
the  rest  of  its 
tribe,  it  feeds 
chiefly  on  seed 
and  different 
kinds  of  grain. 
It  inhabits  the 
woods  of  Italy, 
Greece,  and  the 
Canary  Islands; 
from  the  latter  of 
which  it  appears 
to  have  been  first 
brought  into 
Europe,  about  the 
middle  of  the 
fourteenth  cen- 
tury. These 
birds,  however, 
are  now  so  com- 
monly bred  in 
our  own  country, 
that  we  are  not 
often  under  the 
necessity  of  cross- 
ing the  ocean  for 
them. 

It  is  not  generally  known,  that  the  song  of  the  Canary-bird  is 
usually  composed  either  of  the  Titlark's  or  the  Nightingale's  notes. 
Mr.  Barrington  saw  two  of  these  birds  which  came  from  the  Canary 
Islands,  neither  of  which  had  any  song  at  all;  and  he  was  informed 
that  a  ship  afterwards  brought  over  a  great  number  of  them,  all  of 
which  had  the  same  defect.  Most  of  the  birds  that  are  imported  from 
the  Tyrol,  have  been  educated  under  parents,  the  progenitors  of  which 
were  instructed  by  a  Nightingale.  The  English  Canary-birds  have, 
however,  more  of  the  Titlark's  than  of  the  Nightingale's  notes 

Dr  Darwin  relates  a  very  singular  anecdote  respecting  one  of  these 
birds:  "On  observing  (says  he)  a  Canary-bird  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Hervey,  near  Tetbury,  in  Derbyshire,  I  was  told  that  it  always  fainted 
away  when  its  cage  was  cleaned;  and  I  desired  to  see  the  experiment. 
The  cage  being  taken  from  the  ceiling,  and  the  bottom  drawn  out, 
the  bird  began  to  tremble,  and  turned  quite  white  about  the  root  of 
its  bill :  it  then  opened  its  mouth  as  if  for  breath,  and  respired  quick, 
stood  up  straighter  on  its  perch  hung,  its  wings,  spread  its  tail,  closed 
its  eyes,  and  appeared  quite  stiff  and  cataleptic  for  nearly  half  an 
hour;  and  at  length,  with  much  trembling  and  deep  respirations, 
canv*  gradually  to  itself." 

A    Frenchman,  whose  name  was    Dujon,   exhibited   in    London 


CANART-FINCH. 


588 


THE    CANARY-FINCH. 


twenty-four  Canary-birds,  many  of  which  he  said  were  from  eighteen 
to  twenty-five  years  of  age.   Some  of  these  balanced  themselves,  head 

downward 


on 

their  shoul- 
ders, having 
their  legs  and 
tail  in  the  air. 
One  of  them 
taking  a  slen- 
der stick  in 
its  claws, 
passed  its 
head  between 
its  legs,  and 
suffered  itself 
to  be  turned 
round,  as  if  in 
the  act  of 
being  roasted. 
Another  bal- 
anced itself, 
and  was 
swung  back- 
w  a  r  d  and 
forward  on  a 
kind  of  slack- 
rope.  A  third 
was  dressed  in 
military  uni- 
form, having 
a  cap  on  its 
head,  wearing 

a  sword  and  pouch,  and  carrying  a  firelock  in  one  claw:  after  some 
time  sitting  upright,  this  bird,  at  the  word  of  command,  freed  itself 
from  its  dress,  and  flew  away  to  the  cage.  A  fourth  suffered  itself 
to  be  shot  at,  and,  falling  down  as  if  dead,  was  put  into  a  little  wheel- 
barrow, and  wheeled  away  by  one  of  its  comrades ;  and  several  of 
the  birds  were  at  the  same  time  placed  upon  a  little  fire-work,  and 
continued  there  quietly,  and  without  alarm,  till  it  was  discharged. 


TAME  CANARY. 


THE  KING-BIRD,  OR    TYRANT  FLY-CATCHER. 


589 


THE   KING-BIRD,  OR  TYRANT   FLY-CATCHER. 

This  well  known,  remarkable  and   pugnacious  bird  takes  up  its 

summer  residence  in 
all  the  intermediate 
region,  from  the 
temperate  parts  of 
Mexico  to  the  unin- 
habited and  remote 
interior  of  Canada. 
In  all  this  vast 
geographical  range 
the  King-bird  seeks 
his  food  and  rears 
his  young.  Accord- 
ing to  Au  du  bo  n, 
they  appear  in 
Louisiana  by  the 
middle  of  March, 
and  about  the  20th 
of  April,  Wilson  re- 
marked their  arrival 
in  Pennsylvania  in 
small  parties  of  five 
or  six ;  but  they  are 
very  seldom  seen  in 
Massachusetts  b  e- 
fore  the  middle  of 
May.  They  are  now 
silent  and  peaceable, 
until  they  begin  to  pair,  and  form  their  nests,  which  takes  place  from 
the  first  to  the  last  week  in  May,  or  early  in  June,  according  to  the 
advancement  of  the  season  in  the  latitudes  of  forty  and  forty-three 
degrees.  The  nest  is  usually  built  in  the  orchard,  on  the  horizontal 
branch  of  an  apple  or  pear  tree,  sometimes  in  an  oak,  in  the  adjoining 
forest,  at  various  heights  from  the  ground,  seldom  carefully  concealed, 
and  firmly  fixed  at  the  bottom  to  the  supporting  twigs  of  the  branch. 
The  outside  consists  of  course  stalks  of  dead  grass  and  wiry  weeds, 
the  whole  well  connected  and  bedded  with  cut-weed,  down,  tow,  or 
an  occasional  rope-yarn,  and  wool;  it  is  then  lined  with*dry,  slender 
grass,  root  fibres,  and  horsehair.  The  eggs  are  generally  three  to 
five,  yellowish-white,  and  marked  w*ith  a  few  large,  well  defined  spots 
of  deep  and  bright  brown.  They  often  build  and  hatch  twice  in  the 
season. 


TYRANT  FLY-CATCHER,  OR  EI^Q-BIRD. 


590  THE   SPOTTED  FLY-CATCHER. 


OF   THE   FLY-CATCHERS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  characters  of  this  genus  are,  a  bill  flatted  at  the  base,  almost 
triangular,  notched  at  the  end  of  the  upper  mandible,  and  beset  with 
bristles.  The  toes  in  most  of  the  species  are  divided  as  far  as  the 
origin. 


THE   SPOTTED   FLY-CATCHER. 

The  length  of  this  species  is  about  four  inches  and  three  quarters: 
the  bill  is  dusky  and  beset  with  short  bristles :  the  head  and  back  are 
light  brown,  obscurely  spotted  with  black :  the  wings  and  tail  are  dusky, 
and  the  former  edged  with  white:  the  breast  and  belly  are  white:  the 
throat,  sides,  and  feathers  under  the  wings,  are  tinged  with  red ;  and 
the  legs  are  black. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  mute,  and  most  familiar  of  all  the  English 
summer  birds.  It  visits  them  in  spring,  rears  its  young-ones,  and 
leaves  the  country  in  September. 

Mr.  White  says,  that  a  pair  of  these  birds  built  every  year  in  the 
vines  that  grew  on  the  walls  of  his  house  at  Selborne.  They  one  year 
inadvertently  placed  their  nest  on  a  naked  bough,  perhaps  in  a  shady 
time,  not  being  aware  of  the  inconvenience  that  followed ;  but  a  hot, 
sunny  season  coming  on  before  the  brood  was  half  fledged,  the  reflec- 
tion of  the  wall  became  insupportable,  and  must  inevitably  have  de- 
stroyed the  tender  young-ones,  had  not  affection  suggested  an  expe- 
dient, and  prompted  the  parent  birds  to  hover  over  the  nest  during 
all  the  hotter  hours;  while  with  wings  expanded,  and  mouths  gaping 
for  breath,  they  screened  off  the  heat  from  their  suffering  offspring. 

The  female  lays  four  or  five  eggs :  the  nest  is  carelessly  made,  and 
consists  chiefly  of  moss,  mixed  with  wool  and  fibres,  so  strong,  and 
so  large,  (says  M.  de  Buftbn,)  that  it  appears  surprising  how  so  small 
an  artificer  could  make  use  of  such  stubborn  materials.  When  its 
offspring  are  able  to  fly,  it  retires  with  them  among  the  higher 
branches  of  the  trees,  sinking  and  rising  perpendicularly  among  the 
flies  which  hum  below. 

This  bird  feeds  on  insects,  which  it  catches  whilst  on  wing.  It  some- 
times watches  for  its  prey  sitting  on  a  branch  or  post,  and,  with  a 
sudden  spring,  takes  it  as  it  flies,  and  then  immediately  returns  to  its 
station  to  wait  for  more.  It  is  said,  likewise,  to  be  fond  of  some  kinds 
of  fruit.  It  is  generally  believed  to  have  no  song.  The  Rev.  Revett 
Sheppard,  however,  informs  me,  that  in  the  garden  belonging  to  the 
master  of  Caius  College,  Cambridge,  a  Spotted  Fly-catcher  used  fre- 
quently to  sit  on  a  rail,  and  entertain  him  with  its  notes,  which,  he 
says,  were  very  pleasing,  and  between  those  of  a  Wagtail  and  GcMen- 
crested  Wren. 

The  Pied  Fly- catcher  is  a  rarer  variety,  with  a  white  !  reast 


THE   PEWIT   FLY-CATCHER. 


591 


THE  PEWIT  FLY-CATCHER 

This  familiar  species  inhabits  the  continent  of  North  America,  from 
Canada  and  Lab- 
rador to  Texas, 
retiring  from  the 
Northern  and  Mid- 
dle States  at  the 
approach  of  winter. 
How  far  they  pro- 
ceed to  the  south 
at  this  season  is 
not  satisfactorily 
ascertained ;  a  few, 
no  doubt,  winter  in 
the  milder  parts  of 
the  Union,  as  Wil- 
son saw  them  in 
February  in  the 
swamps  of  North 
and  South  Carolina, 
where  they  were 
feeding  on  smilax 
berries,  and  occa- 
s  ion  ally  even 
giving  their  well- 
known  notes ;  but  in  the  winter,  and  early  spring  of  1830;  while  em- 
ployed in  an  extensive  pedestrian  journey  from  South  Carolina  to 
Florida  and  Alabama,  I  never  heard  or  met  with  an  individual  of  the 
species.  Audubon  found  them  abundant  in  the  Floridas  in  winter. 

This  faithful  messenger  of  spring  returns  to  Pennsylvania  as  early 
as  the  first  week  in  March,  remains  till  October,  and  sometimes  nearly 
to  the  middle  of  November.  In  Massachusetts,  they  arrive  about  the 
beginning  of  April,  and  at  first  chiefly  frequent  the  woods. 

Their  favorite  resort  is  near  streams,  ponds,  or  stagnant  waters, 
about  bridges,  caves,  and  barns,  where  they  choose  to  breed ;  and,  in 
short,  wherever  there  is  a  good  prospect  for  obtaining  their  insect 
food. 


THE  PEWIT  FLY-CATCHER. 


THE    AMERICAN    REDSTART. 

This  beautiful  and  curious  bird  takes  up  its  summer  residence  in 
almost  every  part  of  the  North  American  continent,  being  found  in 
Canada,  in  the  remote  interior  near  Red  river  in  the  latitude  of  forty- 
nine  degrees,  throughout  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  and  the  maritime  parts 
of  Mexico ;  in  all  of  which  vast  countries  it  familiarly  breeds  and  re- 
sides during  the  mild  season,  withdrawing  early  in  September  to  trop- 


592 


THE  AMERICAN    REDSTART. 


AMERICAN   REDSTART. 


ical  America,  where,  in  the  perpetual  spring  and  summer  of  the  larger 

"West  India 
islands,  the  spe- 
cies again  find 
means  of  support. 
At  length,  insti- 
gated by  more 
powerful  feelings 
than  those  of 
ordinary  w  a  n  t, 
the  male,  now 
clad  in  his 
beautiful  nuptial 
livery,  and  ac- 
companied by  his 
mate,  seeks  anew 
the  friendly  but 
far  distant  natal 
regions  of  his 

race.  In  no  haste,  the  playful  Eedstart  does  not  appear  in  Pennsylvania 
until  late  in  April.  The  month  of  May,  about  the  close  of  the  first 
week,  ushers  his  arrival  into  the  states  of  New  England ;  but  in  Louis- 
iana he  is  seen  as  early  as  the  beginning  of  March.  He  is  no  pensioner 
upon  the  bounty  of  man.  Though  sometimes  seen,  on  his  first  arrival, 
in  the  darkest  part  of  the  orchard  or  garden,  or  by  the  meandering 
brook,  he  seeks  to  elude  observation,  and  now,  the  great  object  of  his 
migrations  having  arrived,  he  retires  with  his  mate  to  the  thickest  of 
the  sylvan  shade.  Like  his  relative  Sylvias,  he  is  full  of  life  and. in 
perpetual  motion.  He  does  not,  like  the  loitering  Pewee,  wait  the 
accidental  approach  of  his  insect  prey,  but  carrying  the  war  amongst 
them,  he  is  seen  flitting  from  bough  to  bough,  or  at  times  pursuing 

the  flying  troop 
of  winged  insects 
from  the  top  of 
the  tallest  tree  in 
a  zig-zag,  hawk- 
like, descending 
flight,  to  the 
ground,  while  the 
clincking  of  the 
bill  declares  dis- 
tinctly both  his 
object  and  success. 
Then  alighting  on 
some  adjoining 
branch,  intently 
watching,  with  his 
head  extended,  he 
runs  along  upon  it  for  an  instant  or  two,  flirting  like  a  fan  his 
expanded  brilliant  tail  from  side  to  side,  and  again  suddenly  shoots 


NK8T  OF  THE  AMERICAN  REDSTART. 


THE    RED   EYED   VIREO,   OR   GREENLET. 


593 


off  like  an  arrow  in  a  new  direction,  after  the  fresh  game  he  has 
discovered  in  the  distance,  and  for  which  he  appeared  to  be  recon- 
noitring. At  first  the  males  are  seen  engaged  in  active  strife,  pursuing 
each  other  in  wide  circles  through  the  forest.  The  female  seeks  out 
her  prey  with  less  action  and  flirting,  and  in  her  manners  resembles 
the  ordinary  Sylvias. 

The  nest  of  the  Redstart  is  very  neat  and  substantial ;  fixed  occasion- 
ally near' the  forks  of  a  slender  hickory  or  beach  sappling,  but  more 
generally  fastened  or  agglutinated  to  the  depending  branches  or  twigs 
of  the  former ;  sometimes  securely  seated  amidst  the  stout  footstalks 
of  the  waving  foliage  in  the  more  usual  manner  of  the  delicate  cradle 
of  the  Indian  Tailor-bird,  but  in  the  deep  and  cool  shade  of  the  forest, 
instead  of  the  blooming  bower. 


THE  BED-EYED   VIREO,   OR   GREENLET. 

This  common  and  indefatigable  songster  appears  to  inhabit  every 
part  of  the  American  continent  from  Labrador  to  the  large  tropical 
islands  of  Jamaica 
and  St.  Domingo ; 
they  are  likewise 
resident  in  the 
mild  table  land  of 
Mexico.  Those  who 
pass  the  summer 
with  us,  however, 
migrate  to  the 
warmer  regions  at 
the  commencement 
of  winter,  as  none 
are  found  at  that 
season  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  The  Red-eyed  Vireo 
arrives  in  Pennsylvania  late  in  April,  and  in  New  England  about  the 
beginning  of  May.  It  inhabits  the  shady  forests  or  tall  trees  near  gardens 
and  the  suburbs  of  villages,  where  its  loud,  lively,  and  energetic  song 
is  often  continued,  with  little  intermission,  for  several  hours  at  a  time, 
as  it  darts  and  pries  among  the  thick  foliage  in  quest  of  insects  and 
small  Caterpillars.  From  its  first  arrival,  until  August,  it  is  the  most 
distinguished  warbler  of  the  forest,  and  when  almost  all  the  other 
birds  have  become  mute,  its  notes  are  yet  heard  with  unabated  vigor. 
Even  to  the  5th  of  October,  still  enlivened,  by  the  feeble  rays  of  the 
sun,  he  faintly  recalls  his  song,  and  plaintively  tunes  a  farewell  to  his 
native  woods. 


RED-EYED  VIREO. 


594 


THE   SKT-LA.RK. 


OF  THE  LARKS  IN  GENERAL'. 

IN  this  tribe  the  bill  is  straight,  slender,  bending  a  little  towards 
the  end,  and  sharp-pointed.  The  nostrils  are  covered  with  feathers 
and  bristles;  and  the  tongue  is  cloven  at  the  end.  The  toes  are 
divided  to  the  origin;  and  the  claw  of  the  back  toe  is  very  long, 
and  either  straight  or  very  little  bent. 


THE   SKY-LARK. 

The  Sky -lark  forms  its  nest  on  the  ground,  generally  between  two 

clods  of  earth, 
and  lines  it  with 
dried  grass  and 
roots.  The  fe- 
male lays  four  or 
five  eggs,  which 
are  hatched  in 
about  a  fortnight ; 
and 
rally 


D 

gene- 


she     & 

produces 
two  broods  in 
the  year.  When 
hatched,  the 
mother  watches 
over  them  with 
a  truly  maternal 
affection ;  she 
may  then  be  seen 
fluttering  over 

*hei.r   heads, 

directing       their 

motions,  anticipating  their  wants,  and  guarding  them  from  danger. 

The  instinctive  warmth  of  attachment  which  the  female  Sky-lark 
bears  towards  her  own  species,  often  discovers  itself  at  a  very  early 
period,  and  even  before  she  is  capable  of  becoming  a  mother;  which 
might  be  supposed  to  precede,  in  the  order  of  nature,  the  maternal 
solicitude.  "In  the  month  of  May  (says  M.  de  Buffbn)  a  young  hen- 
bird  was  brought  to  me,  which  was  not  able  to  feed  without  assistance. 
I  caused  her  to  be  educated ;  and  she  was  hardly  fledged,  when  I 
received  from  another  place  a  nest  of  three  or  four  unfledged  Sky- 
larks. She  took  a  strong  liking  to  these  new'comers,  which  were 
scarcely  younger  than  herself;  she  tended  them  night  and  day, 
cherished  them  beneath  her  wings,  and  fed  them  with  Tier  bill.  No- 
thing could  interrupt  her  tender  offices.  If  the  young-ones  were  torn 
from  her  she  flew  to  them  as  soon  as  she  was  liberated,  and  would 


THE   SKY-LARK.  595 

not  think  of  effecting  her  own  escape,  which  she  might  have  done  a 
hundred  times.  Her  affection  grew  upon  her:  she  neglected  food  and 
drink ;  she  now  required  the  same  support  as  her  adopted  offspring, 
and  expired  at  last,  consumed  with  maternal  anxiety.  None  of  the 
young-ones  survived  her.  They  died  one  after  another;  so  essential 
were  her  cares,  which  were  equally  tender  and  judicious." 

The  common  food  of  young  Sky-larks  is  worms  and  insects;  but 
after  they  are  grown  up  they  live  chiefly  on  seeds,  herbage,  and  most 
other  vegetable  substances.  These  birds  are  easily  tamed,  and  they 
become  so  familiar  as  to  eat  off  the  table,  and  even  to  alight  on  the 
hand;  but  they  cannot  cling  by  their  toes,  on  account  of  the  form  of 
the  hinder  toe,  which  is  straight  and  very  long.  This  is  the  reason 
why  they  never  perch  on  trees. 

The  Lark  commences  his  song  early  in  spring,  and  continues  it 
during  the  whole  of  the  summer.  It  is  heard  chiefly  in  the  morning 
and  evening,  and  the  Lark  is  one  of  those  few  birds  that  chaunt  their 
mellow  notes  on  the  wing.  Thomson  elegantly  describes  it  as  the 
leader  of  the  warbling  choir: — 

Up  springs  the  Lark, 

Shrill-voiced  and  loud,  the  messenger  of  morn: 
Ere  yet  the  shadows  fly,  he,  mounted,  sings 
Amid  the  dawning  clouds,  and  from  their  haunts 
Calls  up  the  tuneful  nations. 

The  Lark  mounts  almost  perpendicularly,  and  by  successive 
springs,  into  the  air;  where  it  hovers  at  a  vast  height.  Its  descent 
is  in  an  oblique  direction ;  unless  threatened  by  some  ravenous  bird 
of  prey,  or  attracted  by  its  mate,  when  it  drops  to  the  ground  like  a 
stone.  On  its  first  leaving  the  earth,  its  notes  are  feeble  and  inter- 
rupted; but  as  it  rises,  these  gradually  swell  to  their  full  tone.  There 
is  something  in  the  concomitant  scenery,  that  renders  the  music  of 
the  Lark  peculiarly  delightful.  The  placid  landscape  and  various 
rural  charms,  all  contribute  to  heighten  our  relish  for  its  pleasing 
song. 

These  birds  become  musical  in  the  spring,  and  continue  so  for 
several  months;  but  in  winter  their  song  forsakes  them.  They  then 
assemble  in  flocks,  grow  fat,  and  are  caught  in  vast  numbers  by  the 
bird-catchers.  As  many  as  four  thousand  dozen  have  been  taken  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Dunstable,  between  September  and  February ; 
but  this  holds  no  proportion  to  what  are  sometimes  caught  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  Germany,  where  there  is  a  tax  upon  them.  Keysler  says, 
that  at  one  time  this  tax  produced  six  thousand  dollars  every  year  to 
the  city  of  Leipsic. 

Larks  that  are  caught  in  the  day-time  are  taken  in  clap-nets,  of 
fifteen  yards  in  length,  and  two  and  a  half  in  breadth;  and  they  are 
enticed  by  bits  of  looking-glass  fixed  in  a  piece  of  wood,  and  placed 
in  the  middle  of  the  nets.  These  are  put  into  quick  whirling  motion, 
by  a  string  which  the  larker  commands;  he  also  makes  use  of  a  decoy- 
bird.  This  kind  of  net  is  used  only  till  the  fourteenth  of  November; 
for  the  Larks  will  not  frolic  in  the  air,  and  consequently  cannot  be- 
38 


596  THE    WOOD-LARK. 

inveigled  in  this  manner,  except  in  fine  sunny  weather.  When  the 
weather  becomes  gloomy,  the  larker  changes  his  engine ;  and  makes 
use  of  a  trammel-net,  twenty-seven  or  twenty-eight  feet  long,  and  five 
broad.  This  is  put  on  two  poles,  eighteen  feet  long,  and  carried  by 
men,  who  pass  over  the  fields,  and  quarter  the  ground  as  a  setting- 
dog  would.  When  the  men  hear  or  feel  that  a  Lark  has  hit  the  net, 
they  drop  it  down,  and  thus  the  birds  are  taken. 


THE  WOOD-LARK. 

The  Wood-lark  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  Sky -lark,  and  its  form 
is  shorter  and  more  thick.  The  top  of  the  head  and  back  are  marked 
with  large  black  spots,  edged  with  pale  reddish  brown.  The  head  is 
surrounded  with  a  whitish  coronet  of  feathers,  reaching  from  eye  to 
eye.  The  throat  is  of  a  yellowish  white,  spotted  with  black.  The 
breast  is  tinged  with  red ;  the  belly  is  white  ;  and  the  coverts  of  the 
wings  are  brown  edged  with  white  and  dull  yelltow.  The  quill-feathers 
are  dusky ;  the  exterior  edges  of  the  first  white,  and  of  the  others 
yellow  ;  and  their  tips  are  blunt  and  white.  The  first  feather  of  the 
wing  is  shorter  than  the  second :  in  the  Sky-lark  they  are  nearly 
equal.  The  tail  is  black,  the  outermost  feather  tipped  with  white  : 
the  exterior  web,  and  the  inner  side  of  the  interior  web,  are  also  white ; 
in  the  second  feather  the  exterior  web  only  is  white.  The  legs  are  of 
a  dull  yellow. 

In  many  respects,  both  of  habit  and  appearance,  these  birds  differ 
from  the  Sky-lark.  They  perch  as  well  in  trees  as  on  the  ground ; 
but  this  they  do  only  on  the  largest  branches,  where  they  are  able  to 
secure  their  hold  without  positive!}7  embracing  the  stems  with  their 
toes.  The  Sky -lark  forms  its  nest  amongst  grass  near  the  bottom  of  a 
hedge,  or  in  lays  where  the  grass  is  rank  and  dry.  The  fabric  is  of 
loose  texture,  and  constructed  of  withered  herbs,  and  fibrous  roots, 
with  a  few  horse-hairs  in  the  inside.  It  has  scarcely  any  hollow,  the 
bottom  being  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  sides.  The  whole  nest  is  seldom 
much  more  than  half  an  ounce  in  weight.  The  number  of  eggs  is 
about  four ;  these  are  of  a  pale  bloom-color,  beautifully  mottled,  and 
clouded  with  red  and  yellow. 

The  young  birds  are  tender,  and  not  easily  to  be  reared  in  a  cage. 
When  first  taken  from  the  nest,  they  should  be  fed  with  raw  sheep's 
heart,  or  other  lean  fresh  meat,  mixed  with  hard-boiled  egg,  a  little 
bread,  and  bruised  hemp-seed.  These  must  be  chopped  together  as 
fine  as  possible,  and  moistened  with  water. 

From  what  circumstance  these  birds  have  obtained  the  appellation 
of  Wood-larks,  unless  it  be  from  their  building  in  thickets,  is  difficult 
to  say ;  since,  like  the  common  species,  they  are  for  the  most  part 
found  only  on  large  and  cultivated  plains. 

Their  song  is  stated  more  to  resemble  that  of  the  Sky-lark.  They 
sing  not  only  in  the  day-time,  but  during  the  night ;  not  only  whilst 
they  are  in  flight,  but  also  when  perched  upon  the  trees.  Like  the 
Sky-larks,  they  assemble  in  considerable  flocks  during  frosty  weather. 


THE  GRASSHOPPER-LARK. 


597 


Their  usual  food  consists  of  small  Beetles,  Caterpillers,  and  other 
insects,  as  well  as  of  the  seeds  of  numerous  kinds  of  wild  plants. 


THE   MEADOW  PIPIT. 

The  Meadow  Pipit,  more  commonly  called  the  Titlark,  resembles 
the  true  Larks  in  the  long  hind 
claw  and  peculiar  plumage,  but 
is  pointed  out  as  distinct,  by  the 
different  color  of  the  bill.  Like 
the  Sky -3  ark,  it  sings  while  in 
the  air,  but  sometimes  also  pours 
forth  its  musical  strains  while 
settled  upon  the  ground.  It  feeds 
principally  on  slugs,  worms,  and 
insects,  which  it  chases  with  much 
activity,  after  the  manner  of  the 
Wagtails,  even  vibrating  its  tail 
like  them.  Hilly  grounds,  com- 
mons, and  meadows  are  its  chief 
resort  in  summer,  but  during  September  and  October  flocks  of  these 
birds  may  be  seen  congregated  in  turnip  fields,  and  in  the  winter  they 
seek  the  protection  of  the  warm  hedge-rows. 

The  nest  of  the  Titlark  is  made  on  the  ground,  and  concealed  by  a 
tuft  of  grass.  There  are  usually  five  or  six  eggs,  light  brown  in  color, 
spotted  with  a  darker  tint.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  six  inches 


THE  MEADOW  PIPIT. 


THE    GRASSHOPPER-LARK. 

This  is  a  very  small  species.  Its  bill  is  slender  and  dusky.  The 
upper  parts  of  the  body  are 
of  a  variegated  greenish 
brown.  The  under  parts 
are  of  a  yellowish  white, 
speckled  irregularly  on  the 
neck  and  breast.  The 
feathers  of  the  wings  and 
tail  are  of  a  palish  dusky 
brown.  The  tail  is  long, 
and  somewhat  wedge- 
shaped. 

Nothing,  says  the  Eev. 
Mr.  White,  can  be  more 
amusing  than  the  sibilous  whisper  of  this  little  bird,  which  seems  to 
be  close  by,  though  it  may  be  an  hundred  yards  distant ;  and,  when 
close  at  your  ear,  is  scarcely  any  louder  than  when  a  great  way  off. 
The  _  Grasshopper-lark  usually  begins  his  note  about  the  middle  of 
April,  and  did  we  not  know  that  the  Grasshopper  insects  are  not  yet 


THE  GRASSHOPPER  LARK. 


598 


THE    SHORE-LARK. 


hatched,  it  would  not  be  easy  to  persuade  one's  self  that  the  note  ut- 
tered by  this  lark  was  in  reality  the  note  of  a  bird. 

During  the  season  of  love,  the  male  has  great  delight  in  uttering  its 
song  from  some  bush  adjacent  to  its  nest.  Its  warbling  is  extremely 
simple,  but  at  the  same  time  is  sweet,  and  by  no  means  inharmonious. 
These  birds  also  sing  during  their  flight. 

They  are  artful  little  creatures,  generally  skulking  in  the  thickest 
part  of  the  bushes,  and  sometimes  when  concealed,  singing  at  the 
distance  of  a  little  more  than  a  yard  from  any  person.  Mr.  White, 
speaking  of  one  of  them,  says,  that,  in  order  to  find  it,  he  was  under 
the  necessity  of  desiring  a  person  to  go  on  the  other  side  of  a  hedge 
that  it  haunted.  The  bird  even  then  ran  before  them,  creeping  like 
a  Mouse,  for  more  than  a  hundred  yards,  through  the  bottom  of  the 
thorns,  yet  it  could  not  be  compelled  to  come  into  their  sight.  Yet 
this  bird,  early  in  the  morning,  and  when  undisturbed,  would  sing  on 
the  top  of  a  twig,  gaping  and  shivering  its  wings  with  great  apparent 
delight. 

The  nest  of  the  Grasshopper  Lark  is  formed  in  some  solitary  place, 
and  generally  concealed  under  some  green  turf.  The  eggs  are  seldom 
more  than  five  in  number,  and  these  are  marked  towards  the  large 
end  with  brown.  The  young-ones  are  not  unfrequently  devoured  by 
snakes. 

Although  these  birds  are  able  to  perch  on  small  twigs,  yet  their 
hinder  claw,  as  in  most  of  the  other  species,  is  of  considerable  length. 


THE   SHORE-LARK. 

This  beautiful  species,  says  Nuttall,  is  common  to  the  north  of 

the  old  and  new 

_        —  -**~  —  **->  continent,  but,  as 

in  some  other 
instances  already 
remarked,  the 
Shore-lark 
extends  its  mi- 

f  rations    much 
urther   over 


<& 


THE   8HOKE   LARK. 


over  Europe  and 
Asia.  Our  bird 
was  met  with  in 
the  Arctic  re- 
gions by  the  late 
adventurous  voy- 

agers; and  Mr.  Bullock  saw  them  in  the  winter  around  the  city  of 
Mexico  ;  so  that  in  their  migrations  over  this  continent  they  spread 
themselves  across  the  whole  habitable  Northern  hemisphere  to  the 
very  equator;  while  in  Europe,  according  to  the  careful  observations 
of  Temminck,  they  are  unknown  to  the  south  of  Germany.  Pallas 


THE   NIGHTINGALE.  599 

met  with  these  birds  round  Lake  Baikal  and  on  the  Wolga,  in  the 
53d  degree  of  latitude.  Westward  they  have  also  been  seen  in  the 
interior  of  the  United  States,  along  the  shores  of  the  Missouri. 

They  arrive  in  the  Northern  arid  Middle  States  late  in  the  fall  or 
commencement  of  winter;  in  New  England  they  are  seen  early  in 
October,  and  disappear  generally  on  the  approach  of  the  deep  storms 
of  snow,  though  straggling  parties  are  still  found  nearly  throughout 
the  winter.  In  the  other  States  to  the  South  they  are  more  common 
at  this  season,  and  are  particularly  numerous  in  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia,  frequenting  open  plains,  old  fields,  common  grounds,  and  the 
dry  shores  and  banks  of  bays  and  rivers,  keeping  constantly  on  the 
ground,  and  roving  about  in  families  under  the  guidance  of  the  older 
birds,  who  watching  for  any  approaching  danger,  give  the  alarm  to 
the  young  in  a  plaintive  call,  very  similar  to  that  which  is  uttered 
by  the  Sky-lark  in  the  same  circumstances.  Inseparable  in  all  their 
movements,  like  the  hen  and  her  fostered  chickens,  they  roost 
together  in  a  close  ring  or  company,  by  the  mere  edge  of  some 
sheltering  weed  or  tuft  of  grass  on  the  dry  and  gravelly  ground; 
and,  thickly  and  warmly  clad,  they  abide  the  frost  and  the  storm 
with  hardy  indifference.  They  fly  rather  high  and  loose,  in  scattered 
companies,  and  follow  no  regular  time  of  migration,  but  move  on- 
ward only  as  their  present  resources  begin  to  fail.  They  are  usually 
fat,  esteemed  as  food,  and  are  frequently  seen  exposed  for  sale  in  our 
markets.  Their  diet,  as  usual,  consists  of  seeds  which  still  remain 
on  the  grass  and  weeds  they  frequent,  and  they  swallow  a  considerable 
portion  of  gravel  to  assist  their  digestion.  They  also  collect  the  eggs 
and  dormant  Iarva3  of  insects  when  they  fall  in  their  way. 


OF  THE  WARBLERS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Warblers  have  a  weak  and  slender  bill;  small  and  somewhat 
depressed  nostrils;  and  the  tongue  cloven  at  the  end.  The  exterior 
toe  is  joined  beneath  to  the  base  of  the  middle  one. 

Most  of  these  birds  prey  on  insects.  Some  of  them  are  gregarious^ 
and  migrate  at  the  approach  of  the  cold  weather,  to  warmer  climates. 
This  is  a  very  extensive  tribe,  containing  in  the  whole  above  a  hun- 
dred and  seventy  species,  of  which  England  boasts  nearly  twenty. 


THE   NIGHTINGALE. 

The  length  of  the  Nightingale  is  about  six  inches.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  body  are  of  a  rusty  brown  color,  tinged  with  olive;  the 
under  parts  are  of  a  pale  ash-color,  almost  white  at  the  throat  and 
belly. 

The  Nightingale,  though  greatly  and  deservedly  esteemed  for  the 
excellence  of  its  song,  is  not  remarkable  for  variety  or  richness  of 
colors.  It  usually  leaves  us  about  the  middle  of  September,  in  order, 
as  it  is  supposed  to  retire  to  the  distant  regions  of  Asia.  This  bird 


600 


THE   NIGHTINGALE. 


returns  regularly  in  the  first  days  of  April,  and  about  a  month 
afterwards  begins  to  construct  its  nest.  The  females  hatch  twice,  and 
sometimes  even  three  times,  in  the  year. 


NIGUTIX3ALE. 


It  is  very  remarkable,   that   all  the  gay  and  brilliant  birds  of 
America  should  be  entirely  destitute  of  that  pleasing  power  of  song 

which  gives  so  pecu- 
liar a  charm  to  the 
groves  and  fields  of 
Europe. 

The  Nightingale 
seems  to  have  been 
fixed  upon  almost 
universally  as  the 
most  exquisite  of 
singing-birds ;  and 
this  superiority  it 
certainly  may 
boldly  challenge. 
One  reason,  how- 
ever, of  this  bird's 
being  more  attend- 
ed to  than  others 
is,  the  circumstance 
of  its  singing  in  the 
night. 

Mr.    Barrington 

kept  a  fine  Nightingale  for  three  years,  during  which  time  he  paid 
particular  attention  to  its  song.  Its  tone  was  infinitely  more  mellow 
than  that  of  any  other  bird;  though  at  the  same  time,  by  a  proper 


NIGHTINGALE  AND  NEST. 


THE    PENSILE  WARBLER.  601 

exertion,  it  could  be  excessively  brilliant.  When  this  bird  sang  its 
song  round,  in  its  whole  compass,  he  observed  sixteen  different 
beginnings  and  closes ;  at  the  same  time  that  the  intermediate  notes 
were  commonly  varied  in  their  succession  with  so  much  judgment, 
as  to  produce  a  most  pleasing  variety.  Another  point  of  superiority 
in  the  Nightingale,  is  its  continuance  of  song  without  a  pause ;  which 
Mr.  Barrington  observed  to  be  sometimes  not  less  than  twenty 
seconds.  Whenever  respiration,  however,  became  necessary,  it  was 
taken  with  as  much  judgment  as  by  an  opera-singer. 

In  this  place  it  may  be  remarked,  that  the  Nightingales  in  general, 
in  a  wild  state,  do  not  sing  above  ten  weeks  in  the  year ;  while  those 
confined  in  a  cage  continue  their  song  for  nine  or  ten  months;  and  a 
caged  Nightingale  sings  much  more  sweetly  than  those  which  we  hear 
abroad  in  the  spring.  The  latter,  as  the  bird-fanciers  term  it,  are  so 
rank  that  they  seldom  sing  anything  but  short  and  loud  jerks;  which, 
consequently,  cannot  be  compared  to  the  notes  of  a  caged  bird,  since 
the  instrument  is  thus  overstrained. 

From  the  dissections  of  several  birds  made  by  Mr.  John  Hunter,  at 
the  request  of  the  Hon.  Daines  Barrington,  it  appeared  that,  in  the 
best  singers,  the  muscles  of  the  larynx  were  the  strongest.  Those  in 
the  Nightingale  were  stronger  than  in  any  other  bird  of  the  same  size. 
When  we  consider  the  size  of  many  singing  birds,  it  is  really  amazing 
to  what  a  distance  their  notes  can  be  heard.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
song  of  a  Nightingale  may  be  heard  above  half  a  mile  if  the  evening 
be  calm. 

Nightingales  will  adopt  the  notes  of  other  birds;  and  they  will 
even  chaunt  the  stiff  airs  of  a  Nightingale-pipe.  They  may  be 
instructed  to  sing  by  turns  with  a  chorus,  and  to  repeat  their  couplet 
at  the  proper  time.  Mr.  Stackhouse,  of  Pendarvis  in  Cornwall,  informs 
me  that  he  has  remarked  of  the  Nightingale  that  it  will  modulate  its 
voice  to  any  given  key:  he  says,  if  any  person  whistle  a  note,  the  bird 
will  immediately  try,  in  its  strain,  an  unison  with  it.  Nightingales 
may  also  be  taught  to  articulate  words. 

Nightingales  are  solitary  birds;  never  associating  in  flocks,  like 
many  of  the  smaller  birds,  but  hiding  themselves  in  the  thickest  parts 
of  hedges  and  bushes,  and  seldom  singing  but  during  the  night. 

The  London  bird-catchers  catch  Nightingales  in  net-traps,  (some- 
what larger  than  cabbage-nets,)  the  bottoms  of  which  are  surrounded 
with  an  iron  ring.  These  are  baited  with  meal-worms  from  bakers' 
shops ;  and  ten  or  a  dozen  birds  have  sometimes  been  caught  in  a  day 
by  this  means 


THE   PENSILE   WARBLER. 

The  Pensile  Warbler  is  nearly  five  inches  long.  The  bill  is  dusky ; 
the  head  grayish  black;  and  the  back  deep  gray.  Eound  the  eye 
there  is  a  white  streak,  and  between  that  and  the  bill  a  range  of  yellow 
dots.  The  throat,  neck,  and  breast,  are  yellow.  The  belly  is  white : 
and  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  body  are  dotted  with  black  spots.  The 


602 


THE   COMMON    WAGTAIL. 


THE   PENSILE   WARBLER. 


wing-coverts  are  white  and  black,  in  bands.  The  tail  is  dark  gray, 
having  the  four  outer  feathers  marked  with  large  spots  of  white. 
The  sagacity  displayed  by  this  bird  in  building  and  placing  its  nest, 
is  truly  remarkable.  She  does  not  fix  it  at 
the  forking  of  the  branches,  as  is  usual  with 
most  other  birds;  but  she  suspends  it  to  a 
kind  of  binders,  which  hang  from  tree  to 
tree,  but  particularly  from  branches  that 
bend  over  the  rivers  and  deep  ravines.  The 
nest  consists  of  dry  blades  of  grass,  the  ribs 
of  leaves,  and  exceedingly  small  roots, 
interwoven  with  great  art;  it  is  fastened 
on,  or  rather  it  is  worked  into  the  pendent  strings.  It  is  in  fact  a 
small  bed,  rolled  into  a  ball,  so  thick  and  compact  as  to  exclude 
the  rain  ;  and  it  rocks  in  the  wind  without  receiving  any  injury. 

But  the  elements  are  not  the  only  enemies  against  which  this  bird 
has  to  struggle ;  with  wonderful  sagacity  it  provides  for  the  protection 
of  its  nest  from  other  accidents.  The  opening  is  neither  made  on  the 
top  nor  the  sides  of  the  nest,  but  at  the  bottom.  Nor  is  the  entrance 
direct.  After  the  bird  has  made  its  way  into  the  vestibule,  it  must. 
pass  over  a  kind  of  partition,  and  through  another  aperture,  before  it 
descends  into  the  abode  of  its  family.  This  lodgment  is  round  and 
soft ;  being  lined  with  a  species  of  lichen,  which  grows  on  the  trees, 
or  with  the  silky  down  of  plants. 

The  birds  of  this  species  have  a  very  delicate  song,  which  is  con- 
tinued throughout  the  year.  They  are  natives  of  St.  Domingo,  arid 
some  other  of  the  West  India  islands,  where  they  feed  chiefly  on 
insects  and  fruit. 


THE   COMMON   WAGTAIL. 

These  active  and  lively  little  birds  run  about  the  sides  of  ponds  and 

small  streams,  in  search  of 
insects  and  worms ;  and  in  the 
spring  and  autumn  are  constant 
attendants  on  the  plough,  for 
the  sake  of  the  worms  thrown 
up  by  that  instrument. 

The  generality  of  the  Wag- 
tails disappear  in  the  autumn  ; 
but  how  they  dispose -of  them- 
selves during  the  winter,  is 
somewhat  difficult  to  account 
for.  They  are  often  to  be  seen 
even  in  the  middle  of  winter. 
If  there  happen  to  be  a  fine  day,  and  the  sun  shine  bright,  they  are 
sure  to  make  their  appearance;  chirping  briskly,  and  seeming 
delighted  with  the  fine  weather,  though  they  had  not  perhaps  been 
seen  for  three  weeks  or  a  month  before.  Whence  then  do  they  come  ? 


COMMON   VTACTAIL. 


THE   YELLOW   WAGTAIL. — WHEAT    EAR.      .  603 

Certainly  not  from  a  far  distant  country,  there  not  being  time  for  a 
very  long  journey  in  the  space  of  a  single  day ;  and,  besides,  they 
never  seem  to  be  tired  or  lifeless,  but  are  very  brisk  and  lively,  on 
such  occasions. 


THE   YELLOW  WAGTAIL. 


The  Yellow  Wagtail  is 
very  similar  in  habits  to 
the  more  common  Pied 
Wagtail,  but  the  yellow 
tints  of  some  of  its  feath- 
ers, somewhat  resembling 
those  of  the  Yellow. 
Hammer,  at  once  dis- 
tinguish it. 


YELLOW   WAGTAIL 


THE  WHEAT-EAR. 

The  head  and  back  of  the  male  are  of  a  light  gray,  tinged  with  red. 
Over  each  eye  there  is  a  white  line :  beneath  that  is  a  broad  black  stroke, 
which  passes  across  each  eye  to  the  hinder  part  of  the  head.  The 
rump  and  lower  half  of  the  tail  are  white :  the  upper  half  black.  The 
underside  of  the  body  is  white,  tinged  with  yellow  :  on  the  neck  this 
color  inclines  to  red.  The  quill -feathers  are  black,  edged  with  reddish 
brown.  The  colors  of  the  female  are  more  dull :  this  sex  wants  the 
black  marks  across  the  eyes ;  and  the  bar  of  white  on  the  tail  is  narrower 
than  that  in  the  male. 

This  bird  visits  England  annually  in  the  middle  of  March,  and  leaves 
in  September.  The  females  come  first,  about  a  fortnight  before  the 
males  ;  and  they  continue  to  come  until  the  middle  of  May.  In  some 
parts  of  England  they  are  seen  in  great  numbers,  and  are  much  esteemed 
for  the  table.  About  Eastbourn,  in  Sussex,  they  are  caught  by  means 
of  snares  made  of  horse-hair,  placed  beneath  a  long  turf.  Being  very 
timid  birds,  the  motion  even  of  a  cloud,  or  the  appearance  of  a  Hawk, 
will  immediately  drive  them  into  the  traps.  These  traps  are  first  set 
every  year  on  St.  James's  day,  the  twenty -fifth  of  July ;  soon  after  which 
they  are  caught  in  astonishing  numbers,  considering  that  they  are  not 
gragarious,  and  that  more  than  two  or  three  are  scarcely  ever  seen  flying 
together.  The  number  annually  ensnared  in  the  district  of  Eastbourn 
alone,  is  said  to  amount  to  nearly  two  thousand  dozen.  The  birds 
caught  are  chiefly  young-ones,  and  they  are  invariably  found  in  the 
greatest  numbers  when  an  easterly  wind  prevails  ;  they  always  come 
against  the  wind.  A  gentleman  informed  Mr.  Markwick  of  Cattsfield, 
that  his  father's  shepherd  once  caught  eighty-four  dozen  of  them  in  a 


604  THE    RED-BREAST. 

day.  Great  quantities  of  "Wheat- ears  are  eaten  on  the  spot  by  the 
inhabitants ;  others,  are  picked  and  sent  to  London  poulterers ;  and 
many  are  potted,  being  much  esteemed  in  England,  as  the  Ortolons  are 
on  the  continent. 

The  vast  abundance  of  these  birds  on  the  downs  about  Eastbourn,  is 
supposed  by  Mr.  -Pennant  to  be  occasioned  by  a  species  of  fly,  their 
favorite  food,  that  feeds  on  the  wild  thyme,  and  abounds  on  the  adjacent 
hills. 

A  few  of  the  birds  breed  in  the  old  Kabbit-burrows  there.  Their 
nest  is  large,  and  made  of  dried  grass,  Rabbits'  down,  a  few  feathers, 
and  horse-hair.  The  eggs  are  from  six  to  eight  in  number,  and  of  a 
light  color. 


THE   RED-BREAST. 

The  Red-breast  has  usually  been  reckoned  among  the  birds  of 

passage ;  but,  as  M.  de  Buffbn  has 
elegantly  expressed  himself,  the 
departure  in  the  autumn  "not  being 
proclaimed  among  the  Red-breasts, 
as  among  other  birds  at  that  season 
collected  into  flocks,  many  stay 
behind ;  and  these  are  either  the 
young  and  inexperienced,  or  some 
which  can  derive  support  from  the 
slender  resources  of  winter.  In 
that  season  they  visit  our  dwell- 
ings, and  seek  the  warmest  and 
most  sheltered  situations ;  and,  if 
any  one  happens  still  to  continue 
in  the  woods,  it  becomes  the  companion  of  the  faggot-maker,  cherishes 
itself  at  his  fire,  pecks  at  his  bread,  and  flutters  the  whole  day  round 
him,  chirping  its  slender  pip.  But,  when  the  cold  grows  more  severe, 
and  thick  snows  cover  the  ground,  it  approaches  our  houses,  and  taps 
at  the  window  with  its  bill,  as  if  to  entreat  an  asylum,  which  is  cheer- 
fully granted  ;  and  it  repays  the  favor  by  the  most  amiable  familiarity, 
gathering  the  crumbs  from  the  table,  distinguishing  affectionately  the 
people  of  the  house,  and  assuming  a  warble,  not  indeed  so  rich  as  that 
in  the  spring,  but  more  delicate.  This  it  retains  through  all  the  rigors 
of  the  season ;  to  hail  each  day  the  kindness  of  its  host,  and  the  sweet- 
ness of  its  retreat.  There  it  remains  tranquil,  till  the  returning  spring 
awakens  new  desires,  and  invites  to  other  pleasures :  it  now  becomes 
uneasy,  and  impatient  to  recover  its  liberty." 

The  Red-breast  generally  builds  its  nest  among  the  roots  of  trees,  in 
some  concealed  spot  near  the  ground.  This  is  composed  of  dried 
leaves,  mixed  with  hair  and  moss,  and  lined  with  feathers.  The  female 
lays  from  five  to  seven  eggs.  In  order  the  more  successfully  to  con- 
ceal its  nest,  we  are  told  that  it  covers  it  with  leaves,  suffering  only  a 
narrow  winding  entrance  under  the  heap  to  be  left. 


IlKD-BREASt 


THE   AMERICAN    ROBIN. 


605 


This  bird  feeds  principally  on  insects  and  worms ;  and  its  skill  in 
preparing  the  latter  is  somewhat  remarkable.  It  takes  a  worm  by 
one  extremity,  in  its  beak,  and  beats  it  on  the  ground  till  the  inner 
part  comes  away.  Then  seizing  it  in  a  similar  manner  by  the  other 
end,  it  entirely  cleanses  the  outer  part,  which  alone  it  eats. 

The  general  familiarity  of  this  bird  has  obtained  for  it  a  peculiar 
denomination  in  several  countries.  The  inhabitants  of  Bornholm  call 
it  Tommi  Liden  •  the  Norwegians,  Peter  Ronsmad  •  the  Germans, 
Thomas  Gierdet ;  and  we  give  to  it  the  familiar  appellation  of  Robin 
Red-breast. 


THE   AMERICAN  ROBIN,    OR   MIGRATING  THRUSH. 

The  familiar  and  welcome  Kobin  is  found  in  summer  throughout 
the  North  American 
continent   from  the 
desolate  regions  of 
Hudson's     Bay, 
the 
the 


in 

53d  degree,  to 
table  land  of 
Mexico;  it  is  like- 
wise a  denizen  of 
the  territory  of  the 
Oregon,  on  the 
western  base  of  the 
Eocky  Mountains. 
In  all  this  vast 
space,  the  American 
Fieldfare  rears  its 
y  o  u  n  g, 
only  the 
maritime 
to  which, 
they  flock 


avoiding 


AMERICAN   ROWJ7. 


warmer 

districts, 

however, 

for  sup- 
port daring  the  inclemency  of  winter.  In  like  manner  the  common 
Fieldfare  migrates  at  a  late  season  from  the  northern  districts  of 
Siberia  and  Lapland  to  pass  the  winter  in  the  milder  parts  of  Europe. 
The  Robin  has  no  fixed  time  for  migration,  nor  any  particular 
rendezvous;  they  retire  from  the  higher  latitudes  only  as  their  food 
begins  to  fail,  and  so  leisurely  and  desultory  are  their  movements, 
that  they  make  their  appearance  in  straggling  parties  even  in  Massa- 
chusetts, feeding  on  winter  berries,  till  driven  to  the  south  by  deep 
and  inundating  snows.  At  this  season  they  swarm  in  the  Southern 
States,  though  they  never  move  in  large  bodies.  The  holly,  prinos, 
sumach,  smilax,  candle-berry  myrtle,  and  the  Virginian  juniper  now 
afford  them  an  ample  repast  in  the  winter,  in  the  absence  of  the  more 
juicy  berries  of  autumn,  and  the  insects  and  worms  of  the  milder 
season.  Even  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  flocks  of  Robins  are  seen, 
in  certain  seasons,  assembling  round  open  springs  in  the  depth  of 


606 


THE    GROUND    ROBIN. THE    WREN. 


winter,  having  arrived  probably  from  the  colder  interior  of  the  state; 
and  in  those  situations  they  are  consequently  often  trapped  and  killed 
in  great  numbers 


THE   GROUND   ROBIN,  OR  TOWWEE   FINCH. 

It  is  a  very  common,   humble,  and  unsuspicious  bird,   dwelling 

commonly  in  the 
thick  dark  woods 
and  their  borders, 
flying  low,  and 
frequenting  thick- 
ets near  streams 
of  water,  where  it 
spends  much  time 
in  scratching  up 
the  withered 
leaves  for  worms 
and  their  larvse, 
and  it  is  particular- 
ly fond  of  "Wire- 
worms  (or  lull), 
as  well  as  various 
kinds  of  seeds  and 
gravel.  Its  rust- 
ling scratch  among 
the  leafy  carpet  of 
th«  forest  is,  often, 
the  only  indica- 
tion of  its  pre- 
sence, excepting 

now  and  then  a  call  upon  its  mate  (tow-wee,  tow-wee,  tow-weet,)  with 
which  it  is  almost  constantly  associated.  While  thus  busily  engaged  in 
foraging  for  subsistence,  it  may  be  watched  and  approached  without 
showing  any  alarm;  and  taking  a  look  often  at  the  observer,  without 
suspicion,  it  scratches  up  the  leaves  as  before.  'This  call  of  recognition 
is  uttered  in  a  low  and  somewhat  sad  tone,  and  if  not  soon  answered, 
it  becomes  louder  and  interrogatory,  tow-wee,  towee  ?  and  terminates 
often  with  toweet.  They  are  accused  of  sometimes  visiting  the  pea- 
fields  to  feed,  but  occasion  no  sensible  damage. 


GPOCND   ROBIN. 


THE    WREN. 

The  Wren  is  found  throughout  Europe  and  America.  Its  nest  is 
curiously  constructed,  chiefly  of  moss,  and  lined  with  feathers :  in 
shape  it  is  almost  oval,  with  only  one  small  entrance.  This  nest  is 
generally  found  in  some  corner  of  an  out-house,  stack  of  wood,  or 
hole  in  a  wall,  near  our  habitations ;  but  when  the  Wren  builds  in 
woods,  it  generally  does  this  in  some  bush  near  the  ground,  on  the 


THE   CHAFFINCH,  OR   PIEFINCH. 


607 


stump  of  a  tree,  or  even  on  the  ground.  The  female  lays  from  ten  to 
eighteen  eggs.  The  materials  of  the  nest  are  generally  adapted  to  the 
place  where  it  is  formed.  If  against  a  hay-rick,  its  exterior  is  com- 
posed of  hay :  if  against  the  side  of 
a  tree  clad  with  white  lichens,  it  is 
covered  with  that  substance ;  and,  if 
built  against  a  tree  covered  with 
green  moss,  or  in  a  bank,  its  exterior 
bears  a  similar  correspondence. 

The  lining  is  invariably  of  feathers. 
The  Wren  does  not,  as  is  usual  with 
most  other  birds,  begin  the  bottom  of 
its  nest  first.  When  against  a  tree, 
its  primary  operation  is  to  trace  upon 
the  bark,  the  outline,  and  thus  to 
fasten  it  with  equal  strength  to  all 
parts.  It  then,  in  succession,  closes 
the  sides  and  top,  leaving  only  a 
small  hole  for  entrance.  If  the  nest  TnE  WRFN 

be  placed  under  a  bank,  the  top  is 

first  begun  and  is  well  secured  in  some  small  cavity  ;  and  by  this  the 
fabric  is  suspended. 

The  song  of  the  Wren  is  much  admired  ;  being  a  pleasing  warble, 
and  louder  than  could  be  expected  from  the  size  of  the  bird.  This  it 
continues  throughout  the  year:  these  birds  have  been  heard  to  sing 
unconcerned  even  during  a  fall  of  snow.  They  also  sing  very  late  in 
the  evening ;  though  not,  like  the  Nightingale,  after  dark. 


THE   CHAFFINCH,    OR  PIEFINCH. 

The  Chaffinch  or  Piefinch,  as  it  is  often  called,  is  so  well  known  as 
to  need  no  description.  It  is 
chiefly  remarkable  for  the  beau- 
tiful nest  which  it  constructs.  The 
forks  of  a  thorn  or  a  wild  crab-tree 
are  favorite  places  for  the  nest, 
which  is  composed  of  mosses,  hair, 
wool,  and  feathers,  covered  on  the 
exterior  with  lichens,  and  mosses, 
so  exactly  resembling  the  bough 
on  which  the  nest  is  placed,  that 
the  eye  is  often  deceived  by  its  ap- 
pearance. In  the  nest  four  or  five 
very  pretty  eggs  are  laid:  these  are 
of  a  reddish-brown  color,  sparely 
marked  with  deep  brown  spots, 
especially  towards  the  larger  end. 

The  name  Coelebs  or  Bachelor,  is  given  to  this  bird,  because  the 
females  quit  this  country  about  Noverab?r,  leaving  large  flocks  of 
males  behind  them. 


THE  CHAFFINCH. 


608 


THE   SISKIN — HEDGE-SPARROW. 


THE   SISKIN". 

The  Siskin  is  hardly  to  be  considered  more  than  an  occasional 
visitor  in  England,  but  in  Scotland  it  sometimes  breeds,  as  may  be 
seen  from  the  following  extract :  — 

"  The  Siskin  is  a  common  bird  in  all  the  high  parts  of  Aberdeen  shire, 

which  abound  in  fir- woods.  They 
build  generally  near  the  extremi- 
ties of  the  branches  of  tall  fir-trees, 
or  near  the  summit  of  the  tree. 
Sometimes  the  nest  is  found  in 
plantations  of  young  fir- wood.  In 
one  instance,  I  met  with  a  nest  not 

f""]y/(Sa^"*s^?^^^^^ibk  three   feet    from    the   ground.     I 

visited  it  every  day  until  four  or 
*^          five  eggs  were  deposited.     During 
incubation  the  female  sho\wed-no 
fear  at  my  approach.    On  bringing 
my  hand   close   to   the   nest,    she 
THE  SISKIN  showed   some  inclination  to  pug- 

nacity, and   tried   to  frighten  me 

away  with  her  open  bill,  following  my  hand  round  and  round  when 
I  attempted  to  touch  her.  At  last  she  would  only  look  anxiously 
round  to  my  finger  without  making  any  attack  on  me.  The  nest  was 
formed  of  small  twigs  of  birch  or  heath  outside,  and  neatly  lined 
with  hair."  Its  eggs  are  a  bluish-white  spotted  with  purplish-red. 


THE   HEDGE-ACCENTOR,    OR    HEDGE-SPARROW. 

The  Hedge- Accentor,  or  Hedge-Sparrow,  is  one  of  our  commonest 

English  birds,  closely  resembling 
the  common  Sparrow,  in  appear- 
ance. The  nest  is  built  in  holes, 
and  contains  five  blue  eggs  -like 
those  of  the  Redstart,  but  stouter 
in  shape,  and  of  a  deeper  blue. 

It  is  often  very  bold  when  en- 
gaged in  sitting,  and  will  permit 
a  near  approach  without  leaving 
the  nest.  I  have  repeatedly 
visited  the  nest  of  one  of  these 
birds  while  the  female  was  sitting, 
and  have  parted  the  boughs  of 
the  shrub  where  the  nest  was 
placed,  in  order  to  get  a  good  view,  while  the  hen  bird  still  sat 
quietly  in  the  nest  anxiously  watching  everv  movement  but  net 
attempting  to  stir. 


HEDGE   ACCENT03. 


THE   CAT-BIRD — FIERY-CROWNED   KINGLET. 


609 


THE   CAT-BIRD. 

This  quaint  and  familiar  songster  passes  the  winter  in  the  southern 
extremities  of 
the  United 
States,  and 
along  the  coast 
of  Mexico,  from 
whence,  as  early 
a  s  February, 
they  arrive  in 
Georgia.  About 
the  middle  of 
April  they  are 
first  seen  in 
Pennsylvania, 
and  at  length 
leisurely  ap- 
p  r  o  a  c  h  New 
England,  by  the 
close  of  the  first 
or  beginning  of 
the  second  week 
in  May.  They 
continue  their 
migration  also  to  Canada. 

The  Cat-bird  often  tunes  nis  cheerful  song  before  the  break  of 
day,  hopping  from  bush  to  bush,  with  great  agility  after  his  insect 
prey,  while  yet  scarcely  distinguishable  amidst  the  dusky  shadows 
of  the  dawn.  The  notes  of  different  individuals  vary  considerably. 
A  quaint  sweetness,  however,  prevails  in  all  his  efforts,  and  his  song 
is  frequently  made  up  of  short  and  blended  imitations  of  other  birds, 
given,  however,  with  great  emphasis,  melody,  and  variety  of  tone; 
and,  like  the  Nightingale,  invading  the  hours  of  repose,  in  the  late 
twilight  of  a  summer's  evening,  when  scarce  another  note  is  heard, 
but  the  hum  of  the  drowsy  beetle,  his  music  attains  its  full  effect,  and 
often  rises  and  falls  with  all  the  swell  and  studied  cadence  of  finished 
harmony.  During  the  heat  of  the  day,  or  late  in  the  morning,  the 
variety  of  his  song  declines,  or  he  pursues  his  employment  in  silence 
and  retirement. 


THE  CAT-BIUD. 


THE   AMERICAS   FIERY- CROWNED   KINGLET. 

This  diminutive  bird  is  found,  according  to  the  season,  not  only 
throughout  North  America,  but  even  in  the  West  Indies.  A  second 
species  with  a  Fiery  Crest  (./?.  ignicapillus),  and  a  third  indigenous  to 
Asia,  are  very  nearly  related  to  the  present;  the  first  having  been 
generally  confounded  with  it,  or  considered  as  a  variety  of  the  same 


610 


THE     BLUE-BIRD. 


species.  Learned  ornithologists  have  referred  our  bird  without  hesi- 
tation to  the  Fiery- crested  Wren,  with  which,  however,  it  only  agrees 
in  the  brilliancy  of  the  crown;  and,  instead  of  being  less,  is  indeed 
larger  than  the  true  Golden-crested  species.  Like  the  former,  they 
appear  associated  only  in  pairs,  and  are  seen  on  their  southern 
route,  in  part  of  Massachusetts,  a  few  days  in  October,  and  about  the 
middle  of  the  month,  or  a  little  earlier  or  later  according  to  the  set- 
ting in  of  the  season,  as  they  appear  to  fly  before  the  desolating 
storms  of  the  northern  regions,  whither  they  retire  about  May  to 
breed.  Some  of  these  birds  remain  in  Pennsylvania  until  December 
or  January,  proceeding  probably  but  little  farther  south  during  the 
winter.  They  are  not  known  to  reside  in  any  part  of  New  England, 
retiring  to  the  remote  and  desolate  limits  of  the  farthest  north. 


THE    BLUE-BIKD. 

This  well  known  and  familiar  favorite  inhabits  almost  the  whole 

eastern  side  of  the 
continent  of  Amer- 
ica, from  the  48th 
parallel  to  the  very 
line  of  the  tropics. 
Some  appear  to  mi- 
grate in  winter  to 
the  Bermudas  and 
Brahama  islands, 
though  most  of  those 
which  pass  the  sum- 
mer in  the  North 
only  retire  to  the 
Southern  States,  or 
the  table  land  of 
Mexico.  In  South 
Carolin  a  and  Georgia 
they  were  abundant 
in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary, and  even  on 
.the  12th  and  28th  of 
former  month, 
weather  being 
did.  a  few  of  these 

'ffkm  niiU.crMU.tu/*  -  _ 

wanderers     warbled 

out  their  simple  notes  from  the  naked  limbs  of  the  long-leaved 
pines.  Sometimes  they  even  pass  the  winter  in  Pennsylvania,  or 
at  least  make  their  appearance  with  almost  every  relenting  of  the 
severity  of  the  winter  or  warm  gleam  of  thawing  sunshine.  From 
this  circumstance  of  their  roving  about  in  quest  of  their  scanty  food, 
like  the  hard-pressed  and  hungry  Eobin  Bed-breast,  who  by  degrees 
gains  such  courage  from  necessity,  as  to  enter  the  cottage  for  his 


THE   BLACK-THROATED    GREEN   TTARBLER. 


611 


allowed  crumbs ;  it  has  without  foundation,  been  supposed  that  our 
Blue-bird,  in  the 
intervals  of  his 
absence,  passes  the 
tedious  and  stormy 
time  in  a  state  of 
dormancy;  but  it 
is  more  probable 
that  he  flies  to 
some  sheltered 
glade,  some  warm 
and  more  hospit- 
able situation,  to 
glean  his  frugal 
fare  from  the  ber- 
ries of  the  cedar, 
or  the  wintry 
fruits  which  still 
remain  ungathered 
in  the  swamps.  Defended  from  the  severity  of  the  cold,  he  now  also, 
in  all  probability,  roosts  in  the  hollows  of  decayed  trees,  a  situation 
which  he  generally  chooses  for  the  site  of  his  nest.  In  the  South,  at 
this  cheerless  season,  they  are  seen  to  feed  on  the  glutinous  berries 
of  the  misletoe,  the  green-briar,  and  the  sumach.  Content  with  their 
various  fare,  and  little  affected  by  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold,  they 
breed  and  spend  the  summer  from  Labrador  to  Natchez,  if  not  to 
Mexico,  where  great  elevation  produces  the  most  temperate  and  mild 
of  climates.  They  are  also  abundant,  at  this  season,  to  the  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  in  the  States  of  Missouri  and  Arkansas. 


BLUE  BIRD  AND  NEST. 


THE   BLACK-THROATED   GREEX  WARBLER. 

This  rather  rare  species,  says  Kuttall,  arrives  in  Pennsylvania 
from  its  tropical 
winter-quarters  to-  , 
wards  the  close  of 
April  or  begining 
of  May.  About 
the  12th  of  the 
latter  month  it  is 
seen  in  some  parts 
of  Massachusetts ; 
but  never  more 
than  a  single  pair 
are  seen  together. 
At  this  season,  a 
silent  individual 
may  be  occasion- 
ally observed  for 
39 


THE  BLACK-THROATED  GREEN  WARBLER. 


612  THE   GOLDEN-CRESTED  WREN. 

an  hour  at  a  time,  carefully  and  actively  searching  for  small  Cater- 
pillars and  winged  insects,  amidst  the  white  blossoms  of  the  shady 
apple  tree,  and  so  inoffensive  and  unsuspicious  is  the  little  warbler, 
that  he  pursues,  without  alarm,  his  busy  occupation,  as  the  spectator, 
within  a  few  feet  of  him,  watches  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.  Early  in 
October  they  are  seen  in  small  numbers  roving  restlessly  through 
the  forest,  preparatory  to  their  departure  for  the  South. 

Though  the  greater  part  of  the  species  probably  proceed  farther 
north  to  rear  their  young,  a  few  spend  the  summer  in  the  Middle 
and  Northern  States ;  but,  from  their  timorous  and  retiring  habits,  it 
is  not  easy  to  trace  out  their  retreats  at  the  period  of  breeding. 


THE    GOLDEN-CRESTED   WREN. 

The  head  and  upper  part  of  the  body  of  this  Wren,  are  of  a  deep 

reddish  brown:  above  each  eye 
there  is  a  stroke  of  white:  the 
back,  and  the  coverts  of  the 
wings  and  tail,  are  marked  with 
slender  transverse  black  lines; 
the  quill-feathers  with  bars  of 
black  and  red.  The  throat  is  of 
a  yellowish  white.  The  belly 
and  sides  are  crossed  with  narrow 
dusky  -and  pale  reddish-brown 
lines.  The  tail  is  crossed  with 
^.  dusky  bars. 

The    song    of   this    beautiful 
little   bird,    the 'smallest   of  all 
the    British    feathered    race,   is 
THE  GOLDEN-CRESTED  wEw.  extremely  delicate  and  pleasing. 

It  is  not  much  unlike,  but  it  is 

not  quite  so  loud  as,  that  of  the  Common  Wren.  The  Golden- 
crested  Wren  may  be  easily  known  in  winter  by  its  shrill 
squeak,  somewhat  resembling  the  crinking  of  a  Grasshopper. 
Except  in  the  frosts,  it  continues  its  song  during  the  whole  year. 
These  birds  are  very  agile :  they  are  almost  continually  in  motion, 
fluttering  from  branch  to  branch,  creeping  on  all  sides  of  the  trees, 
clinging  to  them  in  every  situation,  and  often  hanging  with  their 
backs  downward,  in  the  manner  of  the  Titmice. 

Their  food  consists  chiefly  of  minute  insects,  which  they  find  in 
the  crevices  of  the  bark  of  trees,  or  catch  nimbly  on  the  wing. 
They  also  eat  the  eggs  of  insects,  small  worms,  and  various  kind  of 
seeds.  They  delight  to  frequent  the  largest  trees,  such  as  oaks,  elms, 
and  firs. 

The  nest  of  the  Golden-crested  Wren  is  an  interesting  fabric.  It 
somewhat  resembles  that  of  the  Chaffinch ;  and  is  frequently  form- 
ed amongst  the  leaves  at  the  tip  of  a  branch  of  a  fir-tree,  where  it 
swings  about  in  high  winds,  like  a  pendulum.  It  is  oval,  very  deep, 


THE   WILLOW-WREN.  G13 

and  has  a  small  hole  near  the  middle,  for  the  ingress  and  egress  of 
the  bird.  The  materials  composing  its  exterior  are  different  species 
of  moss ;  and  within,  it  is  lined  with  wool,  hair,  and  feathers.  The 
female  lays  from  ten  to  eighteen  eggs,  and  not  unusually  brings  up  as 
many  young-ones.  "  It  may  be  ranked  among  those  daily  miracles 
of  which  we  take  no  notice,  that  this  bird  should  feed  so  great  a 
number  as  this  without  passing  over  one,  and  that  also  in  utter  dark- 
ness." The  eggs  are,  iri  size,  scarcely  larger  than  peas,  and  are  of  a 
white  color,  sprinkled  with  small  dull  spots. 

These  birds  are  found  in  various  parts  of  Europe,  Asia  and 
America.  They  are  said  to  bear  well  every  change  of.  temperature, 
from  the  greatest  degree  of  heat  to  that  of  the  severest  cold.  They 
continue  with  us  during  the  whole  year:  but  Mr.  Pennant  states 
that  they  cross  annually  from  the  Orkneys  to  the  Shetland  islands, 
where  they  breed,  and  from  which  they  return  before  the  winter. 
This  is  a  long  flight  (sixty  miles)  for  so  small  a  bird. 


THE   WILLOW-WREN. 

This  bird  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  Common  Wren.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  body  are  of  a  pale  olive-green ; 
the  under  parts  are  pale  yellow,  and  a 
streak  of  yellow  passes  over  the  eyes. 
The  wings  and  tail  are  brown,  edged  with 
yellowish  green  ;  and  the  legs  are  yel- 
lowish. 

The  Willow-Wren  is  not  uncommon  in 
many  parts  of  England.  It  is  migratory, 
visiting  there  usually  about  the  middle  of 
April,  and  taking  its  departure  towards  the  end  of  September.  The 
females  construct  their  nests  in  holes  at  the  roots  of  trees,  in  hollows 
of  dry  banks  and  other  similar  places.  These  are  round,  and  not 
unlike  the  nest  of  the  Wren.  The  eggs  are  dusky  white,  marked 
with  reddish  spots  ;  and  are  five  in  number. 

A  Willow- Wren  had  built  in  a  bank  of  one  of  the  fields  of  Mr. 
White,  near  Selborne.  This  bird  a  friend  and  himself  observed,  as  she 
sat  in  her  nest ;  but  they  were  particularly  careful  not  to  disturb  her, 
though  she  eyed  them  with  some  degree  of  jealousy.  Some  days  after- 
wards, as  they  passed  the  same  way,  they  were  desirous  of  remarking 
how  the  brood  went  on  ;  but  no  nest  could  be  found,  till  Mr.  White 
happened  to  take  up  a  large  bundle  of  long  green  moss,  which  had 
been  thrown  as  it  were  carelessly  over  the  nest,  in  order  to  mislead 
the  eye  of  any  impertinent  obtruder. 

The  Willow- Wren  may  justly  be  termed  the  Nightingale  of  the 
northern  snowy  countries  of  Europe.  It  settles  on  the  most  lofty 
branches  of  the  birch-trees,  and  makes  the  air  resound  with  its  bold 
and  melodious  song. 


614 


THE   AMERICAN    HOUSE-WREN. 


AMERICAN   HOUSE-WREN. 


THE   AMERICAN   HOUSE-WREN. 

This  lively,  cheerful,  capricious,  and  well  known  little  minstrel,  says 
Nuttall,  is  only  a  summer  resident  in  the  United  States.  Its  northern 

migrations  extend  to 
Labrador.  But  it 
resides  and  rears  its 
young  principally  in 
the  Middle  States. 
My  friend,  Mr.  Say, 
also  observed  this 
species  near  Pern- 
bino,  beyond  the 
sources  of  the 
Mississippi,  in  the 
Western  wilderness 
of  the  49th  degree 
of  latitude.  It  is 
likewise  said  to  be 
an  inhabitant  of 
Surinam  within  the 
tropics,  where  its 

delightful  melody  has  gained  it  the  nickname  of  the  Nightingale. 
This  region,  or  the  intermediate  country  of  Mexico,  is  probably  the 
winter  quarters  of  our  domestic  favorite.  In  Louisiana  it  is  unknown 
even  as  a  transient  visitor,  migrating  apparently  to  the  east  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  sedulously  avoiding  the  region  generally  inhabited 
by  the  Carolina  Wren.  It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  how  this,  and  some 
other  species,  with  wings  so  short  and  a  flight  so  fluttering,  are  ever 
capable  of  arriving  and  returning  from  such  distant  countries.  At 
any  rate,  come  from  where  he  may,  he  makes  his  appearance  in  the 
middle  States  about  the  12th  or  15th  of  April,  and  is  seen  in  New 
England  in  the  latter  end  of  that  month  or  by  the  beginning  of  May. 
They  take  their  departure  for  the  South  towards  the  close  of  September, 
or  early  in  October,  and  are  not  known  to  winter  within  the  limits  of 
the  Union. 

Some  time  in  the  early  part  of  May,  our  little  social  visitor  enters 
actively  into  the  cares  as  well  as  pleasures  which  preside  instinctively 
over  the  fiat  of  propagation.  His  nest,  from  preference,  near  the  house, 
is  placed  beneath  the  eaves,  in  some  remote  corner  under  a  shed,  out- 
house, barn,  or  in  a  hollow  orchard  tree ;  also  in  the  deserted  cell  of 
the  Woodpecker,  and  ,  when  provided  with  the  convenience,  in  a 
wooden  box  along  with  the  Martins  and  Blue-birds.  He  will  make 
his  nest  even  in  an  old  hat,  nailed  up,  and  perforated  with  a  hole  for 
entrance,  or  the  skull  of  an  Ox  stuck  upon  a  pole  ;  and  Audubon  saw 
one  deposited  in  the  pocket  of  a  broken  down  carriage.  So  pertina- 
cious is  the  House  Wren  in  thus  claiming  the  convenience  and  pro- 
tection of  human  society,  that  according  to  Wilson,  an  instance  once 


THE  MOCKING  WREN MARSH   WREN. 


615 


occurred  where  a  nest  was  made  in  the  sleeve  of  a  mower's  coat,  which, 
in  the  month  of  June,  was  hung  up  accidentally  for  two  or  three  days 
in  a  shed  near  a  barn. 


THE   CAROLINA,    OR    MOCKING  WREN. 

THIS  remarkable,  mimicking,  and  Musical  Wren,  says  Nuttall,  is  a 
constant  resident  in  the  Southern 
States,  from  Virginia  to  Florida,  but 
is  rarely  seen  at  any  season  north  of 
the  line  of  Maryland  or  Delaware, 
though,  attracted  by  the  great  river 
courses,  they  are  abundant  from 
Pittsburg  to  New  Orleans.  A  few 
individuals  stray,  in  the  course  of 
the  spring,  as  far  as  the  line  of  New 
York,  and  appear  in  New  Jersey  and 
the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  early  in 
the  month  of  May.  On  the  17th  of 
April,  returning  from  a  Southern 
tour  of  great  extent,  I  again  recog- 
nised my  old  and  pleasing  acquain- 
tance, by  his  usual  note,  near  Chester, 
on  the  Delaware,  where,  I  have  little 
doubt,  a  few  remain  and  pass  the 
summer,  retiring  to  the  South  only 
as  the  weather  becomes  inclement. 
On  the  banks  of  the  Patapsco,  near 
Baltimore,  their  song  is  still  heard  to 
the  close  of  November.  According 
to  Audubon,  the  nest  of  this  bird  is  usually  placed  in  a  hole  in  some 
low  and  decayed  tree,  or  in  a  fence  post ;  sometimes  also  in  a  stable, 
barn,  or  out-house.  The  materials  employed  are  hay,  dry  grass,  and 
leaves,  for  the  outer  part ;  with  a  lining  of  horse-hair,  or  the  capillary 
dry  fibres  of  the  Long-moss  (Tillandsia.  Sometimes  the  nest  is  five 
or  six  inches  deep,  but,  with  the  usual  precaution  of  the  family,  so 
narrow  in  the  entrance  as  only  to  admit  of  one  of  the  birds  at  a  time. 
The  eggs,  five  to  eight,  are  oval,  and  greyish-white,  spotted  with 
reddish-brown.  Like  the  common  species,  an  individual  (probably 
one  of  the  young  birds)  has  been  observed  to  roost  for  a  time  in  an  old 
Wood-Thrush's  nest  which  had  been  filled  with  fallen  leaves.  They 
are  so  prolific  as  to  raise  two,  and  sometimes  three  broods  in  a  season. 


TIIE  MOCKIXQ-TVREN. 


SHORT-BILLED    MARSH-WREN. 


THIS  amusing  and  not  unmusical  little  species  inhabits  the  lowest 
marshy  meadows,  but  does  not  frequent  the  reed-flats.  It  never  visits 
cultivated  grounds,  and  is  at  all  times  shy,  timid,  and  suspicious.  It 
arrives  in  Massachusetts  about  the  close  of  the  first  week  in  May,  and 


616 


THE   TAILOR-BIRD. 


retires  to  the  Soutli  by  the  middle  of  September  at  farthest,  probably  by 
night,  as  it  is  never  seen  in  progress,  so  that  its  northern  residence  is 
only  prolonged  about  four  months.  In  winter  they  are  seen  from 
South  Carolina  to  Texas. 

The  nest  of  the  Short-Billed  Marsh- Wren  is  made  wholly  of  dry,  or 

partly  green  sedge,  bent 
usually  from  the  top  of 
the  grassy  tuft  in  which 
the  fabric  is  situated. 
With  much  ingenuity 
and  labor  these  simple 
materials  are  loosely 
entwined  together  into 
a  spherical  form,  with  a 
small  and  rather  ob- 
scure entrance  left  in 
the  side ;  a  thin  lining 
is  sometimes  added  to 
the  whole,  of  the  linty 
fibres  of  the  silk  weed, 
or  some  other  similar 
material.  The  eggs, 
pure  white,  and  des- 
titute of  spots,  are  probably  from  six  to  eight.  In  a  nest  containing 
seven  eggs,  there  were  three  of  them  larger  than  the  rest,  and  per- 
fectly  fresh,  while  the  four  smaller  were  far  advanced  towards  hatching ; 
from  this  circumstance  we  may  fairly  infer  that  two  different  individ- 
uals had  laid  in  the  same  nest :  a  circumstance  more  common  among 
wild  birds  than  is  generally  imagined.  This  is  also  the  more 
remarkable,  as  the  male  of  this  species,  like  many  other  Wrens,  is 
much  employed  in  making  nests,  of  which  not  more  than  one  in  three 
or  four  are  ever  occupied  by  the  females ! 


.SHOUT-BIliLEU    NARSH-WKEN. 


THE    TAILOR-BIRD. 

This,  like  the  last  two,  is  a  very  small  species,  measuring  scarcely 
more  than  three  inches  in  length. 

It   is   a   native   of  India. 

The  nest  of  the  Tailor-bird  is  a  very  remarkable 
production.  Its  exterior  is  constructed  of  two  leaves ; 
the  one  generally  dead,  which  the  bird  fixes,  at  the 
end  of  some  branch,  to  the  side  of  a  living  one,  by 
sewing  both  together  with  little  filaments,  in  the 
manner  of  a  pouch  or  purse,  and  open  at  the  top. 
In  this  operation  the  bill  of  the  bird  serves  as  a 
needle.  Sometimes,  instead  of  a  dead  leaf  and  a 
living  one,  two  living  leaves  are  sowed  together; 
and,  thus  connected  they  seem  rather  the  work  of 
human  art  than  of  an  uninstructed  animal.  After 
the  operation  of  sewing  is  finished,  the  cavity  is 


TAILOR  BIRD'S  NEST. 


THE  PENDULINE   TITMOUSE,   AND    CAPE   TITMOUSE.          617 

hned  with  feathers  and  soft  vegetable  down.  The  nest  and  birds 
are  together  so  extremely  light,  that  the  leaves  of  the  most  exterior 
and  slender  twigs  of  the  trees  are  chosen  for  the  purpose ;  and, 
thus  situated,  the  brood  is  completely  secured  from  the  depreda- 
tions of  every  invader. 


OF  THE  TITMICE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  bill  is  straight,  strong,  hard,  sharp-pointed,  and  a  little  com- 
pressed. The  nostrils  are  round,  and  covered  with  bristles.  The 
tongue  appears  as  if  cut  off  at  the  extremity,  and  is  terminated  by 
three  or  four  bristles.  The  toes  are  divided  to  their  origin  ;  and  the 
back  toe  is  very  large  and  strong. 

This  is  a  diminutive  but  sprightly  race  of  birds ;  possessed  both  of 
courage  and  strength.  Their  general  food  consists  of  seeds,  fruit, 
and  insects ;  and  a  few  of  them  eat  flesh.  Some  of  them  will  ven- 
ture to  assault  birds  that  are  twice  or  thrice  their  own  bulk ;  and,  in 
this  case,  they  direct  their  aim  chiefly  at  the  eyes.  They  often  seize 
upon  birds  that  are  weaker  than  themselves :  these  they  kill,  and, 
having  picked  a  hole  in  the  skull,  eat  out  the  brain.  They  are  very 
prolific,  laying  eighteen  or  twenty  eggs  at  a  time.  Their  voice  is,  in 
general,  unpleasant. 


THE   PENDULINE   TITMOUSE,  AND   CAPE   TITMOUSE. 

These  birds  are  about  four  inches  and  a  half  in  length.  The  fore 
part  of  the  head  is  whitish,  and  the  hind 
part  and  the  neck  are  ash-colored.  The 
upper  parts  of  the  plumage  are  grey ;  the 
forehead  is  black ;  the  throat  and  the  front 
of  the  neck  are  of  a  very  pale  ash-color;  and 
the  rest  of  the  under  parts  are  yellowish. 
The  quills  and  tail  are  brown,  edged  with 

vvl;ite ;  1and  the  less.are  re/dish  sray- 

In  the  construction  of  their  nests,  the 
Penduline  or  Bottle  Titmice  employ  chiefly  the  light  down  of  the  wil- 
low, the  poplar,  and  the  aspen;  or  of  thistles,  dandelions,  and  other 
flowers.  With  their  bill  they  entwine  these  filamentous  substances,  and 
form  a  thick,  close  web,  almost  like  cloth,  this  they  fortify  externally 
with  fibres  and  small  roots,  which  penetrate  into  the  texture,  and  in 
some  measure  compose  the  basis  of  the  nest.  They  line  the  inside 
with  down,  but  not  woven,  in  order  that  their  offspring  may  lie  soft. 
They  close  the  nest  above,  for  the  purpose  of  confining  the  warmth ; 
and  they  suspend  it  with  hemp,  nettles,  &c.,  from  the  cleft  of  a  small 
pliant  branch,  (over  some  stream)  that  it  may  rock  more  gently, 
assisted  by  the  spring  of  the  branch.  In  this  situation  the  brood  are 
well  supplied  with  insects,  which  constitute  their  chief  food ;  and 
they  are  also  thus  protected  from  their  enemies.  The  nest  sometimes 


618 


THE   BLUE    TITMOUSE. 


resembles  a  bag,  and  sometimes  a  short  purse.  The  aperture  is  made 
in  the  side,  is  nearly  round,  not  more  than  an  inch  and  a  half  in 
diameter,  and  commonly  surrounded  by  a  brim  more  or  less  protu- 
berant. 

These  nests  are  seen  in  great  numbers  in  the  fens  of  Bologna,  and 
in  those  of  Tuscany,  Lithuania,  Poland,  and  Germany.  The  peasants 
regard  them  with  superstitious  veneration  :  one  of  them  is  usually 
suspended  near  the  door  of  each  cottage  ;  and  the  possessors  esteem 
it  a  defence  against  thunder,  and  its  little  architect  is  a  sacred  bird. 
The  penduline  Titmice  frequent  watery  places,  for  the  sake  of  aquatic 
insects,  on  which  they  feed. 

The  Cape  Titmouse,  constructs  its  nest  of  the  down  of  a  species  of 
asclepias.  This  luxurious  nest  is  made  of  the 
texture  of  flannel,  and  equals  fleecy  hosiery 
in  softness.  Near  the  upper  end  projects  a 
small  tube,  about  an  inch  in  length,  with  an 
orifice  about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in 
diameter.  Immediately  under  the  tube  is  a 
small  hole  in  the  side,  that  has  no  communica- 
tion with  the  interior  of  the  nest;  in  this 
hole,  the  male  sits  at  night,  and  thus  both  male 
and  female  are  screened  from  the  weather. 


TITS  CAPE  TITMOUSE. 


THE   BLUE   TITMOUSE. 

The  bill  is  short  and  dusky.     The  crown  of  the  head  is  of  a  line 

blue  color.  From  the  bill  to  the  eyes 
there  is  a  black  line.  The  forehead 
and  cheeks  are  white.  The  back  is 
of  a  yellowish  green ;  and  the  lower 
side  of  the  body  yellow.  The  wings 
and  tail  are  blue,  the  former  marked 
transversely  with  a  white  bar.  The 
legs  are  lead-colored. 

This  busy  little  bird  is  frequently 
seen  in  our  gardens  and  orchards 
where  its  operations  are  much  dread- 
ed by  the  over-anxious  gardener, 
who  fears,  lest,  in  pursuit  of  its  favorite  food,  whch  is  often  lodged  in 
the  tender  buds,  it  may  destroy  them  also,  to  the  injury  of  his  future 
harvest:  not  considering  that  the  Titmouse  is  the  means  of  destroy- 
ing a  much  more  dangerous  enemy  (the  caterpillar)  which  it  finds 
there.  It  has  likewise  a  strong  propensity  for  flesh.  This  bird  is  dis- 
tinguished above  all  the  rest  of  the  Titmice  by  its  rancor  against  the 
owl.  The  female  builds  her  nest  in  the  holes  of  walls  or  trees,  which 
it  lines  well  with  feathers ;  she  lays  from  fourteen  to  twenty  white 
eggs.  If  her  eggs  be  touched  by  any  person,  or  one  of  them  be 
broken,  she  immediately  forsakes  her  nest  and  builds  again,  but 
otherwise  she  has  but  one  hatch  in  the  year. 


THB  ELUE-TITMOL3E. 


THE   GREAT    TITMOUSE — LONG-TAILED    TITMOUSE. 


619 


THE   GREAT    TITMOUSE. 

The  Great  Titmouse  is  common  in  this  country,  frequenting  gardens, 
orchards,  copses,  &c.  During  the  spring  it  is  very  active  in  the 
capture  of  insects,  but  in 
autumn  and  winter  it  is 
forced  to  conten\  itself 
with  grains  and  seeds  of 
various  Descriptions.  Gil- 
bert White,  in  his  "Sel- 
borne,"  mentions  that  he 
has  seen  the  Great  Tit 
"  while  it  hung  with  its 
back  downwards,  to  my  no 
small  delight  and  admira- 
tion, draw  straws  length- 
wise from  the  eaves  of 
thatched  houses,  in  order 
to  pull  out  the  flies  that 
were  concealed  among  them,  and  that  in  such  numbers  that  they 
quite  defaced  the  thatch,  and  gave  it  a  ragged  appearance." 

The  nest  of  this  bird  is  built  in  the  hole  of  a  wall,  or  a  decayed  tree, 
and  in  it  are  placed  six  or  eight  eggs,  of  a  white  color,  spotted  with 
reddish  brown.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  about  six  inches. 


THE  GREAT  TITMOUSE. 


THE   LONG-TAILED   TITMOUSE. 

The  Long-tailed  Titmouse  is  another  well-known  species  of  this 
amusing  family.     Unlike  the 
other  Tits,  it   does   not   fre- 
quent   human   habitations 
during 
be 


human 

the  winter,  but  may 
seen  in  great  numbers 
twisting  and  creeping  about 
the  branches  of  hedge-rows 
and  field  trees.  In  summer 
they  are  quite  as  bold  as  their 
relations,  and  especially  favor 
apple-trees,  for  the  sake  of 
the  diseased  buds,  which 
they  pick  off  and  devour, 
thereby  drawing  upon  them- 
selves the  vengeance  of  the 
gardener,  who  prepares  his  gun,  fires  at  the  supposed  depredators, 
and  possibly  succeeds  in  killing  them  :  but  he  has  also  succeeded  in 
doing  more  damage  to  the  healthy  buds  by  his  spare  shot,  than  a  score 
of  Tits  would  injure  during  the  entire  season. 


THE  LONG-TAILED  TITMOUSB. 


620  THE   COAL-TIT.  —  MARSH-TIT.  —  TUFTED    TITMOUSE. 

The  beautiful  and  elaborate  nest  which  this  bird  constructs  is  one 
of  its  chief  peculiarities.  It  is  oval  in  shape,  and  entirely  closed, 
except  one  small  hole  at  the  side,  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  bird. 
The  exterior  of  the  nest  is  usually  covered  with  lichens,  and  is  lined 
with  a  thick  layer  of  soft  feathers.  In  this  warm  and  elegant  habita 
tion  are  laid  from  ten  to  fourteen  eggs,  which  are  small  and  very 
delicately  spotted.  The  entire  length  of  the  bird  is  about  five  inches 
and  a  half. 


THE   COAL-TIT. 

The  Coal-  Tit  is  very  similar  to  the  Blue-Tit  in  form,  but  smaller, 
being  about  four  inches  in  length,  and  destitute  of  the  lively  colors 
which  render  that  bird  so  agreeable  to  the  eye.  The  breast  of  the 
Coal-Tit  is  of  a  greyish-white,  the  back  yellowish-  grey,  and  the  feet 
and  claws  of  a  livid  blue  ;  the  head  and  neck  are  of  a  deep  black, 
(whence  it  has  been  called  the  Lesser  Blackcap,)  with  a  patch  of  white 
on  each  cheek,  and  another  on  the  nape  of  the  neck.  This  bird  is  not 
very  common  in  England,  but  in  Scotland,  where  it  frequents  the 
forests  of  pine  and  fir,  it  is  more  abundant,  and  may  be  seen  through- 
out the  year,  except  in  very  severe  weather,  when  it  departs  south- 
ward, or  approaches  the  farm-houses  and  towns  to  seek  for  food. 


THE   MARSH-TIT. 

The  Marsh-Tit  is  very  like  the  preceding  in  color  and  form,  though 
larger,  but  has  no  white  on  the  nape  of  the  neck.  It  is  very  common 
in  the  northern  parts  of  England,  but  is  seldom  seen  in  Scotland  above 
Fifeshire,  and  scarcely  ever  so  far  south  as  London.  Although  it 
may  be  sometimes  met  with  in  the  woods  in  dry  districts,  it  is  more 
frequently  to  be  found  among  the  reeds  in  low  marshy  tracts,  where 
it  makes  its  nest,  generally  choosing  some  decayed  willow  for  a 
foundation.  The  Marsh-Tit  is  also  known  provincially  as  the  Smaller 
One- eye,  Willow-Biter,  Joe  Bent,  &c. 


THE   TUFTED  TITMOUSE. 

This  species  is  six  and  a  half  inches  long,  and  nine  in  the  stretch  of 
the  wings.  Above,  dark  bluish -ash ;  the  front  black  tinged  with 
reddish.  Beneath  sullied  white,  except  the  sides  under  the  wings, 
which  are  pale  reddish-brown.  Legs  and  feet  greyish  blue.  Bill 
black.  Iris  hazel.  The  crest  high  and  pointed,  like  that  of  the  common 
Blue  Jay.  Tail  slightly  forked.  Tips  of  the  wings  dusky.  Tongue 
blunt  ending  in  four  sharp  points.  Female  very  similar  to  the  male. 


THE   CHICADEE,    OR   BLACK-CAPT  TITMOUSE 


621 


THE  CHICADEE. 


CHICADEE,    OE    BLACK-CAPT    TITMOUSE. 

This  familiar,  hardy,  and  restless  little  bird  chiefly  inhabits  the 
Northern  and  Middle 
States,  as  well  as  Can- 
ada in  which  it  is  even 
resident  in  winter 
around  Hudson's  Bay, 
and  has  been  met  with 
at  62°  on  the  North- 
west coast.  In  all  the 
Northern  and  Middle 
States,  during  autumn 
and  winter,  families  of 
these  birds  are  seen 
chattering  and  roving 
through  the  woods, 
busily  engaged  in 
gleaning  their  multi- 
farious food,  along  with  the  preceding  species,  Nuthatches,  and 
Creepers,  the  whole  forming  a  busy,  active,  and  noisy  group,  whose 
manners,  food,  and  habits  bring  them  together  in  a  common  pursuit. 
Their  diet  varies  with  the  season,  for  besides  insects,  their  larvae,  and 
eggs,  of  which  they  are  more  particularly  fond,  in  the  month  of  Sep- 
tember they  leave  the  woods  and  assemble  familiarly  in  our  orchards 
and  gardens,  and  even  enter  the  thronging  cities  in  quest  of  that  sup- 
port which  their  native  forests  now  deny  them.  Large  seeds  of  many 
kinds,  particularly  those  which  are  oily,  as  the  Sun -flower,  and  Pine 
and  Spruce  Kernels  are  now  sought  after.  These  seeds,  in  the  usual 
manner  of  the  genus,  are  seized  in  the  claws  and  held  against  the 
branch,  until  picked  open  by  the  bill  to  obtain  their  contents.  Fat 
of  various  kinds  is  also  greedily  eaten,  and  they  regularly  watch  the 
retreat  of  the  hog-killers,  in  the  country,  to  glean  up  the  fragments 
of  meat  which  adhere  to  the  places  where  the  carcases  have  been 
suspended. 

Its  quaint  notes  and  jingling  warble  are  heard  even  in  winter  on 
fine  days  when  the  weather  relaxes  in  its  severity.  It  adds  by  its 
presence,  indomitable  action,  and  chatter,  an  air  of  cheerfulness  to 
the  silent  and  dreary  winters  of  the  coldest  parts  of  America.  Dr. 
Kichardson  found  it  in  the  fur  countries  up  to  the  65th  parallel,  where 
it  contrives  to  dwell  throughout  the  whole  year. 


622 


THE   CEDAR   BIRD,   OR  CHERRY-BIRD. 


THE   CEDAR   BIRD,  OR  CHERRY  BIRD. 


This   common   native   wanderer,  which   in    the   summer   extends 

its  migrations  to  the  re- 
motest unpeopled  regions 
of  Canada,*  is  also  found 
throughout  the  American 
continent  to  Mexico,  and 
parties  occasionally  even 
roam  to  the  tropical  forest 
of  Cayenne.  In  all  this 
extensive  geographical 
range,  where  great  eleva- 
tion or  latitude  tempers  the 
climate  so  as  to  be  favorable 
to  the  production  of  juicy 
fruits,  the  Cedar  Bird  will 
probably  be  found  either 
almost  wholly  to  reside  or 
to  pass  the  season  of  repro- 
duction. Like  its  European 
representative  (the  Waxen 
Chatterer,)  it  is  capable  of 
braving  a  considerable 
degree  of  cold,  for  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  New  Jersey 
some  of  these  birds  are 

seen  throughout  the  winter,  where  as  well  as  in  the  early  part  of  the 
summer  and  fall,  they  are  killed  and  brought  to  market,  generally  fat, 
and  much  esteemed  as  food.  Silky  softness  of  plumage,  gentleness 
of  disposition,  innocence  of  character,  extreme  sociability,  and  an 
innate  inextinguishable  love  of  freedom,  accompanied  by  a  constant 
desire  of  wandering,  are  characteristic  traits  in  the  physical  and  moral 
portrait  of  the  second  as  well  as  the  preceding  species  of  this  pecu- 
liar and  extraordinary  genus. 

Leaving  the  northern  part  of  the  continent,  situated  beyond  the 
40th  degree,  at  the  approach  of  winter,  they  assemble  in  companies 
of  twenty  to  a  hundred,  and  wander  through  the  Southern  States  and 
Mexico  to  the  confines  of  the  equator,  in  all  of  which  countries  they 
are  now  either  common  or  abundant.  As  observed  by  Audubon, 
their  flight  is  easy,  continued,  and  often  performed  at  a  considerable 
height ;  and  they  move  in  flocks  or  companies,  making  several  turns 
before  they  alight.  As  the  mildness  of  spring  returns,  and  with  it 
their  favorite  food,  they  re-appear  in  the  Northern  and  Eastern  States 
about  the  beginning  of  April,  before  the  ripening  of  their  favorite 


CEDAK  BIRD. 


*  Seen  by  Mr.  Say  near  Winrpique  river  in  latitude  50,  and  by  Mr.  Drummond 
on  the  south  branch  of  the  Saskatchewan. 


THE   BOHEMIAN   WAX-WING,  OR   WAXEN   CHATTERER.         623 

fruits,  the  cherries  and  mulberries.  But  at  this  season,  to  repay  the 
gardener  for  the  tithe  of  his  crop,  their  natural  due,  they  fail  not  to 
assist  in  ridding  his  trees  of  more  deadly  enemies  which  infest  them, 
and  the  small  caterpillars,  beetles,  and  various  insects  now  constitute 
their  only  food ;  and  for  hours  at  a  time  they  may  be  seen  feeding  on 
the  all-despoiling  Canker-worms,  which  infest  our  Apple  trees  and 
Elms.  On  these  occasions,  silent  and  sedate,  after  plentifully  feeding, 
they  sit  dressing  their  feathers,  in  near  contact  on  the  same  branch 
to  the  number  of  five  or  six ;  and  as  the  season  of  selective  attach- 
ment approaches,  they  may  be  observed  pluming  each  other,  and 
caressing  with  the  most  gentle  fondness ;  a  playfulness,  in  which, 
however,  they  are  even  surpassed  by  the  contemned  Eaven,  to  which 
social  and  friendly  family  our  Cedar  Bird,  different  as  he  looks,  has 
many  traits  of  alliance. 


THE   BOHEMIAN  WAXWING,    OR  WAXEN   CHATTERER. 

The  Bohemian  Waxwing,  or  Waxen  Chatterer,  is  only  occasionally 
seen  in  England  during 
severe  frosts,  at  which 
time  flocks  of  them 
sometimes  arrive.  One 
of  these  birds  was  shot 
at  Oxford  in  the  winter 
of  1846.  It  is  very -com- 
mon in  Norway  and 
Eussia,  and  is  plentiful 
in  North  America.  The 
name  of  Waxwing  is 
given  to  it  from  the  sin- 
gular appendages  to  the 
secondary  quill  feathers, 
bearing  much  resem- 
blance to  a  drop  of  red 
sealing-wax  pressed  on 
the  wing. 

Berries  of  all  kinds, 
especially  those  of  the 
dog-rose  and  the  haw- 
thorn, form  the  principal 
food  of  this  bird  ;  but  it 
is  related  that  when  in 
captivity  it  rejects 
scarcely  any  vegetable 
substance,  but  loses  at 
the  same  time  all  its 
vivacity  and  social 
habits.  The  note  of  the  Waxwing  is  not  unlike  that  of  the  Thrush, 
but  it  is  very  weak  and  more  uncertain  than  the  notes  of  that  beau- 


THE  BOHEMIAN  WAXWING. 


624 


OF  THE  SWALLOWS  IN  GENERAL. 


tiful  songster.  While  singing  it  agitates  the  crest  on  its  head,  but 
shows  scarcely  any  of  that  swelling  in  the  throat  so  preceptible  in  the 
Canary  and  other  singing  birds. 

The  length  of  the  bird  is  rather  more  than  eight  inches. 


THE   JAPANESE   CHATTERER. 


This  is  a  species  found  in  Japan,  with  'naked  nostrils,  and  without 
the  usual  wax-like  appendages  to  the  wings  which  give  this  genus 
the  name  of  Waxwing.  It  is  ash-colored,  with  an  ash-colored  and  red 


crest. 


OF    THE  .SWALLOWS  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  bill  of  the  Swallow  is  short  broad  at  the  base,  small  at  the 

point,  and  some- 
what bent.  The 
nostrils  are  open . 
The  tongue  is  short, 
broad,  and  cloven. 
The  tail,  except  in 
one  species  is  fork- 


ed ;  and  the  \v 
are  long.  The 
are  short,  and 


legs 
(ex- 


THE   SWALLOW. 


cept  in  four  species, 
in  which  they  are 
all  placed  forward) 
the  toes  are  placed 
three  before  and  one 
behind. 

Swallows  are 
easily  distinguished 
from  all  other  birds, 
not  only  by  their 
general  structure,  but  by  their  twittering  voice,  and  their  manner 
of  life.  They  fly  with  great  rapidity,  seldom  walk,  and  perform  all 
their  functions  either  on  the  wing  or  sitting.  By  means  of  their 
wide  mouth  they  easily  catch  insects  in  the  air,  or  on  the  surface  of 
the  water  ;  and  on  these  they  subsist. 

Naturalists  have  been  much  divided  in  their  opinions  respecting  the 
migration  of  the  Swallow  tribe  from  this  country. 

That  the  actual  migration  of  the  Swallow  tribe  does  take  place,  has 
been  fully  proved  from  a  variety  of  well-attested  facts  ;  most  of  which 
have  been  taken  from  the  observation  of  navigators  who  were  eye- 
witnesses of  their  flights,  and  whose  ships  have  sometimes  afforded  to 
them  resting-places  in  their  toilsome  journeys. 


THE  CHIMNEY   SWALLOW. 


625 


THE  CHIMNEY  SWALLOW. 


THE    CHIMNEY    SWALLOW. 

During  the  summer  months  this  Swallow  takes  up  its  residence  in 
this  country,  building 
its  nest  generally  in  the 
insides  of  our  chimneys, 
a  few  feet  from  the  top. 
This  nest  is  composed 
of  mud  mixed  with 
straw  and  hair,  and 
lined  with  feathers.  It 
lays  four  or  five  eggs, 
and  has  two  broods  in 
the  year. 

The  progressive 
method  by  which  the 
young-ones  are  intro- 
duced to  their  proper 
habits,  is  very  curious. 
They  first,  but  not  with- 
o  u  t  some  difficulty, 
emerge  from  the  shaft :  for  a  day  or  two  they  are  fed  on  the  chimney- 
top  ;  and  then  are  conducted  to  the  dead,  leafless  bough  of  some 
neighboring  tree,  where,  sitting  in  a  row,  they  are  attended  by  the 
parents  with  great  assiduity.  In  a  day  or  two  after  this,  they  are 
strong  enough  to  fly,  but  they  continue  still  unable  to  take  their  own 
food.  They  therefore  play  about  near  the  place,  where  the  dams  are 
watching  for  flies ;  and,  when  a  mouthful  is  collected,  at  a  certain 
signal,  the  dam  and  the  nestling  advance,  rising  towards  each  other, 
and  meeting  at  an  angle ;  the  young-one  all  the  while  uttering  such  a 
short  quick  note  of  gratitude  and  complacency,  that  a  person  must 
have  paid  very  little  regard  to  the  wonders  of  nature,  who  has  not  re- 
marked this  scene. 

As  soon  as  the  dam  has  disengaged  herself  from  the  first  brood,  she 
immediately  commences  her  preparations  for  a  second,  which  is  intro- 
duced into  the  world  about  the  middle  or  latter  end  of  August. 

During  every  part  of  the  summer,  the  Swallow  is  a  most  instructive 
pattern  of  unwearied  industry  and  affection  :  from  morning  to  night, 
while  there  is  a  family  to  be  supported,  she  spends  the  whole  time 
in  skimming  along,  and  exerting  the  most  sudden  turns  and  quick 
evolutions :  avenues,  and  long  walks  under  hedges,  pasture-fields,  and 
mown  meadows  where  cattle  graze,  are  her  delight,  especially  if  there 
are  trees  interspersed,  because  in  such  spots  insects  most  abound. 
When  a  fly  is  taken,  a  smart  snap  from  her  bill  is  to  be  heard,  not 
unlike  the  noise  of  the  shutting  of  a  watch-case ;  but  the  motion  of  the 
mandibles  is  too  quick  for 'the  eye. 

The  Swallow  is  the  excubitor  to  the  House-Martins  and  other  little 
birds,  announcing  the  approach  of  birds  of  prey  :  for  as  soon  as-  a  Hawk 
or  an  Owl  appears  the  Swal!  >w  calls,  with  a  shrill  alarming  note,  all 


626  THE  CHIMNEY   SWALLOW. 

his  own  fellows  and  the  Martins  about  him  ;  who  pursue  in  a  body, 
and  strike  their  enemy,  till  they  have  driven  him  from  the  place, 
darting  down  upon  his  back,  and  rising  in  a  perpendicular  line  in  per- 
fect security.  This  bird  will  also  sound  the  alarm,  and  strike  at  cats 
when  they  climb  on  the  roofs  of  houses,  or  otherwise  approach  the  nests. 

Wonderful  is  the  address,  Mr.  White  justly  observes,  which  this 
adroit  bird  exhibits  in  ascending  and  decending  with  security  through 
the  narrow  passage  of  a  chimney.  When  hovering  over  the  mouth 
of  the  funnel,  the  vibrations  of  its  wings  acting  on  the  confined  air, 
occasion  a  rumbling  like  distant  thunder.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
the  dam  submits  to  the  inconvenience  of  having  her  nest  low  down  in 
the  shaft,  in  order  to  have  her  broods  secure  from  rapacious  birds ; 
and  particularly  from  Owls,  which  are  frequently  found  to  fall  down 
chimneys,  probably  in  their  attempts  to  get  at  the  nestlings. 

Professor  Kalm,  in  his  Travels  in  America,  says,  that  a  very 
reputable  lady  and  her  children  related  to  him  the  following  story 
respecting  these  birds,  assuring  him  at  the  same  time  that  they  were 
all  eye-witnesses  to  the  fact : — "  A  couple  of  Swallows  built  their  nest 
in  the  stable  belonging  to  the  lady ;  and  the  female  laid  eggs  in  the 
nest,  and  was  about  to  brood  them.  Some  days  .afterwards  the  people 
saw  the  female  still  sitting  on  the  eggs :  but  the  male  flying  about  the 
nest,  and  sometimes  settling  on  a  nail,  was  heard  to  utter  a  very 
plaintive  note,  which  betrayed  his  uneasiness.  On  a  nearer  examina- 
tion, the  female  was  found  dead  in  the  nest ;  and  the  people  flung  her 
body  away.  The  male  then  went  to  sit  upon  the  eggs ;  but  after 
being  about  two  hours  on  them,  and  perhaps  finding  the  business  too 
troublesome,  he  went  out,  and  returned  in  the  afternoon  with  another 
female,  which  sat  upon  the  nest,  and  afterwards  fed  the  young-ones, 
till  they  were  able  to  provide  for  themselves." 

At  Camerton  Hall,  near  Bath,  a  pair  of  Swallows  built  their  nest  on 
the  upper  part  of  the  frame  of  an  old  picture  over  the  chimney-piece  ; 
entering  through  a  broken  pane  in  the  window  of  the  room.  They 
came  three  years  successively;  and  in  all  probability  would  have  con- 
tinued  to  do  so,  had  not  the  room  been  put  in  repair,  which  prevented 
their  access  to  it. 

Another  pair  were  known  to  build  for  two  successive  years  on 
the  handles  of  a  pair  of  garden  shears,  that  were  stuck  up  against  the 
boards  in  an  out-house  ;  and  therefore  must  have  had  their  nest  spoiled 
whenever  the  implement  was  wanted.  And  what  is  still  more  strange, 
a  bird  of  the  same  species  built  its  nest  on  the  wings  and  body  of  an 
Owl,  that  happened  to  hang  dead  and  dry  from  the  rafter  of  a  barn 
and  so  loose  as  to  be  moved  by  every  gust  of  wind.  This  Owl,  with 
the  nest  on  its  wings,  and  with  eggs  in  the  nest,  was  taken  as  a  curi- 
osity to  the  museum  of  Sir  Ashton  Lever.  That  gentleman,  struck 
with  the  singularity  of  the  sight,  furnished  the  person  who  brought 
it  with  a  large  shell,  desiring  him  to  fix  it  just  where  the  Owl  had 
hung.  The  man  did  so  ;  and  in  the  following  year  a  pair  of  Swallows, 
probably  the  same,  built  their  nest  in  the  shell,  and  laid  eggs. 

"By  the  myriads  of  insects,  which  every  single  brood  of  Swallows 
destroy,  in  the  course  of  a  summer,  these  birds  defend  us  in  a  great 


THE    CHIMNEY   SWALLOW.  627 

measure  from  the  personal  and  domestic  annoyance  of  flies  and  gnats , 
and  what  is  of  infinitely  more  consequence,  they  keep  down  the 
numbers  of  our  minute  enemies,  which,  either  in  the  grub  or.  winged 
state,  would  otherwise  prey  on  the  labors  of  the  husbandman.  Since, 
then,  Swallows  are  guardians  of  our  corn,  they  should  every  where  be 
protected  by  the  same  popular  veneration  which  in  Egypt  defends  the 
Ibis,  and  in  Holland  the  Stork.  We  more  frequently  hear  of  unpro- 
ductive harvests  on  the  Continent  than  in  England ;  and  it  is  well 
known  that  Swallows  are  caught  and  sold  as  food,  in  the  markets  of 
Spain,  France,  and  Italy.  When  this  practice  has  been  very  general 
and  successful,  I  have  little  doubt  that  it  has,  at  times,  contributed  to 
a  scarcity  of  corn.  In  England  they  are  not  driven  to  such  resources 
to  furnish  their  tables.  But  what  apology  can  be  made  for  those,  and 
many  there  are,  whose  education  should  have  taught  them  more 
innocent  amusements,  but  who  wantonly  murder  Swallows,  under 
the  idle  pretence  of  improving  their  skill  in  shooting  game  ?  Besides 
the  cruelty  of  starving  whole  nests  by  killing  the  dam,  they  who  follow 
this  barbarous  diversion  would  do  well  to  reflect,  that  by  every 
Swallow  they  kill,  they  assist  the  effect9»of  blasts,  mildews,  and  vermin, 
in  causing  a  scarcity  of  bread. 

All  the  birds  of  this  tribe  have  been  observed  to  drink  as  they  fly 
along,  sipping  the  surface  of  the  "water ;  but  the  Swallow  alone,  in 
general,  washes  on  the  wing,  by  dropping  into  a  pond  many  times 
successively.  In  very  hot  weather,  House-Martins  and  Bank-Martins, 
also  sometimes  dip  and  wash. 

Swallows  feed  on  small  Beetles,  as  well  as  on  Gnats  and  Flies ;  and 
often  settle  on  dug  ground  or  paths,  for  gravel,  which  assists  in  grin- 
ding and  digesting  their  food.  Horsemen,  on  wide  downs,  are  often 
closely  attended,  for  miles  together,  by  a  small  party  of  Swallows ; 
which  play  before  and  behind  them,  sweeping  around,  and  collecting 
all  the  insects  that  are  roused  by  the  trampling  of  the  horse's  feet. 
When  the  wind  blows  hard,  the  birds,  without  this  expedient,  are 
often  forced  to  alight,  in  order  to  pick  up  their  lurking  prey. 

Mr.  White  informs  us,  that  for  some  weeks  before  the  Swallows  de- 
part, they  (without  exceptions)  forsake  houses  and  chimneys,  and  roost 
in  trees;  and  that  they  usually  withdraw  about  the  beginning  of 
October,  though  some  few  stragglers  may  be  seen  at  times  till  the 
first  week  in  November.  A  few  days  previously  to  their  departure, 
they  assemble  in  vast  flocks  on  house-tops,  churches,  and  trees,  from 
which  they  take  their  flight. 

I  shall  conclude  the  account  of  this  bird  with  an  anecdote  related 
by  M.  de  Buffon.  This  celebrated  writer  informs  us,  that  a  shoemaker 
in  Basle  put  a  collar  on  a  Swallow,  containing  an  inscription  to  this 
purport : 

"  Pretty  Swallow,  tell  me,  whither  goest  thou  in  winter?" 

and  in  the  ensuing  spring  he  received,  by  the  same  courier,  the  fol- 
lowing answer : 

"  To  Anthony  at  Athens  :— Why  dost  thou  inquire?" 
'         40 


628  THE   MARTIN. 

The  most  probable  conjecture  on  this  story  is,  that  the  answer  was 
written  by  some  one  who  had  caught  the  bird  in  Switzerland ;  for 
both  Belon  and  Aristotle  assure  us,  that  though  the  Swallows  live 
half  the  year  in  Greece,  yet  they  always  pass  the  winter  in  Africa. 

The  Rev.  Revett  Shepperd,  F.  L.  S.,  a  few  years  ago  communicated 
to  me  the  following  acount  of  a  Swallow  which  was  domesticated  by 
Miss  Boldero  of  Ixworth,  near  Bury  St.  Edmunds:  "  On  the  19th  of 
July,  1806,  three  young  Swallows  fell  down  the  chimney  of  this  lady's 
bed-chamber,  and,  being  fond  of  birds,  she  determined,  if  possible,  to 
rear  them.  Two  of  them  died  in  the  course  of  a  week,  but  the  third, 
by  feeding  it  with  boiled  egg,  mixed  occasionally  with  bread,  she 
succeeded  in  rearing.  It  grew  fast,  and  continued  in  excellent  health. 
As  flies  were  its  most  natural  food,  she  supplied  it  with  these  as  fre- 
quently as  possible.  It  drank  plentifully  of  water,  and  seemed  to 
derive  great  pleasure  from  regularly  washing  itself.  This  bird  grew 
so  tame  that  it  would  come  to  its  mistress  whenever  she  held  out  her 
finger  for  it  to  alight  upon  ;  and  thus  perched,  would  catch  every  fly 
within  its  reach.  Its  eagerness  in  this  act,  and  its  manner  of  catching 
these  insects,  the  snap  of  its  bonk  in  so  doing,  and  its  general  docility, 
rendered  it  a  very  amusing  and  interesting' object.  Frequently  after 
dinner,  Miss  Boldero  would  bring  it  upon  her  finger  into  the  dining- 
room,  a  large  and  lofty  apartment.  Here  it  would  fly  about  with 
great  freedom ;  and,  when  tired,  would  come  to  its  mistress  to  rest 
itself  upon  her.  It  did  not  appear  to  notice  a  small  Parrot,  which 
was  loose  in  the  same  room,  and  upon  the  perches  of  whose  stand  it 
was  fond  of  alighting.  If,  however,  the  Parrot  attempted  to  attack 
it,  the  Swallow  always  opened  its  beak  in  a  threatening  manner,  as  if 
resolved  to  defend  itself  from  insult. 

"When  the  usual  term  for  the  migration  of  its  tribe  approached, 
this  bird  became  uneasy ;  and,  as  it  was  occasionally  hung  in  a  cage 
on  the  outside  of  the  house,  the  other  Swallows  came  about  it,  and 
appeared  to  invite  it  to  go  with  them.  The  Swallows,  so  long  as  any 
remained,  came  every  day  to  it ;  and  when  they  had  all  disappeared 
it  became  tolerably  tranquil.  Miss  Boldero  was  extremely  anxious 
to  preserve  it  through  the  winter,  and  though  aware  of  the  difficulty 
she  should  have  in  feeding  it  through  that  season,  resolved  to  make 
the  attempt.  On  the  9th  of  October,  however,  after  she  had  fed  it  as 
usual,  and  had  left  it  in  apparent  health  and  vigor,  she  had  the  morti- 
fication, on  returning  to  her  chamber,  to  find  it  dead.  The  cause  of 
its  death  she  was  unable  to  ascertain;  but  she  imagined  that  the  bird 
might  have  been  inadvertently  struck  by  the  servant,  whilst  she  was 
cleaning  the  room." 


THE   MARTIN. 

About  the  16th  of  April  these  birds  begin  to  appear,  and  generally 
for  some  time  they  pay  no  attention  to  the  business  of  nidification, 
but  play  and  sport  about,  either  to  recruit  themselves  from  the  fatigue 
•of  their  journey,  or  else  that  their  blood  may  recover  its  true  tone 


THE  MARTIN. 


THE   MARTIN.  629 

and  texture,  after  having  been  so  long  benumbed  by  the  severities 

of    the     winter.      Towards     the 

middle  of  May,  if  the  weather  be 

fine,  the  Martin  begins  to  think 

of  providing  a   mansion   for   its 

family.     The  crust  or  shell  of  its 

nest  seems  to  be  formed  of  such 

dirt  or  loam  as  is  most  readily 

met  with ;  and  it  is  tempered  and 

wrought    together   with  little 

pieces  of  broken  straws,  to  render 

it  tough  and  tenacious. 

As  this  bird  often  builds  against 
a  perpendicular  wall,  without  any 
projecting  le&ge  under,  its  utmost  efforts  are  necessary  to  get  the 
first  foundation  firmly  fixed,  so  as  to  carry  safely  the  superstructure. 
On  this  occasion  the  bird  not  only  clings  with  its  claws,  but  partly 
supports  itself  by  strongly  inclining  its  tail  against  the  wall,  making 
that  a  fulcrum;  and,  thus  fixed,  it  plasters  the  materials  into  the  face 
of  the  brick  or  stone.  But  that  this  work  may  not,  while  soft,  incline 
down  by  its  own  weight,  the  provident  architect  has  the  prudence  and 
forbearance  not  to  proceed  too  fast ;  but,  by  building  only  in  the 
morning,  and  dedicating  the  rest  of  the  day  to  food  and  amusement, 
she  gives  it  sufficient  time  to  dry  and  harden.  About  half  an  inch 
seems  to  be  a  sufficient  layer  for  a  day.  Thus,  careful  workmen, 
when  they  build  mud-walls,  (informed  at  first,  perhaps,  by  this  little 
bird,)  add  but  a  moderate  layer  at  a  time,  and  then  desist,  lest  the 
work  should  become  top-heavy,  and  so  be  ruined  by  its  own  weight. 
By  this  method,  in  about  ten  or  twelve  days,  a  hemispherical  nest  is 
formed,  with  a  small  aperture  towards  the  top ;  strong,  compact,  and 
warm,  and  perfectly  fitted  for  all  the  purposes  for  which  it  was  in- 
tended. But  nothing  is  more  common  than  for  the  House-Sparrow, 
as  soon  as  the  shell  is  finished,  to  seize  on  it,  eject  the  owner,  and  to 
line  it  according  to  its  own  peculiar  manner.  After  so  much  labor  is 
bestowed  in  erecting  a  mansion,  as  Nature  seldom  works  in  vain, 
Martins  will  breed  for  several  years  successively  in  the  same  nest, 
where  it  happens  to  bs  well  sheltered  and  secured  from  the  injuries 
of  the  weather.  The  shell  or  crust  of  the  nest  is  a  sort  of  rustic  work, 
full  of  knobs  and  protuberances  on  the  outside:  nor  is  the  inside 
smoothed  with  any  great  exactness ;  but  it  is  rendered  soft  and  warm, 
and  fit  for  incubation,  by  a  lining  of  small  straws,  grasses,  and 
feathers,  and  sometimes  by  a  bed  of  moss  interwoven  with  wool. 

In  this  nest  are  produced  four  or  five  young  ones ;  which,  when 
arrived  at  full  growth,  become  impatient  of  confinement,  and  sit  all 
day  with  their  heads  out  at  the  orifice,  where  the  dams,  by  clinging 
to  the  nest,  supply  them  with  food  from  morning  to  night.  After 
this  they  are  feel  on  wing  by  the  parents ;  but  this  feat  is  performed 
by  so  quick  and  almost  imperceptible  a  flight,  that  a  person  must 
attend  very  exactly  to  the  motions  of  the  birds,  before  he  is  able  to 
perceive  it. 


630  THE   MARTIN. 

As  soon  as  the  young-ones  are  able  to  provide  for  themselves,  the 
dams  repair  their  nest  for  a  second  brood.  The  first  flight  then  asso- 
ciate in  vast  flocks ;  and  may  be  seen  on  sunny  mornings  and 
evenings,  clustering  and  hoyering  around  towers  and  steeples,  and 
on  the  roofs  of  churches  and  houses.  These  congregations  usually 
begin  to  take  place  about  the  first  week  in  August.  From  observing 
the  birds  approaching  and  playing  about  the  eaves  of  buildings,  many 
persons  have  been  led  to  suppose  that  more  than  two  old  birds  attend 
on  each  nest. 

The  Martins  are  often  very  capricious  in  fixing  on  a  nesting-place, 
beginning  many  edifices  and  leaving  them  unfinished ;  but  (as  we 
have  before  observed)  when  a  nest  has  once  been  completed  in  a 
sheltered  situation,  it  is  made  to  serve  for  several  seasons.  In  form- 
ing their  nests,  these  industrious  artificers  are  at  their  labor,  in  the 
long  days,  before  four  o'clock  in  the  morning :  in  fixing  their  materials 
they  plaster  them  on  with  their  chins,  moving  the  head  with  a  quick 
vibratory  motion. 

Sometimes,  in  very  hot  weather,  they  dip  and  wash  themselves  as 
they  flv,  but  not  so  frequently  as  the  Swallows.  They  are  the  least 
agile  of  all  the  British  hirundines ;  their  wings  and  tails  are  short, 
and  therefore  they  are  not  capable  of  those  surprising  turns,  and  quick 
and  glancing  evolutions,  that  are  so  observable  in  the  Chimney-Swal- 
lows. 

Their  motion  is  placid  and  easy  :  generally  in  the  middle  region 
of  the  air ;  for  they  seldom  mount  to  any  great  height,  and  never 
sweep  long  together  over  the  surface  of  the  ground  or  water.  They 
do  not  wander  far  in  quest  of  food ;  but  are  fond  of  sheltered  places 
near  some  lake,  or  under  some  hanging  wood,  especially  in  windy 
weather. 

During  the  residence  of  a  Mr.  Simpson,  at  Welton  in  North 
America,  he  one  morning  heard  a  noise  from  a  couple  of  Martins 
that  were  flying  from  tree  to  tree  near  his  dwelling.  They  made 
several  attempts  to  get  into  a  box  or  cage  which  was  fixed  against 
the  house,  and  which  they  had  before  occupied  ;  but  they  always  ap- 
peared to  fly  from  it  again  with  the  utmost  dread,  at  the  same  time 
repeating  those  loud  cries  which  first  drew  his  attention.  Curiosity 
led  this  gentleman  to  watch  their  motions.  After  some  time,  a  small 
Wren  came  from  the  box,  and  perched  on  a  tree  near  it ;  when  her 
shrill  notes  seemed  to  amaze  her  antagonists.  Having  remained  a 
short  time,  she  flew  away.  The  Martins  took  this  opportunity  of  re- 
turning to  the  cage ;  but  their  stay  was  short.  Their  diminutive  adver- 
sary entered  and  made  them  retire  with  the  greatest  precipitation. 
They  continued  manoeuvring  in  this  way,  during  the  whole  day,  but 
on  the  following  morning,  when  the  Wren  quitted  the  cage,  the  Mar- 
tins immediately  returned,  took  possession  of  their  mansion,  broke 
up  their  own  nest,  went  to  work  afresh  with  extreme  industry 
and  ingenuity,  and  soon  barricaded  their  doors.  The  Wren  re- 
turned, but  could  not  now  re-enter.  She  made  attempts  to  storm 
the  nest,  but  did  not  succeed.  The  Martins  abstaining  from  food 
nearly  two  days,  persevered  during  the  whole  of  that  time  in  defend- 


THE   SAND-MARTIN.  631 

ing  tne  entrance ;  and  the  Wren,  finding  she  could  not  force  the 
works,  raised  the  siege,  quitted  her  intentions,  and  left  the  Martins 
in  quiet  possession  of  their  dwelling. 


THE   SAND-MARTIN. 

In  the  banks  of  rivers,  and  in  the  perpendicular  sides  of  sand- 
pits, these  birds  dig  round  and  regular  holes, 
about  two  feet  in  depth,  which  run  horizon- 
tally, and  in  a  somewhat  serpentine  direction. 
At  the  further  end  of  these  burrows,  the  birds 
construct  their  rude  nest  of  grass  and  feathers. 
"  Though  one  would  at  first  be  disinclined  to 
believe  (says  Mr.  White)  that  this  weak  bird, 
with  her  soft  tender  bill  and  claws,  should  ever  THE  8AND MARTIN. 

be  able  to  bore  the  stubborn  sand-bank  with- 
out entirely  disabling  herself;  yet  with  these  feeble  instruments  have 
I  seen  a  pair  of  them  make  great  dispatch ;  and  could  remark  how 
much  they  had  scooped  in  a  day,  by  the  fresh  sand  which  ran  down 
the  bank,  and  which  was  of  a  different  color  from  what  lay  loose  and 
had  been  bleached  in  the  sun.  In  what  space  of  time  the  little  artists 
are  able  to  mine  and  finish  these  cavities,  I  have  never  been  able  to 
discover ;  but  it  would  be  a  matter  worthy  of  observation,  where  it 
falls  in  the  way  of  any  naturalist  to  make  such  remarks.  This  I  have 
often  taken  notice  of,  that  several  holes  of  different  depths  are  left 
unfinished  at  the  end  of  the  summer.  To  imagine  that  these  begin- 
nings were  intentionally  made,  in  order  to  be  in  the  greater  forward- 
ness for  the  ensuing  spring,  is  allowing  perhaps  too  much  foresight 
to  a  simple  bird.  May  not  the  cause  of  their  being  left  unfinished, 
arise  from  the  birds  meeting,  in  those  places,  with  strata  too  harsh, 
hard,  and  solid,  for  their  purpose;  which  they  relinquish,  and  go  to  a 
fresh  spot,  where  they  can  work  more  freely  ?  Or  may  they  not  in 
other  places  fall  in  with  a  soil  as  much  too  loose  and  mouldering, 
liable  to  founder,  and  threatening  to  overwhelm  them  and  their 
labors?  One  thing  is  remarkable;  that,  after  some  years,  the  old 
holes  are  forsaken,  and  new  ones  are  bored  ;  perhaps  because  the 
former  habitations  were  become  foul  and  fetid  from  long  use,  or  be- 
cause they  so  abounded  with  fleas  as  to  become  untenable."  Sand 
Martins  are  so  strangely  annoyed  with  fleas,  that  these  vermin  have 
been  sometimes  seen  swarming  at  the  mouths  of  their  holes,  like 
bees  on  the  stools  of  their  hives. 

The  Sand  Martin  appears  in  this  country  about  the  same  time  as 
the  Swallow,  and  lays  from  four  to  six  white  and  semi-transparent 
eggs.  These  birds  seem  not  to  be  of  very  sociable  disposition  :  with 
us  they  never  congregate  in  the  autumn.  They  have  a  peculiar  man- 
ner of  flying :  they  flirt  about  with  odd  jerks  and  vacillations,  not 
unlike  the  motions  of  a  Butterfly. 


632  THE   ESCULENT   SWALLOW. 


THE   ESCULENT  SWALLOW. 

The  Esculent  Swallow  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  Wren.  Its  bill 
is  thick.  The  upper  parts  of  the  body  are  brown,  and  the  under 
parts  whitish.  The  tail  is  forked;  and  each  feather  is  tipped  with 
white.  The  legs  are  brown. 

The  nest  of  this  bird  is  exceedingly  curious,  and  is  composed  of 
such  materials,  that  it  is  not  only  edible,  but  is  accounted  by  the 
epicures  of  Asia,  among  their  greatest  dainties.  It  generally  weighs 
-about  half  an  ounce ;  and  is,  in  shape,  like  a  half-lemon,  or,  as  some 
say,  like  a  saucer  with  one  side  flatted,  which  adheres  to  the  rock. 
The  texture  somewhat  resembles  isinglass,  or  fine  gum-dragon :  and 
the  several  layers  of  the  component  matter  are  very  apparent ;  it  be- 
ing fabricated  from  repeated  parcels  of  a  soft,  siimy  substance,  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Martins  form  their  nests  of  mud'.  Authors 
differ  much  as  to  the  materials  of  which  this  nest  is  composed  :  some 
suppose  it  to  consist  of  sea-worms,  of  the  Mollusca  class;  others 
from  the  sea-qualm,  (a  kind  of  Cuttle-fish,)  or  a  glutinous  sea-plant, 
called  agal-agal.  It  has  also  been  supposed  that  the  Swallows  rob 
other  birds  of  their  eggs,  and,  after  breaking  their  shells,  apply  the 
white  of  them  in  the  composition  of  these  structures. 

The  best  sort  of  nests,  which  are  perfectly  free  from  dirt  are  dis- 
solved in  broth,  in  order  to  thicken  it ;  and  are  said  to  give  it  an 
exquisite  flavor.  Or  they  are  soaked  in  water,  to  soften  them  ;  then 
pulled  to  pieces ;  and,  after  being  mixed  with  ginseng,  are  put  into  the 
body  of  a  fowl.  The  whole  is  afterwards  stewed  in  a  pot,  with  a  suf- 
ficient quantity  of  water,  and  left  on  the  coals  all  night.  On  the 
following  morning  it  is  in  a  state  to  be  eaten. 

These  nests  are  found  in  vast  numbers  in  certain  caverns  of  islands 
in  the  Soolo  Archipelago.  The  best  kind  sell  in  China  at  from  one 
thousand  to  fifteen  hundred  dollars  the  pick  ;  (about  twenty-five 
pounds ;  )  the  black  and  dirty  ones  for  only  twenty  dollars.  It  is  said 
that  the  Dutch  alone  export  from  Batavia  one  thousand  picles  of  these 
nests  every  year :  they  are  brought  from  the  islands  of  Cochin-China 
and  those  lying  east  of  them. 

The  following  is  the  account  given  of  the  nests  of  the  Esculent 
Swallow  by  Sir  George  Staunton  :  "  In  the  Cass  (a  small  island  near 
Sumatra)  were  found  two  caverns,  running  horizontally  into  the 
side  of  the  rock ;  and  in  these  were  a  number  of  those  bird-nests  so 
much  prized  by  the  Chinese  epicures.  They  seem  to  be  composed  of 
fine  filaments,  cemented  together  by  a  transparent  viscous  matter,  not 
unlike  what  is  left  by  the  foam  of  the  sea  upon  stones  alternately  cov- 
ered by  the  tide,  or  those  gelatinous  animal  substances  that  are  found 
floating  on  every  coast.  The  nests  adhere  to  each  other,  and  to  the 
sides  of  the  cavern  ;  mostly  in  rows,  without  any  break  or  interruption. 
The  birds  that  build  these  nests  are  small  gray  Swallows,  with  bellies  of 
a  dirty  white  color.  They  were  flying  about  in  considerable  numbers ; 
but  were  so  small,  and  their  flight  was  so  quick,  that  they  escaped  the 


THE  BLACK  MARTIN,  OR  SWIFT.  633 

shot  fired  at  them.  The  same  sort  of  nests  are  said  also  to  be  found 
in  deep  caverns  at  the  foot  of  the  highest  mountains  in  the  middle  of 
Java,  and  at  a  great  distance  from  the  sea.  The  Esculent  Swallows 
feed  on  insects  which  they  find  hovering  over  stagnated  pools  between 
the  mountains,  and  for  the  catching  of  which  their  wide-opening  beaks 
are  particularly  adapted.  They  prepare  their  nests  from  the  best 
remnants  of  their  food.  Their  greatest  enemy  is  the  Kite,  which  often 
intercepts  them  in  their  passage  to  and  from  the  caverns.  The  nests 
are  placed  in  horizontal  rows,  at  different  depths,  from  fifty  to  five 
hundred  feet.  The  color  and  value  of  the  nests  depend  on  the  quantity 
and  quality  of  the  insects  caught ;  and,  perhaps,  also  on  the  situation 
in  which  they  are'  built.  Their  value  is  chiefly  ascertained  by  the 
uniform  fineness  and  delicacy  of  their  texture  ;  those  that  are  white  and 
transparent  being  most  esteemed,  and  often  fetching  in  China,  their 
weight  in  silver. 

"  These  nests  are  a  considerable  object  of  traffic  among  the  Javanese ; 
many  of  whom  are  employed  in  it  from  their  infancy.  The  birds,  after 
having  spent  nearly  two  months  in  preparing  their  nests,  lay  each  two 
eggs,  which  are  hatched  in  about  fifteen  days.  "When  the  young  birds 
become  fledged,  is  the  proper  time  to  take  the  nests  ;  and  this  is  re- 
gularly done  three  times  a  year,  and  is  effected  by  means  of  ladders  of 
bamboo  and  reeds,  by  which  the  people  descend  into  the  caverns :  but 
when  these  are  very  deep,  rope-ladders  are  preferred.  This  operation 
is  attended  with  much  danger.  The  inhabitants  of  the  mountains,  who 
obtain  a  livelihood  by  collecting  the  nests,  always  begin  by  sacrificing 
a  buffalo.  They  also  pronounce  certain  prayers,  anoint  themselves 
with  sweet-scented  oil,  and  smoke  the  entrance  of  the  cavern  with 
gum-benjamin.  Near  some  of  the  caverns  a  tutelar  goddess  is  wor- 
shipped, whose  priest  burns  incense,  and  lays  his  protecting  hands  on 
every  person  preparing  to  descend.  A  flambeau  is,  at  the  same  time, 
carefully  prepared,  with  a  gum  which  exudes  from  a  tree  growing  in 
the  vicinity,  and  which  is  not  easily  extinguished  by  fixed  air  or 
subterraneous  vapors." 


THE    BLACK   MARTIN,   OR  SWIFT. 

.  The  legs  of  the  Swift  are  so  short,  that  the  actions  of  walking  and 
rising  from  the  ground  seem  very  difficult  to  it.  Providence,  however, 
has  made  the  bird  ample  compensation,  by  furnishing  it  with  means, 
in  a  peculiarly  great  extent  of  wing,  for  an  easy  and  long-continued 
flight.  It  passes  more  of  its  time  on  wing  than  any  other  Swallow, 
and  its  flight  is  more  rapid.  It  breeds  under  the  eaves  of  houses,  in 
steeples,  and  other  lofty  buildings ;  and  makes  its  nest  of  grass  and 
feathers. 

The  feet  of  this  bird  are  of  a  peculiar  structure,  all  the  toes  standing 
forward.  The  least  toes  consist  of  only  one  bone  ;  the  others  of  two 
each ;  in  which  they  differ  from  the  toes  of  all  other  birds.  This, 
however,  is  a  construction  nicely  adapted  to  the  purposes  for  which  the 
feet  of  these  birds  are  employed. 


634  THE  BLACK  MARTIN,  OR  SWIFT. 

The  Swift  visits  England  the  latest,  and  leaves  the  earliest,  of  any  bird 
of  its  tribe :  it  does  not  often  arrive  before  the  begining  of  May,  and 
seldom  remains  later  than  the  middle  of  August. 

It  is  the  most  active  of  all  birds ;  being  on  wing,  in  the  height  of 
summer,  at  least  sixteen  hours  in  the  day  ;  withdrawing  to  rest,  in  the 
longest  days,  about  a  quarter  before  nine  in  the  evening,  some  time 
after  all  the  other  day-birds  are  gone.  Just  before  they  retire,  large 
groups  of  Swifts  assemble  high  in  the  air,  screaming,  and  shooting 
about  with  wonderful  rapidity.  They  are  chiefly  alert  in  sultry, 
lowering  weather ;  when  they  express  great  alacrity,  and  seem  to  call 
forth  all  their  powers. 

In  hot  mornings,  the  Swifts  collect  together,  in  little  parties,  and 
dash  around  the  steeples  and  churches,  squeaking  at  the  same  time  in 
a  very  clamorous  manner.  These  are  supposed  to  be  the  males  sere- 
nading the  sitting  hens  ;  as  they  seldom  make  this  noise  till  they  come 
close  to  the  walls  or  eaves,  and  those  within  always  utter  in  return  a 
faint  note  of  complacency.  When  the  hen  has  been  occupied  all  the 
day  in  sitting,  she  rushes  forth,  just  before  it  is  dark,  to  relieve  her 
weary  limbs.  She  snatches  a  scanty  meal  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then 
returns  to  her  task  of  incubation. 

Swifts,  when  shot  while  they  have  young-ones,  are  found  to  have 
a  little  cluster  of  insects  in  their  mouths,  which  they  pouch  and 
hold  under  their  tongue.  In  general,  they  fly  and  feed  higher  in  the 
air  than  any  other  species.  They  also  range  to  vast  distances ;  for 
motion  is  but  a  slight  labor  to  them,  endowed  as  they  are  with  such 
wonderful  powers  of  wing.  Sometimes,  however,  in  the  summer  they 
may  be  observed,  for  many  successive  hours,  hawking  very  low,  over 
pools  and  streams,  in  search  of  the  Cadew-flies,  May -flies,  and  Dragon 
flies,  which  frequent  the  banks  and  surface  of  waters,  and  which  afford 
them  a  plentiful  nourishment.  Sometimes  they  pursue  and  strike  at 
birds  of  prey  when  they  are  sailing  about  in  the  air ;  but  they  do  not 
express  so  much  vehemence  and  fury  on  these  occasions  as  the  Swallows. 

Swifts  breed  but  once  in  the  summer  and  produce  no  more  than  two 
young-ones  at  a  time. 

The  main  body  of  these  birds  retire  from  this  country  before  the 
middle  of  August,  generally  by  the  10th,  (which  is  but  a  short  time 
after  the  flight  of  their  young-ones,)  and  not  a  single  straggler  is  to  be 
seen  on  the  20th.  This  early  retreat  is  totally  unaccountable,  as  that 
time  is  often  the  most  delightful  in  the  year.  But,  what  is  yet  more 
extraordinary,  they  begin  to  retire  still  earlier  in  the  most  southerly 
parts  of  Andalusia  ;  where  they  cannot  be  influenced  by  any  defect 
of  heat,  or  even  (as  one  would  suppose)  of  food.  This  is  one  of  those 
incidents  in  natural  history,  which  not  only  baffle  our  researches,  but 
also  elude  our  conjectures. 

The  voice  of  the  Swift  is  a  harsh  scream  ;  yet  there  are  few  ears  to 
which  it  is  not  pleasing,  from  an  agreeable  association  of  ideas,  since 
it  is  never  heard  but  in  the  most  lovely  weather  of  summer.  These 
birds  never,  unless  by  accident,  settle  on  the  ground,  from  the  diffi- 
culty they  have  in  walking,  or  rather  (as  it  may  be  called)  in  crawling ; 
but  they  have  a  strong  grasp  with  their  feet,  by  which  they  readily 


THE  TROGON. — THE  HOOPOE. 


G35 


cling  to  walls  and  other  places  that  they  frequent.  Their  bodies 
being  flat,  they  can  enter  a  very  narrow  crevice ;  and  where  they 
cannot  pass  on  their  bellies,  they  will  turn  up  edgewise  to  push  them- 
selves through. 


THE  TROGON. 

The  magnificent  family  of  the  Trogons  stands  pre-eminent  in  beauty 
arid  brilliancy  of  plumage, 
the  usual  tint  being  a  metal- 
lic golden  green,  boldly  con- 
trasted with  scarlet,  black 
and  brown.  The  toes  are 
placed  two  behind  and  two 
before,  like  those  of  the 
Woodpeckers. 

The  Resplendent  Trogon 
is  the  most  gorgeous  of  all 
this  gorgeous  family.  Its 
long  and  gracefully  curved 
tail,  nearly  three  feet  long; 
the  whole  of  the  upper  sur- 
face, and  the  throat,  are  a 
glowing  green ;  the  breast 
and  under  parts  are  bright 
crimson;  the  middle  feathers 
of  the  tail  black,  and  the 
outer  feathers  white.  This 
splendid  bird  is  an  inhabitant 
of  Mexico,  and  was  used  by 
the  Mexican  nobles  as  an  ornament  to  their  head-dress. 

From  the  feathers  of  these  and  other  Trogons  the  mosaic  pictures 
of  the  Mexicans  were  made.  One  of  these,  most  delicately  and  beau- 
tifully executed,  containing  many  figures,  is  now  in  the  Ashmolean 
Museum  at  Oxford,  and  is  there  said  to  be  made  of  Humming-birds' 
feathers.  The  subject  is  "  Christ  fainting  under  the  cross."  The 
,  whole  picture  is  about  the  size  of  the  palm  of  the  hand,  and  the 
figures  are  barely  half  an  inch  in  height. 

This  is  a  very  difficult  bird  to  stuff,  on  account  of -the  delicate 
texture  of  the  skin,  which  is  so  fragile,  that  it  tears  almost  as  easily 
as  wet  blotting  paper. 


RESPLENDENT   TROGOXS. 


THE    HOOPOE. 


One  of  the  most  elegant  birds  that  visit  England  is  unfortunately 
a  very  rare  guest,  and  seldom  if  ever,  breeds  there.  Its  beautiful  cresl 
can  be  raised  or  depressed  at  pleasure,  but  is  seldom  displayed  unless 
the  bird  is  excited  from  some  cause.  Its  food  consists  of  insects,  which 


636 


THE   HOOPOE. 


it  first  batters  and  moulds  into  an  oblong  mass,  and  then  swallows 
with  a  peculiar  jerk  of  the  head.  In  Yarrell's  British  Birds,  there  is 
a  very  interesting  account  of  a  tame  Hoopoe  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Bartlett. 

In  France  Hoopoes  are  very  common,  and  may  be  seen  examining 
old  and  rotten  stumps  for  the  insects  that  invariably  congregate  in 
such  places.  There  they  may  be  seen  in  flocks, 
but  they  never  seem  to  go  over  to  England 
'in  greater  numbers  than  one  pair  at  a  time. 
M.  Bechstein  gives  a  curious  account  of  the 
attitude  assumed  by  the  Hoopoe  on  perceiving 
a  large  bird  in  the  air.  "  As  soon  as  they 
perceived  a  Raven  or  even  a  Pigeon,  they 
were  on  their  bellies  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  their  wings  stretched  out  by  the  side  of 
the  head  so  that  the  large  quill  feathers 
touched  the  head,  leaning  on  the  back  with 

the  bill  pointing  upwards.  Jii  this  curious  posture  they  might  be 
taken  for  an  old  rag !" 

These  birds  of  which  he  is  speaking  are  two  young  Hoopoes  whom 

he  had  taken  from  the 
nest  and  was  rearing. 
They  lived  for  some 
time,  but  both  died  of 
civilization.  The  fe- 
male had  a  habit  of 
dragging  her  food  about 
the  floor,  so  that  it 
became  covered  with 
rubbish. 

This  formed  a  hard 
mass  nearly  the  size  of 
an  ordinary  nut  in  the 
bird's  stomach,  some- 
thing like  the  balls  of 
hair  found  in  the 
stomach  of  a  cow,  and 
soon  killed  the  poor 
Hoopoe.  The  male  bird 
lived  through  the  win- 
ter, but  becoming 
attached  to  the  warmth 
of  the  stove,  its  beak^ 

HOOPOE.  became  so  unnaturally 

dry,  that  the  two  man- 
dibles separated  from  each  other  and  curved  outwards,  having  an 
interval  of  nearly  an  inch  between  their  tips.  The  bird  of  course 
soon  died  of  absolute  starvation. 

The  Hoopoe  lays  from  four  to  seven  grey  eggs  in  the  hollow  of  a 
tree.     Its  length  is  one  foot. 


.LYRE    BIRDS. — MALE    AND    FEMALE. Page   639. 


THE   PARADISE   GRAKLE. — LYRE   BIRD,    ETC. 


639 


PARADISE  GRAKLE. 

THIS  is  a  native  of  New  Guinea,  where  it  perches  on  the  tallest  trees, 
feeding  upon  fruits  and  berries.  In  its  manners  it  resembles  the 
Crow.  It  is  sixteen  inches  long,  with  a  large  strong  beak.  The  plu- 
mage is  iridescent  green,  violet,  gold  and  silver,  on  a  steel  blue  ground. 


This  bird,  called 
by  naturalists  the 
Minura  Superlas,  is 
found  in  New  South 
Wales,  where  it  lives 
in  the  thickets  on  the 
coasts,  and  on  the 
mountains  in  the 
interior.  It  is  shy 
and  difficult  of  access. 
Its  chief  beauty  is  in 
the  plumage  of  its 
tail,  which  is  very 
elegant,  assuming  the 
form  of  an  ancient 
Lyre.  It  has  an 
agreeable  song  of  its 
own,  and  imitates 
those  of  other  birds, 
and  even  the  barking 
of  a  dog. 


THE    LYRE    BIRD. 


THE    LYRE    BIRD. 


JIED  BILLED    PIQUE-BCEUF. 

This  is  an  African  bird.  It  is  ash-colored,  glazed  with  blue  above 
and  rust  color  below,  with  a  red  bill.  Like  our  common  Crow  Black 
bird,  it  lives  on  the  insects  which  infest  the  hides  of  quadrupeds  and 
on  the  larvae  hatched  under  the  skin  of  the  larger  ruminating  animals, 
as  the  Ox,  Buffalo,  and  the  heavy  Antelopes.  His  strong  claws  and 
bill  enable  him  to  reach  these  vermin  to  the  great  relief  of  his  patients. 


640 


OF   THE   PIGEON    TRIBE    IN   GENERAL. 


OF  THE  PIGEON   TEIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

These  birds  have  a  weak  slender  bill,  straight  at  the  base  ;  with  a 
soft  protuberance,  in  which  the  nostrils  are  situated.  The  legs  are 
short,  and  in  most  of  the  species  red ;  and  the  toes  are  divided  to  the 
origin. 

The  Pigeons  constitute  a  tribe  that  forms  a  connecting  link  between 

the  passerine  birds  and 
the  poultry.  They  are 
much  dispersed  over 
the  world,  some  of  the 
species  being  found 
even  in  the  arctic  re- 
gjons. 

Their  principal  food 
is  grain :  they  drink 
much  :  and  not  at  inter- 
vals like  other  birds, 
but  by  a  continued 
draught,  like  quad- 
rupeds. During  the 
breeding- time  they 
associate  in  pairs,  and 
pay  court  to  each  other 
with  their  bills.  The 

female  Ia7s  two  e8*Ss> 
and  the  young-ones  are, 

for  the  most  part,  a  male  and  a  female.  They  usually  breed  more  than 
once  in  the  year ;  and  the  parent  birds  divide  the  labor  of  incubation 
by  sitting  alternately  on  the  eggs. 

Both  the  male  and  female  assist  in  feeding  their  offspring.  This, 
in  most  of  the  species  with  which  we  are  acquainted,  is  done  by  means 
of  a  substance  secreted  in  the  crop,  which  in  appearance  is  not  unlike 
curd,  and  is  analogous  to  milk  in  quadrupeds.  During  incubation, 
the  coat  of  the  crop  is  gradually  enlarged  and  thickened,  like  what 
happens  to  the  udders -of  female  quadrupeds  during  the  time  of  uterine 
gestation.  On  comparing  the  state  of  the  crop  when  the  bird  is  not 
sitting,  with  its  appearance  on  these  ocasions,  the  difference  is  found 
to  be  very  remarkable.  In  the  first  case  it  is  thin  and  membranous ; 
but  when  the  young-ones  are  about  to  be  hatched,  it  becomes  thicker, 
and  takes  a  glandular  appearance,  having 'its  internal  surface  very 
irregular.  Whatever  may  be  the  consistence  of  this  substance  when 
just  secreted,  it  probably  very  soon  coagulates  into  a  granulated  white 
curd ;  and  in  this  form  it  is  always  found  in  the  crop.  If  an  old 
Pigeon  be  killed  just  when  the  young-ones  are  hatching,  the  crop  will 
be  found  as  above  described,  having  in  its  cavity  pieces  of  white  curd 
mixed  with  the  common  food  of  the  bird,  such  as  barley,  peas,  or  grain. 
The  young  Pigeons  are  fed  for  a  little  while  with  this  substance  only : 


THE   WILD   PIGEON,    OR   STOCK-DOVE. 


641 


about  the  third  day  some  of  the  common  food  is  to  be  found  along  with 
it.  As  the  Pigeons  grow  older,  the  proportion  of  common  food  is  in- 
creased ;  so  that  by  the  time  they  are  seven,  eight,  or  nine  days  old, 
the  secretion  of  the  curd  ceases  in  the  old  ones,  and  of  course  no  more 
is  found  in  the  crop  of  the  young.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  the  parent 
Pigeon  has,  at  first,  power  to  throw  up  this  curd  without  any  mixture 
of  common  food ;  although,  afterwards,  both  are  thrown  up,  in  the 
proportion  required  for  the  young-ones. 


THE  WILD  PIGEOX,  OR  STOCK-DOVE. 

THIS  bird  is  of  a  bluish  ash-color :  the  breast  is  dashed  with  a  fine 
changeable  greea  and 
purple ;  and  the  sides 
of  the  neck  are  of  a 
shining  copper-color. 
Its  wings  are  marked 
with  two  black-bars ; 
one  on  the  coverts,  and 
the  other  on  the  quill 
feathers.  The  back  is 
white,  and  the  tail 
barred  near  the  end 
with  black.  The  usual 
weight  is  about  four- 
teen ounces. 

Multitudes  of  Wild 
Pigeons  visit  this  coun- 
try in  the  winter,  from 
their  more  northerly  summer  retreats.  They  appear  about  November, 
and  again  retire  (except  a  few  that  breed  with  us)  in  the  spring.  While 
the  beech  woods  were  suffered  to  cover  large  tracts  of  ground,  the,se 
birds  used  to  haunt 
them  in  myriads, 
frequently  extending 
above  a  mile  in 
length,  as  they  went 
out  in  a  morning  to 
feed.  They  are,  how- 
ever, still  found  in 
considerable  quantity, 
forming  their  nests  in 
holes  of  rock,  and  old 
towers,  and  in  the 
hollows  of  trees  ;  but 
never,  like  the  King- 
dove,  on  the  boughs. 

In  a  state  of  domes- 
tication, these  Pigeons  are  known  to  breed  eight  or  nine  times  in  the 


WILD   PIGEON. 


642 


THE    CARRIER    PIGEON. 


year ;  and  though  only  two  eggs  are  laid  at  a  time,  their  increase  is  so 
rapid  and  prodigious,  that,  at  the  expiration  of  four  years,  the  pro- 
duce, and  descendants,  of  a  single  pair,  may  amount  to  the  immense 
number  of  nearly  fifteen  thousand. 

The  usual  way  to  entice  Pigeons  to  remain  at  a  required  spot,  is  to 
place  what  is  called  a  salt-cat  near  them.  This  is  composed  of  loam, 
old  rubbish,  and  salt,  and  will  so  effectually  answer  the  purpose  as  to 
decoy  even  those  which  belong  to  other  places. 

We  have  a  singular  anecdote  of  the  effect  of  music  on  a  Pigeon,  re- 
lated by  John  Lockman,  in  some  reflections 
concerning  operas,  prefixed  to  his  musical  drama 
of  Kosalinda.  This  person  being  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Lee,  a  gentleman  who  lived  in  Cheshire,  and 
whose  daughter  was  a  fine  performer  on  the  harp- 
sichord, he  observed  a  Pigeon,  which,  whenever 
the  young  lady  played  the  song  of  "  Speri  si" 
in  Handel's  opera  of  Admetus.  (and  this  only,) 
would  descend  from  an  adjacent  Dovehouse  to 
the  room-window  where  she  sat,  and  listen  to  it 
apparently  with  the  most  pleasing  emotions  ;  and  when  the  song  was 
finished,  it  always  returned  immediately  to  the  Dove-house. 


WILD  PIGEON. 


GABBIER   PIGEOX 


CARRIER   PIGEON. 

There  are  upwards  of  twenty  varieties  of  the  Domestic  Pigeon  ;  and 

of  these  the  Carriers  are  the  most  celebrated. 

They  obtained  their  name  from  their  being 

sometimes  employed  to  convey  letters  and 

small  packets  from  one  place  to  another. 
It   is  through  attachment  to  their  native 

place*  and   particulaaly  to   the  spot  where 

they  have  brought  up  their  young-ones,  that 

they  are  thus  rendered  useful  to  mankind. 

The  bird  is  conveyed  from  .its  home  to  the 

place  whence  the  information  is  intended  to 

be  sent ;   the  letter  is  tied  under  its  wing, 

and  it  is  let  loose.     From  the  instant  of  its  liberation  its  flight  is  di- 
rected through  the  clouds,  at  an  amazing  height,  to  its  home.     By  an 

instinct  altogether  inconceivable,  it  darts  onward,  in  a  straight  line,  to 

the  very  spot  whence  it  was  taken  ;  but  how 
it  can  direct  its  flight  so  exactly,  will  prob- 
ably for  ever  remain  unknown  to  us. 

The  rapidity  of  their  flight  is  very  won- 
derful. Lithgow  assures  us  that  one  of 
them  will  carry  a  letter  from  Babylon  to 
Aleppo  (which,  to  a  man,  is  usually  thirty 
days'  journey)  in  forty-eight  hours.  To 
measure  their  speed  with  some  degree  of 
exactness,  a  gentleman  some  years  ago,  on  a 


THE   RING-DOVE. 


643 


trifling  wager,  sent  a  Carrier  Pigeon  from  London,  by  the  coach, 

friend  at  Bury  St.  Edmund's;  and  along  with 

it  a  note,  desiring  that  the  Pigeon,  two  days 

after  its  arrival  there,  might  be  thrown  up 

precisely  when  the  town  clock  struck  nine  in 

the    morning.     This   was   accordingly  done; 

and  the  Pigeon  arrived  in  London,  and  flew 

into   the   Bull-inn,    in   Bishopsgate-street,    at 

half-past  eleven  o'clock  of  the  same  morning, 

having  flown  seventy-two  miles  in  two  hours 

and  a  half. 

The  Carrier  Pigeon  is  easily  distinguished 
from  the  other  varieties,  by  a  broad  circle  of 
naked  white  skin  round  the  eyes,  and  by  its 
dark  blue  or  blackish  color.. 


to  a 


THE   RING-DOVE. 

The  Eing-dove  is  the  largest  Pigeon  which  is  found  in  England, 
and  may  at  once  be  distinguish- 
ed from  all  others  by  its  size. 
Its  weight  is  about  twenty 
ounces;  its  length  eighteen 
inches,  and  its  breadth  about 
thirty.  The  head,  back,  and 
coverts  of  the  wings  are  of  a 
bluish  ash-color.  The  lower 
side  of  the  neck  and  breast  is 
of  a  purplish  red,  dashed  with 
ash-color.  On  the  hind  part  of 
the  neck  there  is  a  semi-cir- 
cular line  of  white ;  above  and 
beneath  that  the  feathers  are 
glossy,  and  of  changeable  colors 
when  opposed  to  the  light. 
The  belly  is  of  a  dirty  white. 
The  greater  quill-feathers  are 
dusky;  the  rest  ash-colored. 
Underneath  the  bastard-wing 
there  is  a  white  stroke  pointing  RING-DOVE. 

downward. 

These  Pigeons  build  their  nests  on  the  branches  of  trees,  and  gen- 
erally prefer  those  of  the  pine.  The  nest  is  large  and  open,  formed 
principally  of  dried  sticks ;  and  the  eggs,  which  may  frequently  be 
seen  through  the  bottom  of  the  nest,  are  larger  than  those  of  the 
Domestic  Pigeon. 

The  food  of  this,  as  well  as  of  the  other  species,  is  principally 
grain ;  but  a  neighbor  of  the  Kev.  Mr.  White,  of  Selborne,  shot  a 
Ring-dove,  as  it  was  going  to  roost;  and  when  his  wife  had  picked 
41 


644. 


THE   CROWNED   PIGEON. 


and  drawu  it,  she  found  its  craw  stuffed  with  a  collection  of  the  ten- 

der  tops  of  turnips.  Hence  we  may 
see  that  grariivorous  birds,  when  their 
usual  kinds  of  subsistence  fail,  can 
feed  on  the  leaves  of  vegetablee.  There 
is  indeed  reason  to  suppose  that  they 
would  not  long  be  healthy  without 
these  substances;  for  Turkeys,  though 
corn-fed,  delight  in  a  great  variety  of 
plants,  such  as  cabbage,  lettuce,  and 
endive;  poultry  pick  much  grass;  and 
Geese  live  for  months  together  on  commons,  by  grazing  only. 

Attempts  have  frequently  been  made  to  domesticate  these  birds,  by 
hatching  their  eggs  in  dove-houses,  under  the  common  Pigeon ;  but 
as  soon  as  the  young-ones  were  able  to  fly,  they  always  escaped  to 
their  proper  haunts.  Mr.  Montagu  was  at  considerable  pains  in 
experiments  of  this  nature ;  and  though  he  so  far  tamed  them  within 
doors  as  to  have  them  become  exceedingly  troublesome,  yet  he  never 
could  produce  a  breed,  either  by  themselves  or  with  the  tame  Pigeon. 
Two  that  were  brought  up  with  a  male  Pigeon,  were  rendered  so 
tame  that  they  would  eat  out  of  the  hand ;  but  as  they  showed  no 
signs  of  breeding  in  the  spring,  they  were  suffered  to  fly  away,  by  the 
window  of  the  room  in  which  they  were  confined  being  left  open.  It 
was  supposed  that,  the  Pigeon  might  induce  them  to  return  to  their 
usual  place  of  abode,  either  for  food  or  to  roost;  but  from  that  moment 
they  assumed  their  natural  habits,  and  nothing  more  was  seen  of  them, 
although  the  Pigeon  remained.  This  gentleman  bred  up  a  curious  as- 
semblage of  birds,  which  lived  together  in  perfect  amity :  it  consisted 
of  a  common  Pigeon,  a  Ring-dove,  a  White-owl,  and  a  Sparrow-hawk; 
and  the  King-dove  was  master  of  the  whole. 


THE    CROWNED    PIGEON. 

This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  a  common  Turkey.  Its  head  is 
adorned  with  a  most  superb  circular  crest 
of  feathers,  standing  erect  and  composed  of 
loose,  unconnected  webs,  of  a  fine  bluish 
ash-color.  The  eyes  are  lodged  in  a  shut- 
tle-shaped band  of  black.  The  lesser 
coverts  of  the  wings,  and  the  upper  part  of 
the  back,  are  of  a  dark  reddish  purple  : 
the  first  greater  coverts  are  white,  edged 
with  red  ;  and  all  the  rest  of  the  plumage 
is  of  the  same  color  as  the  crest. 

The  wings  of  the  Crowned  Pigeon  are 
armed  each  with  a  horny  excrescence, 
with  which  they  are  able  to  strike  a  severe 
blow.  These  birds  are  easily  rendered 
tame ;  and,  in  the  East  Indies,  they  are  kept 


CROWNED  PIGEON. 


THE    PASSENGER   PIGEON. 


645 


They  have  frequently  been  brought 


in  courtyards,  with  poultry, 
alive  into  Europe, 
where  they  are  justly 
considered  among  the 
greatest  ornaments  of 
the  menagerie:  and  one 
instance  has  occurred 
of  a  female  laying 
eggs,  but  these  were 
unproductive.  In  a 
wild  state  they  breed 
in  the  highest  trees. 

These  birds  have  all 
-the  habits  of  the  com- 
mon Pigeons;  billing, 
inflating  their  breast, 
and  cooing:  the  noise 
of  their  cooing  is, 
however,  so  loud,  as, 
at  times,  to  resemble 
rather  a  bellowing.  It 

said  that  M.  Bou- 
sailors  were 
greatly  alarmed  at 
hearing  this  noise  for 
the  first  time,  in  the 
wild  and  unfrequented 
spots  of  some  of  the 
islands  on  which  they 
landed :  they  supposed 
it  to  proceed  from  the 
savage  cries  of  hostile 
and  concealed  natives. 
The  Crowned  Pigeons  are  found  in  New  Guinea,  Pulo,  and  a  few  of 
the  adjacent  islands. 


is 
gainville's 


THE  GREAT   CROWNED   PIGEON. 


THE    PASSENGER    PIGEON. 

This  species  is  about  the  size  of  the  common  Pigeon.  Its  bill  is 
black.  Round  the  eyes  there  is  a  crimson  mark  ;  and  the  head,  throat, 
and  upper  parts  of  the  body,  are  ash-colored.  The  sides  of  the  neck 
are  of  a  grossy,  variable  purple.  The  fore  part  of  the  neck  and  breast 
are  vinaceous ;  and  the  under  parts  are  of  a  similar  color,  but  paler. 
The  tail  is  tolerably  long.  The  legs  are  red,  and  the  claws  black. 

Passenger  Pigeons  visit  in  enormous  flocks,  the  different  parts  of 
North  America.  In  the  southern  provinces  their  numbers  depend 
greatly  on  the  mildness  or  severity  of  the  season :  for  in  very  mild 
weather  few  or  none  of  them  are  to  be  seen.  Actuated  by  necessity, 
they  change  their  situation  in  search  of  acorns,  mast,  and  berries  which 


646 


THE   PASSENGER   PIGEON. 


THE  PASSENGER  PIGEOX. 


the  warmer  provinces  yield  in  vast  abundance.     When  they  alight, 
the  ground  is  quickly  cleared  of  all  esculent  fruits  ;  to  the  great  injury 

of  the  Hog,  and 
other  mast-eating 
animals.  After 
having  devoured 
every  thing  that  h  as 
fallen  on  the  sur- 
face, they  form 
themselves  into  a 
great  perpendicular 
column,  and  fly 
around  the  boughs 
of  trees,  from  top 
to  bottom,  beating 
down  the  acorns 
with  their  wings ; 
and  they  then,  in 
succession,  alight 
on  the  ground,  and 
again  begin  to  eat. 
"  I  think,"  says  Mr.  Blackburne,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Pennant,  "  that 
these  are  as  remarkable  birds  as  any  in  America.  They  are  in  vast 
numbers  in  all  parts ;  and  have,  at  times,  been  of  great  service  to  our 
garrisons,  in  supplying  them  with  fresh  meat,  especially  at  the  outposts. 
A  friend  told  me,  that  in  the  year  in  which  Quebec  was  taken,  the 
whole  army  was  supplied  with  this  subsistence.  The  way  was  this. 
Every  man  took  his  club,  (for  they  were  forbidden  to  use  their  firelocks,) 
and  the  Pigeons  flew  in  such  numbers,  that  each  person  could  kill  as 
many  as  he  wanted.  They  in  general  begin  to  fly  soon  after  day -break, 
and  continue  till  nine  or  ten  o'clock ;  and  again  about  three  in  the 
afternoon  and  continue  till  five  or  six ;  but  what  is  very  remarkable, 
their  course  is  always  westerly.  The  times  of  flying  here  are  in  the 
spring,  about  the  latter  end  of  February  or  the  beginning  of  March, 
and  they  continue  their  flight  every  day  for  eight  or  ten  days ;  and 
again  in  the  fall,  when  they  appear  at  the  latter  end  of  July  or  the 
beginning  of  August.  The  inhabitants  catch  vast  numbers  of  them  in 
clap-nets.  I  have  seen  them  brought  to  the  market  at  New  York  by 
sacksful.  People  in  general  are  very  fond  of  them,  and  I  have  heard 
many  say  that  they  think  them  as  good  as  our  common  blue  Pigeon  : 
but  I  cannot  agree  in  this  opinion :  the  flesh  tastes  most7  like  that  of 
our  Queest,  or  wild  Pigeon,  but  it  is  better.  Sir  William  Johnston 
told  me,  that  at  one  shot,  with  a  blunderbuss,  he  killed  above  a  hundred 
and  twenty.  I  must  remark  a  singular  fact :  that  notwithstanding  the 
whole  people  of  a  town  go  out  a  pigeoning,  as  they  call  it,  they  do  not 
on  some  days,  kill  a  single  hen  bird ;  and  on  the  very  next  day  not  a 
single  cock ;  (and  yet  both  sexes  always  fly  westerly ;)  and  when  this 
is  the  case,  the  people  are  always  assured  that  there  will  be  a  great 
quantity  of  them  that  season." 

These  Pigeons  were  so  numerous  when  La  Hontan  was  in  Canada, 


THE    PASSENGER   PIGEON. 


647 


PASSENGER  PIGEONS. 


that,  he  says,  the  bishop  had  been  compelled  more  than  once  formally 

to  exorcise  them,  on  account  of  the  damage  they  committed.     Many 

of  the   trees    are 

said    to   have   had 

more    Pigeons    on 

them  than  leaves; 

and  for  eighteen  or 

twenty  days,  it  was 

supposed     that     a 

sufficient     number 

might    have    been 

killed     to     supply 

food  for  a  thousand   -' 

men. 

Mr.    Weld   who 


some  years  ago 
travelled  through 
the  States  of  North 
America,  informs 
us  that  a  gentle- 
man of  the  town  of 
Niagara  assured 
him,  that  once  when  he  was  embarking  on  board  a  vessel  from  Toronto 
a  flight  of  Pigeons  was  observed  coming  from  that  quarter  ;  that,  as  he 
sailed  over  the  lake  Ontario  to  Toronto,  forty  miles  distant  from  Niagara, 
Pigeons  were  seen  flying  over-head,  the  whole  way,  in  a  direction 
contrary  to  that  in  which  the  vessel  proceeded ;  and  that,  on  his  arriving 
at  the  place  of  his  destination,  the  birds  were  still  observed  coming 
from  the  North,  in  as  large  bodies  as  had  been  noticed  at  any  time 
during  the  voyage.  Supposing,  therefore,  that  the  Pigeons  moved  no 
faster  than  the  vessel,  the  flight,  according  to  this  gentleman's  account, 
must  have  exceeded  at  least  eighty  miles. 

During  their  migrations,  these  Pigeons  are  very  fat.  It  is  a  singular 
fact,  that  Mr.  St.  John  found  in 
the  craw  of  one  of  them  some 
undigested  rice,  when  the  nearest 
rice-fields  were  at  least  five  hun- 
dred and  sixty  miles  from  his 
habitation.  He  naturally  con- 
cluded that  either  they  must  fly 
with  almost  the  celerity  of  the 
wind,  or  that  digestion  must  be 
in  a  great  measure  suspended 
during  their  flight. 

The  Indians  often  watch  the 
roosting-places  of  these  birds ; 
and,  knocking  them  on  the  head 
in  the  night,  bring  them  away  by 
thousands.  They  preserve  the  oil,  or  fat,  which  they  use  instead  of 
butter. 


GROUP  OF  \VILD  PIGEONS. 


648 


THE   NICOBAR   PIGEON. 


By  the  Europeans  they  are  generally  caught  in  nets  extended  on 
the  ground ;  to  which  they  are  allured  by  tame  Pigeons  of  their  own 

species,  that  are  blinded, 
and  fastened  to  a  long 
string.  The  short  flights 
and  repeated  calls  of  the 
shackled  birds,  never  fail 
either  to  excite  their 
curiosity,  or  bring  some 
of  them  down  to  attempt 
their  relief;  when  they 
are  immediately  enclosed. 
Every  farmer  has  a 
tamed  Pigeon  in  a  cage 
at  his  door  all  the  year 
round,  to  be  ready 
against  the  season  of 
their  flight. 

M.  du  Pratz,  when  he 

was  in  America,  placed  under  the  roosting  trees  of  these  Pigeons, 
vessels  filled  with  flaming  sulphur,  the  fumes  of  which  brought  them 
to  the  ground  in  immense  numbers. 


PASSENGER   PIGEON'. 


THE   NICOBAK   PIGEON. 

This  splendid  bird,  is  a  native  of  Java,  Nicobar,  Sumatra,  and  many 

of  the  Moluccas. 
It  is,  as  far  as  we 
have  been  enabled 
to  determine, 
terrestrial  in  its 
habits.  Its  plum- 
age is  exceedingly 
refulgent;  the 
head  is  of  a  dull 
slate  color,  with  a 
tinge  of  purple : 
long  flowing 
pointed  feathers 
ornament  the 
neck,  like  the 
hackles  of  the 
domestic  cock,  of 
a  rich  green  with 
coppery  reflec- 
tions ;  the  coverts  of  the  wings  are  also  pointed.  The  whole  of  the 
upper  portion  of  the  body  is  bronze  with  steel-blue  reflections  on 
glossy  green ;  the  under  portion  is  similar,  only  less  brilliant.  The 
tail  is  pure  white. 


THE   NICOBAR  PIGEON 


THE  CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED  PIGEON. THE  TALPICOTI. 


649 


THE  CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED  PIGEON, 


This  magnificent  bird 
is  a  native  of  New 
Zealand,  and  is  very 
abundant  in  the  woods 
near  the  Bay  of  Islands. 
Their  flesh  is  excellent. 
All  the  upper  parts  and 
throat  are  of  a  chang- 
able  hue,  in  which  are 
mingled  rosy-copper 
reflections  running  into 
brilliant  iridescent 
tints ;  the  quills  are  of 
a  more  sombre  tone. 
The  tail  above  is  brown 
slightly  tinged  with 
greenish,  below  it  is 
brown ;  breast  and 
under  parts  white;  bill 
and  tarsi  carmine;  a 
bright  red  skin  sur- 
rounds the  eye.  Length 
about  nineteen  inches. 


THE  CHESTNUT-SHOULDERED  PIGIOIC. 


THE    TALPICOTI. 


Brazil,  Paraguay, 
and  other  portions  of 
South  America  are 
the  native  countries 
of  this  little  Pigeon. 
It  is  seldom  if  ever, 
seen  in  large  flocks, 
but  often  in  families 
of  five  or  six,  fre- 
quents the  borders  of 
woods,  and  sometimes 
ventures  near  farm 
yards.  "When  cap- 
tured it  soon  becomes 
reconciled,  and  breeds 
freely. 


THE  TALPICOTI. 


650        BROWN-BACKED  PERISTERA. — OCEANIC  FRUIT  PIGEON. 


THE   BROWN-BACKED  PERISTERA. 


THE  BROWN-BACKED  PERISTERA. 


This  species  is  a  native 
of  Southern  Africa,  where 
it  is  said  to  frequent 
woods  ;  but  little  appears 
to  be  known  respecting 
it.  The  plumage  above 
is  brown,  slightly  tinged 
with  grey  on  the  neck ; 
three  or  four  of  the 
greater  wing-coverts 
have  large  spots  of 
shining  green ;  forehead, 
a  streak  over  each  eye, 
and  all  the  under  parts 
white ;  middle  tail- 
feathers  brown,  the  two 
exterior  on  each  side 
grey,  with  a  broad  black 
bar;  under  surface  of 
wings  and  sides  pale 
orange-brown ;  under 
tail-coverts  brown ;  bill 
and  legs  grey,  the  latter 
tinged  with  red ;  length 
nine  inches. 


THE   OCEANIC   FRUIT  PIGEON. 


The  Oceanic  Fruit  Pigeon  is 
fourteen  inches  in  length,  includ- 
ing the  tail,  which  measures  five ; 
the  bill,  an  inch  long,  is  black, 
strong,  and  surmounted  at  its  base 
by  a  rounded  very  black  caruncle ; 
the  feet  are  very  strong  and  of  a 
bright  orange  color;  the  tarsi  are 
feathered  nearly  down  to  the  toes, 
which  have  a  well  developed  bor- 
der ;  the  wings  are  pointed  and 
only  one  inch  shorter  than  the 
tail,  which  is  almost  rectilinear. 
The  lower  part  of  the  belly,  the 
vent,  the  thighs,  and  the  lowei 
tail-coverts,  are  a  deep  ferruginous 
red :  the  tail-feathers  on  the  under 
side  are  a  bright  reddish-green. 


THE   OCEANIC   FRUIT    PI(5i:0\. 


THE   MANASOPE  PIGEON. — WATTLED   GROUND   PIGEON.     651 


THE   MANASOPE   PIGEON. 


A  most  elegant  bird,  is 
found  in  the  deep  forests  of 
New  Guinea,  and  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  harbor 
of  Dorery.  Its  head,  rump, 
upper  part  of  the  body, 
wings,  and  tail,  of  an  agree- 
able grass  green;  a  large 
hood  of  a  beautiful  indigo- 
blue  covers  the  occiput ; 
elongated  blue  spots  occupy 
the  centre  of  the  subular 
feathers,  which  are  bordered 
with  a  straight  yellow  line. 
The  throat  to  half-way  down 
the  neck  is  ash  grey ;  the 
breast  is  greyish-green. 


THE  WATTLED   GROUND   PIGEON. 


The  wattled  ground 
Pigeon  is  a  native  of 
South  Africa.  Its  nest 
is  composed  of  twigs  and 
the  dried  stems  of  grasses, 
placed  in  some  slight 
hollow  of  the  ground,  and 
there  the  female  lays  six 
or  eight  reddish -white 
eggs,  which  are  incubated 
by  both  the  parents.  The 
young,  like  those  of  the 
Partridge,  almost  imme- 
diately follow  the  parent, 
who  broods  over  them, 
and  gathers  them  beneath 
her  wings.  They  walk 
and  run  with  great  rapid- 
ity ;  and  roost  on  bushes 
or  the  lower  branches  of 
trees. 


THE  WATTLED  GROUND  PIQEOIT. 


652 


THE   PHASIANELLA. 


THE   PHASIANELLA. 


This  beautiful 
species  is  found 
in  Australia,  Java, 
and  the  Phillipine 
and  Molucca 
islands.  It  is  an 
inhabitant  of  the 
woods,  and  its  food 
is  said  to  consist 
of  a  kind  of  Pi- 
mento and  of 
other  aromatic 
berries,  swallowed 
entire.  The  flesh 
is  dark,  but  its 
flavor  is  stated  to 
be  excellent.  Its 
length  is  from 
fourteen  to  sixteen 
inches,  the  tail 
being  seven  and 
rather  more. 

Their  habits 
and  mode  of  life 
are  also  nearly 
allied  to  the  other 
arboreal  species, 
being  the  constant 
inhabitants  of  the 
woods,  and  subsisting  upon  the  fruits  and  berries  of  various  trees  and 
shrubs.  M.  Temminck,  in  his  description  of  these  species,  says  that  it 
possesses  a  structure  and  form  precisely  similar  to  that  of  the  Columba 
migratoria  of  North  America.  To  this  we  cannot  subscribe,  seeing 
that  its  essential  characters,  as  above  described,  are  different,  and  that 
the  only  point  of  resemblance  consists  in  the  length  of  the  tail.  In- 
deed, so  far  removed  do  we  think  it  from  the  American  group,  that 
we  cannot  consider  it  as  its  analogue  in  the  Asiatic  regions  where 
it  resides. 

The  prevaling  color  of  these  Pigeons  is  bluish-gray,  of  various 
intensities  and  shades,  frequently  embellished  upon  the  neck  with 
feathers  having  a  metallic  lustre  and  pecular  form,  and  which  exhibit 
various  tints  of  color  according  to  the  light  in  which  they  are  viewed. 
They  are  naturally  birds  of  a  wild  and  timid  disposition  (though  one 
species  has  been  partly  reclaimed),  and  usually  live  congregated 
in  extensive  flocks,  except  during  the  season  of  reproduction,  when 
they  pair.  Most  of  the  species  seek  their  food  upon  the  ground. 


THE   PHASIANELLA. 


THE   BRONZE-WINGED   PIGEON. 


653 


They  build  in  trees  or  holes  of  rocks,,  making  a  shallow  nest  of  small 
twigs  loosely  put  together.  Their  eggs  are  never  more  than  two  in 
number,  their  color  a  pure  white;  they  are  incubated  alternately  by 
both  sexes,  and  are  hatched  after  being  sat  upon  from  eighteen  to 
twenty-one  days.  The  young,  upon  exclusion,  are  thinly  covered 
with  down,  which  is  rapidly  succeeded  by  the  proper  feathers. 


THE   BRONZE-WINGED   PIGEON. 

This  beautiful 
species  is  a  native 
of  Australia,  and 
is  common  near 
Sidney  from  Sep- 
tember till  Febru- 
ary. It  is  usually 
seen  in  pairs ;  and 
their  voice  is  loud 
and  sonorous. 
The  nest  is  placed 
either  in  the  hole 
of  a  mouldering 
tree  or  on  a  stump. 
The  eggs  are  two 
and  white.  The 
wing-coverts  are 
remarkable  for  a 
large  ovate  spot  of 
metallic  lustre, 
changing  in  differ- 
ent lights. 

It  belongs  t  o 
the  species  Phaps, 
which  is  characterized  as  follows  by  Mr.  Selby.  Bill  moderately  long, 
rather  slender ;  upper  mandible  gently  deflected  at  fche  tip,  and  with 
the  indication  of  a  notch  or  emargination.  Wings  of  mean  length ; 
second  and  third  feathers  longest,  and  nearly  equal.  Tail  slightly 
rounded.  Legs,  tarsi  as  long  as  the  middle  toe,  the  front  covered 
with  a  double  row  of  scales,  sides  and  back  reticulated  with  small 
hexagonal  scales.  Hind  toe  short ;  inner  toe  exceeding  the  outer  in 
length.  Claws  blunt,  slightly  arched.  Type,  Columla  Chakoptera, 
Latham:  Columba  elegcws,  Temm.;  and  Columba  picata,  Wagler,  be 
long  to  this  group. 


THE   LROXZE-WINGED    PIGEON. 


654 


THE  ROCK-DOVE. 


THE  ROCK-DOVE. 

This  species  is  spread  over  a  great  portion  of  Europe,  Asia,  and 

Northern  Africa,  abound- 
ing in  the  rocky  islands  of 
the  Mediterranean  and  in 
the  Orkneys.  The  Bock- 
dove  is  more  slender  than 
the  Stock-dove,  and  is 
astonishingly  rapid  in 
flight.  It  may  at  once  be 
distinguished  from  the 
latter  by  the  white  color 
of  the  lower  part  of  the 
back,  and  the  two  distinct 
bands  of  leaden  black 
across  the  wings.  It  is  to 
the  Eock-dove  a  species 
almost  universally  spread 
in  its  wild  state  through- 
out the  Old  World,  that 
the  domestic  Pigeon  and 
its  varieties  must  be 
referred.  All  these  varie- 
ties breed  with  each  other, 
and  with  the  wild  Rock- 
dove  ;  and  without  due  care, 
all  soon  degenerate,  as  it  is  termed,  and  acquire  the  original  form  and 
coloring. 

"Under  tnis  species,"  writes  Mr.  Selby,  "we  include  not  only  the 
common  Pigeon,  or  inhabitant  of  the  dove-cot,  but  all  those  numer- 
ous varieties,  or,  as  they  are  frequently  termed,  races  of  domesticated 
Pigeons,  so  highly  prized,  and  fostered  with  such  care  and  attention 
by  the  amateur  breeder  or  Pigeon  fancier;  for,  however  diversified 
their  forms,  color  or  peculiarity  of  habit  may  be,  we  consider  them  all 
as  having  originated  from  a  few  accidental  varieties  of  the  common 
Pigeon,  and  not  from  any  cross  of  that  bird  with  other  species,  no 
signs  or  marks  whatever  of  such  being  apparent  in  any  of  the  numer- 
ous varieties  known  to  us.  In  fact,  the  greater  part  of  them  owe 
their  existence  to  the  interference  and  the  art  of  man;  for  *by  separting 
from  the  parent  stock  such  accidental  varieties  as  have  occasionally 
occurred,  by  subjecting  these  to  captivity  and  domestication,  and  by 
assorting  them  and  pairing  them  together,  as  fancy  or  caprice  suges- 
ted,  he  has  at  intervals  generated  all  the  various  races  and  peculiar 
varieties  which,  it  is  well  known,  when  once  produced,  may  be  per- 
petuated for  an  indefinite  perod,  .by  being  kept  separate  from,  and 
unmixed  with  others;  or  what  b}^  those  interested  in  such  pursuits  is 
usually  termed  ' breeding  in  and  in.'" 


THE   ROCK-DOVE. 


THE   DOUBLE-CRESTED  PIGEON. 


655 


THE   DOUBLE-CKESTED   PIGEON. 

New  Holland  and  Java  are  the  native  localities  of  this  species.  The 
head  is  ornamented  with  a  frontal  crest  composed  of  long  recurved  lax 
feathers,  advancing  even  on 
the  bill,  and  of  a  bluish 
grey  Color  tinged  with 
rufous ;  behind  this,  on  the 
back  of  the  head,  is  a 
second  crest  of  rich  rufous 
and  composed  of  long  de- 
cumbent feathers  with  open 
barbules  and  bounded  by  a 
black  streak  running  back 
from  each  eye ;  bill  rich  v 
orange  ;  sides  and  front  of 
the  neck,  together  with  the 
breast,  pale  gray,  the  base 
of  the  feathers  being  black, 
at  their  end  they  assume  a 
trifid  form  ;  back  scapulars 
and  wing-coverts  deep 
bluish  grey ;  quills  and 
secondaries  bluish  black ; 
under  plumage  grey;  tail 
square,  black  at  the  base, 
and  a  narrow  bar  being  of 
a  pale  grey  with  a  reddish 
tinge ;  legs  crimson. 

The   double  crest   gives 

the  head  of  the  Pigeon  a  character  unlike  any  of  its  congeners,  and 
more  resembling  that  of  some  of  the  crested  Phasianidce  or  Cracidce, 
with  which  an  analogical  relation  is  thus  sustained.  In  other  respects 
its  characters  agree  with  those  of  Columba  spadicea,  the  proportion 
of  the  wings  and  the  form  of  the  feet  being  nearly  the  same. 

Although  an  approach  from  the  fruit-eating  Pigeons,  or  Carpo- 
phagsB,  to  the  true  Pigeons,  is  made  by  Columba  spadicea  and  dilopha, 
still  the  form  of  their  feet,  is  evidently  better  adapted  for  arboreal 
than  terrene  habits,  and  their  general  aspect,  are  such  as  to  show  that 
some  intermediate  form  is  wanting  to  bring  them  into  that  immediate 
connexion  with  the  group  represented  by  the  European  ring  Pigeon, 
which  M.  Temminck  seems  to  intimate. 


TUB   DOUBLE-CRESTED    PIGEDN. 


656 


THE   AROMATIC   VINAGO. 


THE   AKOMATIC   VINAGO. 

This  bird  is  a  native  of  India,  Java,  and  the  adjacent  islands.  It  is 
of  a  mild  and  timorous  disposi- 
tion, and  is  generally  seen  in 
flocks  or  societies,  except 
during  the  period  of  repro- 
duction, when  they  pair,  and 
retire  to  the  recesses  of  the 
forest.  The  nest  is  simple  and 
composed  of  a  few  twigs  loosely 
put  together,  and  the  eggs  are 
two.'  The  base  or  softer  part  of 
the  bill  is  a  blackish  grey,  the 
tip  yellowish  white,  strong, 
much  hooked,  and  bulging  on 
the  side.  The  forehead  is  of  a 
bright  silken  green,  the  crown 
greenish  grey,  the  chin  and 
throat  gamboge-yellow,  the 
remainder  of  the  neck,  the 
breast,  belly,  lower  back  and 
rump,  yellowish  green.  The 
tail  has  the  two  middle  feathers 
wholly  green,  and  slightly  ex- 
ceeding the  rest  in  length.  -  In 
its  habits  it  is  arboreal. 

Mr.  Selby  gives  the  follow- 
ing note  which  accompanied  the  skins  of  Vinago  militaris,  and  Vinago 
aromatica.  " Green  Pigeon. — This  beautiful  bird  has  brilliant  red  eyes. 
Its  feet  are  something  like  the  Parrot's,  and  it  climbs  in  the  same 
way  as  that  bird.  lit  is  very  difficult  to  find ;  for  although  a  flock 
is  marked  into  a  tree,  yet  its  color  is  so  similar  to  the  leaf  of  the 
banyan  (on  the  small  red  fig  of  which  it  feeds),  that  if  a  bird  does  not 
move  you  may  look  for  many  minutes  before  you  can  see  one,  al- 
though there  may  be  fifty  in  the  tree." 


THE  AROMATIC  VINAGO. 


GALLINACEOUS     BIRDS. 


IN  the  birds  of  this  order,  the  bill  is  convex,  the  upper  mandible 
lying  in  an  arch  over  the  lower  one ;  and  the  nostrils  are  arched  over 
with°a  cartilaginous  membrane.  The  feet  are  formed  for  running, 
without  a  back  toe;  and  the  toes  are  rough  underneath. 


OF  THE  TURKEY  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 


BELONGING  to  the  present  tribe, 
two  species  only  have  hitherto 
been  discovered ;  one  in  America, 
and  the  other  in  the  more  retired 
parts  of  India.  In  each  of  them  the 
bill  is  convex,  short,  and  strong. 
The  head  and  neck,  or  throat,  and 
in  some  of  the  species  all  three,  are 
covered  with  naked  carunculated  or 
warty  flesh,  the  skin  of  which  is 
flaccid  and  membranaceous.  The 
tail  is  broad,  and  the  birds  have  the 
power  of  expanding  it. 


THE   AMERICAN,    OR  COMMON  TURKEY. 

The  hunting  of  these  birds  forms  one  of  the  principal  diversions  of 
the  natives  of  Canada.  When  they  have  discovered  the  retreat  of  a 
flock  of  Turkeys,  which  in  general  is  near  fields  of  nettles,  or  where 
there  is  plenty  of  any  kind  of  grain,  they  send  a  well-trained  dog  into 
the  midst  of  the  flock.  The  birds  no  sooner  perceive  their  enemy, 
then  they  run  off  at  full  speed,  and  with  such  swiftness,  that  they  leave 
the  dog  far  behind.  He,  however,  follows  ;  and  at  last  forces  them  to 
take  shelter  in  a  tree ;  where  they  sit,  spent  and  fatigued,  till  the 
hunters  come  up,  and  with  long  poles  knock  them  down  one  after 
another. 

Turkeys  were  first  introduced  from  North  America  into  England  in 

(657) 


658 


THE  AMERICAN,  OR  COMMON  TURKEY. 


the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth.  According  to  Tusser's  "  Five  Hundred 
Pointes  of  good  Husbandrie,"  they  began  about  the  year  1585  to  form. 
an  article  in  our  rural  Christmas  feasts : 

Beefe,  mutton,  and  pork,  shred  pies  of  the  best, 
Pig,  veale,  goose,  and  capon,  and  turfa'e  well  drest 
Cheese,  apples,  and  nuts,  jolly  carols  to  heare, 
As  then  in  the  countrie  is  counted  good  cheare." 

These  birds,  among  themselves,  are  extremely  furious ;   and   yet 

against  other  animals  they  are  gene- 
rally weak  and  cowardly.  The 
domestic  cock  often  makes  them  keep 
at  a  distance ;  and  they  seldom 
venture  to  attack  him  but  with  united 
force,  when  the  cock  is  rather 
oppressed  by  their  weight  than  an- 
noyed by  their  weapons.  There  have, 
however,  occurred  instances  in  which 
the  Turkey-cock  has  not  been  found 
wanting  in  prowess: — A  gentleman  of 
New  York  received  from  a  distance  a 
Turkey-cock  and  hen,  and  a  pair  of 
Bantams,  which  he  put  into  his  yard 
with  other  poultry.  Some  time  after- 
wards, as  he  was  feeding  them  from  the 
barn-door,  a  large  hawk  suddenly 

turned  the  corner  of  the  barn,  and  made  a  pitch  at  the  Bantam-hen. 
She  immediately  gave  the  alarm,  by  a  noise  which  is  natural  to  poultry 
on  such  occasions.  On  hearing  this,  the  Turkey-cock,  which  was  at  a 
little  distance,  and  no  doubt  understood  the  Hawk's  intentions,  and  the 

.  imminent  danger  of  his  old  acquaint- 
ance, flew  at  the  tyrant  with  such 
violence,  and  gave  him  so  severe  a 
stroke  with  his  spurs  when  about  to 
seize  his  prey,  as  to  knock  him  from 
the  hen  to  a  considerable  distance ; 
and  the  timely  aid  of  this  faithful 
auxiliary  saved  the  bantam  from 
being  devoured. 

To  this  I  can  add  another  in- 
stance (though  very  different  in  its 
nature)  of  the  gallantry  of  the  Tur- 
key-cock. In  the  month  of  May, 
1798,  a  female  Turkey,  belonging 
to  a  gentleman  in  Sweden,  was 
sitting  upon  eggs :  and  as  the  cock, 
in  her  absence,  began  to  appear 
uneasy  and  dejected,  he  was  put 
into  the  place  with  her.  He  immediately  sat  down  by  her  side  ;  and  it 
was  soon  found  that  he  had  taken  some  eggs  from  under  her,  and  had 


CO.MMOI*  TURKEY. 


DOMESTIC   TURKEY-COCK. 


THE  AMERICAN,  OR  COMMON  TURKEY. 


659 


himself  sat  upon  them.  The  eggs  were  put  back,  but  he  soon  after- 
wards took  them  again.  This  induced  the  owner,  by  way  of  experiment, 
to  have  a  nest  made,  and  as  many  eggs  put  into  it  as*  it  was  thought 
the  cock  could  con- 
veniently cover. 
The  bird  seemed 
highly  pleased 
with  this  mark  of 
confidence ;  he  sat 
with  great  pa- 
tience on  the  eggs, 
and  was  so  atten- 
tive to  the  care  of 
hatching  them, 
as  scarcely  to 
afford  himself 
time  to  take  the 
food  necessary  for 
his  support.  At 
the  usual  period, 
t  w  e  n  t  y-e  i  g  h  t 
young-ones  were 
produced :  and  the 
cock,  which  was 
in  some  measure 
the  parent  of  this 
numerous  off- 
spring, appeared 
perplexed  on 
seeing  so  many 
little  creatures 


WILD  TURKEY. 


picking  around 
him,  and  requiring  his  care.  He  was  not,  however,  trusted  with  the 
rearing  of  the  brood,  lest  he  should  neglect  them ;  and  they  were 
reared  by  other  means. 

The  disposition  of  the  female  Turkey  is  in  general  much  more 
mild  and  gentle  than  that  of  the  male.  "When  leading  out  her  young 
family  to  collect  their  food,  though  so  large  and  apparently  so  power- 
ful a  bird  she  gives  them  very  little  protection  against  the  attacks  of 
any  rapacious  animal  that  comes  in  her  way.  She  rather  warns  them 
to  shift  for  themselves,  than  prepares  to  defend  them.  "  I  have  heard 
a  Turkey-hen,  when  at  the  head  of  her  brood,  (says  the  Abbe  de  la 
Pluche,)  send  forth  the  most  piteous  scream,  without  my  being  able 
to  perceive  the  cause :  her  young-ones,  however,  immediately  when 
the  warning  was  given,  skulked  under  the  bushes,  grass,  or  whatever 
else  seemed  to  offer  shelter  <r  protection.  They  even  stretched  them- 
selves at  full  length  on  the  ground,  and  continued  lying  motionless  as 
if  dead.  In  the  meantime  the  mother,  with  her  eyes  directed  upwards, 
continued  her  cries  and  screaming  as  before.  On  looking  up,  in  the 
direction  in  which  she  seemed  to  gaze,  I  discovered  a  black  spot  just 
42 


660  THE   AMERICAN,   OK   COMMON   TURKEY. 

under  the  clouds,  but  was  unable  at  first  to  determine  what  it  was ; 
however,  it  soon  appeared  to  be  a  bird  of  prey,  though  at  first  at  too 
great  a  distance  to  be  distinguished.  I  have  seen  one  of  these  ani- 
mals continue  in  this  agitated  state,  and  her  whole  brood  pinned  down 
as  it  were  to  the  ground,  for  four  hours  together;  whilst  their  for- 
midable foe  has  taken  his  circuits,  has  mounted,  and  hovered  directly 
over  their  heads :  at  last,  upon  his  disappearing,  the  parent  changed 
her  note,  and  sent  forth  another  cry,  which  in  an  instant  gave  life  to 
the  whole  trembling  tribe,  and  they  all  flocked  around  her  with  ex- 
pressions of  pleasure,  as  if  conscious  of  their  happy  escape  from 
danger." 

Josselyn  says  that  he  has  eaten  part  of  a  Turkey-cock  which,  after 
it  was  plucked  and  the  entrails  were  taken  out,  weighed  thirty  pounds. 
Lawson,  whose  authority  is  unquestionable,  saw  half  a  Turkey  serve 
eight  hungry  men  for  two  meals,  and  says  that  he  had  seen  others 
which  he  believed  would  each  weigh  forty  pounds.  Some  writers 
assert  that  instances  have  occurred  of  Turkeys  weighing  sixty  pounds. 

The  females  lay  their  eggs  in  spring,  generally  in  some  retired 
and  obscure  place;  for  the  cock,  enraged  at  the  loss  of  his  mate 
while  she  is  employed  in  hatching,  is  apt  otherwise  to  break  them. 
They  sit  on  their  eggs  with  so  much  perseverance,  that  if  not  taken 
away,  they  will  sometimes  perish  with  hunger  rather  than  leave  the 
nest.  They  are  exceedingly  affectionate  to  their  offspring. 

In  a  wild  state  Turkeys  are  gregarious ;  and  associate  in  flocks, 
consisting  sometimes  of  more  than  five  hundred.  They  frequent  the 
great  swamps  of  America  to  roost ;  but  they  leave  these  at  sun-rise, 
to  repair  to  the  dry  woods  in  search  of  acorns  and  berries.  They 
perch  on  trees,  and  gain  the  height  they  wish  by  rising  from  bough  to 
bough ;  and  they  generally  mount  to  the  summits  of  even  the  loftiest 
trees,  so  as  to  be  beyond  musket-shot.  They  run  very  swiftly,  but 
they  fly  awkardly  ;  and  about  the  month  of  March  they  become  so  fat 
that  they  cannot  fly  beyond  three  or  four  hundred  yards,  and  are  then 
easily  run  down  by  a  horseman. 

It  is  seldom  indeed  that  wild  Turkeys  are  now  seen  in  the  inhabited 
parts  of  America ;  and  they  are  only  found  in  great  numbers,  in  the 
distant  and  most  unfrequented  parts.  If  the  eggs  of  wild  Turkeys  be 
hatched  under  the  tame  birds,  the  offspring  are  said  still  to  retain  a 
certain  degree  of  wildness,  and  to  perch  separate  from  the  others  ;  yet 
they  will  mix  and  breed  together  in  the  season. 

The  Indians  make  an  elegant  clothing  of  the  feathers  of  Turkeys. 
Thy  twist  the  inner  webs  into  a  strong  double  string  with  hemp,  or 
with  the  inner  bark  of  the  mulberry -tree,  and  work  it  like  matting. 
This  appears  very  rich  and  glossy,  and  as  fine  as  silk  shag.  The 
natives  of  Louisiana  make  fans  of  the  tail ;  and  of  four  tails  joined 
together,  the  French  used  formerly  to  construct  a  parasol. 


THE   CRESTED,  OR   COMMON   PEACOCK. 


661 


OF  THE   PEACOCK  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL.     . 

The  bill  is  strong  and  convex.     The  head  is  covered  with  feathers 
which  bend  backward.     The   nostrils   are 
large.     The  feathers  of  the  train  are  long, 
broad,  expansile,  and  covered  with  eye-like 
spots. 

There  are  only  four  known  species  of 
Peacocks.  These  are  birds,  for  the  most 
part,  of  large  size.  They  feed  on  insects, 
fruit,  and  grain.  One  of  them  (the  common 
kind)  is  an  inhabitant  of  Asia  and  Africa, 
another  of  China,  the  third  of  Thibet,  and 
the  fourth  of  Japan. 


THE  CRESTED,  OR  COMMON  PEACOCK. 

If,  says  M.  de  Buffon,  empire  were  claimed  by  beauty,  and  not  by 
power,  the  Peacock  would, 
without  contradiction,  be  the 
king  of  birds.  For%  elegance 
of  form,  and  brilliancy  of 
plumage,  it  is  exceeded  by 
none  of  the  feathered  race. 
On  the  Peacock  it  is  that 
nature  appears  to  have  be- 
stowed her  treasures  with  the 
greatest  profusion.  Its  large 
size,  imposing  manner,  firm 
tread,  and  noble  figure :  the 
rich  crest  upon  its  head, 
adorned  with  brilliant  colors: 
its  matchless  plumage,  ap- 
pearing to  combine  every 
thing  that  can  delight  the  eye 
— all  contend  to  place  it  high 
in  our  esteem.  These  beau- 
tiful  plumes,  however,  are 
shed  every  year.  At  this 
period  the  bird  seems  humili- 
ated ;  and  searches  the  shades, 
in  order  to  conceal  himself 
from  our  eyes  until  a  new  spring  restores  to  him  his  usual  attire. 

The  brilliant  train  of  the  Peacock  is  not  its  tail :  the  long  feathers 
that  form  it  do  not  grow  from  the  rump,  but  upon  the  back.  •  A  range 
of  short,  brown,  stiff  feathers,  fixed  upon  the  rump,  is  the  real  tail,  and 
serves  as  a  support  to  the  train.  When  the  train  is  elevated,  nothing 


COMMOX  PEACOCK. 


662  THE     BRUSH    TURKEY. 

appears  of  the  bird  in  front,  except  its  head  and  neck  ;  but  this  would 
not  be  the  case,  were  those  long  feathers  fixed  only  on  the  rump.  By 
a  strong  muscular  vibration,  these  birds  can  make  the  shafts  of  their 
long  feathers  clatter  together  like  the  swords  of  a  sword-dancer. 

Peacocks  are  found  wild  in  Asia  and  Africa  :  but  the  largest  and 
finest  of  these  birds  are  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Ganges,  and 
in  the  fervid  plains  of  India.  They  are  mentioned  in  the  Sacred 
Writings,  where  they  are  enumerated  as  constituting  part  of  the  car- 
goes of  the  fleet  which  imported  the  treasures  of  the  East  to  the  court 
of  Solomon. 

These  birds  were  highly  esteemed  by  the  Eomans.  Pliny  states, 
that  the  first  Koman  who  ordered  Peacocks  to  be  served  up  at  his 
table,  was  Hortensius,  in  a  grand  entertainment  which  he  gave  when 
he  was  consecrated  high  priest.  Marcus  Aufidius  Lurco  was  the  first 
who  attempted  to  fatten  these  birds  in  a  manner  which  was  peculiar 
to  himself,  and  by  which  he  is  said  to  have  derived  an  annual  income 
of  more  than  sixty  thousand  sesterces. 

The  females  lay  only  a  few  eggs  at  a  time,  and  these  at  a  distance 
of  usually  three  or  four  days  from  each  other.  When  they  are  at 
liberty  and  act  from  natural  instinct,  they  always  deposit  their  eggs 
in  some  sequestered  or  secret  place,  These  are  white  and  spotted, 
like  the  eggs  of  the  Turkey.  The  incubation  occupies  from  twenty- 
seven  to  thirty  days,  according  to  the  temperature  of  the  climate  and 
of  the  season. 

As  Peacocks,  in  this  country,  are  not  able  to  -fly  well,  they  climb 
from  branch  to  branch,  to  the  tops  of  the  highest  trees.  From  these 
and  from  the  roofs  of  houses,  it  is,  that  they  usually  make  their  harsh 
and  very  peculiar  cry.  In  this  cry,  one  note  is  deep  and  the  other 
sharp,  the  latter  exactly  an  octave  above  the  former  ;  and  both  have 
somewhat  of  the  piercing  sound  of  a  trumpet. 

The  females  of  this  species,  like  those  of  the  Pheasant,  have  some 
times  been  known  to  assume  the  plumes  of  the  male.  Lady  Tynte 
had  a  favorite  pied  Peahen,  which  eight  times  produced  chicks 
Having  moulted  when  about  eleven  years  old,  the  lady  and  her  family 
were  astonished  to  see  her  display  the  feathers  that  are  peculiar  to 
the  other  sex,  and  appear  like  a  pied  Peacock.  In  the  following 
year  she  moulted  again,  and  produced  similar  feathers.  In  the  third 
year  she  did  the  same,  and  then  had  also  spurs  resembling  those  of 
the  cock.  The  hen  never  bred  "after  this  change  of  her  plumage 

THE   BRUSH   TURKEY. 

The  Megapodidse,  deriving  their  name  fro  in  the  enormous  size  of 
their  feet,  are  inhabitants  of  Australia  and  the  Papuan  Islands.  In 
the  habits  of  these  birds  there  is  a  peculiarity  hardly  less  singular 
than  surprising.  Instead  of  hatching  their  eggs  by  the  warmth  of 
the  body,  as  most  other  birds  do,  not  excepting  the  Ostrich,  the  Meg- 
apodes  bury  their  eggs  in  a  decaying  heap  of  grass  and  leaves,  trust- 
ing to  the  heat  furnished  by  the  fermentation  to  hatch  the  eggs. 

Brush  Turkey  is  principally  found  in  the  thick  brushwood  of  New 


THE   MOUND-MAKING    MAGAPODE. 


663 


BRUSH  TURKEY. 


South  Wales.  Mr.  Gould,  who  first  brought  it  before  the  public, 
gives  this  curious  account  of  their  nests : — "  The  mode  in  which  the 
materials  composing 
these  mounds  are 
accumulated  is  equal- 
ly singular,  the  bird 
never  using  its  bill, 
but  always  grasping 
a  quantity  in  its  foot, 
throwing  it  back- 
wards to  one  common 
centre,  and  thus 
clearing  the  surface 
of  the  ground  for  a 
considerable  distance 
so  completely  that 
scarcely  a  leaf  or  a 
blade  of  grass  is  left. 
The  heap  being  accu- 
mulated, and  time 
allowed  for  a  suffi 

cient  heat  to  be  engendered,  the  eggs  are  deposited,  not  side  by  side 
as  is  ordinarily  the  case,  but  planted  at  the  distance  of  nine  or  twelve 
inches  from  each  other,  and  buried  at  nearly  an  arm's  depth,  perfectly 
upright,  with  the  large  end  upwards.  They  are  covered  up  as  they 
are  laid,  and  allowed  to  remain  until  hatched.  I  am  credibly 
informed,  -both  by  natives  and  settlers  living  near  their  haunts,  that 
it  is  not  an  unusual  event  to  obtain  nearly  a  bushel  of  eggs  at  one 
time  from  a  single  heap ;  and  as  they  are  delicious  eating  they  are 
eagerly  sought  aftej. 

When  the  Brush  Turkey  is  disturbed,  it  either  runs  through  the 
tangled  underwood  with  singular  rapidity,  or  springs  upon  a  low 
branch  of  some  tree,  and  reaches  the  summit  by  a  succession  of  leaps 
from  branch  to  branch.  This  latter  peculiarity  renders  it  an  easy  prey 
to  the  sportsman. 

THE  MOUND-MAKING  MEGAPODE, 

Inhabits  the  dense  thickets  bordering  on  the  sea-shore,  and  is  never 
found  far  inland.  Like  the  Brush  Turkey,  it  deposits  many  eggs  in 
one  mound,  but  instead  of  placing  them  at  intervals  in  the  mound, 
the  bird  makes  deep  holes,  from  five  to  six  feet,  at  the  bottom  of 
which  the  eggs  are  deposited.  The  natives  obtain  the  eggs  by 
scratching  up  the  earth  with  their  fingers,  until  they  have  traced  the 
hole  to  the  bottom ;  a  very  laborious  task,  as  the  holes  seldom  run 
straight,  and  turn  off  at  right  angles  to  avoid  a  stone  or  root.  The 
mounds  are  enormously  large.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  told  by  the  residents 
that  they  were  the  tombs  of  the  aborgines,  nor  was  it  until  after  some 
time  that  their  real  nature  was  made  known.  The  height  of  one 
mound  was  fifteen  feet,  and  its  circumference  at  the  base  sixty  feet. 


664 


THE    COMMON    PHEASANT. 


OF  THE  PHEASANT  TEIBE  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  characters  of  the  present  tribe  are  a  short,  convex,  and  strong 
bill ;  the  head  more  or  less  covered  with  carunculated  bare  flesh  on 
the  sides,  which  in  some  species  is  continued  upwards  to  the  crown, 
and  beneath  so  as  to  hang  pendent  under  each  jaw  ;  and  the  legs  in 
most  of  the  species  are  furnished  with  spurs. 

The  females  of  this  tribe  produce  many  young-ones  at  a  brood : 
these  they  take  care  of  for  some  time,  leading  them  abroad,  and  point- 
ing out  food  for  them.  The  nests  of  the  whole  tribe  are  formed  on 
the  ground. 


THE    COMMON    PHEASANT, 

This  beautiful  bird  is  very  common  in  almost  all  the  southern  parts 
of  the  Old  Continent,  whence  it  was  originally  imported  into  our 
country. 

Pheasants  are  much  attached  to  the  shelter  of  thickets  and 
woods,  where  the  grass  is  long;  but,  like  Partridges,  they  likewise 
"Greed  in  clover-fields.  They  form  their  nests  on  the  ground :  and 
the  females  lay  from  twelve  to  fifteen  eggs,  which  are  smaller  than 
those  of  the  domestic  hen.  In  the  mowing  of  clover  near  woods  that 
are  frequented  by  Pheasants,  the  destruction  of  their  eggs  is  some- 
times very  great.  In  some  places,  therefore,  game-keepers  have  direc- 
tions to  hunt  the  birds  from  these  fields  as  soon  as  they  begin  to  lay, 
until  their  haunt  is  broken,  and  they  retire  into  the  corn.  Poultry 
Hens  are  often  kept  ready  for  sitting  on  any  eggs  that  may  be  ex- 
posed by  the  scythe;  and,  with  care,  great  numbers  are  thus  rescued 
from  destruction.  The  nest  of,  the  Pheasant  is  usually  composed  of 
a  few  dry  vegetables  put  carelessly  together,  and  the  young-ones  fol- 
low their  mother,  like  chickens,  as  soon  as  they  break  the  shell.  The 
parents  and  their  brood,  if  undisturbed,  remain  in  the  stubbles  and 
hedgerows,  for  some  time  after  the  corn  is  ripe.  If  disturbed,  they 
seek  the  woods,  and  only  issue  thence  in  the  mornings  and  evenings 
to  feed  among  the  stubbles.  These  birds  are  fond  of  corn  ;  but  can 
procure  a  subsistence  without  it;  since  they  often  feed  on  the  wild 
berries  of  the  woods,  and  on  acorns. 

In  confinement  the  female  Pheasant  neither  lays  so  many  eggs,  nor 
hatches  nor  rears  her  brood  with  as  much  care  and  vigilance,  as  in  the 
fields  out  of  the  immediate  observation  of  man.  Indeed,  in  the  busi- 
ness both  of  incubation  and  rearing  the  young-ones,  the  domestic 
Hen  is  generally  made  a  substitute  for  the  Hen  Pheasant. 

The  wings  of  these  birds  are  short,  and  ill-adapted  for  considerable 
flights.  On  this  account,  the  Pheasants  on  the  island  called  Isola 
Madre  in  the  Lago  Maggoire  at  Turin,  as  they  cannot  fly  over  the 
lake,  are  imprisoned.  When  they  attempt  to  cross,  they  are  almost 
always  drowned. 


THE    COMMON    PHEASANT.  665 

The  Pheasant  is,  in  some  respects,  a  stupid  bird.  On  being  roused 
it  will  often  perch  on  a  neighboring  tree,  where  its  attention  will  be 
so  fixed  on  the  dogs,  that  the  sportsman  can  without  difficulty  ap- 
proach within  gun-shot.  It  has  been  asserted  that  the  Pheasant  ima- 
gines itself  out  of  danger  whenever  its  head  only  is  concealed.  Sports- 
men, however,  who  recount  the  stratagems  that  they  have  known  old 
Cock  Pheasants  to  adopt,  in  thick  and  extensive  coverts,  before  they 
could  be  compelled  to  take  wing,  convince  us  that  this  bird  is  by  no 
means  deficient  in  the  contrivances  that  are  necessary  for  its  own 
preservation. 

At  the  commencement  of  cold  weather,  Pheasants  fly  after  sun-set 
into  the  branches  of  the  oak-trees,  and  there  roost  during  the  night. 


GROUP  OF   PHEASANTS. 


This  they  do  more  frequently  as  the  winter  advances,  and  the  trees 
lose  their  foliage.  The  male  birds,  at  these  times,  make  a  noise, 
which  they  repeat  three  or  four  times  successively,  called  by  sports- 
men cocJceting.  The  hens,  on  flying  up,  utter  one  shrill  whistle,  and 
then  are  silent.  Poachers  avail  themselves  of  these  notes,  to  discover 
the  roosting  places ;  and  there  (in  woods  that  are  not  well  watched) 
they  shoot  them  with  the  greatest  certainty.  Where  woods  are 
watched,  the  poacher,  by  means  of  phosphorus,  lights  several  brimstone 
matches;  and  he  moment  the  sulphurous  fumes  reach  the  birds, 
they  drop  to  the  ground.  Or,  he  fastens  a  snare  of  wire  to  the  end 
of  a  long  pole  ;  and,  by  means  of  this,  drags  them,  one  by  one,  from 
the  trees.  He  sometimes  catches  these  birds  in  nooses  made  of  wire, 
or  twisted  horsehair,  or  even  with  a  briar  set  in  the  form  of  a  noose, 
at  the  verge  of  a  wood.  The  birds  entangle  themselves  in  these,  as 


666  THE    HORNED   PHEASANT. 

they  run  into  the  adjacent  fields  to  feed.  Foxes  destroy  great  num- 
bers of  Pheasants. 

The  males  begin  to  crow  during  the  first  week  in  March  ;  and  the 
noise  can  be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance.  They  occasionally 
come  into  farm-yards  in  the  vicinity  of  coverts  where  they  abound, 
and  sometimes  produce  a  cross  breed  with  the  common  fowls. 

It  has  been  contended  that  Pheasants  are  so  shy,  as  not  to  be 
tamed  without  great  difficulty.  Where,  however,  their  natural  fear 
of  man  has  been  counteracted,  from  their  having  been  bred  under 
his  protection  ;  and  where  he  has  almost  constantly  appeared  be- 
fore their  eyes  in  their  coverts,  they  will  come  to  feed  immediately 
on  hearing  the  keeper's  whistle.  They  will  follow  the  keeper  in 
flocks ;  and  scarcely  allow  the  peas  to  run  from  his  bag  into  troughs 
placed  for  the  purpose,  before  they  begin  to  eat.  Those  that  cannot 
find  room  at  one  trough,  follow  him  with  the  same  familiarity  to 
others. 

Pheasants  are  found  in  most  parts  of  England,  but  are  by  no  means 
plentiful  in  the  north  ;  and  they  are  seldom  seen  in  Scotland.  Wood 
and  corn  lands  seem  necessary  to  their  existence.  Were  it  not  for  the 
exertions  of  gentlemen  of  property,  in  preserving  these  birds  in  their 
woods  from  the  attacks  of  poachers  and  sportsmen,  the  breed,  in  a  few 
years,  would  be  extinct.  The  demand  for  Pheasants  at  the  tables  of 
the  luxurious,  and  the  easy  mark  they  offer  to  the  sportsman,  particu- 
larly since  the  art  of  shooting  flying  has  been  generally  practised,  would 
soon  complete  their  destruction.  Mr.  Stackhouse,  of  Pendarvis  in 
Cornwall,  informed  me,  that  forty  years  ago,  he  recollects  hearing  old 
people  say,  that  in  their  youth,  and  in  the  generation  before  them, 
Pheasants  were  very  plentiful  in  that  county ;  but  the  race  is  now 
extinct. 

The  general  weight  of  male  Pheasants  is  from  two  pounds  and  a 
half,  to  three  pounds  and  a  quarter.  That  of  the  hens  is  usually  about 
ten  ounces  less. 

The  female  birds  have  sometimes  been  known  to  assume  the  plu- 
mage of  the  male.  But  with  Pheasants  in  a  state  of  confinement,  those 
that  take  this  new  plumage  always  become  barren,  and  are  spurned 
and  buffeted  by  the  rest.  From  what  took  place  in  a  hen  Pheasant, 
belonging  to  a  lady,  a  friend  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  it  would  seem  prob- 
able that  this  change  arises  from  some  alteration  of  temperament  at  a 
late  period  of  the  animal's  life  This  lady  had  paid  particular  attention 
to  the  breeding  of  Pheasants.  One  of  the  hens,  after  having  produced 
several  broods,  moulted,  and  the  succeeding  feathers  were  exactly  like 
those  of  a  cock.  This  animal,  however  never  afterward  had  young- 
ones. 


THE   HOKNED   PHEASANT. 

This  beautiful  specimen  of  the  genus  Pheasant  is  a  native  of  China 
and  Thibet.  It  is  as  rare  as  it  is  beautiful.  But  one  has  as  yet 
reached  Europe.  In  size  it  is  between  a  Turkey  and  common  fowl. 


THE  CHINESE  PHEASANT — THE  ARGUS  PHEASANT.     667 


THE  CHINESE  PHEASANT. 

This  bird  is  distinguished  by  having  a  yellow  crest,  the  breast 
scarlet,  the  back  and  rump  yellow,  the  upper  tail- coverts  long,  narrow, 
and  red,  the  wing-coverts  varied  with  bay  and  brown,  the  quill-feathers 
brown,  with  yellowish  spots,  and  the  secondary  quill-feathers  blue. 

The  singular  beauty  of  the  Chinese  Pheasants  has  long  rendered 
these  birds  objects  of  admiration.  Though  inhabitants  of  the  warmer 
districts  of  China,  they  can,  without  difficulty,  be  kept  in  aviaries  in 
our  own  country.  The  females  are  smaller  than  the  males,  have  a 
shorter  tail,  and  plumage  of  much  less  brilliant  color.  In  many  in- 
stances, however,  when  old,  they  have  been  known,  like  the  Pea-hen, 
and  the  female  European  Pheasant,  to  assume  a  plumage  similar  to 
that  of  the  male. 

The  eggs  of  the  Chinese  Pheasant  resemble  those  of  the  Guinea- 
fowl  ;  and  are  in  proportion  smaller  than  those  of  the  poultry-hens. 

Sir  Hans  Sloane  kept  a  male  Chinese  Pheasant  nearly  fifteen  years, 
during  the  whole  of  which  time  it  continued  in  perfect  health.  From 
this  bird  he  obtained  a  mixed  breed  with  the  common  Pheasant.  Of 
this  breed  the  produce  had  a  plumage  much  less  beautiful  than  that  of 
the  Chinese  species.  \ 

Chinese  Pheasants  suffer  more  inconvenience  in  European  climates, 
from  the  humidity  and  changeable  state  of  the  atmosphere,  than  from 
the  cold  weather  of  winter.  They  require  more  care  than  common 
Pheasants,  but  are  fed  and  attended  in  the  same  manner 


THE  AKGUS  PHEASANT. 

The  Argus  Pheasant  is  of  a  clayey- yellow  color,  spotted  with  black. 
The  face  is  red,  and  behind  the  head  is  a  blue  crest.  The  wings  are 
grey,  and  have  a  great  number  of  eye-like  spots.  The  two  middle 
feathers  of  the  tail  are  very  long,  and  are  spotted  through  their  whole 
length. 

The  Argus  Pheasant,  has  been  so  called  from  the  number  of  eye-like 
spots  with  which  its  wing-feathers  are  covered.  These  birds  are  found 
in  many  of  the  northern  parts  of  China,  and  in  several  of  the  interior 
districts  of  India  and  Sumatra.  They  are  nearly  as  large  as  Peacocks, 
and  rank  among  the  most  beautiful  of  the  feathered  creation.  They 
are  extremely  wild,  and  very  difficult  to  be  kept  alive  for  any  length 
of  time  after  they  have  been  taken  from  the  woods.  In  a  strong  light 
they  appear  dazzled,  and  when  exposed  to  such  they  seem  melancholy 
and  inanimate ;  but  in  the  dark  they  recover  all  their  animation. 

These  birds  have  a  cry  not  much  unlike  that  of  a.  Peacock.  Their 
flesh  is  palatable,  and  in  flavor  like  that  of  the  common  Pheasant. 
The  wing  and  tail-feathers  are  in  considerable  request  as  ornaments  in 
female  head-dresses. 


668 


THE    DOMESTIC  COCK. 


THE  DOMESTIC  COCK. 


This  bird  differs  very  much  from  the  wild  descendants  of  its  primi- 
tive stock ;  which  are  said  to  inhabit  the  forests  of  India,  and  most 
of  the  islands  of  the  Indian  seas. 

His  beautiful  plumage  and  undaunted  spirit,  as  well  as  his  great 
utility,  have  rendered  him  a  favorite  in  all  countries  where  he  has 


DOMESTIC   COCK. 


been  introduced.  His  courage  is  scarcely  to  be  subdued  by  the  most 
powerful  assailants :  and  though  he  should  die  in  the  effort,  he  will 
defend  his  females  against  enemies  that  are  infinitely  stronger  than 
himself. 

"I  have  just  witnessed  (says  M.  de  Buffon)  a  curious  scene.  A 
Sparrow-hawk  alighted  in  a  populous  court-yard :  a  young  cock  of 
this  year's  hatching  instantly  darted  at  him,  and  threw  him  on  his 
back.  In  this  situation  the  Hawk  defended  himself  with  his  talons 
and  his  bill,  intimidating  the  hens  and  Turkeys,  which  screamed  tu- 
multuously  round  him.  After  he  had  a  little  recovered  himself,  he 
rose  and  was  taking  wing,  when  the  cock  rushed  upon  him  a  second 
time,  over  turned  him,  and  held  him  down  so  long,  that  he  was  caught." 

The  cock  is  very  attentive  to  his  females,  hardly  ever  losing  sight 
of  them.  He  leads,  defends,  and  cherishes  them  :  collects  them 
together  when  they  straggle  ;  and  seems  to  eat  unwillingly  till  he  sees 
them  feeding  around  him.  Whenever  any  strange  cock  appears 
within  his  domain,  he  immediately  attacks  the  intruder,  and  if  possi- 
ble, drives  him  away. 

His  jealousy  does  not,  however,  seem  to  be  altogether  confined  to 
his  rivals.  It  has  sometimes  been  observed  to  extend  even  to  his 
beloved  female  ;  and  he  appears  capable  of  being  actuated  by  revenge, 


THE   DOMESTIC   FOWL. 


669 


founded  on  suspicions  of  her  conjugal  infidelity.  Dr.  Percival,  in  his 
Dissertations,  relates  an  incident  that  happened  at  the  seat  of  a  gentle 
man  near  Berwick,  which  justifies  this  remark.  "  My  mowers,"  says 
this  gentleman,  "  cut  a  Partridge  on  her  nest ;  and  immediately  brought 
the  eggs  (fourteen  in  number)  to  the  house.  I  ordered  them  to  be  put 
under  a  very  large  and  beautiful  hen,  and  her  own  to  be  taken  away. 
They  were  hatched  in  two  days,  and  the  hen  brought  them  up  perfectly 
well  till  they  were  five  or  six  weeks  old.  During  that  time  they  were 
constantly  kept  in  an  out-house,  without  being  seen  by  any  of  the 
other  poultry.  The  door  happening  to  be  left  open,  the  cock  got  in. 
My  housekeeper,  hearing  the  hen  in  distress,  ran  to  her  assistance ; 
but  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  save  her  life.  The  cock,  observing  her 
with  the  brood  of  Partridges,  had  fallen  upon  her  with  the  utmost 
fury,  and  killed  her.  The  housekeeper  found  him  tearing  the  hen 
with  both  his  beak  and  spurs ;  although  she  was  then  fluttering  in  the 
last  agony,  and  incapable  of  any  resistance.  This  hen  had  formerly 
been  the  cock's  greatest  favorite." 

The  patience  and  perseverance  of.  the  hen  in  hatching,  are  truly 
extraordinary. 
She  covers  her 
eggs  with  her 
wings,  fostering 
themwith  a 
genial  warmth ; 
and  often  turns 
them,  and 
changes  their 
situations,  that 
all  their  parts 
may  receive  an 
equal  degree  of 
heat.  She  seems 
to  perceive  the 
importance  of 
her  employ- 
ment ;  and  is  so 
intent  on  her 
occupation,  as 

to  neglect  in  some  measure  even  the  necessary  supplies  of  food  and 
drink.  In  about  three  weeks  the  young  brood  burst  from  theii 
confinement ;  and  the  hen,  from  the  most  cowardly  and  voracious, 
becomes  (in  the  protection  of  her  young)  the  most  daring  and 
abstemious  of  all  birds.  If  she  cast  her  eyes  on  a  grain  of  corn,  a 
crumb  of  bread,  or  any  aliment,  though  ever  so  inconsiderable,  that 
is  capable  of  division,  she  will  not  touch  the  least  portion  of  it; 
but  gives  her  numerous  train  immediate  notice  of  her  success, 
by  a  peculiar  call,  which  they  all  understand.  They  flock  in  an  in- 
stant round  her,  and  the  whole  treasure  is  appropriated  to  them. 
Though  by  nature  timid,  and  apt  to  fly  from  the  smallest  assailant; 
yet  when  marching  at  the  head  of  her  brood  she  is  a  heroine,  she  is 


HEN    AND   CHICKENS. 


670  THE    DOMESTIC   FOWL. 

fearless  of  danger,  and  will  fly  in  the  face  of  the  fiercest  animal  that 
offers  to  annoy  her. 

As  the  chickens  reared  by  the  hen  bear  no  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  eggs  she  produces,  many  artificial  schemes  of  rearing  them 
have  been  attempted.  The  most  successful,  though  by  no  means  the 
most  humane,  is  said  to  be  where  a  capon  is  made  to  supply  the  place 
of  a  hen.  He  is  rendered  very  tame :  the  feathers  are  plucked  from 
his  breast,  and  the  bare  parts  are  rubbed  with  nettles.  The  chickens 
are  then  put  to  him ;  and,  by  their  running  under  his  breast  with 
their  soft  and  downy  bodies,  his  pain  is  so  much  allayed,  and  he  feels 
so  much  comfort  to  his  featherless  body,  that  he  soon  adopts  them, 
feeding  them  like  a  hen,  and  assiduously  performing  all  the  functions 
of  the  tenderest  parent. 

Chickens  have  long  been  hatched  in  Egypt  by  means  of  artificial 
heat.  This  is  now  chiefly  practised  by  the  inhabitants  of  a  village 
called  Berme,  and  by  those  who  live  at  a  little  distance  from  it.  To- 
wards the  beginning  of  autumn,  these  persons  spread  themselves  over 
the  country ;  and  each  of  them  is  ready  to  undertake  the  manage- 
ment of  an  oven.  The  ovens  are  of  different  sizes,  each  capable  of 
containing  from  forty  to  eighty  thousand  eggs ;  and  the  number  of 
ov-ens  in  different  parts  is  about  three  hundred  and  eighty -six.  They 
are  usually  kept  in  exercise  for  about  six  months ;  and,  as  each  brood 
occupies  twenty-one  days  in  hatching,  it  is  easy,  in  every  oven  to  pro- 
duce eight  different  broods  of  chickens  in  the  year. 

The  ovens  where  these  eggs  are  placed,  are  of  the  most  simple  con- 
struction ;  consisting  only  of  low  arched  apartments  of  clay.  Two 
rows  of  shelves  are  formed,  and  the  eggs  are  placed  on  these  in  such 
a  manner  as  not  to  touch  each  other.  They  are  slightly  moved  five 
or  six  times  every  twenty -four  hours.  All  possible  care  is  taken  to 
diffuse  the  heat  equally  throughout ;  and  there  is  but  one  aperture, 
just  large  enough  to  admit  a  man  stooping.  During  the  first  eight 
days  the  heat  is  rendered  great ;  but  during  the  last  eight  it  is  gradu- 
ally diminished,  till  at  length,  when  the  young  brood  are  ready  to 
come  forth,  it  is  reduced  almost  to  the  state  of  the  natural  atmosphere. 
By  the  end  of  the  first  eight  days  it  is  known  which  of  the  eggs  will 
be  productive.  Every  person  who  undertakes  the  care  of  an  oven, 
is  under  the  obligation  only  of  delivering  to  his  employer  two-thirds 
of  as  many  chickens  as  there  have  been  eggs  given  to  him  ;  and  he 
is  a  considerable  gainer  by  this  bargain,  as  it  almost  always  happens 
that  many  more  than  that  proportion  of  the  eggs  produce  chickens. 

This  useful  and  advantageous  mode  of  hatching  eggs,  was  intro- 
duced into  France  by  M.  de  Eeaumur ;  who,  by  a  number  of  experi- 
ments, reduced  the  art  to  certain  principles.  He  found  that  the  de- 
gree of  heat  necessary  for  producing  all  kinds  of  domestic  fowls  was 
the  same,  the  only  difference  consisting  in  the  time  during  which  it 
ought  to  be  communicated  to  the  eggs :  it  will  bring  the  Canary-bird 
to  perfection  in  eleven  or  twelve  days,  while  the  turkey-poult  requires 
twenty  or  twenty-eight.  M.  de  Eeaumur  found  that  stoves  heated 
by  pipes  from  a  baker's  or  the  furnaces  of  glasshouses,  succeeded 
better  than  those  made  hot  by  layers  of  dung,  the  mode  preferred  in 


THE   DOMESTIC  FOWL. 


671 


Egypt.  These  should  have  their  heat  kept  as  nearly  equal  as  possible ; 
and  the  eggs  should  be  frequently  removed  from  the  sides  into  the 
middle,  in  order  that  each  may  receive  an  equal  portion.  After  the 
eggs  are  hatched,  the  offspring  should  be  put  into  a  kind  of  low  boxes 
without  bottoms,  and  lined  with  fur ;  the  warmth  of  which  supplies 
the  place  of  a  hen,  and  in  which  the  chickens  can  at  any  time  take 
shelter.  These  should  be  kept  in  a  warm  room  till  the  chickens 
acquire  some  strength ;  the  chickens  then  may,  with  safety,  be  ex- 
posed to  the  open  air,  in  a  court-yard. 

As  to  the  mode  in  which  the  young  brood  are  fed :  a  whole  day 
generally  elapses  after  they  are  hatched,  before  they  take  any  food  at 
all ;  a  few  crumbs  of  bread  are  given  for  the  subsequent  day  or  two, 
after  which  time  they  begin  to  pick  up  insects  and  grain  for  them- 
selves. But  in  order  to  save  the  trouble  of  attending  them,  capons 
may  be  taught  to  watch  them  in  the  same  manner  as  hens.  M.  de 
Eeaumnr  says,  that  he  has  seen  more  than  two  thousand  chickens  at 
once,  all  led  about  and  defended  by  only  three  or  four  capons.  It  is 
asserted,  that  even  cocks  may  be  taught  to  perform  this  office. 

The  progress  of  the  incubation  of  the  chicken  in  the  natural  way, 
is  a  subject  too  curious,  and 
too  interesting,  to  be  passed 
over  without  notice.  The  hen 
has  scarcely  sat  on  the  egg 
twelve  hours,  before  some 
lineaments  of  the  head  and 
body  of  the  chicken  appear. 
The  heart  may  be  seen  to 
beat  at  the  end  of  the  second 
day;  it  has  at  that  time  some- 
what the  form  of  a  Horse- 
shoe, but  no  blood  yet  ap- 
pears. At  the  end  of  two 
days,  two  vesicles  of  blood 
are  to  be  distinguished,  the 
pulsation  of  which  is  very 
visible:  one  of  these  is  the 
left  ventricle,  and  the  other 
the  root  of  the  great  artery.  COCK 

At  the  fiftieth  hour,  one  auri- 
cle of  the  heart  appears,  resembling  a  noose  folded  down  upon 
itself.  The  beating  of  the  heart  is  first  observed  in  the  auricle,  and 
afterwards  in  the  ventricle.  At  the  end  of  seventy  hours,  the  wings 
are  distinguishable;  and  on  the  head  two  bubbles  are  seen  for  the 
brain,  one  for  the  bill,  and  two  others  for  the  fore  and  hind  part  of  the 
head.  Towards  the  end  of  the  fourth  day,  the  two  auricles,  already 
visible,  draw  nearer  to  the  heart  than  before.  The  liver  appears 
towards  the  fifth  day.  At  the  end  of  a  hundred  and  thirty-one  hours, 
the  first  voluntary  motion  is  observed.  At  the  end  of  seven  hours 
more,  the  lungs  and  stomach  become  visible;  and  four  hours  after 
this,  the  intestines,  the  loins,  and  the  upper  jaw.  At  the  hundred 


672  THE  DOMESTIC   FOWL. 

and  forty-fourth  hour,  two  ventricles  are  visible,  and  two  drops  of 
blood  instead  of  the  single  one  which  was  seen  before.  On  the  sev- 
enth day,  the  brain  begins  to  have  some  consistence.  At  the  hundred 
and  nintieth  hour  of  incubation,  the  bill  opens,  and  the  flesh  appears 
in  the  breast;  in  four  hours  more,  the  breast-bone  is  seen;  and  in  six 
hours  after  this,  the  ribs  appear  to  be  forming  from  the  back,  and  the 
bill  is  very  visible,  as  well  as  the  gall-bladder.  The  bill  becomes 
green  at  the  end  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  hours;  and  if  the 
chicken  be  taken  out  of  its  coverings,  it  evidently  moves  itself.  The 
feathers  begin  to  shoot  out  towards  the  two  hundred  and  fort'e  h 
hour,  and  the  skull  becomes  gristly.  At  the  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
fourth  hour,  the  eyes  appear.  At  the  two  'hundred  and  eighty-eighth, 
the  ribs  are  perfect.  At  the  three  hundred  and  thirty-first,  the  spleen 
draws  near  the  stomach,  and  the  lungs  to  the  chest.  At  the  end  of 
three  hundred  and  fifty-five  hours,  the  bill  frequently  opens  and  shuts; 
and  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  day,  the  first  cry  of  the  chicken  is 
heard.  It  afterwards  gets  more  strength,  and  grows  continually,  till 
at  length  it  is  enabled  to  set  itself  free  from  its  confinement. 

In  the  whole  of  this  process,  we  must  remark  that  every  part  ap 
pears  exactly  at  its  proper  time:  if,  for  example,  the  liver  is  formed  on 
the  fifth  day,  it  is  founded  on  the  preceding  situation  of  the  chicken, 
and  on  the  changes  that  were  to  follow.  No  part  of  the  body  could 
possibly  appear  either  sooner  or  later,  without  the  whole  embryo 
suffering;  and  each  of  the  limbs  becomes  visible  at  the  fit  moment 
This  ordination,  so  wise  and  so  invariable,  is  manifestly  the  work  of 
a  Supreme  Being:  but  we  must  still  more  sensibly  acknowledge  his 
creative  powers  when  we  consider  the  manner  in  which  the  chicken 
is  formed  out  of  the  parts  which  compose  the  egg.  How  astonishing 
must  it  appear  to  an  observing  mind,  that  in  this  substance  there 
should  be,  at  all,  the  vital  principle  of  an  animated  being !  That  all 
the  parts  of  an  animal's  body  should  be  concealed  in  it,  and  require 
nothing  but  heat  to  unfold  and  quicken  them !  That  the  whole  for- 
mation  of  the  chicken  should  be  so  constant  and  regular!  That, 
exactly  at  the  same  time,  the  same  changes  should  take  place  in  the 
generality  of  eggs !  That  the  chicken,  the  moment  it  is  hatched, 
should  be  heavier  than  the  egg  was  before !  But  even  these  are  not 
all  the  wonders  in  the  formation  of  a  bird  from  the  egg:  (for  this 
instance  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  whole  of  the  feathered  tribes : ) 
there  are  others,  altogether  hidden  from  our  observation ;  and  of 
which  from  our  very  limited  faculties,  we  must  ever  remain  ignorant. 

I  cannot  take  leave  of  this  animal,  without  a  few  observations  on 
the  savage  diversion  of  cock-fighting;  which  (to  the  disgrace  of  a 
Christian  nation)  is  encouraged,  not  merely  by  the  lowest  and  mean- 
est, but  by  some  persons  even  in  the  highest  ranks  of  society.  The 
Sh rove-Tuesday  massacre  of  throwfng  at  these  unfortunate  animals  is, 
indeed,  almost  discontinued:  but  the  cock-pit  yet  remains  a  reproach  to 
the  character  of  Englishmen.  The  refinements  which  in  England 
have  taken  place  in  the  pitting  of  these  courageous  birds  against  each 
other,  would  strike  almost  the  rudest  of  the  savage  tribes  of  mankind 
with  horror.  The  Battle-royal  and  the  Welsh-main  would  scarcely 


THE   DOMESTIC   FOWLS.  673 

be  tolerated  by  any  other  nation  of  the  world.  In  the  former  an 
unlimited  number  of  cocks  are  pitted,  of  which  only  the  last  sur- 
viving bird  is  accounted  the  victor.  Thus,  suppose  there  was  at  first 
sixteen  pair  of  cocks:  of  these,  sixteen  are  killed;  the  remaining  six- 
teen are  pitted  a  second  time ;  the  eight  conquerors  of  these  are  pitted 
a  third  time;  the 'four  conquerors  a  fourth  time;  and  lastly,  the  two 
conquerors  of  these  the  fifth  time:  so  that  (incredible  barbarity!) 
thirty-one  cocks  must  be  inhumanly  murdered  in  a  single  battle. 

"  Are  these  your  sovereign  joys,  Creation's  lords? 
Is  death  a  banquet  for  a  godlike  soul  ?" 

The  greatert  rivals  of  the  English  in  the  practice  of  cock-fighting, 
are  the  inhabitants  of  Sumatra  and  some  other  parts  of  the  East. 
They  indeed  pay,  perhaps  a  greater  attention  to  the  training  and 
feeding  of  the  birds.  They  arm  one  of  the  legs  only,  not  with  a 
slender  gaff,  but  with  a  little  implement  in  the  form  of  a  scimeter, 
with  which  the  animals  make  the  most  terrible  destruction.  The 
Sumatrians  fight  their  cocks  for  vast  sums:  a  man  has  been  known 
to  stake  his  wife  or  children,  and  a  son  his  mother  or  sisters,  on  the 
issue  of  a  battle.  In  disputed  points,  four  arbitrators  are  appointed; 
and  if  they  cannot  agree,  there  is  no  appeal  but  to  the  sword.  Some 
of  these  people  have  a  notion  that  their  cocks  are  invulnerable:  a 
father  on  his  death-bed  has,  under  this  persuasion,  been  known  to 
direct  his  son  to  lay  his  whole  property  on  a  certain  bird,  fully  per- 
suaded of  consequent  success. 


THE    DOMESTIC   FOWLS* 

The  domestic  fowls  are  too  well  known  to  need  much  description 
There  are  many  varieties,  the 
most  conspicuous  of  which  are 
the  Cochin  China,  Crested, 
Bantam,  and  Bankiva.  The 
Grame  Fowl  was  formerly  in 
great  request  for  the  cruel 
sport  of  cock-fighting,  an 
amusement  which,  although 
happily  now  almost  extinct, 
was  in  great  vogue  but  a  few 
years  since.  The  Java  Fowl, 
of  which  the  enormous  Cochin- 
China  bird  is  a  variety,  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  origin  of  the 
Barn-door  fowl.  The  cock 
has  been  long  celebrated  for  his 
warlike  propensities,  and  his 
habit  of  greeting  the  approach 
of  morn  by  his  "  shrill  clarion."  FEBSUN  COOK. 


674 


THE  COCHIN-CHINA  FOWL. — DORKING  FOWL. 


THE   COCHIN-CHINA  FOWL. 

A  young  hen  of  the  Cochin-China  breed,  when  introduced  among 
the  other  poultry  of  a  farm-yard, 
was  shamefully  persecuted  by 
its  companions.  It  was  very 
absurd  to  see  the  poor  creature 
pecking  up  a  stray  crumb  or 
two  outside  the  general  circle, 
and  flying  in  terror  before  a 
little  game  hen,  if  it  ventured 
to  approach  too  close.  The 
principal  advantage  of  this  bird 
seems  to  be  that  the  chickens, 
from  their  superior  size,  are 
ready  for  the  market  at  an 
earlier  age  than  those  of  the 
ordinary  fowl. 

Among  other  distinctive 
characteristics,  these  fowls  pos- 
sess one  which  is  too  striking 
not  to  be  mentioned.  The  wing 
is  jointed,  so  that  the  posterior 
half  can  at.  pleasure  be  doubled 
up,  and  brought  forward  between  the  anterior  half  and  the  body. 
The  birds  can  do  this  at  pleasure  ;  and  the  appearance  the  manoeuvre 
imparts  to  their  form,  has  procured  for  them  the  title  of  "Ostrich  fowl." 


COCHIN-CHINA  FOWL. 


THE   DORKING  FOWL. 

This  bird  is  highly  esteemed  where  ever  it  has  been  bred  in  its 
purity.  Many  spurious  ones  have  been  passed  off  on  the  uninformed, 
and  therefore  the  general  reputation  of  the  breed  is  not  as  good  as  it 
should  be.  It  is  not  a  heavy  fowl,  at  best ;  but  is  an  excellent  layer, 
the  best  of  mothers  and  its  meat  is  delicate  and  inviting.  The  aver- 
age weight  of  the  Dorking  is  about  six  and  a  half  to  seven  pounds  for 
cocks,  and  five  to  six  pounds  for  hens.  The  bird  owes  its  name  to 
its  having  been  bred  in  a  town  in  Surrey,  England;  of  the  same 
appellation.  Its  most  striking  peculiarity  is  the  having  of  five  toes, 
or  two  hind  toes  instead  of  one.  The  color  of  the  Dorking  is  generally 
pure  white,  spotted  or  spangled  with  black.  These  colors  sometimes 
merge  into  a  gray  or  grizzle. 

This  has  been  called  the  Capon  Fowl  of  England ;  and  it  forms  the 
chief  supply  of  the  London  market.  Its  flesh  is  extremely  delicate, 
especially  after  caponization.  Writers  on  poultry  breeding  differ 
much  in  the  description  of  the  true  fowl.  But  the  following  are  the 
prominent  points  without  which  the  breed  is  impure: — "A  fine  head, 


THE    BANTAM    FOWL. 


675 


with  brilliant,  reddish  tinged  eyes,  by  some  termed  ferret-eyed;  single 

or  double-comb,  in 

both    sexes;     a  - 

graceful  neck, 
rather  short  than 
long;  wide,  deep, 
projecting  breast ; 
the  body  is  not 
only  long,  but 
round,  rather  than 
flat  or  square;  and 
the  legs,  consider- 
ing their  size,  short, 
and  invariably  of  a 
silver  white."  The 
Dorkfng  is  very 
h  a  r  d  y,  and  its 
young  are  easily 
reared;  both  of 
w  h  i  c  h  are  very 
important  recom- 
mendations for 
fowls  in  the  North- 
ern and  Eastern 
States.  When 
crossed  with  other 
birds  they  invari- 
ably improve  the 
form,  and  the  quality  of  the  meat. 

These  birds  have  been  long  prized,  and  it  is  now  many  years  since 
their  superiority  over  our  ordinary  domestic  varieties,  was  discovered 
and  appreciated.  They  were  first  noticed  and  the  variety  adopted  by 
the  Cumberland  breeders,  whence  they  were  carried  into  Lancashire 
and  Westmoreland,  and  gradually  spread  over  all  England.  They 
are  also  found  in  many  parts  of  Ireland.  Whether,  however,  it  is  the 
result  of  injudicious  treatment,  imperfect  feeding,  or  change  of  cli- 
mate, when  met  with  far  from  the  region  where  they  originated,  they 
appear  to  have  lost  much  of  their  superiority. 


DOE  KING  FOWL. 


THE   BANTAM  FOWL. 

This  beautiful  little  domestic  bird  came  originally  from  the  pro- 
vince of  Bantam,  in  Java.  In  this  country,  we  have  every  kind  of 
color  and  comparative  size  of  "Bantam,"  but  in  their  purity,  the  "Sir 
John  Seabright,"  "the  Java,"  or  the  "African"  varieties,  are  rare 
birds.  "  This  bird,"  says  Richardson,  "has  its  legs  perfectly  naked  to 
the  toes,  and  approaches  in  form  more  nearly  to  the  game  breed.  The 
high  bred  cock  of  this  breed  should  have  a  rose  comb,  full  hackles, 
a  well-feathered  and  well-carried  tail,  a  stately  and  courageous. 
43 


676 


THE   POLISH   FOWL. 


demeanor,  and  should  not  be  quite  a  pound  weight.  The  favorite  color 

is  a  golden  yellow,  the  feathers  edged 
with  black,  the  wings  barred  with  pur- 
ple, tail-feathers  and  breast  black.  The 
Bantam  will  fight  with  great  resolu- 
tion." Occasionally,  a  variety  is  met 
with  that  is  smooth-legged.  They  are 
very  domestic,  often  making  their 
nests  in  the  kitchen  and  the  cupboards 
of  the  dwelling,  when  permitted. 
They  are  excellent  layers  and  good 
nurses. 

The  hackles,  or  long  neck  feathers 
of  this  and  the  preceding  bird,  are 
much  used  by  anglers  for  making 
artificial  flies. 


THE  BANTAM  FOWL. 


THE   POLISH   FOWL. 


This  beautiful  bird 
American  farm-yard. 


has  become  pretty  generally  known  in  the 
It  is,  however,  a  small  fowl,  in  comparison 
with  many  other.  "  Of  the  Polish 
fowls,"  says  Kichardson,  "there 
are  three  sub-varieties,  one  of 
which  would  appear  to  be  nearly, 
if  not  altogether  extinct  in  its 
native  country.  This  fowl  is,  per- 
haps, the  most  unchanged  from  the 
primitive  stock  of  any  we  are  now 
acquainted  with,  being,  beyoud 
doubt,  the  immediate  and  almost, 
unmixed  descendant  of  the  wild 
cock  of  St.  Jago."  The  three  var- 
ieties are — The  Spangled  Polish — a 
bird  of  extraordinaiy  beauty,  and 
difficult  to  be  procured.  In  color,  it 
presents  a  splendid  combination  of 
a  bright  orange,  a  clear  white,  a 
brilliant  green,  and  a  jetty  black, 
softened  down  with  a  rich  and 
pure  brown :  every  feather  is 
tipped  with  white  so  as  to  produce  the  effect  whence  has  been  derived 
the  term  spangled.  The  flesh  of  these  birds  is  of  good  quality,  and 
they  are  very  prolific.  The  fowl  known  as  the  Golden  Pheasant  is  a 
cross  of  this  variety  and  the  Black  Polish  fowl. 

The  second  variety  of  the  Polish  fowl,  is  the  well  known  Black 
•.fowl,  with  a  white  tuft  on  the  crown.   Their  appearance  is  handsome 


POLISH  FOWL. 


THE   SHANGHAI   FOWL. 


677 


and  being  very  good  layers,  they  are  nightly  esteemed.  The  third 
'variety  entirely  white,  without  a  feather  of  any  other  color.  They 
are  very  beautiful,  but  not  quite  so  hardy  as  the  Black. 


THE   SHANGH^E  FOWL. 


The  Shanghas  fowl  has  become  generally  known  in  the  Northern 
States,  and  especially  in  New  England.  It  was  brought 
from  Shanghse,  China,  in  1848,  by  Captain  Forbes,  and 
since  that  time  other  importations  of  the  species  have 
been  effected.  There  are  two  varieties,  which  may  be 
distinguished  as  the  yellow  including  the  brown  buff 


6HANG  HJE. — MALE. 


SHANGHAI. — FEMALE. 


and  the  fawn  colored,)  and  the  white.  The  yellow,  in  general  shape 
and  appearance,  resembles  the  Cochin-China  fowls,  though  they 
have  greater  depth  of  quarters  and  less  depth  of  breast,  and  are  of  "a 
lighter  color.  Their  general  plumage  is  of  a  bright  yellow,  or  gold 
color,  variegated  with  dark  brown  and  red.  They  are  quiet  tempered, 
their  gait  is  proud  and  showy,  but  the  legs  are  rather  too  long  for 
beauty.  For  laying  properties,  early  maturity,  and  table  use,  there  is 
no  better  species  in  America.  The  principal  characteristics  of  the 
Yellow  Shanghai,  by  which  they  may  be  distinguished  from  the 
Cochin  China  fowl  is,  that  the  legs  are  covered  with  feathers.  The 
White  Shanghae,  partakes  of  all  the  characteristics  of  the  Yellow, 
with  the  exception  of  color.  Its  legs  are  yellow,  and  very  heavily 
feathered.  Their  general  appearance  is  cleanly  and  beautiful,  and 
in  laying,  or  for  food,  they  are  quite  equal  to  the  Yellow  species. 


678 


THE  SPANISH  FOWLS. — BANKIVA  FOWL. 


THE   SPANISH   FOWLS. 

The  Black  Spanish  fowls  are  favorites  among  the  poulterers.   They 

are  large,  showy,  and  possess  the 
blackest  of  plumage.  They  have 
an  unusually  large  comb  and  wat- 
tles, and  a  white  cheek.  As  table 
birds,  their  flesh  is  particularly 
white,  tender  and  juicy.  The 
hens  are  layers  of  the  first  order, 
being  extremely  prolific,  easy 
fed,  and  easy  to  control,  when 
required  to  sit.  l '  I  regard  these 
birds,"  says  Kichardson,  "as  the 
result  of  the  highest  artificial 
culture,"  and  in  support  of  his 
opinion,  he  adduces  their  un- 
usually large  cornb  and  wattles, 
characteristics  not  found  in  the 
primitive  varieties.  The  eggs  are 
of  large  size,  fine-flavored,  and 
unlike  most  of  the  eggs  from 
dark  colored  poultry,  the  shells 
are  white  as  alabaster. 


SPANISH  FOWLS. 


THE  BANKIVA   FOWL. 

• 

This  fowl  is  supposed  to  be  the  original  stock,  of  our  domestic 
varieties.  Dickson  thus  describes  it: — "The  cock  has  a  thin,  in- 
dented, or  scolloped  comb,  and  wattles  under  the  mouth :  the  tail  a 
little  elevated  above  the  rump,  and  the  feathers  somewhat  disposed 
in  the  form  of  tiles.  The  feathers  of  the  neck  are  long,  falling  down, 
and  rounded  at  the  tips,  and  are  of  the  finest  gold  color.  The  head 
and  neck  are  fawn-colored;  the  wing  coverts  are  dusky,  brownish 
and  black;  the  tail  and  belly  are  black;  the  hen  is  of  a  dusky,  ashy 
gray  and  yellowish  color,  and  has  her  comb  and  beard  much  smaller 
than  the  cock,  with  no  feathers  on  the  neck,  besides  the  long  hackles." 

The  Bankiva  cock  is  nearly  twice  as  large  as  the  common  Bantam. 
The  hen  is  scarcely  as  large  as  Sonnerat's  Jungle  fowl.  The  breed 
is  native  to  the  East  Indies,  where  it  is  much  valued  by  the  lovers 
of  cock-fighting.  The  Bankiva  is  very  bold  and  spirited,  though 
inferior  to  Sonnerat's  fowl  in  these  qualities  as  in  others  more  valu- 
able. It  was  for  some  time  a  question,  whether  this  fowl  was  not 
derived  from  the  same  stock  as  the  larger  Jungle  fowl ;  but  the 
question  has  been  determined  in  favor  of  its  being  a  distinct  variety. 


THE   FIRE-BACKED   JUNGLE   FOWL. 


679 


THE    FIRE-BACKED   JUNGLE   FOWL. 

This  noble  species 
stands  high  on  the 
legs.  The  spurs  are 
sharp.  The  head  is 
adorned  wiih  a  crest 
of  n  a  k  e  d  shafted 
feathers,  and  the  bill 
is  parti y  covered  with 
a  purplish  skin.  The 
general  plumage  is 
black  shot  with 
gleaming  steel-blue. 
The  lower  part  of 
the  back  is  rich 
flame  color. 

The   female    is   a 

cinnamon 

mottled  with 

throat  white, 

erected,  tail 
This  species 
came  originally  from 
Sumatra,  and  is 
highly  esteemed  by 
fanciers. 

This  species  was 
first  introduced  to 
science  by  Sir  Greorge 
Staunton,  in  his  nar- 
rative of  an  "Em- 
bassy to  China."  His  host  at  Batavia,  among  other  interesting  speci- 
mens of  natural  history,  possessed  one  of  these  birds,  which  was  sent 
to  England.  The  bending  feathers  of  the  tail  are  shorter  and  much 
broader  than  those  of  the  Bankiva,  Sonnerat,  or  Domestic  cock. 
The  Fire-backed  fowl  is  intermediate  between  the  largest  Jungle 
fowl,  and  the  domestic  game  breed.  It  possesses  the  quick  spirit  of 
all  the  best  game-breeds,  and  is  much  prized  among  the  lovers  of 
cock-fighting.  Numerous  specimens  are  to  be  seen  in  various  parts 
of  New  England;  and  at  the  poultry  exhibitions,  its  elegant  form  and 
spirited  bearing,  together  with  its  beautiful  hues,  make  it  an  attrac- 
tive and  favorite  bird.  The  hen  is  considered  a  very  good  layer, 
nurse  and  sitter,  and  the  eggs  are  a  good  size. 


rich 
brown, 
black ; 
head 
folded. 


TIRE-BACKED   JUXGLE   FOWL. 


680 


SONNERAT  S   JUNGLE   FOWL. 


SONNERAT'S  JUNGLE  FOWL. 

This  splendid  bird  is  celebrated  for  its  courage,  and  is  in  great 

request  among  the  cock- 
fighters  of  Hindostan. 
Its  port  is  erect  and 
stately,  and  its  form  is 
admirable.  In  size  it  is 
equal  to  the  domestic 
fowl ;  but  it  is  lighter 
and  more  graceful.  The 
comb  is  slightly  indent- 
ed, the  wattles  are  large 
and  double;  the  mark- 
ings as  represented  in 
the  figure.  The  female 
is  a  third  less  in  size  than 
the  male. 

As  this  species  of 
Jungle  fowl  is  one  of  the 
most  sought  for  among 
the  cock  fighters  of 
India,  a  short  account  of 
the  manner  in  which  that 
sport  is  pursued  in  Hin- 
dostan and  the  island  of 
Polynesia,  may  not  be 
uninteresting,  or  out  of 
place.  It  is  from  Ellis '  Polynesian  Researches. 

"  Cocks  of  the  same  color  are  never  matched,  but  a  gray  against  a 
pile,  a  yellow  against  a  red,  or  the  like.  This  might  have  been  origi- 
nally designed  to  prevent  disputes,  or  knavish  impositions.  The  Malay 
breed  of  cocks  is  much  esteemed  by  connoisseurs  who  have  had  an 
opportunity  of  trying  them.  Great  pains  is  taken  in  the  rearing  and 
feeding ;  they  are  frequently  handled,  and  accustomed  to  spar  in 
public,  in  order  to  prevent  any  shyness.  Contrary  to  our  laws,  the 
owner  is  allowed  to  take  up  and  handle  his  cock  during  the  battle  ; 
to  clear  his  eye  of  a  feather,  or  his  mouth  of  blood.  When  a  cock  is 
killed,  or  runs,  the  other  must  have  sufficient  spirit  and  vigor  left  to 
peck  at  him  three  times,  on  his  being  held  to  him  for  that  purpose,  or 
it  becomes  a  drawn  battle ;  and  sometimes  an  experienced  cocker  will 
place  the  head  of  his  vanquished  bird  in  such  an  uncouth  posture,  as 
to  terrify  the  other,  and  render  him  unable  to  give  this  proof  of  vic- 
tory. The  cocks  are  never  trimmed,  but  matched  in  full  feather, 
The  artificial  spur  used  in  Sumatra,  resembles  in  shape  the  blade  of  a 
scimetar,  and  proves  a  more  destructive  weapon  than  the  European 
spur.  It  has  no  socket,  but  is  tied  to  the  leg,  and  in  the  position  of 
it  the  nicety  of  the  match  is  regulated  As,  in  horse-racing,  weight  is 


SONNERAT'S  JUXGLE  FOWL. 


THE   COMMON   GUINEA-FOWL.  681 

proportioned  to  inches,  so;  in  cocking,  a  bird  of  superior  size  and 
weight  is  brought  to  an  equality  with  his  adversary,  by  fixing  the 
steel  spur  so  many  scales  of  the  Lg  above  the  natural  spur,  and  thus 
obliging  him  to  fight  with  a  degree  of  disadvantage.  It  rarely  hap- 
pens that  both  cocks  survive  the  combat. 

Some  attempts  have  lately  been  made  by  writers  on  poultry,  to 
defend  the  sport  of  cock-fighting,  on  the  ground,  that  the  disposition 
of  the  fowl  is  to  fight,  and  that  in  training  them  for  that  purpose, 
men  only  make  amusement  of  that  which  is  necessary.  But  this  is 
merely  an  ingenious  argument.  All  such  contests  have  a  brutalizing 
influence  on  men. 


OF  THE  PINTADO  TKIBE. 

THE  bill  is  strong  and  short,  and  the  base  is  covered  with  a  warty 
or  carunculated  cere,  which  receives  the  nostrils:  on  the  head  there  is 
a  horny  or  callous  protuberance.  The  tail-feathers  are  short,  and 
bend  :down  ward.  The  feathers  of  the  body  are  speckled. 

The  four  species  of  pintado  hitherto  known  are  all  natives  of 
Africa,  and  of  islands  adjacent  to  the  African  coast.  Their  mode 
of  feeding  is  similar  to  that  of  the  domestic  poultry;  they  scrape  the 
ground  with  their  feet,  in  search  of  insects,  worms,  and  seeds. 


THE    COMMON    GUINEA-FOWL. 

In  a  wild  state  it  is  asserted  that  these  birds  associate  in  numerous 
flocks.  Dampier  speaks  of  having  seen  between  two  and  three 
hundred  of  them  together,  in  the  Cape  de 
Verd  Islands.  They  were  originally  intro- 
duced into  England  from  the  coast  of  Africa, 
somewhat  earlier  than  the  year  1260. 

They  are  now  sufficiently  common  in  the 
poultry -yards  of  this  country ;  but  from  the 
young-ones  being  difficult  to  rear,  they  are  not 
bred  in  numbers  at  all  equal  to  those  of  the 
domestic  poultry.  The  females  lay  and  hatch 
their  eggs  nearly  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
common  hens.  The  eggs,  however,  are  smaller  than  those  of  the  hen, 
and  have  a  harder  shell.  M.  de  Buffo  n  states  that  there  is  a  remarka- 
ble difference  between  the  eggs  of  the  domestic  Guinea-Fowls,  and 
of  those  which  are  wild ;  the  latter  being  marked  with  small,  round 
spots,  like  those  on  the  plumage  of  the  birds ;  and  the  former  being, 
when  first  laid,  of  a  tolerably  bright  red,  and  afterwards  of  the  faint 
color  of  a  dried  rose.  The  young  birds,  for  some  time  after  they  come 
into  the  world,  are  destitute  of  the  helmet,  or  callous  protuberance 
which  is  so  conspicuous  on  the  heads  of  the  old  ones. 

The  voice  of  the  Guinea-Fowl  is  harsh,  and,  to  some  persons, un 
pleasant.     It   consists  chiefly  of  two  notes,  ca-mac,  ca~mac,  ca-raac, 


GUINEA-FOWL. 


682 


THE    COMMON    GUINEA   FOWL. 


frequently  repeated.  The  Guinea-Fowl  is  a  restless  and  clamorous 
bird.  During  the  night  it  perches  on  high  places ;  and,  if  disturbed, 
alarms  every  animal  within  hearing,  by  its  unceasing  cry.  These  birds 
delight  in  rolling  themselves  in  the  dust,  for  the  purpose,  as  some 
naturalists  have  conjectured,  of  ridding  themselves  of  insects. 

If  trained  when  young,  Guinea-Fowls  may  soon  be  rendered  tame. 
M.  Brue  informs  us,  that  when  he  was  on  the  coast  of  Senegal,  he  re- 
ceived as  a  present  from  an  African  princess,  two  Guinea-Fowls.  Both 
these  birds  were  so  familiar,  that  they  would  approach  the  table  and 
eat  out  of  his  plate ;  and  when  they  had  liberty  to  fly  about  upon  the 
beach,  they  always  returned  to  the  ship,  when  the  dinner  or  supper 
bell  rang. 

It  is  even  said  that  the  wild  birds  will  sometimes  receive  food  from 


GUINEA-FOWL. 


the  hand,  almost  immediately  after  they  are  caught.  These  delight 
chiefly  in  marshy  and  morassy  places,  where  they  subsist  almost 
wholly  on  insects,  worms,  and  seeds.  Guinea-Fowls  are  found  in  nearly 
all  the  countries  of  the  western  part  of  Africa,  from  Barbary,  south- 
ward, to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  are  natives  likewise  of  the 
Islands  of  France  and  Bourbon,  of  Madagascar  and  Cape  de  Yerd. 

Amongst  the  Romans  they  were  in  great  repute  for  the  table  ;  and, 
on  account  of  their  scarcity,  were  generally  sold  for  high  prices.  They 
are  at  present  much  esteemed  in  this  country,  their  flavour  being  con- 
sidered, by  some  persons,  to  resemble  that  of  the  Pheasant.  The  eggs 
are  a  very  delicate  food. 


o 

emnp.rallv     Inner, 

THE  GROUSE. 


THE   RUFFED   GROUSE.  683 


OF  THE  GROUSE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Grouse  have  strong,  convex  bills  ;  and  some  of  the  species  have 
a  naked  scarlet  skin  above  each  eye.  The  flesh  of  all  the  species  is 
brown,  but  is  excellent  food. 

The  birds  of  this  tribe  which  are  known  in  Great  Britain,  are  the 
different  species  of  Grouse, 
Partridges,  and  Quails.  Of 
these,  the  Grouse  are  in- 
habitants chiefly  of  bleak 
and  mountainous  tracts  of 
country.  To  defend  them 
from  the  effects  of  cold, 
their  legs  are  feathered 
down  to  the  toes.  The 
nostrils  are  small,  and  are 
hidden  under  the  feathers. 
Their  legs  are  stout,  arid 
the  tail  generally  long. 
Partridges  and  Quails  in 
habit  the  warmer  and  more  cultivated  parts  of  the  country.  Their 
tail  is  short,  and  their  nostrils  are  covered  with  a  hard  prominent 
margin. 

THE   RUFFED    GROUSE. 

The  size  of  this  bird  is  between  that  of  a  Pheasant  and  Partridge. 
The  bill  is  brownish.  The  head  is  crested;  and  as  well  as  all  the 
upper  parts,  is  variegated  with  different  tints  of  brown  mixed  with 
black.  The  feathers  on  the  neck  are  long  and  loose;  and  may  be 
erected  at  pleasure,  like  those  of  the  cock.  The  throat  and  the  fore 
part  of  the  neck  are  orange  brown;  and  the  rest  of  the  under  parts 
are  yellowish  white,  having  a  few  curved  marks  on  the  breast  and 
sides.  The  tail  consists  of  eighteen  feathers,  all  of  which  are  crossed 
with  narrow  bars  of  black,  and  with  one  broad  band  of  the  same  near 
the  end.  The  legs  are  covered  to  the  toes  (which  are  flesh-colored, 
and  pectinated  on  the  sides)  with  whitish  hairs. 

This  beautiful  species  of  Grouse,  known  by  the  name  of  Pheasant 
in  the  Middle  and  Western  States,  and  by  that  of  Partridge  in  New 
England,  is  found  to  inhabit  the  continent  from  Hudson's  Bay  and 
the  parallel  of  56°  to  Georgia,  but  are  most  abundant  in  the  North- 
ern and  Middle  States,  where  they  often  prefer  thef  most  elevated 
and  wooded  districts ;  and  at  the  south  they  affect  the  mountainous 
ranges  of  valleys  which  border  upon,  or  lie  within  the  chains  of  the 
Alleghanies..  They  are  also  prevalent  in  the  Western  States  as  far  as 
the  line  of  the  State  of  Mississippi,  and  though  not  found  on  the 
great  western  plains  they  appear  in  the  forests  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  follow  the  Columbia  nearly  to  the  Pacific. 


684 


THE   RUFFED   GROUSE. 


Although,  properly  speaking,  sedentary,  yet  at  the  approach  of 

autumn,   according  to 
\  ~~\x  Audubon,  they  make, 

\\  in  common   with   the 

following  species, 
partial  migrations  by 
single  families  in  quest 
of  a  supply  of  food, 
and  sometimes  even 
cross  the  Ohio  in  the 
course  of  their  pere- 
grinations. In  the 
northern  parts  of  New 
England  'they  appear 
also  to  be  partially 
migratory  at  the  ap- 
proach of  winter,  and 
leave  the  hills  for 
lower  and  more  shel- 
tered situations. 

He  is  a  fine  bird 
when  his  gaiety  is  dis- 
played; that  is,  when 
he  spreads  his  tail  like 
that  of  a  Turkey-cock, 
and  erects  the  circle  of 
feathers  round  his 
neck  like  a  ruffj  walk- 
ing with  a  stately  and 
even  pace,  and  making 
a  noise  somewhat  like 
that  of  a  Turkey. 
This  is  the  moment  which  the  sportsman  seizes  to  fire  at  him  •  for,  if 
the  bird  ob- 
serves that  he  is 
discovered,  he 
immedi  ately 
flies  off' to  a  dis- 
tance of  several 
hundred  yards 
before  he  again 
alights. 

There  is  some- 
thing very  re- 
mark able  in 
what  is  called 
the  thumping  of 
these  birds. 
This  they  do,  as 
t  h  e  sportsmen  RUFPED  QRODSE  DRUMMIN0. 


THE  RUFFED   GKOUrfE. 


TUB  PINNATED  GROUSE. — BLACK  GROUSE.       685 

tell  us,  by  clapping  their  wings  against  their  sides.  They  stand  upon 
an  old  fallen  tree,  and  in  this  station  begin  their  strokes  gradually,  at 
about  two  seconds  of  time  from  another,  and  repeat  them  quicker  and 
quicker,  until  they  make  a  noise  not  unlike  distant  thunder.  This 
continues,  from  the  beginning,  about  a  minute ;  the  bird  ceases  for 
six  or  eight  minutes,  and  then  begins  again.  The  sound  is  oftenT 
heard  at  the  distance  of  nearly  half  a  mile ;  and  sportsmen  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  note,  to  discover  the  birds,  and  shoot  them.  The 
Grouse  commonly  practise  their  thumping  during  the  spring  and  fall 
of  the  year,  at  about  nine  or  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  four  or 
five  in  the  afternoon. 

These  birds  lay  their  eggs,  from  twelve  to  sixteen  in  number,  in 
nests  which  they  make  either  by  the  side  of  fallen  trees,  or  the  roots 
of  standing  ones.  Mr.  Brooke,  when  a  boy,  says  that  he  has  found 
their  nests,  and  has  endeavored  to  take  the  old  birds,  but  never  could 
succeed.  The  sitting  bird  would  let  him  put  his  hand  almost  upon 
her  before  she  would  quit  her  nest ;  then  by  artifice  would  draw  him 
off  from  her  eggs,  by  fluttering  just  before  him  for  a  hundred  paces 
or  more,  so  that  he  has  been  in  constant  hopes  of  taking  her.  When 
the  nestlings  are  hatched,  and  a  few  days  old,  they  hide  themselves  so 
artfully  among  the  leaves,  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  them. 


THE   PINNATED   GROUSE,    OK  PRAIRIE   HEN. 

This  species  celebrated  for 
the  exquisite  flavor  of  its  flesh, 
is  strictly  confined  to  the  west- 
ern prairies  of  our  country,  open 
dry  plains  interspersed  with 
shrub-oak  being  its  favorite 
haunts.  The  male  is  remark- 
able for  a  naked  sacculated  ap- 
pendage on  each  side  of  the 
neck,  resembling  a  large  orange. 
In  severe  weather  the  Prairie 
Hens  sometimes  mix  with  the 
domestic  poultry  in  pursuit  of 
food. 

THE  PINNATED  GROUSE,   OR  PRAIRIE  HEN. 


THE   BLACK   GROUSE. 

The  weight  of  an  old  black  cock  is  nearly  four  pounds;  but  that 
of  the  female  is  not  often  more  than  two.  The  plumage  of  the  whole 
body  of  the  male  is  black,  and  glossed  over  the  neck  and  rump  with 
a  shining  blue.  The  coverts  of  the  wings  are  of  a  dusky  brown :  the 
four  first  quill-feathers  are  black,  the  next  white  at  the  bottom.  The 
lower  half,  and  the  tips,  of  the  secondary  feathers,  are  white.  The 


686 


THE   BLACK   GROUSE. 


inner  coverts  of  the  wings  are  white.     The  tail  is  much  forked:  the 

exterior  feathers  bend 
greatly  outward,  and 
their  ends  seem  as  if 
cut  off.  The  colors 
of  the  female  differ 
considerably  from 
those  of  the  male : 
the  tail  also  is  but 
slightly  forked. 

They  are  partial  to 
mountainous  and 
woody  situations,  far 
removed  from  the 
habitations  of  men. 

Their  food  is  vari- 
ous; but  principally 
consists  of  the  moun- 
tain fruits  and  ber- 
ries, and,  in  winter, 
of  the  tops  of  heath. 
It  is  somewhat  re- 
markable that  cher- 
ries and  peas  are  fatal 
to  these  birds.  They 
perch  and  roost  in 
the  same  manner  as 
the  Pheasant. 

The  Black  Grouse 
never  pair ;  but  in 
spring  the  males  assemble  at  their  accustomed  resorts  on  the  tops  of 
heathy  mountains,  where  they  crow  and  clap  their  wings.  The 
females,  at  this  signal,  resort  to  them.  The  males  are  very  quarrel- 
some, and  fight  together  like  game-cocks.  On  these  occasions  they 
are  so  inattentive  to  their  own  safety,  that  two  or  three  have  some- 
times been  killed  at  one  shot :  and  instances  have  occurred  of  their 
having  been  knocked  down  with  a  stick. 

The  female  forms  an  artless  nest  on  the  ground ;  and  lays  six  or 
eight  eggs,  of  a  dull  yellowish  white  color,  marked  with  numerous  very 
small  ferruginous  specks,  and,  towards  the  smaller  end,  with  some 
blotches  of  the  same.  These  are  hatched  late  in  the  summer.  The 
young  males  quit  the  parents  in  the  beginning  of  winter,  and  keep 
together  in  flocks  of  seven  or  eight  till  the  spring. 

In  Russia,  Norway,  and  other  extreme  northern  countries,  the 
Black  Grouse  are  said  to  retire  under  the  snow  during  winter.  The 
shooting  of  them  in  Russia  is  thus  conducted : — Huts  full  of  loop- 
holes, like  little  forts,  are  built  for  the  purpose,  in  woods  frequented 
by  these  birds.  Upon  the  trees  within  shot  of  the  huts,  are  placed 
artificial  decoy-birds.  As  the  Grouse  assemble,  the  company  fire 
through  the  openings ;  and  so  long  as  the  sportsmen  are  concealed, 


BLACK   GROUSE. — MALE. 


THE    BLACK    GROUSE. 


687 


the  report  of  the  guns  does  not  frighten  the  birds  away.     Seve/al  of 
them  may  therefore 

be  killed  from  the  

same     tree,    when  "^S^^E^ 

three  or  four  hap- 
pen to  be  perched 
on  branches  one 
above  another. 
The  sportsman  has 
only  to  shoot  the 
undermost  bird 
first,  and  the  others 
upward  in  succes- 
sion. The  upper- 
most bird  is  ear- 
nestly employed  in 
looking  down  after 
his  fallen  compan- 
ions, and  keeps 
chattering  to  them 
till  he  becomes 
himself  a  victim. 

During  winter 
the  inhabitants  of 
Siberia  take  these 
birds  in  the  follow- 
ing manner: — A 
number  of  poles  are 
laid  horizontally 
on  forked  sticks, 
in  the  open  birch 
forests.  Small  bundles  of  corn  are  tied  on  these,  by  way  of  allure- 
ment ;  and,  at  a  little  distance,  some  tall  baskets  of  conical  shape  are 
placed,  having  their  broad  parts  uppermost.  Within  the  mouth  of 
each  basket  is  placed  a  small  wheel ;  through  which  passes  an  axis 
so  nicely  fixed,  as  to  admit  it  to  play  very  readily,  and,  on  the  least 
touch  either  on  one  side  or  the  other,  to  drop  down,  and  again  recover 
its  situation.  The  Black  Grouse  are  soon  attracted  by  the  corn  on 
the  horizontal  poles.  The  first  comers  alight  upon  them,  and  after 
a  short  repast  fly  to  the  baskets,  and  attempt  to  settle  on  their  tops; 
when  the  wheel  drops  sideways,  and  they  fall  headlong  into  the  trap. 
These  baskets  are  sometimes  found  half-full  of  birds  thus  caught. 


BLACK   GROUSE. — FEMALE. 


688        THE  RED  GROUSE. — COCK  OF  THE  PLAINS. 


THE  RED  GROUSE,  OR  RED  GAME. 


The  weight  of  the  male  is  about  nine- 
teen and  of  the  female  fifteen  ounces. 
The  bill  is  black ;  and  at  the  base  of  the 
lower  mandible  there  is  on  each  side  a 
white  spot.  Each  eye  is  arched  with  a 
large,  naked,  scarlet  spot.  The  throat 
is  red.  The  plumage  of  the  upper  parts 
of  the  body  is  mottled  with  dusky  red 
and  black.  The  breast  and  belly  are 
purplish,  crossed  with  small  dusky  lines. 


THE  RED  GROUSE 

COCK  OF  THE  PLAINS. 

This  large  and  beautiful  species  of  Grouse,  little  inferior  to  the 
Turkey  in  size,  and  the  American  counterpart  of  the  Cock  of  the 
Woods,  was  first  seen  by  Lewis  and  Clarke  in  the  wild  recesses 
within  the  central  chains  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  from  whence  they 
extend  in  accumulating  numbers  to  the  plains  of  the  Columbia,  and 
are  common  throughout  the  Oregon  Territory,  as  well  as  the  neigh- 
boring province  of  California. 

The  flight  of  this  large  bird  is  slow,  unsteady,  and  attended  with  a 
whirring  sound,  the  wings  being  kept  in  a  hurried  motion,  as  in  most 
other  Grouse.  It  also  runs  much  on  the  ground  in  the  manner  of  the 
Turkey,  and  is  not  very  partial  to  taking  wing.  Their  starting  cry, 
like  that  of  the  common  Pheasant,  is  a  sort  of  'kuk,  '/cuk,  'kuk.  They 
begin  to  pair  in  March  and  April ;  and  at  this  time  repair  to  eminences 
on  the  banks  of  streams  where  they  are  seen  assembled  about  sun-rise. 
The  male  lowers  his  wings,  and  produces  a  humming  sound  as  he 
trails  his  outspread  pinions  on  the  ground;  the  tail,  at  the  same 
time,  is  spread  out  like  a  fan,  and  the  bare  space  on  the  breast  is  also 
accompanied  by  a  large  inflation.  He  then  struts  proudly  in  the 
presence  of  his  intended  mate,  uttering  a  confused  and  disagreeable 
'hurr-hurr-r-r-r-hoo1  ending  in  a  deep  and  hollow  tone,  like  the  sound 
produced  by  blowing  into  a  cane.  They  nest  on  the  ground  under 
the  shelter  of  low  bushes,  or  near  streams  among  the  wild  Canary  Grass 
of  this  region.  The  nest  is  made  of  dry  grass  and  slender  twigs. 
The  eggs,  from  thirteen  to  seventeen,  about  the  size  of  those  of  the 
domestic  fowl,  are  of  a  wood  brown  color,  with  irregular  chocolate 
blotches  at  the  thick  end.  The  period  of  incubation  extends  from 
twenty-one  to  twenty-two  days ;  and  as  in  other  birds  of  this  active  tribe 
the  young  run  about  and  quit  the  nest  in  few  hours  after  being  hatched. 
In  summer  and  autumn,  these  large  Grouse  are  seen  only  in  small 
numbers,  pairs  or  families,  but  in  winter  and  spring,  partially  migratory, 
they  are  then  seen  in  flocks  of  several  hundreds,  rooming  about  in 


THE    WHITE   GROUSE,    OR    PTARMIGAN.  689 

quest  of  food.  They  are  plentiful  throughout  the  barren  and  arid 
plains  of  the  Columbia,  as  well  as  in  the  interior  of  North  California, 
but  are  nowhere  seen  to  the  east  of  the  Kocky  Mountains. 


OR   PTARMIGAN.     . 

The  Ptarmigan  is  somewhat  larger  than  a  Pigeon.  Its  bill  is  black ; 
and  its  plumage,  in  summer,  is  of  a  pale  brown  color,  elegantly  mottled 
with  small  bars  and  dusky  spots.  The  head  and  neck  are  marked 
with  broad  bars  of  black,  rust-color,  and  white.  The  wings  and  belly 
are  white. 

These  birds  moult  in  the  winter  months,  changing  at  this  season 
their  summer  dress  for  one  more  warm ;  and,  instead  of  having  their 
feathers  of  many  colors,  they  then  become  white.  By  a  wonderful  pro- 
vision, every  feather  also,  except  those  of  the  wings  and  tail,  becomes 
double ;  a  downy  one  shooting  out  at  the  base  of  each,  which  gives 
an  additional  protection  against  the  cold. 

Their  feet,  by  being  feathered  entirely  to  the  toes,  are  well 
protected  from  the  cold.  Every  morning  the  birds  take  a  flight 
directly  upward  into  the  air,  apparently  to  shake  the  snow  from 
their  wings  and  bodies.  They  feed  in  the  mornings  and  evenings, 
and  in  the  middle  of  the  day  they  bask  in  the  sun. 

About  the  beginning  of  October  the  Ptarmigans  assemble  in  flocks 
of  a  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred,  and  live  much  among  the 
willows,  the  tops  of  which  they  eat.  In  December  they  retire  from 
the  flats  about  Hudson's  Bay  to  the  mountains,  to  feed  on  the  moun- 
tain berries.  Some  of  the  Greenlanders  believe  that  Ptarmigans,  in 
order  to  provide  a  subsistence  through  the  winter,  collect  a  store  of 
mountain  berries  into  some  crevice  of  a  rock  near  their  retreat ;  and  it 
is  generally  supposed,  that,  by  means  of  their  long,  broad,  and  hollow 
nails,  they  form  lodges  under  the  snow,  where  they  lie  in  heaps  to 
protect  themselves  from  the  cold.  During  winter  they  are  often  seen 
flying  in  great  numbers  among  the  rocks. 

Though  sometimes  found  in  the  mountains' of  the  north  of  Scotland, 
the  Ptarmigans  are  chiefly  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  globe  which 
lies  about  the  Arctic  Circle.  Their  food  consists  of  the  buds  of  trees, 
young  shoots  of  pine  and  heath,  and  of  fruits  and  berries  which  grow 
on  the  mountains.  They  are  so  stupid  and  silly,  as  often  to  suffer 
themselves,  without  the  least  difficulty,  to  be  knocked  on  the  head,  or 
to  be  driven  into  any  snare  that  is  set  for  them.  They  frequently 
stretch  out  their  neck,  apparently  in.  curiosity,  and  remain  otherwise 
unconcerned,  while,  the  fowler  takes  aim  at  them.  When  frightened, 
they  fly  off;  but  immediately  afterwards  they  alight,  and  stand  staring 
at  their  foe.  If  the  hen  bird  be  killed,  it  is  said  that  the  male  will 
not  forsake  her,  but  may  then  also  be  killed.  So  little  alarmed  are 
these  birds  at  the  presence  of  mankind,  as  even  to  bear  driving  like 
poultry ;  yet,  notwithstanding  this  apparent  gentleness  of  disposition, 
it  is  impossible  to  domesticate  them ;  for  when  caught  they  refuse  to 
eat,  and  they  always  die  soon  afterwards. 


690 


THE   PARTRIDGE. 


Their  voice  is  very  extraordinary  :  and  they  do  not  often  exert  it 
except  in  the  night.  Ptarmigans  are  seldom  found  in  Sweden  ;  and  one 
of  these  birds,  several  years  ago,  happening  to  stray  within  a  hundred 
miles  of  Stockholm,  very  much  alarmed  the  common  people  of  the 
neighborhood  ;  for,  from  its  nightly  noise,  a  report  was  circulated 
that  the  wood,  where  it  had  taken  up  its  residence,  was  haunted  by 
a  ghost.  So  much  were  the  people  terrified  by  this  supposed  sprite, 
that,  for  a  considerable  time,  nothing  could  tempt  the  post-boys  to 
pass  the  wood  after  dark.  The  spirit,  however,  was  at  last  removed, 
by  a  gamekeeper  shooting  the  bird. 

Ptarmigans  form  their  nests  on  the  ground,  in  dry  ridges  ;  and  lay 
from  six  to  ten  dusky  eggs  with  reddish-brown  spots. 

The  usual  method  of  catching  these  birds  is  by  nets  made  of  twine 
twenty  feet  square,  connected  to  four  poles,  and  propped  with  sticks 
in  front.  A  long  line  is  fastened  to  these,  the  end  of  which  is  held 
by  a  person  who  lies  concealed  at  a  distance.  Several  people  drive 
the  birds  within  reach  of  the  net;  which  is  then  pulled  clown,  and  is 
often  found  to  cover  fifty  or  sixty  of  them.  Ptarmigans  are  in  such 
plenty  in  the  northern  parts  of  America,  that  upwards  often  thousand 
are  frequently  caught  for  the  use  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Settlement,  be- 
tween November  and  May. 

The  Laplanders  catch  these  birds  by  means  of  a  hedge  formed  with 
the  branches  of  birch  trees,  and  having  small  openings,  at  certain 
intervals,  with  a  snare  in  each.  The  birds  are  tempted  to  feed  on  the 
buds  and  catkins  of  the  birch ;  and  whenever  they  endeavor  to  pass 
through  the  openings,  they  are  instantly  caught. 

They  are  excellent  food;  and  in  taste  are  so  like  the  common 
grouse,  as  to  be  scarcely  distinguishable  from  it. 


THE    PARTRIDGE. 

The  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  are  alike  unfavorable  to  the  pro- 
pagation of  the 
Partridge.  This 
bird  also  flour- 
ishes best  in  cul- 
tivated countries 
living  principal- 
ly on  the  labors 
of  the  husband- 
man. In  Sweden 
Partridges  bur- 
row beneath  the, 
snow ;  and  the 
w  hole  covey 
crowd  together 
under  this  shel- 
t  e  r,  to  guard 
against  the  in- 


PARTRinOIZ. 


THE   PARTRIDGE.  691 

tense  cold.  In  Greenland,  the  Partridge  is  brown  during  summer ; 
but  as  soon  as  the  winter  sets  in,  it  becomes  clothed  with  a  thick 
and  warm  down,  and  its  exterior  feathers  assume  the  color  of  the 
snow. 

Partridges  have  ever  held  a  distinguished  place  at  the  tables  of  the 
luxurious,  both  in  Europe  and  America.  We  have  an  old  distich : 

"  If  the  Partridge  had  the  Woodcock's  thigh, 
Twould  be  the  best  bird  that  e'er  did  fly." 

They  pair  about  the  third  week  in  February  ;  and  sometimes,  .after 
pairing,  if  the  weather  be  very  severe,  they  collect  together,  and 
again  form  into  coveys.  In  May  the  female  lays  her  eggs,  usually  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen  in  number,  in  a  rude  nest  of  dry  leaves  and  grass, 
formed  upon  the  ground  ;  these  are  of  a  greenish-gray  color.  The 
period  of  incubation  is  three  weeks.  So  closely  do  these  birds  sit  on 
their  eggs  when  near  hatching,  that  a  Partridge  with  her  nest  has 
been  carried  in  a  hat  to  some  distance,  and  in  confinement  has  con- 
tinued her  incubation,  and  there  produced  young-ones.  The  great 
hatch  is  about  the  first  ten  days  in  June ;  and  the  earliest  birds  begin  to 
fly  towards  the  latter  end  of  that  month.  The  young  brood  are  able  to 
run  about  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched,  and  they  are  even  sometimes 
seen  encumbered  with  a  piece  of  the  shell  sticking  to  them.  The 
parents  immediately  lead  them  to  ant-hills,  on  the  grubs  of  which 
insects  they  at  first  principally  feed. 

At  the  season  when  the  Partridge  is  produced,  the  various  species 
of  Ants  loosen  the  earth  about  their  habitations.  The  young  birds, 
therefore,  have  only  to  scrape  away  the  earth,  and  they  can  satisfy 
their  hunger  without  difficulty.  A  covey  that  some  years  ago 
excited  the  attention  of  the  Eev.  Mr.  Gould,  gave  him  an  opportu- 
nity of  remarking  the  great  delight  which  they  take  in  this  kind  of 
food.  '  On  his  turning  up  a  colony  of  Ants,  and  withdrawing  to  some 
distance,  the  parents  conducted  their  young  ones  to  the  hill,  and  fed 
very  heartily.  After  a  few  days  they  grew  more  bold,  and  ventured 
to  eat  within  twelve  or  fourteen  yards  of  him.  The  surrounding  grass 
was  high  ;  by  which  means  they  could,  on  the  least  disturbance,  im- 
mediately run  out  of  sight  and  conceal  themselves.  This  is  an  excellent 
food  for  Partridges  that  are  bred  up  under  a  domestic  hen  ;  if  constantly 
supplied  with  Ants'  grubs  and  fresh  water,  the  birds  seldom  fail  to 
arrive  at  maturity.  Along  with  the  grubs  it  is  recommended  to  give 
them,  at  intervals,  a  mixture  of  millepedes,  or  wood-lice,  and  earwigs ; 
fresh  curds  mixed  with  lettuce,  chickweed,  or  groundsel,  should  also 
be  given  them. 

The  affection  of  Partridges  for  their  offspring  is  peculiarly  interest- 
ing. Both  the  parents  lead  them  out  to  feed ;  they  point  out  to  them 
the  proper  places  for  their  food,  and  assist  them  in  finding  it  by 
scratching  the  ground  with  their  feet.  They  frequently  sit  close  to- 
gether, covering  the  young-ones  with  their  wings  ;  and  from  this  pro- 
tection they  are  not  easily  roused.  If,  however,  they  are  disturbed, 
most  persons  acquainted  with  rural  affairs  know  the  confusion  that 
44 


692  THE    PARTRIDGE. 

ensues.  The  male  gives  the  first  signal  of  alarm,  by  a  peculiar  cry 
of  distress ;  throwing  himself  at  the  same  moment  more  immediately 
into  the  way  of  danger,  in  order  to  mislead  the  enemy.  He  flutters 
along  the  ground,  hanging  his  wings,  and  exhibiting  every  symptom 
of  debility.  By  this  stratagem  he  seldom  fails  of  so  far  attracting 
the  attention  of  the  intruder,  as  to  allow  the  female  to  conduct  the 
helpless,  unfledged  brood  into  some  place  of  security.  "A  Partridge 
(says  Mr.  White,  who  gives  an  instance  of  this  instinctive  sagacity) 
came  out  of  a  ditch,  and  ran  along  shivering  with  her  wings,  and 
crying  out  as  if  wounded  and  unable  to  get  from  us.  While  the 
dam  feigned  distress,  a  boy  who  attended  me  saw  the  brood,  which  was 
small  and  unable  to  fly,  run  for  shelter  into  an  old  fox-hole,  under 
the  bank."  Mr.  Marwick  relates,  that  "  once  as  he  was  hunting  with 
a  young  Pointer,  the  dog  ran  on  a  brood  of  very  small  Partridges. 
The  old  bird  cried,  fluttered,  and  ran  tumbling  along  just  before  the 
dog's  nose,  till  she  had  drawn  him  to  a  considerable  distance ;  when 
she  took  wing  and  flew  further  off^  but  not  out  of  the  fielJL  On  this 
the  dog  returned  nearly  to  the  place  where  the  young-ones  lay  con- 
cealed in  the  grass ;  this  the  old  bird  no  sooner  perceived  than  she 
flew  back  again,  settled  just  before  the  dog's  nose,  and  a  second  time 
acted  the  same  part,  rolling  and  tumbling  about  till  she  drew  off  his 
attention  from  her  brood,  and  thus  succeeded  in  preserving  them." 
This  gentleman  says  also  that,  when  a  Kite  was  once  hovering  over  a 
covey  of  young  Partridges,  he  saw  the  old  birds  fly  up  at  the  ferocious 
enemy,  screaming  and  fighting  with  all  their  might  to  preserve  their 
brood. 

The  eggs  of  the  Partridge  are  frequently  destroyed  by  Weasels, 
Stoats,  Crows,  Magpies,  and  other  animals.  When  this  has  been  the 
case,  the  female  frequently  makes  another  nest  and  lays  afresh.  The 
produce  of  these  second  hatchings  are  those  small  birds  that  are  not 
perfectly  feathered  in  the  tail  till  the  beginning  of  October.  This  is 
always  a  puny,  sickly  race, ;  and  the  individuals  seldom  outlive  the 
rigors  of  the  winter. 

It  is  said  that  those  Partridges  which  are  hatched  under  a  domestic 
hen,  retain  through  life  the  habit  of  calling  whenever  they  hear  the 
clucking  of  hens. 

The  Partridge,  even  when  reared  by  the  hand,  soon  neglects  those 
who  have  the  care  of  it ;  and,  shortly  after  its  full  growth,  altogether 
estranges  itself  from  the  house  where  it  was  bred.  This  will  almost 
invariably  be  its  conduct,  however  intimately  it  may  have  connected 
itself  with  the  place  and  inhabitants  in  the  early  part  of  its  exist- 
ence. Among  the  few  instances  of  the  Partridge's  remaining  tame, 
was  that  of  one  reared  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bird.  This,  long  after  its 
full  growth,  attended  the  parlor  at  breakfast  and  other  times,  received 
food  from  any  hand  that  gave  it,  stretched  itself  before  the  fire,  and 
seemed  much  to  enjoy  the  warmth.  At  length,  it  fell  a  victim  to  that 
foe  of  all  favorite  birds,  a  cat. 

On  the  farm  of  Lion  Hall,  in  Essex,  belonging  to  Colonel  Hawker, 
a  Partridge,  in  the  year  1788,  formed  her  nest,  and  hatched  sixteen 
eggs,  on  the  top  of  a  pollard  oak-tree.  What  renders  this  circumstance 


THE  QUAIL.  693 

the  more  remarkable  is,  that  the  tree  had,  fastened  to  it,  the  'oars  of  a 
stile,  where  there  was  a  footpath ;  and  the  passengers,  in  going  over 
discovered  and  disturbed  her  before  she  sat  close.  When  the  brood 
was  hatched,  the  birds  scrambled  down  the  short  and  rough  boughs, 
which  grew  out  all  around  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  and  reached 
the  ground  in  safety. 

In  the  year  1798,  the  following  occurrence  took  place  at  East  Dean 
in  Sussex,  which  will  tend  to  prove  that  Partridges  have  no  powers 
of  migration.  A  covey  of  sixteen  Partridges,  having  been  disturbed 
by  some  men  at  plough,  directed  their  flight  across  the  cliff  to  tho 
sea,  over  which  they  continued  their  course  about  three  hundred 
yards.  Either  intimidated,  or  otherwise  affected  by  that  element,  the 
whole  were  then  observed  to  drop  into  the  water.  Twelve  of  them 
were  soon  afterwards  floated  to  shore  by  the  tide,  where  they  were 
picked  up  by  a  boy,  who  carried  them  to  Eastbourn  for  sale. 

It  has  long  been  a  received  opinion  among  sportsmen,  as  well  as 
among  naturalists,  that  the  female  Partridge  has  none  of  the  bay 
feathers  of  the  breast  like  the  male.  This,  however,  on  dissection, 
has  proved  to  be  a  mistake;  for  Mr.  Montagu  happening  to  kill  nine 
birds  in  one  day,  with  very  little  variation  as  to  the  bay  mark  on  the 
breast,  he  was  led  to  open  them  all,  and  discovered  that  five  of  them 
were  females.  On  carefully  examining  the  plumage,  he  found  that 
the  males  could  only  be  known  by  the 
superior  brightness  of  color  about  the 
head;  which  alone,  after  the  first  or 
second  year,  seems  to  be  the  true  mark 
of  distinction; 

The  California  Quail   is  a  beautiful 
species  with  a  small  feather  by  way  of 

Crest  On  IIS  neacl.  CALIFORNIA  PABTRIPGE. 


THE    QUAIL. 

The  bill  of  this  bird  is  of  a  dusky  color.  The  feathers  of  the  head 
are  black,  edged  with  a  rusty  brown.  The  crown  of  the  head  is  di- 
vided by  a  whitish  yellow  line,  beginning  at  the  bill,  and  running 
along  the  hind  part  of  the  neck  to  the  back.  Above  each  eye  there 
is  another  line  of  similar  color.  The  chin  and  throat  are  of  a  dirty 
white.  The  cheeks  are  spotted  with  brown  and  white.  The  breast 
is  of  a  pale  yellowish  red,  spotted  with  black.  The  scapular  feathers, 
and  those  on  the  back,  are  marked  in  the  middle  with  a  long,  pale, 
yellow  line;  and  on  their  sides  with  ferruginous  and  black  bars.  The 
coverts  of  the  wings  are  reddish  brown,  elegantly  barred  with  paler 
lines,  bounded  on  each  side  with  black.  The  exterior  side  of  the  first 
quill-feathers  is  white;  and  of  the  others,  dusk}*-  spotted  with  red. 
The  tail  consists  of  twelve  short  feathers,  barred  with  black  and  very 
pale  brownish  red.  The  legs  are  of  a  pale  hue. 

The  Quail  is  an  inhabitant  of  nearly  all  countries,  and  in  all  it  is 
esteemed  excellent  food.  In  appearance  it  is  so  like  the  Partridge, 


694 


THE    QUAIL. 


THE  QUAIL. 


that  it  is  sometimes  called  Dwarf  Partridge ;  and,  in  the  manners  of  the 
two  species,  there  is  a  resemblance.     They  feed,  form  their  nest,  and 

rear  their  young- 
ones,  nearly  in  the 
same  way.  They 
are,  however,  in 
many  respects  very 
different.  Quails 
migrate :  they  are 
always  smaller;  and 
have  not  a  naked 
space  between  the 
eyes,  nor  the  figure 
of  a  horse-shoe  on 
their  breasts.  The 
eggs  too  are  less  than 
those  of  the  Par- 
tridge, and  very  diff- 
erent in  color.  Their 
voices  are  unlike. 
Quails  seldom  live 
in  coveys ;  except  when  their  wants  unite  the  feeble  family  to  their 
mother,  or  some  powerful  cause  urges  great  numbers  to  assemble, 
and  traverse  together  the  extent  of  the  ocean,  holding  their  course 
to  the  same  distant  lands.  They  are  much  less  cunning  than  the 
Partridge ;  and  more  easily  ensnared,  especially  when  young. 

The  females  lay  about  ten  eggs,  in  the  incubation  of  which  they 
are  occupied  three  weeks.  The  eggs  are  whitish ;  but  marked  with 
ragged  rust-colored  spots.  Quails  have  been  supposed,  but  without 
foundation,  to  breed  twice  in  the  year. 

These  birds  generally  sleep  during  the  day,  concealed  in  the  tallest 
grass;  lying  on  their  sides,  with  their  legs  extended.  So  very  indolent 
are  these  birds,  that  a  Dog  must  absolutely  run  upon  them  before  they 
are  flushed ;  and  when  they  are  forced  upon  wing,  they  seldom  fly  far. 
Quails  are  easily  drawn  within  reach  of  a  net,  by  a  call  imitating 
their  cry,  which  is  not  unlike  the  words  whit,  whit,  whit:  this  is  done 
with  an  instrument  called  a  quail-pipe. 

Quails  are  found  in  several  parts  of  Great  Britain ;  and  the  time  of 
their  migration  from,  there  is  August  or  September.  They  are  sup- 
posed to  winter  in  Africa ;  and  they  return  early  in  the  spring.  At 
their  arrival  in  Alexandria,  such  multitudes  are  exposed  in  the  mar- 
kets for  sale,  that  three  or  four  may  sometimes  be  bought  for  a  medina 
(a  coin  less  than  three  farthings  in  value.)  Crews  of  merchant- vessels 
have  been  fed  upon  them;  and  complaints  have  sometimes  been  laid  at 
the  consul's  office,  by  mariners  against  their  captains,  for  giving  them 
nothing  but  Quails  to  eat. 

AVith  wind  and  weather  in  their  favor,  these  birds  have  been  known, 
in  the  course  of  one  night,  to  perform  a  flight  of  fifty  leagues  across 
the  Black  Sea ;  a  wonderful  distance  for  so  short-winged  a  bird. 
Such  prodigious  numbers  of  Quails  have  sometimes  appeared  on 


THE  GREAT    BUSTARD.  695 

the  western  coasts  of  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  that  a  hundred  thou- 
sand have,  in  one  day,  been  caught  within  the  space  of  three  or  four 
miles.  Most  of  these  are  taken  to  Rome,  where  they  are  in  great 
request,  and  are  sold  at  high  prices.  Clouds  of  Quails  also  alight,  in 
spring,  along  the  coasts  of  Provence  :  especially  in  the  lands  belonging 
to  the  bishop  of  Frejus,  which  border  on  the  sea.  Here  they  are 
sometimes  found  so  exhausted,  that  for  a  few  of  the  first  days  they 
may  be  caught  with  the  hand.  Tn  some  parts  of  the  south  of  Russia 
they  abound  so  greatly,  that  at  the  time  of  their  migration  they  are 
caught  by  thousands,  and  sent  in  casks  to  Moscow  and  Petersburg. 

With  respect  of  these  birds  having  an  instinctive  knowledge  of  the 
precise  time  for  emigration,  we  have  a  singular  fact  in  some  young 
Quails,  which,  having  been  bred  in  cages  from  the  earliest  period  of 
their  lives,  had  never  enjoyed,  and  therefore  could  not  feel,  the  loss 
of  liberty.  For  four  successive  years  they  were  observed  to  be  rest- 
less, and  to  nutter  with  unusual  agitations,  regularly  in  September 
and  April ;  and  this  uneasiness  lasted  thirty  days  each  time.  It  began 
constantly  an  hour  before  sun-set.  The  birds  passed  the  whole  night 
in  these  fruitless  struggles  ;  and  always  on  the  following  day  appeared 
dejected  and  stupid. 

Quails  are  birds  of  undaunted  courage ;  and  their  quarrels  often 
terminate  in  mutual  destruction.  This  irascible  disposition  induced 
the  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans  to  fight  them  with  each  other,  as  the 
moderns  do  game-cocks.  And  such  favorites  were  the  conquerors,  that 
in  one  instance  Augustus  punished  a  prsefect  of  Egypt  with  death  for 
having  brought  to  his  table  one  of  these  birds  which  had  acquired 
celebrity  for  its  victories.  The  fighting  of  Quails  is  even  now  a 
fashionable  diversion  in  China,  and  in  some  parts  of  Italy. 


OF  THE  BUSTARDS  IN  GENERAL. 


THE  Bustards  have  a  somewhat  con- 
vex bill,  with  open  and  oblong  nostrils. 
Their  legs  are  long,  and  naked  above 
the  knees.  The  feet  have  only  three 
toes,  all  placed  forward. 

There  are  about  twelve  different  spe- 
cies of  Bustards,  nearly  all  of  which 
are  inhabitants  of  the  Old  Continent. 


THE    GREAT   BUSTARD. 

This  is  one  of  the  largest  land-fowl,  the  male  sometimes  weighing 
twenty-five  pounds  and  upwards.  'The  length  is  nearly  four  feet,  and 
the  breadth  nine.  The  head  and  neck  are  ash-colored.  The  back  is 


696 


THE  GREAT   BUSTARD. 


transversely  barred  with  black,  and  bright  rust-color.  The  belly  is 
white  :  and  the  tail,  consisting  of  twenty  feathers,  is  barred  with  red 
and  black.  The  legs  are  dusky.  On  each  side  of  the  lower  mandible 
of  the  bill  there  is  a  tuft  of  feathers  about  nine  inches  long. 

The  female  is  not  much  more  than  half  the  size  of  the  male.  The 
top  of  her  head  is  of  a  deep  orange,  and  the  rest  of  the  head  brown.  Her 
colors  are  not  so  bright  as  those  of  the  male,  and  she  wants  the  tuft 
on  each  side  of  the  head. 

There  is  one  very  essential  distinction  between  the  male  and  the 

female  of  this  spe- 
cies. The  former 
is  furnished  with 
a  sac  or  pouch, 
situated  in  the  fore 
part  of  the,  neck, 
and  capable  of 
containing  more 
than  two  quarts  of 
water.  .The  en- 
trance to  this 
pouch  is  immedi- 
ately under  the 
tongue.  This  sin- 
gular reservoir  was 
first  discovered  by 
Dr.  Douglass,  who 
supposes  that  the 
bird  fills  it  with 
water,  to  supply 
its  thirst  in  the 
midst  of  'those  ex- 
tensive plains 
where  it  is  accus- 
tomed to  wander. 
The  Bustard  like- 
wise makes  a  fur- 
ther use  of  it,  in 
defending  itself 
against  the  attacks 
of  birds  of  prey : 
on  these  occasions 
it  throws  out  the  water  with  such  violence,  as  not  unfrequently  to 
baffle  the  pursuit  of  its  enemy. 

This  bird  makes  no  nest,  but  the  female  lays  her  eggs  in  some  hollow 
place  of  the  ground,  in  a  dry  corn  field ;  these  are  two  in  number,  as 
big  as  those  of  a  goose,  and  of  a  pale  olive  brown,  marked  with  spots 
of  a  deeper  color.  If,  during  her  absence  from  the  nest,  any  one  handle 
or  even  breathe  upon  the  eggs,  she  immediately  abandons  them.  The 
young  ones  follow  the  dam  soon  after  they  are  excluded  from  the  egg, 
but  they  are  not  capable  for  some  time  of  flying. 


OB  EAT   BUSTARD. — MALE. 


BLACK   HEADED   BUSTARD — LEADEN-TINTED   BUSTARD.       697 

Bustards  feed  on  green  corn,  the  tops  of  turnips,  and  other  vegeta- 
bles as  well  as  on  worms :  and  they  have  been  known  to  eat  Frogs, 
Mice,  and  also  young 
birds.  They  are  re- 
markable for  their 
great  timidity;  they 
carefully  avoid  man- 
kind, and  are  easily 
driven  away  in  whole 
herds  by  the  smallest 
dog. 

In  England  these 
birds  are  now  and 
then  met  with :  they 
frequent  the  open 
countries  of  the  south 
and  east  parts,  from 
Dorsetshire,  as  far  as 
the  wolds  in  York- 
shire; and  are  some- 
times, though  rarely, 
seen  on  Salisbury 
Plain.  They  are 
slow  in  taking  wing, 
but  run  with  great 
rapidity ;  and  the 
young  ones  are 
sometimes  coursed 
and  taken  by  Grey- 
hounds. 


GREAT  BUSTARD. — FEMALE. 


THE   BLACK   HEADED  BUSTARD. 


This  fine  species  is  a  native  of  India  and  is  very  generally  spread : 
it  occurs  in  the  Himalaya  mountains.  It  is  gregarious  and  the  male 
is  furnished  with  a  gular  pouch.  Its  flesh  is  excellent.  It  feeds 
chiefly  on  Grasshoppers.  It  is  bay  colored  varied  with  brown,  length 
fifty-six  and  a  half  inches. 


LEADEN-TINTED   BUSTARD. 

This  species  is  a  native  of  the  plains  of  South  Africa.  Its  habits 
are  those  of  the  family  generally.  It  is  twenty  inches  in  length ;  seven- 
teen inches  in  height.  Its  general  color  is  brown,  varied  with  black 
and  white. 


698  THE   GOLD   BREASTED   TRUMPETER. 


OF  THE  -TRUMPETERS. 

THE  bill  is  moderately  long,  having  the  upper  mandible  a  little 
convex.  The  nostrils  are  oblong,  sunk,  and  pervious.  The  tongue  is 
cartilaginous,  flat,  and  fringed  at  the  tip.  The  legs  are  naked  a  little 
above  the  knees ;  and  the  toes  are  placed  three  before  and  one  behind. 

This  singular  tribe,  of  which  only  two  species  have  yet  been  discovered 
stands  arranged,  even  in  Gmelin's  edition  of  the  Systema  Naturae, 
among  the  birds  of  the  ensuing  order,  the  Waders ;  but  both  in  its 
formation  and  habits  it  differs  so  materially  from  the  whole  of  that 
order,  that  I  have  not  hesitated  in  placing  it  among  the  gallinaceous 
birds. 


THE   GOLD-BREASTED  TRUMPETER. 

The  length  of  this  bird  is  about  twenty-two  inches  ;  and  its  legs  are 
five  inches  high,  and  completely  covered  with 
small  scales,  which  reach  two  inches  above  the 
knee.  Its  general  plumage  is  black  :  and  the 
feathers  of  the  head  and  neck  are  very  short 
and  downy  ;  those  of  the  fore  part  of  the  neck, 
and  upper  part  of  the  breast,  of  a  glossy  gilded 
green,  with  a  reflection  of  blue  in  some  lights. 
The  feathers  between  the  shoulders  are  rust- 
colored,  changing  into  a  pale  ash-color  as  they 
pass  downward.  They  are  loose  and  silky 
Those  of  the  scapulars  are  long,  and  hang  ovei 
the  tail,  which  is  very  short,  and  consists  of 
twelve  blackish  feathers.  The  legs  are  green- 
ish ;  and  the  bill  is  yellowish  green,  having 


THE  QOLD-BREASTZD  TRUMPETER. 


The  most  characteristic  and  remarkable  property  of  the  Gold- 
breasted  Trumpeters  consists  in  the  singular  noise  which  they  often 
make  either  of  their  own  accord,  or  when  urged  by  their  keepers. 
To  induce  one  of  the  birds  to  this,  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  entice 
it  with  a  bit  of  bread  to  come  near  ;  and  then,  making  the  same  kind 
of  sound,  which  the  keepers  can  well  imitate,  the  bird  will  frequently 
be  disposed  to  repeat  it.  The  Gold-breasted  Trumpeter,  when  tamed, 
distinguishes  its  master  and  benefactor  with  marks  of  affection.  — 
"Having  (says  Vosmaer)  reared  one  myself,  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  experiencing  this.  When  I  opened  its  cage  in  the  morning,  the 
animal  hopped  round  me,  expanding  his  wings,  and  trumpeting,  as  if 
to  wish  me  good  morning.  He  showed  equal  attention  when  I  went 
out  and  returned.  No  sooner  did  he  perceive  me  at  a  distance,  than 
he  ran  to  meet  me  ;  and  even  when  I  happened  to  be  in  a  boat,  and 
set  my  foot  on  shore,  he  welcomed  me  with  the  same  compliments, 
which  he  reserved  for  me  alone,  and  never  bestowed  upon  others. 


THE   GOLD-BREASTED    TRUMPETER.  699 

The  Trumpeter  is  easily  tamed,  and  always  becomes  attached  to 
its  benefactor.  When  bred  up  in  the  house,  it  loads  its  master  with 
caresses,  and  follows  his  motions ;  and,  if  it  conceive  a  dislike  to  per- 
sons on  account  of  their  forbidding  figure,  or  of  injuries  received,  it 
will  pursue  them  sometimes  to  a  considerable  distance,  biting  their 
legs,  and  testifying  every  mark  of  displeasure.  It  obeys  the  voice  of 
its  master,  and  even  answers  to  the  call  of  others  to  whom  it  bears  no 
ill-will.  It  is  fond  of  caresses,  and  offers  its  head  and  neck  to  be 
stroked;  and  if  once  accustomed  to  these  familiarities,  it  becomes 
troublesome,  and  will  not  be  satisfied  without  continual  fondling.  It 
makes  its  appearance  as  often  as  its  master  sits  down  to  table,  and 
begins  by  driving  out  the  dogs  and  cats  from  the  room  ;  for  it  is  so 
obstinate  and  bold,  that  it  never  yields,  but,  often,  after  a  tough  battle, 
will  put  even  a  middle-sized  dog  to  flight.  It  avoids  the  bites  of  its 
antagonist  by  rising  in  the  air ;  and  retaliates  with  violent  blows  of 
its  bill  and  claws,  aimed  chiefly  at  the  eyes.  After  it  gains  the 
superiority,  it  pursues  its  victory  with  the  utmost  rancor,  and  if  not 
taken  off,  will  destroy  the  fugitive.  By  its  intercourse  with  man,  its 
instincts  become  moulded  like  those  of  dogs ;  and  we  are  assured 
that  it  can  be  trained  to  attend  a  flock  of  sheep.  It  even  shows  a 
degree  of  jealousy  of  its  human  rivals;  for  when  at  table,  it  bites 
fiercely  the  naked  legs  of  the  negroes  and  other  domestics  who 
approach  its  master. 

Nearly  all  these  birds  have  a  habit  of  following  people  through 
the  streets,  and  out  of  town  ;  even  those  whom  they  have  never  seen 
before.  It  is  difficult  to  get  rid  of  them  ;  if  a  person  enter  a  house, 
they  will  wait  his  return,  and  again  join  him,  though  after  an  interval 
of  two  or  three  hours.  I  have  sometimes,  (says  M.  de  la  Borde)  be- 
taken myself  to  my  heels  ;  but  they  ran  faster,  and  always  got  before 
me ;  and  when  I  stopped  they  stopped  also.  I  know  one  that  invaria- 
bly follows  all  the  strangers  who  enter  its  master's  house,  accompanies 
them  into  the  garden,  takes  as  many  turns  there  as  they  do,  and 
attends  them  back  again. 

In  a  state  of  nature  this  bird  inhabits  the  arid  mountains  and 
upland  forests  of  South  America ;  never  visiting  the  clear  grounds, 
nor  the  settlements.  It  associates  in  numerous  flocks.  It  walks  and 
runs,  rather  than  flies ;  for  it  never  rises  more  than  a  few  feet  from 
the  ground,  and  then  only  to  reach  some  short  distance,  or  to  gain 
some  low  branch.  It  feeds  on  wild  fruits  ;  and,  when  surprised  in  its 
haunts,  makes  its  escape  by  the  swiftness  of  its  feet,  at  the  same  time 
emitting  a  shrill  cry  not  unlike  that  of  a  Turkey. 


, 


700 


THE   BLACK,    OR    GREAT    OSTRICH. 


OF  THE  OSTKICHES  IN  GENERAL. 


IN  the  Ostriches,  the  bill  is  straight 
and  depressed.  The  wings  are  small 
in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  body., 
and  altogether  useless  for  flight.  The 
legs  are  naked  above  the  knee :  the 
number  of  toes,  in  one  species  is  two, 
and  in  the  remaining  species  three ; 
and  these  are  placed  forwards. 


TPIE   BLACK:,  OR  GREAT   OSTRICH. 

This  Ostrich  stands  so  high  as  to  measure  from  seven  to  nine  feet 

from  the  top  of  the  head  to  the 
ground.  From  the  back,  however, 
it  is  seldom  more  than  three  or 
four  feet,  the  rest  of  its  height 
being  made  up  by  its  extremely 
long  neck.  The  head  is  small ; 
and,  as  well  as  the  greater  part  of 
the  neck,  is  covered  only  with  a 
few  scattered  hairs.  The  feathers 
of  the  body  are  black  and  loose ; 
those  of  the  wings  and  tail  are  of 
a  snowy  white,  waved,  and  long, 
having  here  and  there  a  tip  of 
black.  The  wings  are  furnished 
with  spurs.  The  thighs  and  flanks 
are  naked  ;  and  the  feet  are  strong, 
and  of  a  gray-brown  color. 

The  sandy  and  burning  deserts 
of  Africa  and  Asia,  are  the  only 
native  residences  of  the  Black 
Ostriches.  Here  these  birds  are 
seen  in  flocks,  so  extensive  as 
sometimes  to  have  been  mistaken 
for  distant  cavalry. 

There  are  many  circumstances  in  the  economy  of  the  Ostrich,  which 
differ  from  those  of  the  feathered  race  in  general.  This  bird  seems 
to  form  one  of  the  links  of  union  in  the  great  cnain  of  nature,  connect- 


TDK   GREAT   OSTRICH. 


THE  BLACK,  OR  GREAT  OSTRICH. 


701 


ing  the  winged  with  the  four-footed  tribes.  Its  strong-jointed  legs, 
and  (if  I  may  venture  so  to  call  them)  cloven  hoofs,  are  well  adapted 
both  for  speed  and  defence.  Its  wings  insufficient  to  raise  it  from  the 
ground :  its  camel-shaped  neck  is  covered  with  hair :  its  voice  is  a 
kind  of  hollow,  mournful  lowing  :  and  it  grazes  on  the  plain  with  the 
Quagga  and  the  Zebra. 

Ostriches  are  frequently  injurious  to  farmers  in   the  interior  of 

Southern    Africa,  ^ 

by  coming  in 
flocks  into  their 
fields,  and  des- 
troying the  ears 
of  wheat  so  effect- 
ually, that  in  a 
large  tract  of  land 
they  sometimes 
leave  nothing  but 
the  mere  straw  be- 
hind. The  body 
of  the  bird  is  not 
higher  than  the 
corn  ;  and  when  it 
devours  the  ears, 
it  bends  down  its 
long  neck,  so  that 
at  a  little  distance 
it  cannot  be  seen  ; 
but  on  the  least 
noise  it  rears  its 
head,  and  gene- 
rally contrives  to 
escape  before  the 
farmer  gets  within 
gun-shot  of  it. 

When  the  Os- 
trich runs,  it  has 
a  proud  and 

haughty  appearance;  and,  even  when  in  extreme  distress, 
appears  in  great  haste,  especially  if  the  wind  be  with  it.  Its  \v)nos 
are  frequently  of  material  use  in  aiding  its  escape  ;  for,  when  the 
wind  blows  in  the  direction  that  it  is  pursuing,  it  always  flaps*  them. 
In  this  case  the  swiftest  horse  cannot  overtake  it :  but  if  the  weather 
be  hot,  and  there  be  no  wind,  the  difficulty  of  out-running  /.t  isvnot 
so  great. 

Ostriches  are  polygamous  birds  ;  one  male  being  seen  wj'rn  two  or 
three,  and  sometimes  with  five  females.  It  has  been  commonly  believed, 
that  the  female  Ostrich,  after  depositing  her  eggs  in  the  sand,  and 
there  covering  them  up,  trusts  them  to  be  hatched  by  the  heat  of  the 
climate,  and  leaves  the  young-ones  to  provide  for  themselves.  Even 
the  author  of  the  book  of  Job  alludes  to  this  popular  notion  respecting 


OSTRICH  RIDDEN   BY  A  NEGRO.' 


702 


THE   BLACK,   OR   GREAT   OSTRICH. 


the  Ostrich,  "  which  leaveth  her  eggs  in  the  earth,  and  warmeth  them 
in  the  dust ;  and  forgetteth  that  the  foot  may  crush  them,  or  that  the 
wild  beast  may  break  them.  She  is  hardened  against  her  young-ones, 
as  though  they  were  not  hers :  her  labor  is  in  vain,  without  fear ; 
because  God  has  deprived  her  of  wisdom,  neither  hath  he  imparted  to 
her  understanding."  Kecent  travellers  have,  however,  assured  us 
that  no  bird  has  a  stronger  affection  for  her  offspring  than  this,  and 

that  none  watch- 
es her  eggs  with 
greater  assiduty.lt 
h  appens,  probably , 
in  those  hot  cli- 
mates, that  there 
is  less  necessity 
for  the  continual 
incubation  of  the 
female ;  and  that' 
she  frequently 
leaves  her  eggs, 
which  are  in  no 
danger  of  being 
chilled  by  the 
weather.  But 
though  she  some- 
times leaves  them 
by  day,  she  al- 
ways carefully 
broods,  over  them 
by  night ;  and 
Kolben,  who  saw 
great  numbers  of 
Ostriches  at  the 
Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  affirms, 
that  they  sit  on 
their  eggs  like 
other  birds,  and 
that  the  males  and 
females  take  this 

office  by  turns,  as  he  had  frequent  opportunities  of  observing.  Nor 
is  it  more  true  that  they  forsake  their  young-ones  as  soon  as  they  are 
excluded  from  the  shell.  On  the  contrary,  these  are  not  able  to  walk 
for  several  days  after  they  are  hatched.  During  this  time  the  parents 
are  very  assiduous  in  supplying  them  with  grass  and  water,  and 
will  encounter  every  danger  in  their  defence.  The  females  which 
are  united  to  one  male,  deposit  all  their  eggs  in  the  same  place,  to 
the  number  of  ten  or  twelve  each  :  these  they  hatch  altogether,  the 
male  also  taking  his  turn  of  sitting  on  them.  Between  sixty  and 
seventy  eggs  have  sometimes  been  'bund  in  one  nest.  The  time  of 
incubation  is  six  weeks. 


GROUP  OF   OSTRICHES. 


THE    BLACK,   OR    GREAT   OSTRICH.  703 

M.  Le  Vaillant  informs  us.  that,  in  Africa,  he  started  an  Ostrich 
from  its  nest,  where  he  found  eleven  eggs  quite  warm :  he  also  found 
four  others  at  a  little  distance.  Those  in  the  nest  had  young-ones  in 
in  them ;  but  his  attendants  eagerly  caught  up  the  detached  ones, 
assuring  him  that  they  were  perfectly  good  to  eat.  They  informed 
him,  that  near  the  nest  there  are  always  placed  a  certain  number  of 
eggs,  which  the  birds  do  not  sit  upon,  and  which  are  designed  for  the 
first  nourishment  of  the  future  young.  "  Experience,  (says  M.  Le 
Vaillant)  has  convinced  me  of  the  truth  of  this  observation ;  for  I  never 
afterwards  met  with  an  Ostrich's  nest,  without  finding  eggs  disposed  in 
this  manner." 

Some  time  after  this,  M.  Le  Yaillant  found  a  female  Ostrich  on  a 
nest  containing  thirty-two  eggs ;  and  twelve  eggs  were  arranged  at  a 
little  Distance,  each  in  a  separate  cavity  formed  for  it.  He  remained 
near  the  place  some  time;  and  saw  three  other  females  come  and 
alternately  seat  themselves  in  the  nest ;  each  sitting  for  about  a  quarter 
of  an  hour,  and  then  giving  place  to  another,  who,  while  waiting,  sat 
close  by  the  side  of  her  whom  she  was  to  succeed. 

That  Ostriches  have  a  great  affection  for  their  offspring,  may  be  in- 
ferred from  the  assertion  of  Professor  Thunberg,  that  he  once  rode  past 
the  place  where  a  hen  Ostrich  was  sitting  on  her  nest ;  when  the  bird 
sprang  up  and  pursued  him,  evidently  with  a  view  to  prevent  his 
noticing  her  eggs  or  young.  Every  time  he  turned  his  horse  towards 
her,  she  retreated  ten  or  twelve  paces ;  but  as  soon  as  he  rode  on 
again,  she  pursued  him,  till  he  had  got  to  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  place  where  he  had  started  her. 

If  the  eggs  of  Ostriches  be  touched  by  any  person  in  the  absence  of 
the  parents,  the  birds  not  only  desist  from  laying  any  more  in  the  same 
place,  but  trample  to  pieces  with  their  feet  all  those  that  have  been 
left.  The  natives  of  Africa,  therefore,  are  very  careful  in  taking  part 
of  the  eggs  away,  not  to  touch  any  of  them  with  their  hands,  but 
always  to  push  them  out  of  the  nest  with  a  long  stick. 

In  the  interior  of  the  eggs  there  are  frequently  discovered  a  number 
of  small  oval-shaped  pebbles,  about  the  size  of  a  marrow-fat  pea  ;  of  P. 
pale  yellow  color,  and  exceedingly  hard.  Mr.  Barrow  states  that  he 
saw  in  one  egg  nine  and  in  another  twelve.  These  stones  are  some- 
times set,  and  used  for  buttons. 

This  gentleman,  states  that  the  eggs  of  the  Ostrich  are  considered  a 
great  delicacy.  They  are  prepared  as  food  in  various  ways  :  but  the 
best  way,  he  says,  is  to  bury  them  in  hot  ashes ;  and,  through  a  hole 
made  in  the-  upper  end,  to  stir  the  contents  round  till  they  acquire 
the  consistence  of  an  omelet.  Prepared  in  this  manner  he  often  found 
them  an  excellent  repast,  in  his  long  journeys  over  the  wilds  of  Africa. 
These  eggs  are  easily  preserved  for  a  great  length  of  time,  even  at  sea ; 
and  without  any  of  that  trouble  of  constantly  turning  them,  which  is 
necessary  with  hen's  eggs.  This  is  owing  entirely  to  the  thickness 
and  strength  of  the  shells.  At  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  they  are  usually 
sold  for  about  twelve  cents  each.  From  their  large  size,  one  of  them 
is  sufficient  to  serve  two  or  three  persons  at  a  meal. 

Thunberg  saw  necklaces  and  ornaments  for  the  waist,  that  had  been 


704  THE  BLACK,  OR  GREAT  OSTRICH. 

made  of  the  shells  of  the  eggs,  by  grinding  bits  of  them  into  the  form 
of  small  rings. 

The  Ostrich  itself  is  chiefly  valuable  for  its  plumage ;  and  the  Arabians 
have  reduced  the  chase  of  it  to  a  kind  of  science.  They  hunt  it  on 
horseback,  and  begin  their  pursuit  by  a  gentle  gallop  ;  for,  should  they 
at  the  outset  use  the  least  rashness,  the  matchless  speed  of  the  game 
would  immediately  carry  it  out  of  their  sight,  and  in  a  very  short 
time  beyond  their  reach.  But  when  they  proceed  gradually,  it  makes 
no  particular  effort  to  escape.  It  does  not  go  in  a  direct'  line,  but 
runs  first  to  one  side  and  then  to  the  other ;  this  its  pursuers  take 
advantage  of,  and,  by  rushing  directly  onward,  save  much  ground. 
In  a  few  days,  at  most,  the  strength  of  the  animal  is  exhausted ;  and  it 
then  either  turns  on  the  hunters  and  fights  with  the  fury  of  despair, 
or  hides  its  head,  and  tamely  receives  its  fate. 

Some  persons  breed  Ostriches  in  flocks :  for  they  may  be  tamed  with 
very  little  trouble ;  and  in  their  domestic  state,  few  animals  may  be 
rendered  more  useful.  Besides  the  valuable  feathers  which  they  cast; 
the  eggs  which  they  lay ;  -their  skins,  which  are  used  by  the  Arabians 
as  a  substitute  for  leather;  and  their  flesh,  which  many  esteem  as 
excellent  food,  they  are  sometimes  made  to  serve  the  purpose  of 
Horses. 

In  a  tame  state,  it  is  pleasant  to  observe  with  what  dexterity  they 
play  and  frisk  about.  In  the  heat  of  the  day,  particularly,  they  will 
strut  along  the  sunny  side  of  a  house  with  great  majesty,  perpetually 
fanning  themselves  with  their  expanded  wings,  and  seeming  at  every 
turn  to  admire,  and  be  enamored  of,  their  own  shadows.  During  most 
parts  of  the  day,  in  hot  climates,  their  wings  are  in  a  kind  of  vibrating 
or  quivering  motion,  as  if  designed  principally  to  assuage  the  heat. 

They  are  tractable  and  familiar  towards  persons  who  are  acquainted 
with  them ;  but  they  are  often  fierce  towards  strangers,  whom  they 
sometimes  attempt  to  push  down,  by  running  furiously  upon  them ; 
and,  on  succeeding  in  this  effort,  they  not  only  peck  at  the  fallen  foe 
with  their  bills,  but  strike  at  him  violently  with  their  feet.  While  thus 
engaged,  the  Ostriches  sometimes  make  a  fierce  hissing  noise,  and 
have  their  throats  inflated  and  their  mouths  open.  At  other  times 
they  make  a  kind  of  cackling  noise,  like  some  species  of  poultry :  this 
they  use  when  they  have  overcome  or  routed  an  adversary.  During 
the  night  they  often  utter  a  doleful  or  hideous  cry,  somewhat  resembling 
the  distant  roaring  of  a  Lion,  or  the  hoarse  tone  of  a  Bear  or  an  Ox,  as 
if  they  were  in  great  agony. 

They  will  swallow,  with  the  utmost  voracity,  rags,  leather,  wood, 
iron,  or  stone,  indiscriminately.  "  I  saw  one  at  Oran,  (says  Dr.  Shaw,) 
that  swallowed,  without  any  seeming  uneasiness  or  inconvenience, 
several  leaden  bullets,  as  they  were  thrown  upon  the  floor,  scorching 
hot  from  the  mould!" 

When  Mr.  Adanson  was  at  Poclar,  a  French  factory  on  the  southern 
branch  of  the  river  Niger,  two  young  but  nearly  full-grown  Ostriches 
belonging  to  the  factory,  afforded  him  a  very  amusing  sight.  They 
were  so  tarne,  that  two  little  blacks  mounted  both  together  on  the  back 
of  the  largest.  No  sooner  did  he  feel  their  weight,  than  he  began  to 


THE  CASSOWARY.  705 

run  as  fast  as  possible,  and  carried  them  several  times  round  the  village ; 
as  it  was  impossible  to  stop  him  otherwise  than  by  obstructing  the 
passage.  This  sight  pleased  Mr.  Adanson  so  much,  that  he  wished  it 
to  be°  repeated ;  and,  to  try  their  strength,  he  directed  a  full-grown 
negro  to  mount  the  smaller,  and  two  others  the  larger  of  the  birds. 
This  burden  did  not  seem  at  all  disproportioned  to  their  strength. 
At  first  they  went  at  a  tolerably  sharp  trot ;  but  when  they  became 
heated  a  little,  they  expanded  their  wings,  as  though  to  catch  the  wind 
and  moved  with  such  fleetness  that  they  scarcely  seemed  to  touch  the 
ground.  Most  people  have  seen  a  Partridge  run,  and  consequently 
they  must  know  that  no  man  is  able  to  keep  up  with  it :  and  it  is  easy 
to  imagine,  that  if  the  Partridge  had  a  longer  step,  its  speed  would  be 
considerably  augmented.  The  Ostrich  moves  like  the  Partridge,  with 
this  advantage ;  and  the  two  birds  here  spoken  of  would  have  distanced 
the  fleetest  race-horses  that  ever  were  bred.  It  is  true,  they  would  not 
have  held  out  so  long  as  a  horse  ;  but  they  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  able  to  go  over  a  given  short  space  in  less  time. 


THE   CASSOWARY. 

The  body  of  the  Cassowary  is  extremely  heav^y,  and  its  wings  are 
so  short,  that  it  has  no  power  to  raise  itself  from  the  ground  in  flight. 
The  quills  of  which  the  wings  are  composed,  are  five  in  number ;  they 
are  strong,  distant  from  each  other,  and  without  barbs.  They  are,  in 
short,  so  many  spines ;  and  are  given  to  the  animals  as  weapons  of 
defence  against  its  enemies.  The  beak  is  about  five  inches  long, 
somewhat  curved,  and  of  a  very  hard  substance.  A  bony  protuberance 
covered  with  horn,  and  of  a  blackish  brown  color,  forms  on  the  top  of 
the  head  a  sort  of  helmet.  The  skin  of  the  head  and  neck  is  entirely 
naked,  and  is  of  a  fine  blue  color  above  and  red  below.  On  each  side 
of  the  front  of  the  neck,  hangs  a  long  light  blue  caruncle  or  wattle.  The 
body  is  covered  with  black  feathers,  which  at  a  little  distance,  have  the 
appearance  of  hair.  Those  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  back  are  of  such 
length,  as  entirely  to  conceal  the  tail.  The  thighs  are  each  about 
eighteen  inches  long,  and  are  covered  with  feathers  almost  to  the  knees. 
The  legs  are  remarkably  stout :  the  toes  of  each  foot  are  only  three  in 
number,  and  the  nail  of  each  internal  toe  is  about  twice  the  length  of 
any  of  the  others. 

Like  the  Ostrich,  this  bird  is  not  very  delicate  in  its  taste.  It  will 
swallow  almost  any  thing  not  too  large  to  pass  down  its  throat,  that  is 
presented  to  it.  Some  writers  have  asserted,  that  the  Cassowary  will 
occasionally  swallow  even  burning  coals.  It  is  particularly  fond  of 
fruit,  and  of  the  eggs  of  poultry ;  but  it  is  not  able  to  eat  any  kind  of 
grain,  as  the  tongue  is  so  formed  as  to  have  no  power  of  guiding  this 
down  the  throat. 

A  Cassowary  now  kept  in  the  .Menagerie  of  the  museum  at  Paris, 
devours  every  day  between  three  and  four  pounds  weight  of  bread, 
six  or  seven  apples,  and  a  bunch  of  carrots.  In  summer,  it  drinks 
about  four  pints  of  water  in  the  day;  and  in  winter  somewhat  more. 


706 


THE    EMU. 


It  swallows  all  its  food  without  bruising  it.  The  bird  is  sometimes  ill- 
tempered  and  mischievous ;  is  much  irritated  when  any  person  ap- 
proaches it  of  a  dirty  or  ragged  appearance,  or  dressed  in  red  clothes ; 
and  frequently  attempts  to  strike  at  them  by  kicking  forward  with  its 
feet.  It  has  been  known  even  to  leap  out  of  its  enclosure,  and  to  tear 
the  legs  of  a  man  with  its  claws. 

The  Cassowary  is  a  very  vigorous  and  powerful  bird.  Its  beak 
being  in  proportion,  much  stronger  than  that  of  the  Ostrich,  it  has 
the  means  of  defending  itself  with'  great  advantage,  and  of  easily 
pulling  down  and  breaking  in  pieces  almost  any  hard  substance.  It 
strikes,  in  a  very  dangerous  manner  with  its  feet,  either  behind  or 
before,  at  any  object  which  offends  it. 

In  a  wild  state  these  birds  lay  three  or  four  eggs  at  a  time,  and 
these  are  generally  of  a  greenish  or  greyish  color,  beautifully  spotted 
with  grass  green,  and  marked  towards  their  smaller  end  with  white. 
The  female  deposits  them  in  the  sand,  and,  after  having  covered  them 
over,  leaves  them  to  be  hatched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  the 
atmosphere.  In  some  countries,  however,  and  under  some  circum- 
stances, Cassowaries  sit  upon  their  eggs  like  other  birds. 

Cassowaries  are  found  only  in  the  south-eastern  parts,  of  Asia  ;  that 
is,  in  the  peninsula  of  India  beyond  the  Ganges,  and  in  the  islands  of 
the  Indian  Archipelago  ;  but  they  are  not  very  numerous  in  any  of 
these  places.  The  deep  forests  of  the  island  of  Ceram,  along  the 
southern  coast  from  Ethiopia  almost  to  Kelemori,  contain,  however, 
great  numbers  of  them. 

THE   EMU. 

The  Emu  is  a  native  of  New  Holland,  and  nearjy  equals  the  Ostrich 

in  bulk,  its  height  being 
between  five  and  six  feet. 
Its  feathers  lie  loosely  on 
the  body,  and  its  wings 
are  small  and  hardly  to  be 
distinguished.  The  skin 
of  the  Emu  furnishes  a 
bright  and  clear  oil,  on 
which  account  it  is  eagerly 
sought  after.  Mr.  Bonnet- 
gives  the  following  account 
of  the  habits  of  this  bird  : 
"  In  its  manners  the 
Emu  bears  a  close  resem- 
blance to  the  Ostrich.  Its 
food  appears  to  be  wholly 
vegetable,  consisting  chief 
ly  of  fruits,  roots  and 
herbage,  and  it  is  conse- 
quently, notwithstanding 
its  great  strength,  perfect- 


THE   APTERYX. 


707 


ly  inoffensive.     The  length  of  its  legs  and  the  muscularity  of  its 

thighs  enable  it  to  run  with  great  swiftness  ;  and  as  it  is  exceedingly 

shy,  it  is  not  easily  overtaken  or  brought 

within  gun-shot.  Captain  Currie  states  that 

it  affords  excellent   coursing,  equalling,  it 

not  surpassing,   the   same   sport   with  the 

hare   in  England ;    but  Mr.    Cunningham 

says  that  dogs  will  seldom  attack  it,  both 

on  account  of  some  .peculiar  odour  in  its 

flesh  which  they  dislike,  and  because  the 

injuries  inflicted  upon  them  by  striking  out 

with  its  feet  are  frequently  very  severe. 

The  settlers  even  assert  that  the  Emu  will 

break  the  small  bone  of  a  man's  leg  by  this 

sort  of  kick ;  to  avoid  which,  the  well-trained  dogs  run  up  abreast, 

and  make  a  sudden  spring  at  their  neck,  "whereby  they  are  quickly 

dispatched. 

"  Its  flesh  has  been  compared  to  coarse  beef,  which  it  resembles 
both  in  appearance  and  taste.  There  is  but  little  fit  for  culinary  use 
upon  any  part  of  the  Emu  except  the  hind  quarters." 

The  voice  of  the  Emu  is  a  kind  of  low  booming  sound.  The  eggs 
are  six  or  seven  in  number,  of  a  dark  green  color,  and  are  much  es- 
teemed by  the  natives  as  food.  When  the  natives  take  an  Emu,  they 
break  its  wings,  a  curious  custom  of  no  perceptible  utility.  Young 
men  and  boys  are  not  permitted  to  eat  the  flesh  of  this  bird. 


THE   APTERYX. 

This  extraordinary  bird,  whose  name  is  derived  from  the  apparent 
absence  of  wings,  those  mem- 
bers being  merely  rudimentary, 
inhabits  the  islands  of  New 
Zealand.  It  conceals  itself 
among  the  densest  fern,  and 
when  hunted  by  dogs,  it  hastens 
to  seek  a  refuge  among  rocks 
and  in  the  chambers  which  it 
excavates  in  the  earth.  In  these 
chambers  its  nest  is  made  and 
the  eggs  laid.  The  natives  hunt 
it  with  great  eagerness,  as  the 
skin  is  used  for  the  dresses  of  chiefs,  who  are  so  tenacious  of  them 
that  they  can  hardly  be  persuaded  to  part  with  a  single  skin.  The 
feathers  are  employed  to  make  artificial  flies.  When  attacked  it 
defends  itself  by  rapid  and  vigorous  strokes  with  its  powerful  feet. 

Dr.  Shaw  first  brought  this  bird  before  the  notice  of  the  public,  but 

for  many  years  naturalists  considered  it  an  extinct  species.     Latterly 

the  question  has  been  set  at  rest,  not  only  by  the  researches  of  Gould 

and  other  naturalists,  but  by  the  arrival  in  England  of  several  skins 

45 


THE  APTERYX. 


708  THE   DODO. 

and  one  living  specimen,  now  in  the  Zoological  Gardens.  This  bird 
has  a  singular  habit  of  of  resting  with  the  tip  of  its  bill  placed  on 
the  ground.  The  nostrils  of  the  Apteryx  are  placed  almost  at  the 
very  extremity  of  the  bill.  The  aborigines  of  New  Zealand  give  it  the 
name  of  Kiwi  Kiwi.  The  food  of  the  bird  consists  of  snails,  insects 
and  worms,  which  latter  creatures  it  obtains  by  striking  the  ground 
with  its  feet,  and  seizing  them  on  their  appearance  at  the  surface. 

A  small  but  well  preserved  skin  is  mounted  in  the  Ashmolean 
Museum,  Oxford,  in  which  the  rudimentary  wings  are  very  well 
shown.  An  entire  skeleton  is  in  the  museum  of  the  College  of  Sur- 
geons, and  other  specimens  are  to  be  seen  in  various  collections 


THE   DODO. 

This  singular  bird,  which  is  supposed  to  be  extinct,  was  discovered 
at  the  Mauritius  by  the  early  voyagers.  For 
many  years  their  accounts  of  the  Dodors  were 
supposed  to  be  mere  flights  of  fancy.  Lately, 
however,  the  discovery  of  several  relics  of  this 
bird  in  various  countries  has  set  the  question  of 
its  existence  at  rest,  but  not  the  question  of  the 
proper  position  of  the  bird.  Some  think  it 
belongs  to  the  Pigeons,  and  some  to  the  ostriches. 
In  the  Ashmolean  Museum  at  Oxford  are  a  head 
an(^  f°°*  °f  *ke  Dodo,  sole  remnants  of  a  perfect 
specimen  known  to  have  existed  in  1700  ;  and 

THE  DODO  *n  ^ie  same  P^ace>  i°-  tne  Jear  1847,  during  the 

meeting  of  the  British  Association,  were  gathered 
together  the  whole  of  the  existing  remains  from  every  country. 

In  the  travels  of  Sir  T.Hubert,  in  the  year  1627,  are  several  accounts. 
From  the  work  of  this  traveller,  whose  amusement  it  was  to  re -write 
his  travels,  each  time  completely  changing  the  language  but  retaining 
the  matter,  an  extract  is  taken. 

"  The  Dodo,  a  bird  the  Dutch  call  Walghvogel,  or  Dod  Eersen ;  her 
body  is  round  and  fat,  which  occasions  the  slow  pace,  or  that  her 
corpulencie,  and  so  great  as  few  of  them  weigh  less  than  fifty  pound : 
meat  it  is  with  some,  but  better  to  the  eye  than  stomach,  such  as  only 
a  strong  appetite  can  vanquish.  ..  It  is  of  a  melancholy  visage,  as 
sensible  of  nature's  injury  in  framing  so  massie  a  body  to  be  directed 
by  complimental  wings,  such,  indeed,  as  are  unable  to  hoise  her  from 
the  ground,  serving  only  to  rank  her  among  birds.  Her  traine,  three 
small  plumes,  short  and  improportionable,  her  legs  suiting  to  her  body, 
her  pounces  sharpe,  her  appetite  strong  and  greedy.  Stones  and  iron 
are  digested  ;  which  description  will  better  be  conceived  in  her  repre- 
sentation." The  "  representation"  here  alluded  to  is  that  of  a  globular- 
shaped  bird,  perfectly  naked,  with  the  exception  of  three  separate 
feathers  on  the  tail,  and  a  few  feathers  on  the  wing.  The  expression 
of  lugubrious  wisdom  on  the  countenance  is  irresistibly  ludicrous. 

It  is  still  within  the  range  of  possibility  that  this  bird  may  again  be 


THE   CARIAMA. 


709 


discovered,  as  at  present  but  little  of  Madagascar  has  been  searched, 
and  in  that  island,  if  anywhere,  it  will  be  found. 

Another  bird,  the  gigantic  Dinornis,  has  been  extirpated  from  the 
face  of  the  earth  by  man.  This  enormous  bird,  whose  leg  is  rather 
larger  than  that  of  a  fossil  Elk,  and  whose  head  could  not  have  been  less 
than  ten  feet  and  a  half  from  the  ground,  was  at  one  time  an  inhabitant 
of  New  Zealand,  but  has  been  extirpated  for  many  years,  a  fact  like]y 
to  befal  the  defenceless  Apteryx.  In  the  Anatomical  Museum  at  Ox- 
ford is  a  cast  of  a  leg  of  the  Dinornis,  standing  side  by  side  with  that  of 
an  Ostrich.  The  leg  of  the  Ostrich  is  quite  insignificant  by  the  side  of 
the  enormous  cast. 


THE    CARIAMA. 

It  is,  perhaps,  between  the  Screamers,  the  Trumpeter,  and  the 
Cranes,  that  we 
must  place  this 
remarkable  bird, 
which  inhabits  the 
vast  solitary  moun- 
tain plains,  sur- 
rounded by  forests, 
which  extend  over 
so  large  a  portion 
of  Brazil,  and  where 
its  loud  sonorous 
voice  breaks  the 
silence  of  the  desert. 
It  runs  with  aston- 
i  s  h  i  n  g  swiftness, 
trusting  to  its  speed, 
and  not  its  wings, 
for  safet}^.  Shy, 
recluse,  and  wary, 
the  Cariama  stalks 
along,  on  the  watch 
against  surprise ; 
its  eye  instantly 
marks  the  distant 
intruder,  and  it  pre- 
pares for  flight :  it 
flies  badly,  and 
rarely  takes  wing. 
Wild  as  this  bird  is 
in  its  natural  con- 
dition, is  easily  do- 
mesticated, and  will  live  sociably  with  the  other  tenants  of  the  poultry 
yard. 


THS    CARI.VMA. 


WADERS. 


OF  THE  HEKON  TEIBE  IN  GENEKAL. 

IN  the  Waders  (or  Q-rallce,  of  Linnaeus)  the  bill  is  somewhat  cylin- 
drical. The  thighs  are  feathered  only  half-way  to  the  knees  ;  and  the 
legs  are  longish,  and  formed  for  walking. 

The  characters  of  the  tribe  are :  a  long,  strong,  and  sharp-pointed 
bill ;  linear  nostrils,  and  pointed  tongue :  toes  connected  by  a  mem- 
brane as  far  as  the  first  joint ;  and  the  middle  claw,  in  some  of  the 
species,  pectinated. 

The  different  kinds  of  Herons  are  very  numerous,  amounting  in  the 
whole  to  nearly  a  hundred.  They  are  found  in  various  parts  of  the 
world,  but  chiefly  in  temperate  and  hot  climates.  Several  of  them  are 
migratory.  They  have  long  feet  and  necks,  and  live  almost  wholly  on 
amphibious  animals  and  fishes. 

THE   COMMON  CRANE. 

This  is  a  large  bird,  measuring  upwards  of  five  feet  in  length.  The 
bill  is  more  than  four  inches  long.  The  plumage  is,  in  general,  ash- 
colored  :  but  the  forehead  is  black ;  and  the  sides  of  the  head,  behind 
the  eyes,  and  the  hind. part  of  the  neck,  are  white  ;  on  the  upper  part 
of  the  neck  there  is  a  bare  ash-colored  space  of  two  inches  ;  and,  above 
this,  the  skin  is  naked  and  red,  with  a  few  scattered  hairs.  Some  parts 
about  the  wings  are  blackish.  Erom  the  pinion  of  each  wing  springs 
an  elegant  tuft  of  loose  feathers,  curled  at  the  ends  ;  which  can  be  erec- 
ted at  will,  but  which  in  a  quiescent  state  hangs  over  and  covers  the 
tail.  The  legs  are  black. 

These  birds  are  seen  in  numerous  flocks  in  all  the  northern  parts 
of  Europe.  We  are  told  that  they  make  their  nests  in  marshes,  and 
lay  two  bluish  eggs.  They  feed  on  reptiles  of  all  kinds,  and  on  some 
species  of  vegetables  ;  while  corn  is  green,  they  are  said  to  make  such 
havoc  in  the  fields  as  to  ruin  the  farmers,  where  ever  the  flocks  alight. 

They  are  migratory;  returning  northward  in  the  spring,  (where 
they  generally  make  choice  of  the  places  which  they  occupied  dur- 
ing the  preceding  season,)  and  in  the  winter  inhabiting  the  warmer 
regions  of  Egypt  and  India.  They  fly  very  high,  and  arrange  them- 
selves in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  the  better  to  cleave  the  air.  When 
the  wind  freshens,  and  threatens  to  break  their  ranks,  they  collect 
their  force  into  a  circle;  and  they  adopt  the  same  disposition  when 
attacked  by  powerful  birds  of  prey.  Their  migratory  voyages  are 
chiefly  performed  in  the  night;  but  their  loud  screams  betray  their 
course.  During  these  nocturnal  expeditions  the  leader  frequently 
calls,  in  order  to  rally  his  forces,  and  to  point  out  the  track;  and  the 
(710) 


THE   DEMOISELLE   CRANE. 


711 


cry  is  repeated  by  the  flock,  each  answering,  to  give  notice  that  it  fol- 
lows and  keeps  its  rank.  The  flight  of  the  Crane  is  always  supported 
uniformly,  though  it  is  marked  by  different  inflections :  and  these 
variations  have  been  observed  to  indicate  a  change  of  weather.  The 
cries  of  these 
birds,  during  the 
day,  forebode 
rain ;  and  their 
noisy  and  tumul- 
tuous screams 
announce  a 
storm.  If,  in  a 
morning  or  even- 
ing, they  rise  up- 
wards, and  fly 
peacefully  in  a 
body,  it  is  a  sign 
of  fine  weather; 
but  if  they  keep 
low,  or  alight  on 
the  ground,  this 
menaces  a  tem- 
pest. The  Crane 
seems  to  have 
considerable  diffi- 
culty in  com- 
rn  e  n  c  i  n  g  its 
flight.  It  runs  a 
few  steps;  opens  CKAXE 

its       wings; 

mounts  a  little  way;  and  then  having  a  clear  space,  it  displays  its 
vigorous  and  rapid  pinions. 

When  the  Cranes  are  assembled  on  the  ground,  they  are  said,  to 
set  guards  during  the  night;  and  the  circumspection  of  these  birds 
has  even  been  consecrated  in  ancient  hieroglyphics,  as  symbols  of 
vigilance. 

According  to  Kolben,  Cranes  are  often  observed  in  large  flocks  in 
the  marshes  about  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  He  says,  that  he  never  saw 
a  flock  of  them  on  the  ground,  which  had  not  some  birds  placed  ap- 
parently as  sentinels,  on  watch  while  the  others  were  feeding.  These 
sentinels  stand  on  one  leg;  and,  at  intervals,  stretch  out  their  necks, 
as  if  to  observe  that  all  is  safe.  When  notice  of  danger  is  given,  the 
whole  flock  rise  on  wing  and  fly  away. 

THE   DEMOISELLE   CRANE. 

This  bird  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  the  considerable  idea  that  it 
appears  to  have  respecting  the  beauty  of  its  own  person.  Its  deport- 
ment is  very  singular,  and  at  times  even  ludicrous.  Whenever  it 
takes  it  into  its  head  to  be  ridiculous,  it  does  so  most  effectually,  and 


THE   WHITE    LARK. 


affectedly  also.     It  moves 


THE  DEMOISELLE   CRAX2. 


about  with  a  consequential  air,  hanging 
its  head  first  on  one  side  and  then 
on  the  other.  It  then  will  run  some 
twenty  or  thirty  yards,  treading  only 
on  the  tips  of  its  toes,  as  if  it  wore 
white  satin  shoes,  and  were  trying  to 
pick  its  way  over  a  very  dirty  road. 
Then  it  will  have  a  little  dance  all  to- 
itself,  and  suddenly  stand  still  again 
quite  grave  and  composed,  as  if  it  had 
been  doing  nothing  at  all.  From  these 
habits,  cynical  naturalists  have  named 
in  the  Demoiselle.  It  is  rather  a  tall 
bird,  being  between  three  and  four 
feet  in  height. 


THE  WHITE   STORK. 

The  length  of  the  White  Stork  is  about  three  feet.     The  bill  is 

nearly  eight  inches  long,  and  of  a 
fine  red  color.  The  plumage  is 
wholly  white ;  except  the  orbits  of 
the  eyes,  which  are  bare  and  black- 
ish :  some  of  the  feathers  on  the  side 
of  the  back  and  on  the  wings  are 
black.  The  skin,  the  legs,  and  the 
bare  part  of  the  thighs,  are  red. 

The  White  Storks  are  semi- 
domestic  birds,  haunting  towns  and 
cities;  and,  in  many  places,  stalking 
unconcernedly  about  the  streets,  in 
search  of  offal  and  other  food. 
They  remove  noxious  filth,  and  clear 
the  fields  of  serpents  and  reptiles. 
On  this  account  they  are  protected 
in  Holland,  and  are  held  in  high 
veneration  by  the  Mahomedans;  and 
so  greatly  respected  were  they  in 
times  of  old  by  the  Thessalians,  that 
to  kill  one  of  these  birds  was  a  crime  expiable  only  by  death. 

Bellonious  informs  us  that  "Storks  visit  Egypt  in  such  abundance, 
that  the  fields  and  meadows  are  white  with  them.  Yet  the  Egyptians 
are  not  displeased  with  this  sight ;  as  Frogs  are  there  generated  in 
such  numbers,  that  did  not  the  Storks  devour  them,  they  would  over- 
run every  thing.  They  also  catch  and  eat  serpents.  Between  Belba 
and  Gaza,  the  fields  of  Palestine  are  often  rendered  desert  on  account 
of  the  abundance  of  mice  and  rats ;  and,  were  these  not  destroyed, 
the  inhabitants  could  have  no  harvest." 

The  disposition  of  the  Stork  is  mild  and  placid.  This  bird  is  easily 
tamed;  and  may  be  trained  to  reside  in.  gardens,  which  it  will  clear 


•WHITE  STORK. 


THE   WHITE  STORK.  713 

of  insects  and  reptiles.  It  has  a  grave  air,  and  a  mournful  visage: 
yet,  when  roused  by  example,  it  exhibits  a  certain  degree  of  gaiety ; 
for  it  joins  in  the  frolics  of  children,  hopping  about  and  playing  with 
them :  "In  a  garden  (says  Dr.  Hermann)  where  the  children  were 
playing  at  hide-and-seek,  I  saw  a  tame  Stork  join  the  party ;  run  its 
turn  when  touched;  and  distinguish  the  child  whose  turn  it  was  to 
pursue  the  rest,  so  well,  as,  along  with  the  others,  to  be  on  its  guard." 

To  the  Stork  the  ancients  ascribed  many  of  the  moral  virtues ;  as 
temperance,  conjugal  fidelity,  and  filial  and  paternal  piety.  The 
manners  of  this  bird  are  such  as  were  likely  to  attract  'peculiar  atten- 
tion. It  bestows  much  time  and  care  on  the  education  of  its  offspring, 
and  does  not  leave  them  till  they  have  strength  sufficient  for  their 
own  support  and  defence.  When  they  begin  to  flutter  out  of  the 
nest,  the  mother  bears  them  on  her  wings ;  she  protects  them  from 
clanger,  and  will  some  times  perish  rather  than  forsake  them.  A 
celebrated  story  is  current  in  Holland,  that,  when  the  city  of  Delft 
was  on  fire,  a  female  Stork  in  vain  attempted  several  times  to  carry 
off  her  young- ones;  and,  finding  she  was  unable  to  effect  their  escape, 
suffered  herself  to  be  burned  with  them. 

The  following  anecdote  affords  a  singular  instance  of  sagacity  in 
this  bird: — "A  wild  Stork  was  brought  by  a  farmer,  who  resided 
near  Hamburgh,  into  his  poultry-yard,  to  be  the  companion  of  a  tame 
one  that  he  had  long  kept  there;  but  the  tame  Stork,  disliking  a 
rival,  fell  upon  the  poor  stranger,  and  beat  him  so  unmercifully  that 
he  was  compelled  to  take  wing,  and  with  some  difficulty  escaped. 
About  four  months  afterwards,  however,  he  returned  to  the  poultry- 
yard,  recovered  of  his  wounds,  and  attended  by  three  other  Storks, 
who  no  sooner  alighted  than  they  all  together  fell  upon  the  tame 
Stork  and  killed  him." 

Storks  are  birds  of  passage,  and  observe  great  exactness  in  the 
time  of  their  autumnal  departure  from  Europe  to  more  favorite  cli- 
mates. They  pass  a  second  summer  in  Egypt  and  the  marshes  of 
Barbary.  In  the  former  country  they  pair ;  again  lay,  and  educate 
a  second  brood.  Before  each  of  their  migrations,  they  rendezvous 
in  amazing  numbers.  They  are  for  a  while  much  in  motion  among 
themselves ;  and  after  making  several  short  excursions,  as  if  to  try 
their  wings,  they  suddenly  take  flight  with  great  silence. 

These  birds  are  seldom  seen  further  north  than  Sweden ;  and, 
though  they  have  scarcely  ever  been  found  in  England,  they  are 
so  common  in  Holland  as  to  build  on  the  tops  of  the  houses,  where 
even  the  inhabitants  provide  boxes  for  them  to  make  their  nests  in. 
Storks  are  also  common  at  Aleppo;  and  are  found  in  great  numbers  at 
Seville,  in  Spain.  At  Bagdad,  hundreds  of  their  nests  are  seen  about 
the  houses,  walls,  and  trees;  and  at  Persepolis,  in  Persia,  the  remains 
of  the  pillars  serve  them  for  nesting  places,  " every  pillar  having  a 
nest  upon  it." 

During  their  migrations  Storks  are  observed  in  vast  flocks.  Dr. 
Shaw  saw  three  flights  of  them  leaving  Egypt,  and  passing  over  Mount 
Oarmel,  each  half  a  mile  in  width :  and  he  says  they  were  three  hours 
in  passing  over. 


714 


THE  CHAJA COMMON  HERON. 


THE  CHAJA. 

The  Chaja,  or  Crested  Screamer,  is  about  the  size  of  a  Heron :  tho 
bill  is  short,  bent  like  that  of  a  bird  of  prey,  and  of  a  yellowish 
brown:  the  irides  are  gold-colored;  on  the  forehead,  just  above  the 
bill,  is  a  tuft  of  black  feathers,  variagated  with  ash-color ;  the  head, 
neck,  and  body  are  grey,  mixed  with  brown;  the  wings  are  furnished 
with  spurs;  the  legs  pretty  long,  of  a  dull  yellow;  the  hind  toe  placed 
high  up,  so  as  not  to  touch  the  ground  in  walking.  This  species  in- 
habit Brazil.  It  is  said  to -feed  on  the  same  food  as  the  Heron  tribe  ; 
and  the  flesh  is  good. 

THE    COMMON    HEKON. 

The  Common  Heron  is  about  three  feet  three  inches  in  length. 

The  bill  is  six  inches  long, 
and  of  a  dusky  color.  The 
feathers  of  the  head  are  long, 
and  form  an  elegant  crest. 
The  neck  is  white ;  and  on  the 
fore  part  is  marked  with  a 
double  row  of  black  spots. 
The  general  color  of  the 
•plumage  is  blue  gray;  with 
the  greater  wing-quills  black. 
The  middle  of  the  back  is 
almost  bare,  and  covered  by 
the  loose  feathers  of  the  scap- 
ulars; the  feathers  of  the  neck 
hang  loose  over  the  breast. 
On  each  side,  under  the  wing, 
the  feathers  are  black.  The 
legs  are  of  a  dirty  green  color, 
and  the  inner  edge  of  the  mid- 
dle claw  is  serrated.  The 
female  has  no  crest,  and  the  feathers  on  the  breast  are  short. 

This  is  an  extremely  formidable  enemy  to  the  scaly  tribes.  There 
is,  in  fresh  waters,  scarcely  a  fish,  however  large,  that  the  Heron  will 
not  strike  at  and  wound,  though  unable  to  carry  it  off:  but  the 
smaller  fry  are  his  chief  subsistence;  these,  pursued  by  their  larger 
fellows  of  the  deep,  are  compelled  to  take  refuge  in  shallow  waters, 
where  they  find  the  Heron  a  still  more  formidable  enemy.  His 
method  is  to  wade  as  far  as  he  can  go  into  the  water,  and  there 
patiently  to  await  the  approach  of  his  prey  ;  into  which,  when  it  comes 
within  his  sight,  he  darts  his  bill  with  Inevitable  aim.  Willughby 
says  he  has  seen  a  Heron  that  had  in  his  stomach  no  fewer  than 
seventeen  Carp.  Some  gentlemen  who  kept  tame  Herons,  were 
desirous  of  ascertaining  what  average  quantity  one  of  these  birds 


Tlia  COMMON   HERON. 


THE  COMMON   HERON.  715 

would  devour.  They  consequently  put  several  small  Eoach  and  Dace 
into  a  tub ;  and  the  Heron,  one  day  with  another,  ate  fifty  in  a  day. 
Thus  a  single  Heron  is  able  to  destroy  nine  thousand  Carp  in  half  a 
year. 

The  Heron,  though  he  usually  takes  his  prey  by  wading,  frequently 
catches  it  while  on  wing ;  but  this  is  only 
in  shallow  waters,  where  he  is  able  to 
dart  with  more  certainty  than  in  the 
deeps ;  for  in  this  case,  though  the  fish,  at 
the  first  sight  of  its  enemy,  descends,  yet 
the  Heron,  with  its  long  bill  and  legs, 
instantly  pins  it  to  the  bottom,  and  thus 
seizes  it  securely.  In  this  manner,  after 
having  been  seen  with  its  neck  for  above  a 
minute  under  water,  he  will  rise  on  wing 
with  a  Trout  or  an  Eel  struggling  in  his  bill. 
The  greedy  bird,  however,  flies  to  the  shore,  HERON. 

swallows  it,  and  returns  to  his  fishing. 

Heron-hawking  was  formerly  a  favorite  diversion;  and  a  penalty  of 
twenty  shillings  was  incurred  by  any  person  taking  the  eggs  of  this 
bird.  Its  flesh  was  also  in  former  times  much  esteemed,  being  valued 
at  a  rate  equal  with  that  of  the  Peacock. 

In  their  breeding  season  the  Herons  unite  together  in  large 
societies,  and  build  in  the  highest  trees.  Sometimes  as  many  as  eighty 
nests  have  been  seen  in  one  tree.  The  nest  is  made  of  sticks,  and 
lined  with  a  few  rushes  and  wool,  or  with  feathers.  The  eggs  are  four 
or  five  in  number,  and  of  a  pale-green  color. 

If  taken  young,  these  birds  may  be  tamed  ;  but  the  old  birds,  when 
captured,  soon  pine  away,  refusing  every  kind  of  nourishment. 

The  different  parts  of  the  body  of  the  Heron  are  admirably  adapted 
to  its  mode  of  life.  This  bird  has  long  legs,  for  the  purpose  of  wading ; 
a  long  neck,  answerable  to  these,  to  reach  its  prey  in  the  water ;  and 
a  wide  throat  to  swallow  it.  Its  toes  are  long,  and  armed  with  strong, 
hooked  talons ;  one  of  which  is  serrated  on  the  edge,  the  better  to 
retain  the  fish.  The  bill  is  long  and  sharp,  having  towards  the  point 
serratures,  which  stand  backward  ;  these,  after  the  prey  is  struck,  act 
like  the  barbs  of  a  fish-hook,  in  detaining  it  till  the  bird  has  time  to 
seize  it  with  its  claws.  Its  broad,  large,  and  concave  wings,  are  of 
great  use  in  enabling  it  to  carry  its  load  to  the  nest,  which  is  some- 
times at  a  great  distance.  Dr.  Derham  tells  us,  that  he  has  seen  lying 
scattered  under  the  trees  of  a  large  heronry,  fishes  many  inches  in 
length,  which  must  have  been  conveyed  by  the  birds  from  the  distance 
of  several  miles ;  and  D'  Acre  Barret,  Esq.,  the  owner  of  this  heronry, 
saw  a  large  Eel  that  had  been  conveyed  thither  by  one  of  them,  not- 
withstanding the  inconvenience  that  it  must  have  experienced  from 
the  fish  writhing  and  twisting  about. 

The  body  of  the  Heron  is  very  small,  and  always  lean  ;  and  the  skin  is 
said  to  be  scarcely  thicker  than  what  is  called  goldbeater's  skin.  It  is 
probable  that  this  bird  is  capable  of  long  abstinence  ;  as  its  usual  food, 
which  consists  of  fish  and  reptiles,  cannot  at  all  times  be  had. 


716 


THE  GREAT  HERON. 


THE  GEEAT  HERON". 

The  Great  Heron  of  America,  no  where  numerous,  may  be  consid- 
ered as  a  constant 
inhabitant  of  the 
Atlantic  States, 
from  New  York 
to  East  Florida; 
in  the  storms  of 
winter  seeking 
out  open  springs, 
muddy  marshes, 
subjected  to  the 
overflow  of  tides, 
or  the  sheltered 
recesses  of  the 
cedar  and  cypress 
swamps  contigu- 
ous to  the  sea 
coast.  As  a  rare 
or  accidental  vis- 
itor, it  has  been 
found  even  as  far 
north  as  Hud- 
son's Bay,  and 
commonly  passes 
the  breeding 
season  in  small 
numbers  along 

the  coasts  of  all  the  New  England  States,  and  the  adjoining  parts 
of  British  America.  Mr.  Say  also  observed  this  species  at  Pem- 
bino,  in  the  forty-ninth  parallel.  Ancient  natural  heronries  of 
this  species  occur  in  the  deep  maritime  swamps  of  North  and 
South  Carolina:  similar  associations  for  breeding  exist  also  in  the 
lower  parts  of  New  Jersey.  Their  favorite  and  long  frequented 
resorts  are  usually  dark  and  enswamped  solitudes  or  boggy  lakes, 
grown  up  with  tall  cedars,  and  entangled  with  an  undergrowth  ot 
bushes  and  Kalmia laurels.  These  recesses  defy  the  reclaiming  hand 
of  cultivation,  and  present  the  same  gloomy  and  haggard  landscape 
the}7  did  to  the  aborgines  of  the  forest,  who,  if  they  existed,  might 
still  pursue  through  the  tangled  mazes  of  these  dismal  swamps,  the 
retreating  bear,  and  timorous  deer.  From  the  bosom  of  these  choked 
lakes,  and  arising  out  of  the  dark  and  pitchy  bog,  may  be  seen  large 
clumps  of  the  tall  Cypress  (Cupressus  disticha,}  like  the  innumerable 
connecting  columns  of  the  shady  mangrove,  for  sixty  or  more  feet 
rising  without  a  branch,  and  their  spreading  tops,  blending  together, 
form  a  canopy  so  dense  as  almost  to  exclude  the  light  from  beneath 
their  branches.  In  the  tops  of  the  tallest  of  these  trees,  the  wary 


GREAT  HERON. 


THE   NIGHT   HERON.  717 

Herons,  associated  to  the  number  of  ten  or  fifteen  pairs,  construct 
their  nests,  each  one  in  the  top  of  a  single  tree  ;  these  are  large,  formed 
of  coarse  sticks,  and  merely  lined  with  smaller  twigs.  The  eggs, 
generally  four,  are  somewhat  larger  than  those  of  the  Hen,  of  a  light 
greenish  blue,  and  destitute  of  spots.  The  young  are  seen  abroad 
about  the  middle  of  May,  and  become  extremely  fat  and  full  grown 
before  they  make  any  effective  attempts  to  fly.  They  raise  but  a 
single  brood ;  and  when  disturbed  at  their  eyries,  fly  over  the  spot, 
sometimes  honking  almost  like  a  goose,  and  at  others  uttering  a 
loud,  hollow,  and  guttural  grunt. 

Fish  is  the  principal  food  of  the  Great  Heron,  a«d  for  this  purpose 
like  an  experienced  angler,  he  often  waits  for  that  condition  of  the 
tide,  which  best  suits  his  experience  and  instinct.  At  such  times,  they 
are  seen  slowly  sailing  out  from  their  inland  breeding  haunts,  during 
the  most  silent  and  cool  period  of  the  summer's  day,  selecting  usually, 
such  shallow  inlets  as  the  ebbing  tide  leaves  bare,  or  accessible  to  his 
watchful  and  patient  mode  of  prowling ;  here,  wading  to  the  knees, 
he  stands  motionless  amidst  the  timorous  fry,  till  some  victim  coming 
within  the  compass  of  his  Avily  range,  is  as  instantly  seized  by  the 
powerful  bill  of  the  Heron,  as  if  it  were  the  balanced  poniard  of  the 
assassin,  or  the  unerring  pounce  of  the  Osprey.  If  large,  the  fish  is 
beaten  to  death,  and  commonly  swallowed  with  the  head  descending 
as  if  to  avoid  any  obstacle  arising  from  the  reversion  of  the  fins  or 
any  hard  external  processes.  On  land,  our  Heron  has  also  his  fare, 
as  he  is  no  less  a  successful  angler  than  a  mouser,  and  renders  an 
important  service  to  the  farmer,  in  the  destruction  he  makes  among 
most  of  the  reptiles  and  meadow  shrews.  Grasshoppers,  other  large 
insects,  and  particularly  Dragon-flies,  he  is  very  expert  at  striking, 
and  occasionally  feeds  upon  the  seeds  of  the  pond  lilies,  contiguous  to 
his  usual  haunts.  Our  species,  in  all  probability,  as  well  as  the  Eu- 
ropean Heron,  at  times,  also  preys  upon  young  birds,  which  may  be 
accidentally  straggling  near  their  solitary  retreats.  The  foreign 
kind  has  been  known  to  swallow  young  snipes,  and  other  birds, 
when  they  happen  to  come  conveniently  within  his  reach. 


THE    QUA   BIRD,    OK  AMERICAN  NIGHT  HERON. 

The  Great  Night  Heron  of  America,  extends  its  migrations  pro- 
bably to  the  northern  and  eastern  extremities  of  the  United  States, 
but  is  wholly  unknown  in  the  high  boreal  regions  of  the  continent. 
In  the  winter  it  proceeds  as  far  south  as  the  tropics,  having  been  seen 
in  the  marshes  of  Cayenne,  and  their  breeding  stations  are  known  to 
extend  from  New  Orleans  to  Massachusetts.  They  arrive  in  Pennsyl- 
vania early  in  the  month  of  April,  and  SQon  take  possession  of  their 
ancient  nurseries,  which  are  usually,  (in  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States,)  the  most  solitary  and  deeply  shaded  part  of  a  cedar  swamp, 
or  some  inundated  and  almost  inaccesible  grove  of  swamp  oaks.  In 
these  places,  or  some  contiguous  part  of  the  forest,  near  a  pond  or 
stream,  the  timorous  and  watchful  flock  pass  away  the  day,  until  the 


718 


THE   NIGHT   HERON. 


NIGHT    HERON'. 


commencement  of  twilight,  when  the  calls  of  hunger,  and  the  coolness 

of  evening  arouse 
the  dosing  throng 
into  life  and  ac- 
tivity. At  this 
time,  high  in  the 
air,  the  parent 
birds  are  seen 
sallying  forth  to- 
wards the  neigh- 
boring marshes 
and  strand  of  the 
sea,  in  quest  of 
food,  for  them- 
selves and  their 
young ;  as  they 
thus  proceed  in  a 
marshalled  rank, 
at  intervals  they 
utter  a  sort  of 
recognition  call, 
like  the  guttural 

sound  of  the  syllable  'kwah,  uttered  in  so  hollow  and  sepulchral 
a  tone,  as  almost  to  resemble  the  retchings  of  a  vomiting  person. 
These  venerable  eyries  of  the  Kwah  Birds,  have  been  occupied  from 
the  remotest  period  of  time,  by  about  eighty  to  a  hundred  pairs. 
When  their  ancient  trees  were  levelled  by  the  axe,  they  have  been 
known  to  remove  merely  to  some  other  quarter  of  the  same  swamp, 
and  it  is  only  when  they  have  been  long  teased  and  plundered  that 
they  are  ever  known  to  abandon  their  ancient  stations.  Their  great- 
est natural  enemy  is  the  Crow,  and  according  to  the  relation  of 
Wilson,  one  of  these  heronries,  near  Thompson's  Point,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Delaware,  was  at  length  entirely  abandoned,  through  the 
persecution  of  these  sable  enemies.  Several  breeding  haunts  of  the 
Kwah  Birds  occur  among  the  red  cedar  groves,  on  the  sea  beach  of 
Cape  May;  in  these  places  they  also  admit  the  association  of  the  Little 
Egret,  the  Green  Bittern,  and  the  Blue  Heron.  In  a  very  secluded 
and  marshy  island,  in  Fresh  Pond,  near  Boston,  there  likewise  exists 
one  of  these  ancient  heronries;  and  though  the  birds  have  been  fre- 
quently robbed  of  their  eggs,  in  great  numbers,  by  mischievous  boys, 
they  still  lay  again  immediately  after,  and  usually  succeed  in  raising 
a  sufficient  brood.  The  nests,  always  in  trees,  are  composed  of  twigs, 
slightly  interlaced,  more  shallow  and  slovenly  than  those  of  the  Crow, 
and  though  often  one,  sometimes  as  many  as  two  or  three  nests  are 
built  in  the  same  tree.  The  eggs  about  four,  are  as  large  as  those 
of  the  common  hen,  and  of  a  pale  greenish  blue  color.  The  marsh  is 
usually  whitened  by  the  excrements  of  these  birds;  and  the  fragments 
of  broken  egg  shells,  old  nests,  and  small  fish,  which  they  have  dropped 
while  feeding  their  young,  give  a  characteristic  picture  of  the  sloven- 
ly, indolent,  and  voracious  character  of  the  occupants  of  these  eyries. 


THE   GREEN   HERON. 


719 


THE   GREEN  HERON. 

The  Green  Bittern,  known  in  many  parts  much  better  by  a  Con- 
temptible and 
disgusting 
name,  is  the 
most  common 
and  familiar 
species  of  the 
genus  i  n  the 
United  States. 
Early  in  April, 
or  as  soon  as 
the  marshes  are 
so  far  thawed 
as  to  afford 
them  the  means 
of  subsistence, 
they  arrive  in 
Penn  sylva  nia, 
and  soon  after 
are  seen  in  New 
England,  but 
are  unknown 
in  the  remote 
and  colder  parts 

of  Canada.     Many  winter  in   the   swamps   of  the   Southern  States, 
though  others  retire  in  all  probability  to  the  warmer  regions  of  the  * 
continent,  as  they  are  observed  in  that  season  in  the  large  islands  of 
Hayti  and  Jamaica. 

In  common  with  other  species,  whose  habits  are  principally  nocturnal 
the  Green  Bittern  seeks  out  the  gloomy  retreat  of  the  woody  swamp, 
the  undrainable  bog,  and  the  sedgy  marsh.  He  is  also  a  common 
hermit,  on  the  inundated,  dark  willow  and  alder  shaded  banks  of 
sluggish  streams,  and  brushy  ponds,  where  he  not  only  often  associates 
with  the  kindred  Kwah  Birds  and  Great  Herons,  but  frequently  with 
the  more  petulant  herd  of  chattering  Blackbirds.  When  surprised  or 
alarmed,  he  rises  in  a  hurried  manner,  uttering  a  hollow  guttural 
scream,  and  a  '&X  Tw,  Yc'w;,  but  does  not  fly  far,  being  very  sedentary 
and  soon  alighting  on  some  stump  or  tree,  looks  round  with  an 
outstretched  neck,  and  balancing  himself  for  further  retreat,  frequently 
jets  his  tail.  He  sometimes  flies  high,  with  his  neck  reclining,  and 
his  legs  extended,  flapping  his  wings,  and  proceeding  with  considerable 
expedition.  He  is  also  the  least  shy,  of  all  our  species,  as  well  as  the 
most  numerous  and  widely  dispersed,  being  seen  far  inland,  even  on 
the  banks  of  the  Missouri,  nearly  to  the  river  Platte,  and  frequently  near 
all  the  maritime  marshes,  and  near  ponds,  and  streams  in  general. 
He  is  also  particularly  attracted  by  artificial  ponds  for  fish,  not  refrain- 


GREEN   HERON. 


720 


THE   BOAT-BILL. 


ing  even  to  visit  gardens  and  domestic  premises,  which  any  pros- 
pect of  fare  may  offer.  He  is,  at  the  same  time,  perhaps  as  much  in 
quest  of  the  natural  enemy  of  the  fish,  the  frog,  as  of  the  legitimate 
tenants  of  the  pond.  These  bold  and  intrusive  visits  are  commonly 
made  early  in  the  morning,  or  towards  twilight,  and  he  not  unfrequently 
when  pressed  by  hunger,  or  after  ill  success,  turns  out  to  hunt  his  fare 
by  day,  as  well  as  dusk,  and,  at  such  times,  collects  various  larvas, 
particularly  those  of  the  Dragon-fly,  with  Grasshoppers,  and  different 
kinds  of  insects.  At  other  times  he  preys  upon  small  fish,  Crabs  and 
Frogs,  for  which  he  often  lies  patiently  in  wait  till  they  reappear  from 
their  hiding  places  in  the  water  or  mud,  and  on  being  transfixed  and 
caught,  which  is  effected  with  great  dexterity,  they  are  commonly 
beaten  to  death,  if  large,  and  afterwards  swallowed  at  leisure. 


THE   BOAT-BILL. 

This  genus  of  the  family  Arcleidal  (Heron-like  birds,)  would  approach 

quite  closely,  as  Cu- 
vier  observes,  to  the 
Herons,  in  regard  to 
their  bill  and  the  kind 
of  food  which  it  indi- 
cates, were  it  not  for 
the  extraordinary 
form  of  that  organ, 
which  is  nevertheless, 
when  closely  observ- 
ed the  bill  of  a  Heron 
or  a  Bittern,  very 
much  flattened  out. 
This  bill  is  of  an  oval 
form,  longer  than  the 
head,  very  much  de- 
pressed, and  not  un- 
like the  bowls  of  two 
spoons  placed  one 
upon  another,  with 
the  rims  in  contact. 
The  common  Boat-bill 
is  about  the  size  of  a 
domestic  hen.  In  the 
male  the  forehead  and 
_  upper  parts  of  the 


neck  and  breast,  are 
dirty  white  ;  the  back 
and  lower  part  of  the 

BOAT-BILL.  i       -n  JJ-    1 

belly     rusty-reddish ; 

the  bill  is  black,  and  the  legs  and  feet  are  brown.     From  the  head 
depends  a  long  crest  of  black  feathers,  falling  backwards.    The  female 


THE   GIGANTIC   CRANE. 


721 


has  the  top  of  the  head  black,  without  the  elongated  crest ;  the  back 
and  the  belly  rusty -reddish ;  the  wings  grey ;  the  forehead  and  rest  of 
the  plumage  white ;  and  the  bill,  legs,  and  feet  brown. 


GIGANTIC  CRANE. 


THE    GIGANTIC   CRANE. 

This  is  a  large  species,  measuring  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  wings  nearly 
fifteen  feet.  The  bill  is  of  vast  size,  some- 
what triangular,  and  sixteen  inches  round 
at  the  base.  The  head  and  neck  are  naked, 
except  a  few  straggling  curled  hairs.  The 
feathers  of  the  back  and"  wings  are  of  a 
bluish  ash-color,  and  very  stout :  those  of 
the  breast  are  long.  The  craw  hangs  down 
the  fore  part  of  the  neck  like  a  pouch. 
The  belly  is  covered  with  a  dirty-white 
down  ;  and  the  upper  part  of  the  back  and 
shoulders  is  surrounded  with  the  same. 
The  legs  and  half  the  thighs  are  naked; 
and  the  naked  parts  are  nearly  three  feet  in 
length. 

The  Gigantic  Crane,  sometimes  called  the  Adjutant,  is  an  inhabitant 
of  Bengal  and  Calcutta,  and 
is  sometimes  found  on  the 
coast  of  Guinea.  It  arrives 
in  the  interior  parts  of 
Bengal  before  the  period  of 
rains,  and  retires  as  soon  as  • 
the  dry  season  commences. 
Its  aspect  is  filthy  and  dis- 
gusting ;  yet  it  is  an  ex- 
tremely useful  bird,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  snakes, 
noxious  reptiles,  and  insects 
which  it  devours.  It  seems 
to  finish  the  work  that  is 
begun  by  the  jackal  and 
vulture :  these  clear  away 
the  flesh  of  animals,  and  the 
Gigantic  Cranes  remove  the 
bones  by  swallowing  them 
entire.  They  sometimes  feed 
on  fish ;  and  one  of  them 
will  devour  as  much  as 
would  serve  four  men  to 
dinner.  'On  opening  the 
body  of  a  Gigantic  Crane, 
there  were  found  in  its  craw 
a  land  tortoise,  ten  inches  OIGANT:c  c?ANEj  OR  AWUrAKT. 


722 


THE   GIGANTIC   CRANE. 


long,  and  inats  stomach  a  large  black  cat.  Being  altogether  undaunted 
at  the  sight  of  mankind,  these  birds  are  soon  rendered  familiar ;  and 
when  fish  or  other  food  are  thrown  to  them  they  catch  them  very 
nimbly,  and  immediately  swallow  them. 

The  Indians  believe  that  these  Cranes  are  invulnerable,  and  that 
they  are  animated  by  the  souls  of  the  Brahmins.  They  are  held  in  the 
highest  veneration  both  by  the  Indians  and  Africans.  Mr.  Ives,  in 
attempting  to  kill  some  of  them  with  his  gun,  missed  his  shot  several 
times  ;  this  the  bystanders  observed  with  great  satisfaction,  telling  him 
triumphantly  that  he  might  shoot  at  them  as  long  as  he  pleased,  but 
that  he  would  never  be  able  to  kill  any  of  them. 

There  seems  ho  doubt  that  this  is  the  species  mentioned  by  Mr. 

Smeathman,  as 
having  been  seen 
by  him  in  Africa. 
The  birds  that  he 
describes  were  at 
least  seven  feet 
high,  and  appear- 
ed at  a  distance 
not  unlike  grey- 
headed men.  On 
the  middle  of  the 
neck  before,  there 
was  a  long  conic 
membrane,  like  a 
bladder,  covered 
sparingly  with 
short  down,  and 
rising  or  falling  as 
the  animals  moved 
their  beaks,  but 
always  appearing 
inflated. 

These  birds  are 
found  in  compa- 
nies ;  and,  when 
seen  at  a  distance, 
near  the  mouths 
of  rivers,  coming 
towards  an  obser- 
ver, (which  they 
do  with  their  wings  extended,)  they  may  be  mistaken  for  canoes  on 
the  surface  of  a  smooth  sea ;  and  when  stalking  about  on  the  sand- 
banks, they  appear  like  men  and  women  picking  up  shell-fish  on  the 
beach. 

A  young  bird  of  this  kind,  about  five  feet  in  height,  was  brought 
up  tame,  and  presented  to  the  Chief  of  the  Bananas,  where  Mr. 
Smeathman  lived ;  and  in  whose  house  it  soon  became  perfectly  fa- 
miliar. It  regularly  attended  the  hall  at  dinner-time ;  and  placed 


ADJUTANT  KILLING  A  SNAKE. 


THE  BITTERN.  723 

itself  behind  its  master's  chair,  frequently  before  any  of  the  guests 
entered.  The  servants  were  obliged  to  watch  it  carefully,  and  to 
defend  the  provisions  by  beating  it  off  with  sticks;  yet,  notwith- 
standing every  precaution,  it  would  frequently  snatch  off  something 
from  the  table.  It  one  day  purloined  a  whole  boiled  fowl,  which  it 
swallowed  in  an  instant.  This  bird  used  to  fly  about  the  island,  and 
roost  very  high  among  the  silk-cotton  trees ;  from  this  station,  at  the 
distance  of  two  or  three  miles,  it  could  see  when  the  dinner  was  car- 
ried across  the  court.  As  soon  as  this  appeared  it  would  dart  down, 
and  arrive  early  enough  to  enter  with  some  of  those  who  carried  in 
the  dishes. 

When  sitting,  it  was  observed  always  to  rest  itself  on  the  whole 
length  of  the  hind  part  of  the  leg.  It  sometimes  stopped  in  the  room 
for  half  an  hour  after  dinner;  turning  its  head  alternately,  as  if 
listening  to  the  conversation.  The  courage  of  this  bird  was  not 
equal  to  its  voracity :  for  a  child  eight  or  ten  years  of  age  was  able 
to  put  it  to  flight;  though  it  would  seem  at  first  to  stand  on  the 
defensive,  by  threatening  with  its  enormous  bill  widely  extended, 
and  crying  out  with  a  loud,  hoarse  voice. 

It  preyed  on  small  quadrupeds,  birds,  and  reptiles;  and  though  it 
would  destroy  poultry,  it  never  dared  openly  to  attack  a  hen  with 
her  young-ones.  It  had  been  known  to  swallow  a  Cat  whole ;  and 
a  bone  of  a  shin  of  beef  being  broken,  served  it  but  for  two  morsels. 


THE  BITTERN. 

The  Bittern  is  not  so  large  as  the  Common  Heron.  Its  bill  also  is 
weaker,  and  not  more  than  four  inches  long.  The  gape,  however,  is 
so  wide,  that  the  eyes  seem  placed  in  the  bill.  The  crown  of  the  head 
is  black;  the  feathers  on  the  hind  part  forming  a  sort  of  pendent 
crest.  The  plumage  is  of  a  pale  dull  yellow,  variously  marked  with 
black.  Some  parts  about  the  wings  are  of  a  bright  rust  color,  barred 
with  black.  The  tail  is  very  short;  and  the  feathers  on  the  breast  are 
long  and  'loose.  The  legs  are  of  a  pale  green  color;  the  claws  long 
and  slender ;  and  the  inside  of  the  middle  claw  is  serrated,  for  the 
better  holding  of  its  prey. 

This  is  a  very  retired  bird;  dwelling  among  the  reeds  and  rushes 
of  extensive  marshes,  where  it  leads  a  solitary  life,  hid  equally  from 
the  hunter  whom  it  dreads,  and  the  prey  that  it  watches.  It  con- 
tinues for  whole  days  about  the  same  spot,  and  seems  to  look  for 
safety  only  in  privacy  and  inaction. 

In  the  autumn  it  changes  its  abode,  always  commencing  its  journey 
or  change  of  place  at  sunset.  Its  precautions  for  concealment  and 
security  seem  directed  with  great  care  and  circumspection.  It  usually 
sits  in  the  reeds  with  its  head  erect ;  by  which  from  its  great  length 
of  neck,  it  sees  over  their  tops,  without  being  itself  perceived  by  the 
sportsman. 

The  principal  food  of  the  Bittern,  during  summer,  consists  of  fish 
and  frogs  ;  but  in  the  autumn  these  birds  resort  to  the  woods  in  pur- 
46 


724 


THE   BITTERN. 


suit  of  mice,  which  they  seize  with  great  dexterity,  and  always  swal- 
low whole.     About  this  season  they  usually  become  very  fat. 

The  Bittern  is  not  so  stupid  a  bird  as  the  Heron,  but  it  is  greatly 

more  ferocious.  \Vhen 
caught,  it  exhibits  much 
rancor,  and  strikes 
chiefly  at  the  eyes  of 
its  antogonist.  Few 
birds  make  so  cool  a 
defence:  it  is  never 
itself  the  aggressor ;  but, 
if  attacked,  it  fights  with 
the  greatest  intrepidity. 
If  darted  on  by  a  bird 
of  prey,  it  does  not 
attempt  to  escape;  but, 
with  its  sharp  beak 
erected,  receives  the 
shock  on  the  point,  and 
thus  compels  its  enemy 
to  retreat,  sometimes 
with  a  fatal  wound. 

When  wounded  by 
the  sportsman,  it  often 
makes  a  severe  resist- 
ance. It  does  not  retire ; 
but  waits  his  onset,  and 
gives,  such  vigorous 

• —  pushes  with  its  bill,  as 

BITTERN,  to  wound  the  leg  even 

through  the  boot.  Some- 
times it  turns  on  its  back,  like  the  rapacious  birds,  and  fights  both 
with  its  bill  and  claws.  When  surprised  by  a  dog,  it  is  said  always  to 
throw  itself  into  this  posture.  Mr.  Markwick  once  shot  a  Bittern  in 
frosty  weather ;  it  fell  on  the  ice,  which  was  just  strong  enough  to  sup- 
port the  dogs,  and  they  immediately  rushed  forward  to  attack  it ;  but 
being  only  wounded,  it  defended  itself  so  vigorously,  that  the  dogs 
were  compelled  to  leave  it,  till  it  was  fired  at  a  second  time  and  killed. 
During  the  months  of  February  and  March,  the  males  make  a  kind 
of  deep  lowing  noise  in  the  mornings  and  evenings.  This  is  supposed 
to  be  the  call  to  the  females,  and  to  be  produced  by  a  loose  membrane, 
situated  at  the  entrance  of  the  throat,  capable  of  great  extension.  The 
noise  was  formerly  believed  to  be  made  while  the  bird  plunged  its 
bill  into  the  mud  ;  hence  Thompson  : 


-so  that  scarce 


The  Bittern  knows  his  time,  with  bill  engulf  d 
To  shake  the  sounding  marsh. 

The  nest  of  the   Bittern  is   formed  in  April,  among   rushes ;  and 
almost  close  to  the  water.     The  female  lays  four  or  five  greenish  eggs 


THE   TIGER   BITTERN — THE   CURLEW. 


725 


and  sits  on  them  for  about  twenty-five  days.  The  young-ones,  when 
hatched,  are  naked  and  ugly,  appearing  almost  all  legs  and  neck ;  they 
do  not  venture  abroad  till  about  twenty  days  after  their  extrusion. 
During  this  time,  the  parents  feed  them  with  snails,  small  fish,  or  frogs. 
Tt  is  said  that  the  hawks,  which  plunder  the  nests  of  most  of  the 
marsh-birds,  seldom  dare  to  attack  those  of  the  Bittern,  on  account  of 
the  old  ones  being  always  on  their  guard  to  defend  their  offspring. 

A  female  Bittern,  which  was  killed  during  the  frost  in  winter,  was 
found  to  have  in  her  stomach  several  warty  lizards,  quite  perfect,  and 
the  remains  of  some  toads  and  frogs.  These  were  supposed  to  have 
been  taken  out  of  the  mud,  under  shallow  water,  in  the  swamp  where 
the  bird  was  shot. 


TIGEK   BITTERN. 


There  is  a  spe- 
cies of  Bittern, 
found  in  Guiana, 
called  the  Tiger 
Bittern.  It  is 
about  thirty 
inches  long,  and 
of  a  darker  color 
than  the  common 
Bittern,  which  it 
resembles  in  ap- 
pearance and 
voice.  It  fre- 
quents the  banks 
of  rivers  and 
marshy  places, 
and  builds  its 
nest  upon  the 
ground. 


TIGER   BITTERN. 


OF  THE   SNIPE   TEIBE   IN  GENERAL. 

IN  this  tribe  the  bill  is  long,  slender,  weak,  and  straight.  The 
nostrils  are  linear,  and  lodged  in  a  furrow.  The  head  is  entirely 
covered  with  feathers.  The  feet  have  each  four  toes;  the  hind  one  of 
which  is  very  short,  and  consists  of  several  joints. 


THE    CURLEW. 


These  birds  differ  much  in  size ;  some  of  them  weighing  thirty 
seven,  and  others  not  twenty-two  ounces.     The  head,  neck,  and  coverts 


726  THE   LONG-BILLED    CURLEW. 

of  the  wings  are  of  a  pale  brown  color,  and  the  middle  of  each  feather 

is  black.  The  breast  and  belly  are 
white,  marked  with  narrow  oblong 
black  lines.  The  back  is  white, 
spotted  with  a  few  black  strokes.  The 
quill-feathers  are  black,  but  the  inner 
webs  are  spotted  with  white.  The 
tail  is  white,  tinged  with  red,  and 
beautifully  barred  with  black.  The 
legs  are  long,  strong  and  of  a  bluish 
gray  color. 

Large  flocks  of  Curlews  are  frequently  seen,  in  the  winter  season, 
on  the  sea-coasts,  running  about  upon  the  sands,  and  feeding  on 
shell-fish,  crabs,  and  marine  insects :  they  are  also  found  in  marshes, 
where  they  subsist  on  small  frogs,  snails,  insects,  and  worms.  Their 
bill  is  so  long,  weak,  and  slender,  that  it  is  calculated  only  for  dig- 
ging into  soft  mud  or  earth,  in  search  of  prey. 

Both  the  English  and  French  names  of  this  bird  are  evidently 
derived  from  its  cry. 

In  summer-time  the  Curlews  retire  to  mountainous  and  unfrequen- 
ted parts  of  the  country,  where  they  pair  and  breed.  The  eggs,  which 
are  four  in  number,  are  of  a  pale  color,  marked  with  irregular  but 
distinct  spots  of  brown. 

Their  flesh,  as  food,  varies  much  in  quality,  according  to  the  season 
and  the  place  in  which  the  birds  have  fed.  Those  that  are  shot  on 
the  moors,  are  always  better  than  such  as  are  killed  on  the  sea-coasts 
or  in  the  marshes. 


THE   LONG-BILLED   CURLEW. 

The  Long-Billed  Curlew  is  seen  in  the  marshes  of  New  Jersey, 
about  the  middle  of  May,  on  its  way  further  north:  and  in  September, 
or  the  latter  end  of  August,  on  their  return  from  their  breeding  places. 
Their  southern  migrations,  in  all  probability,  are  bounded  by  the 
shores  of  the  Mexican  Gulf.  Like  most  species  of  the  genus,  they 
retire  into  the  desolate  regions  of  the  north  to  breed.  According  to 
Wilson,  a  few  instances  have  been  known,  of  one  or  two  pairs  re- 
maining in  the  salt  marshes  of  Cape  May  the  whole  summer;  and 
they  were  believed  to  nest  there  on  the  ground,  laying  four  eggs  in 
size  and  color  much  resembling  those  of  the  Clapper  Rail.  Indeed, 
it  will  probably  be  found,  that  many  birds,  now  supposed  to  pass  the 
period  of  reproduction,  in  the  remote  regions  of  the  north,  only  sep- 
arate into  solitary  pairs,  and  disperse  themselves  through  the  vast 
wilds  of  the  interior  of  North  America. 

The  Long-Billed  durlews  fly  high  and  rapid,  generally  throwing 
themselves,  when  in  company,  into  an  angular  wedge,  after  the  man- 
ner of  Wild  Geese;  uttering,  as  they  fly,  and  when  at  all  alarmed,  a 
loud,  short,  whistling,  and  almost  barking  note,  sometimes,  as  in 
other  species  of  the  family,  strongly  resembling  the  sibilation  of  the 


THE   GODWIT — THE   PURRE. 


727 


word  kurlew,  and  from  whence  they  derive  their  characteristic  name, 
adopted  into  so 
many  of  the  Eu- 
ropean languages. 
By  a  dexterous 
imitation  of  this 
note,  a  whole  flock 
may  sometimes  be 
enticed  within  gun 
shot;  while  the 
cries  of  the  wound- 
ed continue  the 
sympathetic  entice- 
ment, until  the 
fowler,  repeating 
his  shots,  carries 
havoc  among  the 
quailing  throng. 
Their  food  consists 
principally  of  in- 
sects, worms,  and 
small  Crabs.  The 
young  and  old, 
also,  on  their  arri- 
val from  the  north,  where  they  feed  on  various  kinds  of  berries,  still 
continue  their  fondness  for  this  kind  of  food,  and  now  frequent  the 
uplands  and  pastures  in  quest  of  the  fruit  of  the  bramble,  particu- 
larly dew-berries,  on  which  they  get  so  remarkably  fat,  at  times,  as 
to  burst  the  skin  in  falling  to  the  ground,  and  are  then  very  superior 
in  flavor  to  almost  any  other  game  bird  of  the  season. 


LONG-BILLED  CURLEW. 


THE   GODWIT. 

The  Godwit  belongs  to  a  division  of  the  Linnaean  genus  Scolopax, 
equally  extensive  with  the  Curlews,  and  containing  more  British  spe- 
cies. It  is  only  sixteen  inches  long,  being  smaller  than  the  Curlew. 
It  seldom  remains  more  than  a  day  in  one  place.  On  a  fine  moonlight 
night  they  may  often  be  seen  passing  from  one  place  to  another,  flying 
at  a  great  height  in  the  air.  Although  they  are  fond  of  marshy  places, 
they  do  not  locate  far  inland,  but  seem  to  prefer  the  neighborhood  of 
the  sea-coast  even  in  summer. 


THE   PURRE. 

The  Purre  belongs  to  the  family  of  Sandpipers,  of  which  there  are 
about  seventeen  British  species,  the  Purre  being  one  of  the  most 
common.  They  are  equally  shy  with  the  Curlews,  and  when  alarmed 
give  a  kind  of  scream,  and  immediately  skim  off  along  the  surface 


728  WOODCOCKS — LESSER   WOODCOCK. 

of  the  water  in  an  undulating  flight,  making  a  series  of  semicircles  as 
they  alternately  approach  and  recede  from  the  shore.  When  this 
alarm  has  subsided,  they  alight  on  a  rock  at  some  distance  from  the 
place  they  formerly  occupied,  and  then  descend  to  the  shore,  to  re- 
sume their  interrupted  meal.  They  are  found  in  great  numbers  on 
the  coasts  of  Devon  and  Am  wall. 


WOODCOCKS. 

In  this  tribe  of  birds,  the  bill  is  nearly  similar  with  that  of  the 
Snipe,  but  more  robust,  with  the  extremity 
attenuated  and  not  depressed ;  the  under 
mandible  is  also  deeply  grooved  beneath. 
The  eyes  are  placed  very  far  back  in  the 
head,  which  last  is  rather  quadrate  than 
round.  Legs  robust,  short,  and  wholly 
feathered  to  the  knees,  tarsus  shorter  than 
the  middle  toe ;  the  toes  cleft  from  the  very 
base,  and  the  hind  nail  truncated,  and  not 
projecting  over  the  toe.  The  first  or  fourth  primary  longest.  Tail 
of  twelve  feathers. 

The  female  larger,  and  the  young  similar  with  the  adult.  The 
plumage  -undergoes  no  change  with  the  moult;  its  general  colors  are 
a  mixture,  often  intimate,  of  black,  rufous  and  cinerous. 

These  are  solitary  birds,  or  only  associating  by  pairs  or  families  in 
the  breeding  season.  They  dwell  habitually  in  forests  both  in  the 
plains  and  mountains,  and  frequent  shady  swamps  and  thickets ;  but 
seldom  appear  in  open  grounds.  From  the  greater  strength  of  their 
less  sensitive  bills,  they  are  enabled  to  bore  in  drier  ground  than  the 
Snipes,  and  use  this  organ  often  in  turning  over  the  fallen  leaves  and 
withered  grass,  in  quest  of  their  insect  prey.  They  tend  their  young 
with  great  assiduity,  conveying  them  from  danger  even  by  sometimes 
carrying  them  on  their  backs,  or  in  their  claws.  Their  flight  is  low 
and  direct,  accompanied  by  a  whizzing  sound,  from  the  labor  attend- 
ing upon  it.  Although  there  are  but  two  species  known,  in  either 
continent,  yet  they  are  spread  over  the  whole  earth. 


THE   LESSEE  WOODCOCK. 

The  American  Woodcock,  like  the  Snipe,  appears  again  to  be  a 
near  representative  of  that  in  Eurqpe,  whose  manners  and  habits  it 
almost  entirely  possesses,  differing  however,  materially  in  the  temper- 
ature of  the  climates  selected  for  its  residence,  confining  itself  in  the 
summer  to  the  south  side  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  breeding  in  all  the 
intermediate  space  as  far  as  the  limits  of  the  Middle  States,  and  re- 
tiring in  winter,  for  the  most  part,  either  to  or  beyond  the  boundray 
of  the  Union. 

Early  in  March  the  American  Woodcock  revisits  Pennsylvania, 


THE    SNIPE. 


729 


and  soon  after  the  New  England  or  Eastern  States.  Acording  to 
their  usual  habits, 
they  keep  secluded 
in  the  woods  and 
thickets,  till  the  ap- 
proach of  evening, 
when  they  sally  forth 
to  seek  out  springs, 
paths,  and  broken 
soil,  in  quest  of 
worms  and  other  in- 
sects, on  which  they 
feed.  They  now 
disperse  themselves 
over  the  country  to 
breed,  and  indicate 
their  presence  in  all 
directions  by  the 
marks  of  their  bor- 
ing bills,  which  are 
seen  in  such  soft  and 
boggy  places  as  are  usually  sheltered  by  thickets  and  woods. 

When  flushed  or  surprised  in  their  hiding  places,  they  only  rise  in 
a  hurried  manner  to  the  tops  of  the  bushes,  or  glide  through  the 
under-growth  to  a  short  distance,  when  they  instantly  drop  down 
again,  and  run  out  for  some  space  on  touching  the  ground,  lurking 
as  soon  as  they  imagine  themselves  in  a  safe  retreat.  At  times,  in 
open  woods,  they  fly  out  straight  with  considerable,  vigor  and  swift- 
ness, but  the  effort,  from  the  shortness  of  the  wing,  is  always  attended 
with  much  muscular  exertion. 

Early  in  April,  the  Woodcocks  in  pairs  select  a  spot  for  breeding, 
which  is  generally  in  or  near  some  retired  part  of  the  same  woods 
which  usually  affords  them  their  food  and  shelter.  The  nest  is  placed 
on  the  ground,  in  a  tuft  of  grass,  or  in  the  protection  of  some  old 
stump.  It  is  formed  with  little  art,  of  such  withered  leaves  and  old 
grass  as  the  convenience  of  the  place  affords;  the  eggs  are  four,  rather 
large,  of  a  dark  yellowish-white  approaching  olive,  speckled  and  con- 
fluently  blotched  with  three  slightly  different  shades  of  dark  yellow- 
ish-brown spots,  most  numerous  at  the  greater  end. 


LESSER  WOODCOCK. 


THE    SNIPE. 

With  the  bill  long,  straight,  slender  and  compressed,  soft  and 
flexible.  Wings  moderate,  the  first  and  second  primaries  nearly 
of  equal  length,  and  longest  in  the  wing.  Tail  short  and  rounded, 
of  from  twelve  to  sixteen  or  more  feathers.  The  head  large,  com- 
pressed, low  in  front  and  high  behind ;  the  eyes  large,  placed  high 
and  far  back  in  the  head,  so  as  to  give  a  stupid  appearance  to  the  bird, 
for  which  it  is  indeed  characteristic.  The  tongue  long,  filiform  and 


730  THE   BROWN,    OR    RED-BREASTED    SNIPE. 

acute.     The  body  compressed  and  very  fleshy.     The  sexes,  with  the 

young,  similar  in  their  plumage, 
but  the  female  a  little  larger. 
They  moult  twice  in  the  year,  and 
the  tints  are  a  little  more  brilliant 
in  summer. 

These  birds,  nearly  nocturnal  in 
their  habits  and  time  of  feeding, 
live  usually  in  woods,  or  in  bogs 
and  marshes,  and  feed  on  worms 
insects  and  other  small  animals, 
which  they  seek  in  mud  or  bog- 
moss  by  probing  down  with  the 
sensitive  bill,  whose  extremity 
possesses,  in  consequence  of  its 
peculiar  nervous  netting,  all  the 
appropriate  sense  of  touch ;  when  this  resource  fails,  and  also  in 
common,  they  seek  their  prey  by  turning  over  the  decayed  leaves  of 
the  forest,  under  which  it  may  happen'  to  lurk.  When  pursued  they 
keep  close  to  the  ground,  and  have  the  infatuation  to  think  that  by 
hiding  their  head  in  their  feathers,  they  are  concealed  from  their 
enemies ;  when  close  chased,  or  suddenly  flushed,  they  start  on  wing 
and  fly  out  with  great  rapidity.  The  flesh  is  considered  superior  to 
almost  any  other  game. — The  species,  composed  of  two  or  more  sub- 
genera,  are  spread  all  over  the  world,  but  they  generally  prefer  cold 
countries  for  their  residence,  in  which,  if  temperate,  they  are  often 
resident  the  whole  year,  in  other  climates  they  are  necessarily  migra- 
tory from  the  nature  of  their  food.  They  nest  on  the  ground  ;  and 
the  eggs  are  about  four. 


OR   RED-BREASTED   SNIPE. 

The  Eed-Breasted  Snipe  begins  to  visit  the  sea  coast  of  New  Jersey 
early  in  April,  arriving  from  its  winter  quarters  probably  in  tropical 
America.  After  spending  about  a  month  on  the  muddy  marshes,  and 
sand  flats,  left  bare  by  the  recess  of  the  tides,  a  more  powerful  impulse 
than  that  of  hunger  impels  the  wandering  flocks  towards  their  natal 
regions  in  the  north,  where  secluded,  from  the  prying  eye  of  man,  and 
relieved  from  molestation,  they  pass  the  period  of  reproduction,  the 
wide  range  of  which  continues,  without  interruption,  from  the  borders 
of  Lake  Superior  to  the  shores  of  the  Arctic  Sea. 

The  Eed-Breasted  Snipes  are  always  seen  associated  in  flocks,  and 
though  many  are  bred  in  the  interior  around  the  great  northern  lakes, 
they  now  all  assemble  towards  the  sea  coast,  as  a  region  that  affords 
them  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  their  favorite  food  of  insects,  mollusca, 
and  small  shell-fish;  and  here  they  continue,  a  succession  of  wan- 
dering and  needy  bands,  until  the  commencement  of  cold  weather 
advertises  them  of  the  approach  of  famine ;  when,  by  degrees,  they 
recede  beyond  the  southern  limits  of  the  Union.  While  here,  they 


THE   SEMI-PALMATED    SNIPE. 


'31 


appear  very  lively,  performing  their  aerial  evolutions  over  the  marshes, 
sometimes  at  a  great  height  in  the  air,  uttering  at  the  same  time 
a  loud,  shrill  and  quivering  whistle,  scarcely  distinguishable  from  that 
of  the  Yellow  Legged  Tatler,  (something  like  'te-te-te,  'te-te-te.)  The 
same  loud  and  querulous  whistling  is  also  made  as  they  rise  from  the 
ground,  when  they  usually  make  a  number  of  circuitous  turns  in  the 
air,  before  they  descend.  At  all  times  gregarious,  in  the  autumn  and 
spring  they  sometimes  settle  so  close  together,  that  several  dozens  have 
been  killed  at  a  single  shot.  While  feeding  on  the  shores  or  sand- 
bars, they  may  be  sometimes  advantageously  approached  by  a  boat,  of 
which,  very  naturally,  they  have  but  little  fear  or  suspicion,  nor  are 
they  at  any  time  so  shy  as  the  common  Snipe,  alighting  often  within  a 
few  rods  of  the  place  where  their  companions  have  been  shot,  without 
exhibiting  alarm  until  harassed  by  successive  firing. 


SEMI-PALMATED   SNIPE,    OR   WILLET. 

The  Willet,  as  this  well  known  and  large  species  is  called,  inhabits 
almost  every  part  of  the  United  States,  from  the  coast  of  Florida  to 
the  distant  shores  and  saline  lakes  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Saskatchewan 
up  to  the  56th  parallel  of  latitude,  where,  as  they  pass  the  summer, 
they  no  doubt  propagate  there,  as  well  as  in  the  Middle  States  of  the 
Union.  Their  appearance  in  the  north  of  Europe,  is  merely  acciden- 
tal, like  the  visit  of  the  Ruff  in  America,  which  has,  indeed,  no  better 
claim  in  our  Fauna,  than  that  of  the  Willet  in  Europe,  both  being 
stragglers  from  their  native  abodes  and  ordinary  migrating  circuits. 
From  the  scarcity  of  this  species  on  the  shores  of  Massachusetts  Bay, 
it  is  more  than  probable,  that  their  northern  migrations  are  made 
chiefly  up  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi ;  and  they  have  been 
seen,  in  the  spring, 
by  Mr.  Say,  near 
Engineer  Canton- 
ment, on  the  bank 
of  the  Missouri.  A 
few  straggling  fam- 
ilies or  flocks  of 
the  young,  are  oc- 
casionally seen, 
about  the  middle 
of  August,  on  the 
muddy  flats  of  Co- 
hasset  beach ;  but 
they  never  breed  in 
this  part  of  New 
England,  though 
nests  are  found  in 
the  vicinity  of  New 
Bedford. 

The  Willet  probably  passes  the  winter  within  the  tropics,  or  along 


SEMI-PALMATED  SNIPE,   OB  WILLET. 


732 


THE   RUFF   AND   REEVE. 


the  extensive  shores  of  the  Mexican  Gulf.  About  the  middle  of 
March,  however,  their  lively  vociferations  of  pill-will-willet,  pill-will- 
willet,  begin  commonly  to  be  heard  in  all  the  marshes  of  the  sea 
islands  of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina.  In  the  Middle  States  they 
arrive  about  the  loth  of  April,  or  sometimes  later,  according  to  the 
season ;  and  from  that  period  to  the  close  of  July,  their  loud  and 
shrill  cries,  audible  for  half  a  mile,  are  heard  incessantly  throughout 
the  marshes  where  they  now  reside. 


OF  THE  SANDPIPERS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Sandpipers  have  a  straight  and  slender  bill,  about  an  inch 
and  a  half  long  ;  small  nostrils  ;  and  a  slender  tongue.  The  toes  are 
divided,  or  are  very  slightly  connected  at  the  base  by  a  membrane : 
the  hinder  toe  is  short  and  weak. 


THE    BUFF   AND    REEVE. 

The  Buff  is  about  a  foot  in  length,  with  a  bill  about  an  inch  long. 

The  face  is  cov- 
ered with  yellow 
pimples.  A  few 
of  the  feathers  of 
the  Ruff  stand  up 
over  each  eye,  and 
appear  not  unlike 
ears.  The  colors 
of  the  Euffs  are 
in  no  two  birds 
alike :  in  general 
they  are  brownish, 
and  barred  with 
black ;  though 
some  have  been 
seen  that  were 
altogether  white. 
The  lower  parts 

TQE  RUFF,  of  the   belly   and 

the     tail     coverts 

are  white.  The  tail  is  tolerably  long,  having  the  four  middle  feathers 
barred  with  black  ;  the  others  are  pale  brown.  The  legs  are  of  a  dull 
yellow,  and  the  claws  black.  The  female  is  smaller  than  the  male 
and  of  a  brown  color. 

The  name  of  Ruff  has  been  given  to  the  male  of  this  species,  from 
the  long  feathers  which  stand  out  on  the  back  part  of  the  head  and 
neck,  and  which  remind  a  casual  observer  of  the  ruffs  that  were 


THE    TURNSTONE.  733 

worn  by  our  ancestors.  The  female,  which  is  called  the  Reeve,  is 
destitute  of  this  singular  appendage. 

The  male  bird  does  not  acquire  his  ruff  till  the  second  season; 
and  till  that  time  he  is  in  this  respect  like  the  female  ;  as  he  is  also 
annually  from  the  end  df  June  until  the  pairing  season.  After 
the  time  of  incubation,  the  long  feathers  fall  off,  and  the  caruncles 
shrink  in  under  the  skin,  so  as  not  to  be  discerned. 

The  males  are  much  more  numerous  than  the  females,  and  they 
have  many  severe  contentions  for  their  mates.  The  male  chooses, 
near  a  splash  of  water,  on  some  dry  bank,  a  stand,  round  which  he 
runs  so  often,  as  to  make  a  bare  circular  path  :  the  moment  a  female 
comes  in  sight,  all  the  males  within  a  certain  distance  commence  a 
general  battle ;  placing  their  bills  to  the  ground,  spreading  the  feathers 
of  their  neck,  and  using  the  same  action  as  a  Cock :  and  this  oppor- 
tunity is  seized  by  the  fowlers,  who,  in  the  confusion  catch  them,  by 
means  of  nets,  in  great  numbers. 

An  erroneous  opinion  prevails  very  generally,  that  Kuffs  when  in 
confinement  must  be  fed  in  the  dark,  lest  the  admission  of  light 
should  induce  them  to  fight.  The  fact  is,  that  every  bird,  even  when 
kept  in  a  room,  takes  its  stand,  as  it  would  in  the  open  air;  and  if 
another  invade  its  circle  a  battle  ensues.  A  whole  room  full  of  them 
may  be  set  into  fierce  contest  by  compelling  them  to  shift  their 
stations ;  but,  after  the  disturber  has  quitted  the  place,  they  have 
been  observed  to  resume  their  circles,  and  become  again  pacific. 
In  confinement,  their  quarrels  usually  originate  in  the  pan  contain- 
ing their  food  not  being  sufficiently  large  enough  to  admit  the  whole 
party  to  feed,  without  touching  each  other.  When  the  food  has 
been  divided  into  several  pans,  the  birds  have  continued  perfectly 
quiet. 

The  Beeves  lay  four  eggs  in  a  tuft  of  grass,  about  the  beginning 
of  May  ;  and  the  young-ones  are  hatched  in  about  a  month.  It  is  not 
known  with  certainty  in  what  countries  these  birds  pass  the  winter. 


THE   TURNSTONE. 

The  Turnstone  is  about  the  size  of  a  Thrush  ;  its  bill  is  black,  about 
an  inch  in  length,  and  a  little  turned  up  at  the  end.  'The  body  is 
black,  variously  marked  with  white  and  rust-color  on  the  upper  parts ; 
the  breast  and  belly  are  white.  The  legs  are  short  and  orange-colored. 

This  bird  is  found  on  various  parts  of  the  English  and  Scottish 
coasts,  and  in  North  America.  It  has  its  name  from  its  custom  of 
turning  over  stones,  in  order  to  prey  upon  the  insects  and  worms 
concealed  beneath  them. 

When  Mr.  Catesby  was  on  his  voyage  to  North  America,  one  of 
these  birds,  about  forty  leagues  from  the  coast  of  Florida,  flew  on 
board  the  vessel.  It  was  put  into  a  cage,  and  showed  much  activity 
in  turning  up  stones  that  were  put  to  it ;  but  not  finding  under  them 
its  proper  food  it  soon  died.  In  this  action  it  was  observed  to  move 


734 


THE    DUNLIN,  OR   OX-BIRD. 


only  the  upper  mandible  of  its  bill,  yet  it  was  able,  with  great  dexter- 
^^^^  ity   and    quickness, 

r>  to  turn  over  stones 

-•.  :^-f--^^^  ^_  --••  ^£        j.  1 


of   three    pounds 
weight. 

The  Turnstone 
makes  its  nest  in 
the  sand,  and  lays 
three  or  four  olive- 
colored  eggs,  spotted 
with  black.  At  the 
time  of  hatching,  it 
has  so  much  cour- 
age, as  to  attack 
both  men  and  Dogs 
when  they  approach 
its  nest. 


DUNLIN,    OB   OX-BIRD. 

The  Dunlin  or  Bed -backed  Sandpiper  of  the  United  States,  according 

to  the  season  of  the 
year,  is  met  with 
throughout  the 
northern  hemis- 
phere; penetra- 
ting, in  America, 
during  the  summer 
season,  to  the 
utmost  habitable 
verge  of  the  Arctic 
circle,  and  even 
breeding  in  that 
remotest  of  lands, 
the  ever  wintry 
shores  of  Melville 
Peninsula.  They 

likewise  inhabit  Greenland,  Iceland,  Scandinavia,  the  Alps  of  Siberia, 
and  the  coasts  of  the  Caspian.  In  the  southern  hemisphere,  they 
sometimes  even  wander  as  far  as  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope ;  and  are 
found  in  Jamaica,  other  of  the  West  India  Islands,  and  Cayenne.  In 
the  autumn  they  are  seen  around  Vera  Cruz,  and  with  other  Sandpipers 
probably,  exposed  for  sale  in  the  market  of  Mexico.  At  the  same 
time,  many,  as  the  Purres  in  their  winter  dress,  remain  through  the 
greatest  part  of  the  winter  within  the  milder  limits  of  the  Union ; 
frequenting,  at  times,  in  great  numbers,  the  coasts  of  both  Carolinas 
during  the  month  of  February;  flitting,  probably,  to  and  fro  with 
every  vaccillating  change  of  temperature,  being  naturally  vagabond, 
and  nowhere  fixed  for  any  considerable  time,  until  their  arrival  at  the 


WILSON'S  SANDPIPER. 


735 


ultima  thule  of  the  continent,  where  they  barely  stay  long  enough 
to  rear  a  single  brood,  destined,  as  soon  as  they  are  able,  to  wander 
with  the  rest,  and  swell  the  aerial  host,  whose  sole  delight,  like  the 
untiring  Petrels  of  the  storm,  or  the  ambitious  Albatross,  is  to  be  in 
perpetual  action  ;  and  are  thus,  by  their  associated  numbers,  obliged 
perpetually  to  rove  in  quest  of  their  transient,  periodical,  and  varying 
prey. 

In  the  middle  States,  the  Dualins  arrive  on  their  way  to  the  north, 
in  April  and  May ;  and  in  September  and  October,  they  are  again  seen 
pursuing  the  route  to  their  hybernal  retreat  in  the  south.  At  these 
times  they  often  mingle  with  the  flocks  of  other  strand  birds,  from 
which  they  are  distinguishable  by  the  rufous  color  of  their  upper  plum- 
age. They  frequent  the  muddy  flats  and  shores  of  the  salt  marshes,  at 
the  recess  of  the  tide,  feeding  on  the  worms,  insects  and  minute  shell-fish 
which  such  places  generally  afford.  They  are  also  very  nimble  on  the 
strand,  frequenting  the  sandy  beaches  which  bound  the  ocean,  running 
and  gleaning  up  their  prey  with  great  activity,  on  the  reflux  of  the 
waves. 


WILSON  S   SANDPIPER. 

This  small,  and  nearly  resident  species,  may  be  considered  as  the 
most  common  and  abun- 
dant in  America,  inhab- 
iting the  shores  and 
marshes  of  the  whole 
continent,  both  to  the 
north  and  south  of  the 
equator;  retiring  proba- 
bly, with  the  inclemency 
of  the  season,  indiffer- 
ently, from  either  frigid 
circle,  towards  the  warm- 
er and  more  hospitable 
regions  within  the 
tropics.  They  are  con- 
sequently seen,  spring 
and  autumn,  in  all  the  markets  of  the  Union,  as  well  as  in  those 
of  the  West  Indies,  Yera  Cruz,  and  in  the  interior  as  far  as  Mexico. 
Captain  Cook  also  found  them  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  continent, 
frequenting  the  shores  of  Nootka  Sound.  The  great  mass  of  their 
pigmy  host  retire  to  breed  within  the  desolate  lands  of  the  Arctic 
circle,  where,  about  the  20th  of  May,  or  as  soon  as  the  snow  begins  to 
melt,  and  the  rigors  of  the  long  and  nocturnal  winter  relax,  they  are 
again  seen  to  return  to  the  shores  and  swampy  borders  of  their  native 
lakes,  in  the  inclement  parallel  of  66°.  Though  shy  and  quailing  on 
their  first  arrival,  with  many  other  aerial  passengers  of  like  habits, 
they  contribute  to  give  an  air  of  life  and  activity,  to  these  most  dreary, 
otherwise  desolate,  and  inhospitable  regions  of  the  earth.  Endowed 


WILSON'S  SANDPIPER. 


736  WILSON'S  SANDPIPER. 

with  different  wants  and  predilections  from  the  preceding  hosts,  whose 
general  livery  they  wear,  they  never  seemingly  diverge  in  their  passage 
so  far  to  the  eastward  as  to  visit  Greenland,  and  the  contiguous 
extremity  of  northern  Europe,  being  unknown  in  the  other  continent ; 
and  migrating  always  towards  the  south,  they  have  thickly  peopled 
almost  every  part  of  the  country  that  gave  them  birth. 

The  Peeps  as  they  are  here  called,  are  seen  in  the  salt  marshes  around 
Boston,  as  early  as  the  8th  of  July ;  indeed,  so  seldom  are  they  absent 
from  us  in  the  summer  season,  that  they  might  be  taken  for  denizens 
of  the  State,  or  the  neighboring  countries,  did  we  not  know  that  they 
repair,  at  an  early  period  of  the  spring,  to  their  breeding  resorts  in  the 
distant  north ;  and  that,  as  yet,  numerous  and  familiar  as  they  are,  the 
nest,  and  history  of  their  incubation,  is  wholly  unknown. 

When  they  arrive,  now  and  then  accompanied  by  the  semipalmated 
species,  the  air  is  sometimes,  as  it  were,  clouded  with  their  flocks. 
Companies  led  from  place  to  place,  in  quest  of  food,  are  seen  whirling 
suddenly  in  circles,  with  a  desultory  flight,  at  a  distance  resembling  a 
swarm  of  hiving  Bees,  seeking  out  some  object  on  which  to  settle. 
At  this  time,  deceiving  them  by  an  imitation  of  their  sharp  and 
querulous  whistle,  the  fowler  approaches,  and  adds  destruction  to  the 
confusion  of  their  timorous  and  restless  flight.  Flocking  together  for 
common  security,  the  fall  of  their  companions,  and  their  plaintive  cry, 
excites  so  much  sympathy  among  the  harmless  Peeps,  that,  forgeting 
their  own  safety,  or  not  well  perceiving  the  cause  of  the  fetftlity,  which 
the  gun  spreads  among  them,  they  fall  sometimes  into  such  a  state  of 
confusion,  as  to  be  routed  with  but  little  effort,  until  the  greedy  sports- 
man is  glutted  with  his  timorous  and  infatuated  game.  When  much 
disturbed,  they  however,  separate  into  small  and  wandering  parties, 
where  they  are  now  seen  gleaning  their  fare  of  larvae,  worms,  minute 
shell-fish,  and  insects  in  the  salt  marshes,  or  on  the  muddy  and  sedgy 
shores  of  tide  rivers  and  ponds.  At  such  times  they  may  be  very 
nearly  approached,  betraying  rather  a  heedless  familiarity,  than  a 
timorous  mistrust  of  their  most  wily  enemy ;  and  even  when  rudely 
startled,  they  will  often  return  to  the  same  place  in  the  next  instant, 
to  pursue  their  lowly  occupation  of  scooping  in  the  mud,  and  hence 
probably  originated  the  contemptible  appellation  of  humility,  by 
which  they  and  some  other  small  birds  of  similar  habits  have  been 
distinguished.  For  the  discovery  of  their  food,  their  flexible  and 
sensitive  awl-like  bills  are  probed  into  the  mire,  marshy  soil,  or  wet 
sand,  in  the  manner  of  the  Snipe  and  Woodcock,  and  in  this  way 
they  discover  and  rout  from  their  hidden  retreats,  the  larvas  and  soft 
worms  which  form  a  principal  part  of  their  fare.  At  other  times,  they 
also  give  chase  to  insects,  and  pursue  their  calling  with  amusing 
alacrity.  When,  at  length  startled,  or  about  to  join  the  company  they 
have  left,  a  sharp,  short  and  monotonous  whistle,  like  the  word  peet, 
or  peep  is  uttered,  and  they,  instantly  take  to  wing,  and  course  along 
with  the  company  they  had  left.  On  seeing  the  larger  marsh  birds 
feeding,  as  the  Yellow-Shanks  and  others,  a  whirling  flock  of  the 
Peeps  will  descend  amongst  them,  being  generally  allowed  to  feed  in 
quiet ;  and  on  the  approach  of  the  sportsman,  these  little  timorous 


DOUGLAS'S  SANDPIPER. 


737 


rovers  are  ready  to  give  the  alarm.  At  first  a  slender  peep  is  heard, 
which  is  then  followed  by  two  or  three  others,  and  presently  peet  'pip 
'pip  'p'p  murmurs  in  a  lisping  whistle  through  the  quailing  ranks,  as 
they  rise  swarming  on  the  wing,  and  inevitably  entice  with  them  their 
larger  but  less  watchful  associates.  Towards  evening,  in  fine  weather, 
the  marshes  almost  re-echo  with  the  shrill,  but  rather  murmuring  or 
lisping,  subdued,  and  querulous  call  of  peet,  and  then  a  repetition  of 
pe-dee,  pe-dee,  dee  dee,  which  seems  to  be  the  collecting  cry  of  the  old 
birds  calling  together  their  brood,  for  when,  assembled,  the  note 
changes  into  a  confused  murmur  of  peet,  peet,  attended  by  a  short 
and  suppressed  whistle. 


DOUGLAS'S   STILT   SANDPIPER. 

According  to  Dr.  Eichardson,  this  species  is  not  uncommon  in  the 
fur  countries  of 
Upper  Canada,  to 
the  60th  parallel, 
and  perhaps  still 
further  north.  It 
exhibits  the  usual 
habits  of  the  genus 
Tringa,  frequents 
the  interior  marshes 
in  the  breeding 
season,  and  in  the 
autumn  resorts  in 
flocks  to  the  flat 
shores  of  Hudson's 
Bay,  previous  to 
taking  its  departure 
for  the  south. 

DOUGLAS'S  STILT  SANDPIPER. 


738  OF   PLOVERS — THE    DOTTEREL. 


OF  THE  PLOYEES  IN  GENEEAL. 

THE  Plovers  Lave  a  straight,  somewhat  cylindrical  and  obtuse  bill, 
seldom  longer  than  the  head.  The  feet  are  formed  for  running,  with 
three  toes,  all  placed  forward. 

The  Plovers  generally  associate  in  small  flocks,  and  the  whole 
emigrate  in  companies  of  greater  or  less  extent ;  the  young  collect 
together,  pursuing  their  route  apart  from  the  old,  and  after  their  de- 
parture. They  live  principally  upon  small  worms,  and  aquatic  insects. 
The  common  species,  and  the  Guignard,  frequent  the  marshes  and 
muddy  borders  of  the  larger  and  smaller  rivers,  and  rarely  frequent 
sea-shores ;  the  other  species  live  more  habitually  upon  the  coasts,  and 
near  the  outlets  of  streams.  The  moult  in  most  of  the  species  is 
double,  and  the  sexes  are  scarcely  distinguishable  by  any  exterior 
markings,  except  in  the  C.  cantianus,  in  which  the  moult  is  only 
annual,  and  the  sexes  distinguishable  by  their  livery.  Some  exotic 
species  of  the  genus  bear  spines  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  wing?, 
being,  in  fact,  an  approach  towards  the  development  of  claws  on  the 
anterior  extremities  1  several  other  species  have  fleshy  excrescences 
upon  the  head  or  mandibles. 


THE   DOTTEREL. 

The  length  of  the  Dotterel  is  about  ten  inches.  The  bill  is  not 
quite  an  inch  long,  and  is  black.  The  forehead  is 
mottled  with  brown  and  gray :  the  top  of  the  head 
is  black  ;  and  over  each  eye  there  is  an  arched  line 
of  white,  which  passes  to  the  hind  part  of  the  neck. 
The  cheeks  and  throat  are  white:  the  back  and 
_  wings  are  of  a  light  brown,  inclining  to  olive,  each 

feather  margined  with  pale  rust-color.  The  fore 
part  of  the  neck  is  surrounded  by  a  broad  band  of  light  olive-color, 
bordered  below  with  white.  The  breast  is  of  a  pale  dull  orange ;  the 
middle  of  the  belly  black ;  and  the  rest  of  the  belly  and  thighs  are  of 
a  reddish  white.  The  tail  is  olive  brown,  black  near  the  end,  tipped 
with  white ;  and  the  outer  feathers  are  margined  with  white.  The 
legs  are  of  a  dark  olive. 

These  birds  are  migratory ;  appearing  in  flocks  of  eight  or  ten, 
about  the  end  of  April,  and  continuing  all  May  and  June,  when  they 
become  very  fat,  and  are  much  esteemed  for  the  table. 

The  Dotterel  is  in  its  manners  a  singular  bird,  and  may  be  taken  by 
an  extremely  simple  artifice.  The  country  people  are  said  sometimes 
to  go  in  quest  of  it,  in  the  night,  with  a  lighted  torch  or  candle  ;  and 
the  bird,  on  these  occasions,  will  mimic  the  actions  of  the  fowler  with 
great  archness.  When  he  stretches  out  an  arm,  it  stretches  out  its 
wing ;  if  he  move  a  foot,  it  moves  one  also  ;  and  every  other  motion 
it  endeavors  to  imitate. 


THE  STILT — BLACK-NECKED    STILT. 


739 


THE   STILT,    OR   LONG  LEGGED  PLOVER. 

The  Stilt,  though  rare  and  accidental  in  its  visits  in  the  colder  cli 
mates,  is  not  uncommon  in  eastern  Europe, 
along  the  borders  of  lakes  in  Hungary,  and  in 
the  interior  of  Asia,  where,  as  well  as  in 
Mexico  and  Brazil,  and  sometimes  in  Ger- 
many and  France,  it  is  known  to  pass  the 
period  of  reproduction.  In  Egypt,  where  it 
arrives  in  October,  it  probably  passes  the 
winter.  According  to  Temminck,  it  was 
known  to  nest  in  the  marshes  near  Abbeville 
in  1818,  but  their  general  .resort  for  breeding 
is  in  the  vast  saline  marshes  of  Hungary 
and  Kussia.  Being  a  native  of  regions  conti- 
guous to  the  southern  limits  of  the  United 
States,  there  is  little  doubt  but  that  it  visits 
the  whole  shores  of  the  Mexican  Gulf.  Its 
habits  are  altogether  maritime,  and  it  is  said 
to  feed  on  the  spawn  of  fish,  tadpoles,  gnats, 
flies  and  other  aquatic  insects.  The  legs  of  this  bird  are  remarkably 
slender,  and  longer,  perhaps  in  proportion,  than  in  any  other  known 
bird,  it  consequently  staggers  and  reels  in  its  gait,  while  balancing 
itself  on  its  stilt-like  legs. 


LONG-LEGOED  PLOVER. 


THE    BLACK-NECKED    STILT. 

The  Black-necked  Stilt  is  common  to  many  parts  of  South  as  well 
as  North  America ;  it  is  known  at  any  rate  to  inhabit  the  coast  of 
Cayenne,  Jamaica,  and  Mexico.  In  the  United  States,  it  is  seldom 
seen  but  as  a  straggler  as  far  to  the  north  as  the  latitude  of  41°.  About 
the  25th  of  April,  according  to  Wilson,  they  arrive-  on  the  coast  of 
New  Jersey  in  small  flocks  of  twenty  or  thirty  together.  These  again 
subdivide  into  smaller  parties,  but  they  still  remain  gregarious  through 
the  breeding  season.  Their  favorite  residence  is  in  the  higher  and 
more  inland  parts  of  the  greater  salt  marshes,  which  are  interspersed 
and  broken  up  with  shallow  pools,  not  usually  overflowed  by  the  tides 
during  summer.  In  these  places  they  are  often  seen  wading  up  to 
the  breast  in  water,  in  quest  of  the  larvae,  spawn,  flies,  and  insects, 
which -constitute  their  food. 

In  the  vicinity  of  these  bare  places,  among  thick  tufts  of  grass, 
small  associations  of  six  or  eight  pair,  take  up  their  residence  for  the 
breeding  season.  They  are,  however,  but  sparingly  dispersed  over 
the  marshes,  selecting  their  favorite  spots  ;  while  in  large  intermediate 
tracts,  few  or  none  are  to  be  seen.  Early  in  May,  they  begin  to  make 
their  nests,  which  are  at  first  slightly  formed  of  a  mere  layer  of  old 
grass,  just  sufficient  to  keep  the  eggs  from  the  moisture  of  the  marsh  ; 

47 


740 


THE   SANDERLING   PLOVER. 


BLACK-NECKED   STILT. 


in  the  course  of  incubation,  however,  either  to  guard  cgainst  the  rise 

of  the  tides,  or  for 
some  other  purpose, 
the  nest  is  increased 
in  height  with  the 
dry  twigs  of  salt 
marsh  shrubs,  roots 
of  grass,  sea- weed, 
and  any  other  coarse 
materials  w  h  i  c  h 
may  be  convenient, 
until  the  whole  may 
now  weigh  two  or 
three  pounds.  The 
eggs,  four  in  num- 
ber, are  of  a  dark 
yellowish  drab, 
thickly  marked  with 
large  blotches  of 
b  r  o  w  n  i  s  h-black. 
These  nests  are 
often  situated  within 
fifteen  or  twenty 
yards  of  each  other, 

the  respective  proprietors  living  in  .mutual  friendship. 

THE    SANDERLING   PLOVER. 

The  Sanderlings,  in  accumulating  flocks;  arrive  on  the  shores  of 

Massachusetts  from 
their  remote  north- 
ern breeding  places 
towards  the  close  of 
August.  They  are 
seen  also  about  the 
same  time  on  the 
coast  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  still  far- 
ther to  the  south, 
where  they  remain 
throughout  the 
greater  part  of  the 
winter,  gleaning 
their  subsistence 
exclusively  along 
the  immediate  bor- 
ders of  the  ocean, 
and  are  particularly 
attached  to  sandy 
flats,  and  low,  sterile,  solitary  coasts,  divested  of  vegetation,  and 


BAXDEBLING   PLOVER. 


THE   GOLDEN   PLOVER. 


741 


perpetually  bleached  by  the  access  of  tides  and  storms;  in  such  situ- 
ations they  are  often  seen  in  numerous  flocks,  running  along  the 
strand,  busily  employed  in  front  of  the  moving  waves,  gleaning 
with  agility,  the  shrimps,  minute  shell-fish,  marine  insects,  and  small 
moluscous  animals,  which  ever  recurring  accident  throws  in  their 
way.  The  numerous  flocks,  keep  a  low  circling  course  along  the 
strand,  at  times  uttering  a  slender  and  rather  plaintive  whistle, 
nearly  like  that  of  the  smaller  Sandpipers.  On  alighting,  the  little 
active  troop,  waiting  the  opportunity,  scatter  themselves  about  in 
the  rear  of  the  retiring  surge,  the  succeeding  wave  then  again  urges 
the  busy  gleaners  before  it,  when  they  appear  like  a  little  pigmy 
army  passing  through  their  military  evolutions ;  and  at  this  time  the 
wily  sportsman,  seizing  his  opportunity,  spreads  destruction  among 
their  timid  ranks  :  and  so  little  are  they  aware  of  the  nature  of  the 
attack,  that,  after  making  a  few  aerial  meanders,  the  survivors,  pursue 
their  busy  avocations  with  as  little  apparent  concern  as  at  the  first. 
The  breeding  place  of  the  Sanderling,  in'common  with  many  other 
wading,  and  aquatic  birds,  is  in  the  remote  and  desolate  regiens  of 
the  north,  since  they  appear  to  be  obliged  to  quit  those  countries  in 
America  a  little  after  the  middle  of  August.  According  to  Mr. 
Hutchins,  they  breed  on  the  coast  of  Hudson's  Bay  as  low  as  the  55th 
parallel :  and  he  remarks  that  they  construct,  in  the  marshes,  a  rude 
nest  of  grass,  laying  four  dusky  eggs,  spotted  with  black,  on  which 
they  begin  to  sit  about  the  middle  of  June. 

THE   COMMON,    OR   GOLDEN   PLOVER. 


to  the  season  of  the  year,  met 


The  Common  Plover,  is  according 
with  in  almost  every 
part  of  the  world. 
They  arrive  on  the 
coast  of  the  middle 
and  northern  states 
in  spring  and  early 
in  autumn.  Near 
to  Nantasket  and 
Chelsea  beach,  they 
are  seen,  on  their 
return  from  their 
inclement  natal  re- 
gions in  the  north, 
by  the  close  of 
August,  and  the 
young  remain  in 
the  vicinity  till  the 
middle  of  October, 
or  later,  according  to  the  state  of  the  weather.  They  live  principally 
upon  land  insects,  or  the  larvae  and  worms  they  meet  with  in  the  saline 
marshes,  and  appear  very  fond  of  grasshoppers.  About  the  time  of 
their  departure  they  are,  early  in  a  morning,  seen  sometimes  assem- 


COMMON,  OR  GOLDEN   PLOVBK. 


742  OF   THE   RAIL   TRIBE. 

bled  by  thousands,  but  they  all  begin  to  disperse  as  the  sun  rises,  and 
at  length  disappear  high  in  the  air  for  the  season.  They  usually 
associate,  however,  in  small  flocks  and  families,  and  when  alarmed, 
while  on  the  wing,  or  giving  their  call  to  those  who  are  feeding  around 
them,  they  have  a  wild,  shrill  and  whistling  note,  and  are  at  most 
times  timid,  watchful,  and  difficult  to  approach.  Though  they  con- 
tinue associated  in  numbers  for  common  safety  during  the  day,  they 
disperse  in  the  evening,  and  repose  apart  from  each  other.  At  day- 
break, however,  the  feeling  of  solitude  again  returns,  and  the  early 
sentinel  no  sooner  gives  the  shrill  and  well-known  call  than  they  all 
assemble  in  their  usual  company.  At  this  time,  they  are  often 
caught  in  great  numbers  by  the  fowler,  with  the  assistance  of  a 
clap-net,  stretched  before  dawn  in  front  of  the  place  they  have 
selected  to  pass  the  night.  The  fowlers  now  surrounding  the  spot, 
prostrate  themselves  on  the  ground  when  the  call  is  heard,  and  as  soon 
as  the  birds  are  collected  together,  they  rise  up  from  ambush,  and  by 
shouts,  and  the  throwing  up  of  sticks  in  the  air,  succeed  so  far  in. 
intimidating  the  Plovers  that  they  lower  their  flight,  and  thus  strik- 
ing against  the  net,  it  falls  upon  them.  In  this,  and  most  other 
countries,  their  flesh,  in  the  autumn,  and  particularly  that  of  the 
young  birds,  is  esteemed  as  a  delicacy,  and  often  *  exposed  for  sale  in 
the  markets  of  the  principal  towns. 


OF  THE  BAIL   TEIBE. 

THE  bill  is  thickest  at  the  base,  attenuated  on  the  back  towards  the 
tip,  compressed,  a  little  incurved,  and  pointed.  The  tongue  is  rough 
at  the  tip.  The  body  is  compressed,  and  the  tail  short.  The  feet 
have  each  four  toes. 

The  Kails  are  shy,  solitary,  and  very  timid  birds,  generally  residing 
in  reedy  and  sedgy  marshes,  in  the  vicinity  of  fresh  and  still  waters, 
provided  with  a  deep  covert  of  shrubs,  rushes  and  rank  herbage. 
When  surprised  they  run  much  oftener  than  fly,  and  skim  over  watery 
places  with  great  agility,  on  the  surface  of  the  leaves  of  aquatic  plants, 
rather  than  swim,  which  they  seldom  do  from  choice,  though  they 
also  dive  well,  or  when  wounded,  and  can  remain  long  under  the 
water.  Though  their  flight  is  ordinarily  so  limited,  they  yet  perform 
extensive  migrations.  They  walk  with  ease  and  swiftness;  and  rarely 
alight  anywhere  but  on  the  ground.  As  they  are  chiefly  noctur- 
nal in  their  motions,  they  remain  concealed,  throughout  -the  greatest 
part  of  the  day,  chiefly  in  wet  and  grassy  places,  and  turn  out  in 
quest  of  food  in  the  morning  or  evening,  or  by  the  advantage  of 
the  moonlight.  In  the  breeding  season,  however,  the  monogamous 
parents  and  the  brood  they  have  jointly  hatched,  are  not  unfrequently 
seen  abroad  by  day.  They  breed  in  marshes  and  thickets,  nesting 
near  waters,  sometimes  even  forming  a  nest  to  float,  and  attaching  it 
to  the  contiguous  reeds.  They  feed  upon  worms,  soft  insects,  as  well 
as  upon  vegetables,  and  their  seeds.  Species  are  to  be  found  to  in- 
habit every  part  of  the  world. 


THE    LAND  RAIL — CAROLINA  RAIL.  743 


THE  LAND   RAIL. 

The  bill  of  the  Land  Kail  is  short,  strong,  and  thick.  The  feathers 
on  the  crown  of  the  head,  the  hind 
part  of  the  neck,  and  the  back,  are 
black,  edged  with  bay.  The  coverts 
of  the  wings  are  of  the  same  color ; 
but  not  spotted.  The  tail  is  short 
and  of  a  deep  bay.  The  belly  is 
white,  and  the  legs  are  ash-colored. 
These  birds  generally  weigh  from  six 
to  eight  ounces. 

The  harsh  cry  of  this  bird,  which 
somewhat  resembles  the  word,  creJc, 
crek,  crek,  is  by  no  means  unlike  the 
noise  made  by  stripping  forcibly  the 

teeth  of  a  large  comb  under  the  fingers.  It  is  chiefly^h'eard  in  the 
summer  season,  among  the  long  grass  and  corn.  Here  the  bird  con- 
stantly skulks,  hidden  by  the  thickest  part  of  the  herbage,  winding 
and  doubling,  in  every  direction,  in  such  manner  that  it  is  generally 
difficult  for  any  person  to  come  near  it.  When  hard  pushed  by  the 
sportsman  or  his  dogs,  it  sometimes  stops  short,  and  its  too  eager 
pursuers  overshoot  the  spot,  and  lose  all  trace  of  it. 

Ill-calculated  as,  from  the  shortness  of  its  wings,  and  the  position 
and  length  of  its  legs,  this  bird  appears  to  be  for  flight,  it  certainly  is 
able  to  fly  with  considerable  swiftness.  It  is,  in  general,  very  unwill- 
ling  to  rise  from  the  ground  ;  and  such  is  its  timidity,  that  it  will  some- 
times squat  so  close  as  to  suffer  itself  to  be  taken  up  into  the  hand 
rather  than  rise. 

It  is  a  bird  of  passage,  generally  making  its  appearance  about  the 
same  time  with  the  Quail. 

It  appears  that  Land  Kails  frequent  the  fields  more  for  the  sake  of 
snails,  slugs,  and  other  vermes  which  abound  in  such  places,  than  for 
the  grain  or  seeds  they  might  find  there. 

The  female  constructs  her  nest  on  the  ground,  of  moss  and  dry 
grass,  negligently  put  together.  The  number  of  eggs  is  generally 
about  ten  or  twelve,  of  a  pale  ash-color,  marked  with  ferruginous 
spots.  The  young-ones  are  able  to  run  as  soon  they  have  burst  the 
shell. 

THE   CAROLINA  RAIL. 

The  Soiree,  or  Common  Rail  of  America,  which  assemble  in  such 
numbers  on  the  reedy  shores  of  the  larger  rivers,  in  the  Middle  and 
adjoining  warmer  States,  at  the  approach  of  autumn,  and  which  afford 
such  abundant  employ  to  the  sportsman,  at  that  season,  like  most  of 
the  tribe  to  which  it  belongs,  is  a  bird  of  passage,  wintering  generally 
south  of  the  limits  of  the  Union.  They  begin  to  make  their  appearance, 
in  the  marshes  of  Georgia,  by  the  close  of  February ;  and,  on  the  2d 


744 


THE  CAROLINA   RAIL. 


THB  CAROLINA  RAIL. 


of  May,  Wilson  observed  them  in  the  low  watery  meadows  below 
Philadelphia. 

Like  the  other  migrating  waders,  the  Kails,  accompanied  by  their 

swarming  broods, 
bred  in  the  north 
and  west,  begin  to 
show  themselves 
on  the  reedy 
borders  of  the 
Delaware,  and  on 
other  large  waters 
of  the  Middle 
States,  whose  still 
and  sluggish 
streams,  spread- 
ing out  over 
muddy  flats,  give 
birth  to  an  abun- 
dant crop  of  the 
seeds  of  the  Wild 
E  i  c  e,  now  the 
favorite  food  of 

the  Eails  and  the  Eice  or  Eeed  Birds.  On  first  arriving,  from  the 
labor  and  privations  incident  to  their  migrations,  they  are  lean,  and 
little  valued  as  food  ;  but  as  their  favorite  natural  harvest  begins  to 
swell  out  and  approach  maturity,  they  rapidly  fatten ;  and,  from  the 
middle  of  September  to  the  same  time  in  October,  they  are  in  excellent 
order  for  the  table,  and  eagerly  sought  after  wherever  a  gun  can  be 
obtained  and  brought  into  operation. 

The  usual  method  of  shooting  Eail  on  the  Delaware,  according  to 
Wilson,  is  as  follows.  The  sportsman  proceeds  to  the  scene  of  action 
in  a  batteau,  with  an  experienced  boatman,  who  propels  the  boat 
with  a  pole.  About  two  hours  before  high  water,  they  enter  the 
reeds,  the  sportsman  taking  his  place  in  the  bow  ready  for  action ; 
while  the  boatman  on  the  stern  seat  pushes  her  steadily  through  the 
reeds.  The  Eails  generally  spring  singly,  as  the  boat  advances,  and 
at  a  short  distance  ahead,  are  instantly  shot  down,  while  the  boatman, 
keeping  his  eye  on  the  spot  where  the  bird  fell,  directs  the  vessel 
forward,  and  picks  it  up  as  the  gunner  is  loading.  In  this  manner  the 
boat  continues  through  and  over  the  wild-rice  marsh,  the  birds  flushing 
and  falling,  the  gunner  loading  and  firing,  while  the  helmsman  is 
pushing  and  picking  up  the  game ;  which  sport  continues  till  an  hour 
or  two  after  high  water,  when  its  shallowness,  and  the  strength  and 
weight  of  the  floating  reeds,  as  also  the  unwillingness  of  the  game  to 
spring  as  the  tide  decreases,  oblige  them  to  return.  Several  boats  are 
sometimes  within  a  short  distance  of  each  other,  and  a  perpetual 
cracking  of  musketry  prevails  along  the  whole  reedy  shores  of  the 
river.  In  these  excursions,  it  is  not  uncommon  for  an  active  and 
expert  marksman  to  kill  ten  or  twelve  dozen  in  the  serving  of  a 
single  tide. 


THE   PURPLE   GALLINULE. 


745 


THE   PURPLE    GALLINULE. 

This  very  splendid,  but  incongruous  species  of  Gallinule,  is  in  the 
United  States,  a 
bird  of  passage, 
wintering  in  tropi- 
cal America,  and 
passing  the  sum- 
mer, or  breeding 
season  in  the 
marshes  of  Florida 
and  the  contiguous 
parts  of  the  State 
of  Georgia,  where 
it  arrives  in  the 
latter  part  of 
A  p  r  i  1,  retiring 
south  with  its 
brood,  in  the 
course  of  the 
autumn,  and 
probably  winters, 
according  to  its 
habits,  in  the 
swampy  maritime 
districts  along  the 
coast  of  the  Mexican  Gulf. 

The  Martinico  Gallinule,  while  in  the  Southern  States,  frequents  the 
rice-fields,  rivulets,  and  fresh  water  pools,  in  company  with  the  more 
common  Florida  species.  It  is  a  vigorous  and  active  bird,  bites  hard 
when  irritated,  runs  with  agility,  and  has  the  faculty,  like  the  Sul- 
tanas, of  holding  on  objects  very  firmly  with  its  toes,  which  are  very 
long,  and  spread  to  a  great  extent.  When  walking,  it  jerks  its  tail 
like  the  common  Gallinule.  In  its  native  marshes  it  is  very  shy  and 
vigilant,  and  continually  eluding  pursuit,  can  only  be  flushed  with  the 
aid  of  a  dog. 


PURPLE  GALLISULE. 


OF  THE   FLAMINGO  TKIBE. 

THE  Flamingoes  combine  the  characters  of  the  two  Linnsean  orders, 
the  Waders  and  the  Swimmers.  They  have  long  necks  and  legs. 
Their  bill  is  thick,  large,  and  bending  in  the  middle.  The  higher  part 
of  the  upper  mandible  is  keel-shaped :  the  lower  compressed.  The 
edges  of  the  upper  mandible  are  sharply  indented ;  those  of  the 
lower  transversely  furrowed.  The  nostrils  are  covered  above  with  a 
thin  plate,  and  are  pervious.  The  tongue  is  cartilaginous,  and  pointed 
at  the  end  ;  the  middle  part  is  muscular,  and  the  upper  part  acculeated 


746 


THE  RED   FLAMINGO. 


The  neck  is  long.     The  legs  and  thighs  are  of  great  length :  the  feet 
are  webbed  ;  and  the  back  toes  very  small. 


THE   RED   FLAMINGO. 

The  body  of  the '  Eed  Flamingo  is  about  the  size  of  that  of  a 

Goose ;  but  its 
legs  and  neck  are 
of  such  extraordi- 
nary length,  that 
when  it  stands 
erect  it  is  upwards 
of  six  feet  in 
height.  The  body 
is  of  a  beautiful 
scarlet.  It  is  an 
inhabitant  of  those 
parts  of  America 
that  are  as  yet  but 
thinly  peopled. 

When  the  Euro- 
peans first  visited 
America,  they 
found  the  Flamin- 
goes on  the  shores 
tame  and  gentle, 
and  no  way  dis- 
trustful of  man- 
kind. If  one  of 
them  was  killed,  the  rest  of  the  flock,  instead  of  attempting  to  fly, 
only  regarded  the  fall  of  their  companion  with  a  kind  of  fixed  aston- 
ishment :  another  and  another  shot  was  discharged ;  and  thus  the 
fowler  often  levelled  the  whole  flock,  without  one  of  them  attempting 
to  escape.  Now,  however,  they  regard  us  with  aversion.  Wherever 
they  haunt,  one  of  the  number,  it  is  said,  is  always  appointed  to  watch 
while  the  rest  are  employed  in  feeding ;  and  the  moment  he  perceives 
the  least  danger,  he  gives  a  loud  scream,  in  sound  not  unlike  a 
trumpet,  and  instantly  the  whole  flock  is  on  wing.  They  feed  in 
silence  ;  but,  when  thus  roused,  they  all  join  in  the  noise,  and  fill  the 
air  with  their  screams. 

Their  nest  is  of  a  singular  construction.  It  is  formed  of  .mud,  in  the 
shape  of  a  hillock,  with  a  cavity  at  the  top.  In  this  the  female  gen- 
erally lays  two  white  eggs,  of  the  size  of  those  of  a  goose,  but  longer. 
The  hillock  is  of  such  a  height  as  to  admit"  of  the  bird's  sitting  on  it, 
or  rather  standing,  as  her  legs  are  placed  one  on  each  side,  at  full  length. 
Linnaeus  tells  us  that  she  will  sometimes  lay  her  eggs  on  the  project- 
ing part  of  a  low  rock,  if  it  happen  to  be  sufficiently  convenient  to 
admit  of  the  legs  being  placed  in  this  manner  on  each  side. 

It  is  not  until  a  long  time  after  they  are  hatched  that  the  young- 


RED  FLAMINGO. 


THE    SACRED   IBIS. 


747 


ones  are  able  to  fly ;  but  they  can  previously  run  with  amazing 

swiftness.     They  are  sometimes 

caught   at   this  age ;    and,  very 

different  from  the  old  ones,  they 

suffer  themselves  to  be  carried 

away,  and  are  easily  tamed.     In 

five   or   six  days   they  become 

familiar,  and  will  even  eat  out 

of  the  hand  ;  and  they  drink  a 

surprising  quantity  of  sea-water. 

But,    though     easily     rendered 

domestic,  it   is  difficult   to  rear 

them ;  as  they  are  apt  to  decline, 

from  the  want  of  their  natural 

food. 

Flamingoes  are  often  met  with 
in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Old 
Continent ;  and,  except  in  the 
breeding-time,  they  are  gene- 
rally found  in  great  flocks. 
When  seen  at  a  distance,  they 
appear  like  a  regiment  of 
soldiers ;  being  often  ranged  FLAMINGO. 

alongside  of  one  a-nother  on  the 

borders  of  rivers,  searching  for  food,  which  consists  principally  of 
small  fish  and  water-insects :  these  they  take  by  plunging  the  bill  and 
part  of  the  head  into  the  water ;  and  from  time  to  time  trampling  the 
bottom  with  their  feet,  to  disturb  the  mud  in  order  to  raise  up  their 
prey.  In  feeding,  they  are  said  to  twist  their  neck  in  such  a  manner, 
that  the  upper  part  of  the  bill  is  applied  to  the  ground. 

These  beautiful  birds  were  much  esteemed  by  the  Eomans,  who 
often  used  them  in  their  grand  sacrifices  and  sumptuous  entertain- 
ments. Their  flesh  is  thought  tolerably  good  food ;  and  the  tongue  was 
considered  by  the  ancients  as  among  the  most  delicate  of  all  eatables. 
Pliny,  Martial,  and  many  other  writers  speak  of  it  in  high  terms  of 
commendation. 


THE   SACRED  IBIS. 

The  Sacred  Ibis  inhabits  Egypt,  but  does  not  seem  to  breed  there. 
This  is  the  bird  so  frequently  depicted  in  the  hieroglyphics  as  playing 
a  conspicuous  part  in  religious  ceremonies.  Their  mummies  are  con- 
stantly found  in  the  tombs,  and  in  one  of  these  mummies  Cuvier  dis- 
covered remnants  of  skin;  and  scales  of  snakes.  It  is  a  migratory 
bird,  appearing  simultaneously  with  the  rise  of  the  Nile,  and  depart- 
ing as  the  inundation  subsides.  The  Sacred  Ibis  is  about  the  size  of 
an  ordinary  fowl. 


748 


THE  SCARLET    IBIS — AYOCET. 


THE   SCARLET   IBIS. 


This  brilliant  and  exclusively  American  species,  inhabits  chiefly 

within  the  tropics, 
abounding  in  the 
West  India  and 
Bahama  Islands, 
and  south  of  the 
equator,  at  least, 
as  far  as  Brazil. 
They  migrate  in 
the  course  of  the 
summer,  (about 
July  and  August,) 
into  Florida,  Ala- 
bama, Georgia, 
and  South  Caroli- 
na ;  but  retire  into 
Mexico,  or  the 
Carribean  islands, 
at  the  approach 
of  cool  weather. 
They  generally 
associate  in  num- 
bers, frequenting  the  borders  of  the  sea,  and  the  banks  and  estuaries 
of  neighboring  rivers,  feeding  on  small  fry,  shell-fish,  Crustacea, 
worms,  and  insects,  which  they  collect  at  the  ebbing  of  the  tide. 
They  are  said  to  be  in  the  habit  of  perching  on  trees  in  companies  ; 
but  lay  their  eggs,  which  are  greenish,  on  the  ground,  amidst  the  tall 
grass  of  the  marshes,  on  a  slight  nest  of  leaves.  When  just  hatched  the 
young  are  black,  soon  changing  to  gray,  but  are  nearly  white  before 
they  are  able  to  fly ;  by  degrees  they  attain  their  red  plumage,  which 
is  not  complete  until  the  third  year.  The  young  and  old  associate 
in  distinct  bands.  In  the  countries  where  they  abound  they  are 
sometimes  domesticated,  and  accompany  the  poultry.  The  Ibis 
shows  great  courage  in  attacking  the  fowls,  and  will  even  defend 
itself  from  the  insidious  attacks  of  the  cat.  It  is  generally  esteemed 
as  good  food ;  and  its  rich  and  gaudy  plumage  is  used  by  the  Brazil- 
ians for  various  ornaments. 


SCARLET  IBIS. 


THE   AVOCET. 


The  bill  in  the  genus  Recur virostra  is  exactly  the  reverse  of  that  in 
the  genus  Cracticornis,  the  curve  being  upwards  instead  of  down- 
wards. The  common  Avocet  is  spread  throughout  the  warmer 
regions  of  Europe,  and  is  also  found  in  some  parts  of  Africa.  It  is 
very  common  in  Holland,  and  is  frequently  seen  on  the  eastern  coasts 


THE   AMERICAN   AYOCET. 


749 


of  England,  but  seldom  visits  Scotland.  It  frequents  marshes  and 
the  mouths  of  rivers,  where  it  finds  in  the 
mud  myriads  of  the  small  worms  and  insects 
on  which  it  feeds,  and  which  it  obtains  by 
scooping  them  up  from  the  mud  with  its 
curiously  curved  bill.  It  is  a  good  swimmer, 
but  seldom  has  recourse  to  that  art  except 
when  it  wades  unexpectedly  out  of  its  depth. 
The  eggs  of  the  Avocet  are  laid  on  the 
ground,  in  a  depression  sheltered  by  a  tuft  AVOCET. 

of  herbage.     Their  color  is  a  bluish  green, 

spotted  with  black.  The  birds  when  disturbed  at  their  nests  feign 
lameness,  like  the  Lapwing,  in  order  to  draw  the  intruder  to  a  dis- 
tance. The  length  of  the  bird  is  eighteen  inches. 


its  young, 
them    again 


THE   AMERICAN   AVOCET. 

The  American  Avocet,  supposed  to  winter  in  'tropical  America, 
arrives  on  the  coast 
of  Cape  May,  in 
New  Jersey,  late  in 
April,  where  it  rears 
and  with 
retires 

to  the  south,  early 
in  October.  In  the 
months  of  spring 
they  were  observed 
by  Mr.  Say,  in  the 
lower  part  of  Mis- 
souri. They  are  also 
known  to  visit  Nova 
Scotia,  though 
scarcely  ever  seen  in 
the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Doctor 
Richardson  also 
found  them  abun- 
dant in  the  Saskat- 
chewan plains,  as  far 
as  the  53rd  parallel, 
where  they  frequent 
shallow  lakes,  feeding  on  insects,  and  fresh  water  Crustacea.  In  New 
Jersey,  they  seem  to  have  a  predilection  for  the  shallow  pools  of  the 
salt  marshes,  wading  about  often,  in  search  of  their  prey,  which 
consists  of  marine  worms,  small  paludinas,  turbos.  &c.,  to  which,  like 
the  European  species,  they  sometimes  add,  small  Fuci,  or  marine 
vegetables. 


AMERICAN   AVOCET. 


750 


THE    JACANAS — WHITE   SPOONBILL,   ETC. 


THE   JACANA 

The  Jacanas  are  found  in  Asia,  Africa,  and  Ameri- 
ca. Their  light  bodies  and  widely  extended  claws 
enable  them  to  walk  on  the  leaves  of  aquatic  plants 
with  equal  ease  and  safety.  As  their  weight  is 
just  sufficient  to  sink  the  leaf  a  little  below  the 
surface,  they  have  quite  the  appearance  of  walking 
on  the  water  itself.  The  Common  Jacana  inhabits 
the  hotter  parts  of  South  America,  and  is  abun- 
dant in  Brazil  and  Guiana.  It  possesses  large  and 
sharp  spurs  on  the  wing.  It  is  not  a  very  large 
bird,  barely  exceeding  a  Pigeon  in  bulk. 


THE  WHITE   SPOONBILL. 

The  Common  Spoonbill  is  found  in 
Europe,    Asia,    Africa,   and   frequents 
Holland,    together     with     the     Stork. 
The    strange   shape   of  the  tip    of  its 
beak    has    gained     it    the    name    of 
Spoonbill.     It   has  rarely  been  taken 
in  this  country.     It  feeds   on  worms, 
\  snails,  and  water  plants,  searching  for 
(  the  latter  by  agitating  the  water  with 
its  broad  beak. 

The  nest  of  the  "White  Spoonbill  is 
sometimes  placed  in  trees,  and  some- 
times amid  rushes.  It  contains  three 
whitish  eggs,  slightly  spotted  with 
red.  The  length  of  the  bird  is  not 
quite  three  feet. 


WHITE  SPOONBILL. 


ROSEATE  SPOONBILL. 


THE   EOSEATE   SPOONBILL. 

The  Eed  or  American  Spoonbill  chiefly  dwells 
within  the  tropical  regions  of  the  continent,  being 
common  in  Jamaica,  and  other  of  the  West  India 
islands,  as  well  as  in  Mexico,  Guiana,  and  Brazil. 
In  the  southern  hemisphere  they  are  said  to  exist 
in  Peru,  and  as  far  down  the  coast  of  South 
America  as  Patagonia.  North  of  the  equator, 
they  migrate  in  summer  into  Florida,  and  are 
met  with  to  the  confines  of  the  Altamaha,  in 
Georgia.  Wilson's  specimen  was  obtained  up 
the  Mississippi,  at  the  town  of  Natchez,  (about 


THE   SPOTTED   TATLER,  OR   PEET   WEET. 


751 


the  latitude  of  32°.)  They  are  also  occasionally  met  witn  on  the 
river  shores  of  the  Alabama,  and  in  other  parts  of  that  State.  A 
straggler  has  been  known  to  wander  as  far  as  the  banks  of  the  Dela- 
ware. 

According  to  the  relation  of  Captain  Henderson,  in  his  account  of 

Honduras,  this  species  is  more  maritime  in  its  habits  than  that  of 

Europe,  as  it  wades  about  in  quest  of  shell  fish,  marine  insects,  fry, 

and  small  crabs ;  and  in  pursuit  of  these,  according  to  him,  it  occa- 

ionally  swims  and  dives. 


THE  SPOTTED  TATLER,  OR  PEET  WEET. 

The  Peet  Weet,  is  one  of  the  most  familiar  and  common  of  all  the 
New    England  ^ 

marsh  birds,  arriv- 
ing along  our  river 
shores  and  low 
meadows,  about  the 
beginning  of  May, 
from  their  mild  or 
tropical  winter 
quarters,  in  Mexico, 
and  probably  the 
adjoining  islands 
of  the  West  Indies. 
By  the  20th  of 
April,  Wilson  ob- 
served their  arrival 
on  the  shores  of  the 


SPOTTED  TATLEB. 


large  rivers  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania.  They  migrate  and  breed  from  the  Middle 
States,  in  all  probability,  to  the  confines  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  or 
further  ;  but  were  not  seen  by  Dr.  Richardson,  or  any  of  the  Arctic 
expeditions,  in  the  remote  boreal  regions,  or  around  Hudson's  Bay, 
as  had  been  asserted  by  Hutchinson.  It  is  also  an  accidental  visitor 
in  the  old  continent,  being  sometimes  observed  on  the  coasts  of  the 
Baltic,  and  in  Germany,  but  still  more  rarely  in  Great  Britain.  As 
to  residence,  therefore,  the  Spotted  Tatler  may  be  considered  as 
exclusively  American,  and  confined  chiefly  to  the  limits  of  the  more 
temperate  parts  of  the  Union. 

As  soon  as  the  Peet  Weet  arrives  on  the  coasts,  small  roving  flocks 
are  seen,  at  various  times  of  the  day>  coursing  rapidly  along  the  bor- 
ders of  our  tide  water  streams,  flying  swift  and  rather  low,  in  circuit- 
ous sweeps  along  the  meanders  of  the  creek  or  river,  and  occasionally 
crossing  from  side  to  side,  in  rather  a  sportive  and  cheerful  mien,  than 
as  the  needy  foragers  they  appear  at  the  close  of  autumn.  While 
flying  out  in  these  wide  circuits,  agitated  by  superior  feelings  to  those 
of  hunger  and  necessity,  We  hear  the  shores  re-echo  the  shrill  and 
rapid  whistle  of  'weet,  'weet,  'weet,  'weet,  and  usually  closing  the  note. 


752 


THE   YELLOW  SHANKS  TATLER. 


with  something  like  a  warble,  as  they  approach  their  companions  on 
the  strand.  The  cry  then  varies  to  'peet,  weet  weet  weet,  beginning 
high  and  gradually  declining  into  a  somewhat  plaintive  tone.  As 
the  season  advances,  our  little  lively  marine  wanderers  often  trace  the 
streams  some  distance  into  the  interior,  nesting  usually  in  the  fresh 
meadows  among  the  grass,  sometimes  even  near  the  house,  and  I  have 
seen  their  eggs  laid  in  a  strawberry  bed,  and  the  young  and  old 
pleased  with  their  allowed  protection,  familiarly  fed  and  probed  the 
margin  of  an  adjoining  duck  pond,  for  their  usual  fare  of  worms  and 
insects. 


YELLOW  SHANKS  TATLER 


THE  YELLOW  SHANKS  TATLEK. 

The  Yellow-Shanks,  in  certain  situations,  may  be  considered  as  the 

most  common 
bird  of  the  family 
in  America.  Its 
summer  residence 
or  breeding  sta- 
tion, even  extends 
from  the  Middle 
States  to  the 
northern  extrem- 
ity of  the  conti 
nent,  where  it  is 
seen,  solitary  or 
in  pairs,  on  the 
banks  of  rivers, 
lakes,  or  in 
marshes,  in  every 
situation  contigu- 
ous to  the  ocean.  And  though  the  young  and  old  are  found 
throughout  the  warm  season  of  the  year  in  so  many  places,  the  nest 
and  eggs  are  yet  entirely  unknown.  Calculating  from  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  the  brood  abroad,  they  commence  laying  by  the  middle 
of  June,  and  are  seen  in  this  neighborhood  at  that  season.  It  resides 
chiefly  in  the  salt  marshes,  and  frequents  low  flats  and  estuaries,  at 
the  ebb  of  the  tide,  wading  in  the  mud,  in  quest  of  worms,  insects, 
and  other  small  marine  and  fluvatile  animals.  They  seldom  leave 
these  maritime  situations,  except  driven  from  the  coast  by  storms, 
when  they  may  occasionally  be  seen  in  low  and  wet  meadows,  as  far 
inland  as  the  extent  of  tide- water.  The  Yellow- Shanks  has  a  sharp 
whistle  of  three  or  four  short  notes,  which  it  repeats  when  alarmed 
and  when  flying,  and  sometimes  utters  a  simple,  low,  and  rather 
hoarse  call,  which  passes  from  one  to  the  other,  at  the  moment  of 
rising  on  the  wing.  It  is  very  impatient  of  any  intrusion  on  its 
haunts,  and  thus  often  betraying,  like  the  preceding,  the  approach  of 
the  sportsman  to  the  less  vigilant  of  the  feathered  tribes,  by  flying 
around  his  head,  with  hanging  legs  arid  drooping  wings,  uttering  its 
incessant  and  querulous  cries. 


THE  GREAT   MARBLED   GOD  WIT. 


753 


THE   GREAT   MARBLED   GODWIT 

The  Marbled  Godwit  is  only  a  transient  visitor  along  the  sea  coasts 
of  the  United  States, 
in  the  spring  and 
fall,  on  its  way  to 
and  from  its  breed- 
ing place  in  the 
north.  According 
to  Eichardson,  they 
abound  in  the  sum- 
mer season  in  the 
interior  of  the  fur 
countries,  being 
particularly  plenti- 
ful on  the  Saskatch- 
ewan plains,  where 
it  frequents  marshes 
and  bogs,  walking 
on  the  surface  of 
the  swamp  moss, 
(Sp  h  a  g  n  a,)  and 
thrusting  clown  its 
bill  to  the  nostrils 
in  quest  of  worms 
and  leeches,  which 
it  discovers  by  the  sensitive  point  of  its  bill,  thus  finding  means  to 
obtain  a  kind  of  food  which  would  otherwise  be  imperceptible  to  any 
other  sense.  They,  no  doubt,  likewise  vary  their  fare,  and  feed  also 
upon  insects,  and  larvae.  They  arrive  on  the  coasts  of  the  Middle 
States  in  the  month  of  May,  and  linger  on  till  some  time  in  June. 
Many,  however,  at  this  time,  have  already  arrived  at  their  ultimate 
destination  in  the  north,  so  that  it  is  not  improbable  but  some  of 
these  Godwits  may  breed  in  more  temperate  regions  to  the  west  as 
well  as  north,  selecting  the  high  plains  of  the  Eocky  Mountains,  in 
situations  sufficiently  moist.  At  all  events,  they  are  seen  in  the 
lower  part  of  Missouri,  in  the  course  of  the  spring,  but  migrate, 
like  most  other  waders,  along  the  sea  coast,  in  the  way  to  their 
tropical  winter  quarters. 

The  Marbled  Godwit,  in  large  flocks,  appears  in  the  salt  marshes 
of  Massachusetts,  about  the  middle  of  August,  particularly  towards 
the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Bay,  around  Chatham,  and  the  Vine- 
yard; their  stay  is,  however,  very  short,  and  they,  at  the  same  time, 
no  doubt,  visit  the  eastern  coast  of  Long  Island.  On  these  occasions, 
they  are  assembled  by  many  hundreds  together,  and  usually  associate 
with  the  Short  Billed  Curlews,  they  themselves  being  called  Eed  Cur- 
lews ;  though  here  they  are  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Doe-birds, 
and,  being  at  this  season  fat,  are  highly  esteemed  for  the  table.  They 


GREAT  MARBLED  OODWIT. 


'54 


THE  BARTRAM'S  TATLER. 


are  very  shy  and  cautious,  but  when  once  confused  by  the  fall  and 
cries  of  any  of  their  companions,  great  destruction  may  be  made 
among  them  before  they  recover  from  the  delusion ;  they  thus  make 
repeated  circuits  round  the  wounded  and  complaining,  and  may  also 
be  enticed  within  gunshot,  by  imitating  their  whistling  call  in  the  man- 
ner of  the  Curlew.  Indeed,  without  some  contrivance  of  this  kind, 
they  can  seldom  ever  be  approached,  They  are  seen  it  appears,  in 
the  Middle  States  as  late  as  October,  or  November,  but  are  not  met 
with  on  the  Massachusetts  coast  beyond  the  close  of  September. 


BAETKAM  S    TATLER. 

Bartram's  Tatler,  known  here  by  the  name  of  the  Upland  Plover, 

so  very  distinct 
from  the  rest  of 
'the  tribe  with 
which  it  is  asso- 
ciated in  the  sys- 
tems, is'  one  of  the 
most  common 
•:r  birds  along  the 
^  sea  coast  of  Massa- 
iT  chusetts,  making 
its  appearance 
^  with  its  fat  and 
'•-  well-fed  brood,  as 
~  early  as  the  20th 
of  July,  becoming 
more  abundant  to- 
wards the  middle 
of  August,  when 
the  market  of  Boston  is  amply  supplied  with  this  delicate  and  justly 
esteemed  game. 

According  to  the  season  of  the  year,  they  are  found  throughout 
the  continent,  many  retiring  south  of  the  equator  to  pass  the  winter. 
They  are  observed  in  May,  already  busily  gleaning  coleopterous  in- 
sects on  the  remote  boreal  plains  of  the  Saskatchewan,  and  abound 
in  the  extensive  prairies  west  of.  the  Mississippi.  At  this  time,  and 
in  June,  they  are  seen  common  also,  in  Worcester  county,  (Mass.)  and 
are  believed  to  breed  there.  They  are  equally  frequent  on  the  plains 
of  Long  Island  and  New  Jersey,  and  in  similar  bare  and  dry  pastures  in 
various  parts  of  Massachusetts,  particularly  about  Sekonk,  and  in 
Rhode  Island,  near  to  the  sea-coast,  where  they  pass  the  greater  part 
of  the  summer.  AYilson,  who  first  described  the  species,  met  with  it 
in  the  meadows  of  the  Schuylkill,  pursuing  insects  among  the  grass 
with  great  activity.  As  a  straggler,  it  has  been  seen,  though  very 
rarely,  in  Germany  or  Holland. 

The  breeding  range  of  this  species,  extends,  in  all  probability, 
from  Pennsylvania  to  the  fur  countries  of  Upper  Canada,  as  well  as 


BARTRAM'S  TATLER. 


THE   COOT — CRESTED   GREBE,   OR   GAUNT. 


westward,  on  either  side  of  the  Mississippi.  Scattering  broods  and 
nests,  made  in  dry  meadows,  are  not  uncommon  a  few  miles  from 
Salem,  where  Mr.  N".  West  informs  me,  he  saw  the  young  just  fledged, 
in  the  month  of  July. 


THE    COOT. 

The  Coot  much  resembles  the  Water-hen  in  its  habits.  It  is  usually 
found  in  large  sheets 
of  water,  particular- 
ly if  sheltered  by 
trees.  The  nest  is  a 
huge  mass  of  flags, 
reeds,  and  grass, 
usually  at  the 
water's  edge,  but 
sometimes  actually 
in  the  water.  In 
1849  I  took  five 
Coot's  eggs  from  a 
nest  situated  at  the 
Reservoir  near 
Swindon.  The  nest 
was  nearly  fifty 
yards  from  the  bank,  COOTt 

and  was  made  on  a 

very  small  sunken  hillock,  in  three  feet  water.     In  the  nest  are  from 
seven  to  ten  greenish  white  eggs,  spotted  with  brown. 


THE    CRESTED   GREBE,    OR   GAUNT. 

The  Crested  Grebe,  inhabiting  the  northern  parts  of  both  the  old 
and  new  continents,  is  met  with  in  Iceland,  northern  Europe,  and  the 
cold  as  well  as  temperate  parts  of  Siberia ;  in  winter  passing  south 
as  far  as  Italy,  and  along  the  coasts  of  the  Mediterranean.  In 
America,  they  are  found  in  all  the  secluded  reedy  lakes  of  the  moun- 
tainous and  woody  districts,  in  the  remote  fur  countries  around  Hud- 
son's Bay.  This  species  is  also  common  in  some  parts  of  England, 
where  it  is  known  by  the  provincial  name  of  Cargoose,  or  Gaunt. 
They  breed  in  the  meres  of  Shropshire  and  Cheshire,  and  in  the  east- 
ern fen  of  Lincolnshire.  They  also  pass  the  period  of  reproduction 
in  some  of  the  Scottish  Isles,  particularly  in  Zetland,  and  are  abund- 
ant in  Germany,  Holland,  and  France.  In  the  United  States  they  are 
only  seen  in  winter,  proceeding  leisurely  towards  the  south,  as  the 
severity  of  the  season  increases,  often  migrating  by  water,  rather 
than  on  the  wing,  and  keeping  generally  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  sea,  or  tide-water  estuaries,  thus  securing  their  retreat  from  the 
surprise  of  sudden  and  severe  frost. 
48 


756 


THE    LITTLE    GREBE,  OR   DABCHICK. 


The  nest  of  the  Crested  Grebe,  concealed   among  the  reeds  and 

flags  of  the  ponds,  in  which 
they  dwell  in  the  summer, 
is  made  of  rushes,  and  the 
coarse  aquatic  herbage  con- 
tiguous to  the  chosen  spot, 
and  so  constructed  as  often 
to  float  about  on  the  rise  of 
the  surrounding  water  which 
penetrates  it,  notwithstanding 
which,  the  female  still  sits 
steadfastly  on  the  floating- 
habitation,  defended  securely 
from  the  access  of  the  water, 
by  the  density  of  her  oily 
and  downy  plumage.  The 
eggs,  three  or  four,  are  of  a 
whitish-green,  waved,  or,  as 
it  were,  soiled  with  deep 
brown.  The  young  are  fed 
sometimes  with  small  eels, 
and  fry ;  and  according  to 
Pennant,  when  endangered 
or  fatigued,  the  female  will 
carry  her  brood  upon  her 
back,  or  under  her  wing. 
Their  food  consists  of  fish,  fry,  coleoptera,  marine  worms,  and  often, 
in  part,  of  vegetables.  In  Canada,  from  their  remarkable  agility  in 
diving,  they  are  known  by  the  name  of  Water  Witches,  and  are 
here  called  Dippers,  as  they  plunge  beneath  the  water  on  the  least 
appearance  of  danger,  depending  very  little  on  their  wings  for  safety  ; 
and  when  most  disturbed  seldom  fly  farther  than  from  one  side  of 
the  pool  to  the  other.  The  young  are  said  to  be  common  in  the 
winter  season,  in  small  flocks,  on  the  lake  of  Geneva,  in  Switzerland, 
and  are  killed  for  the  sake  of  their  beautiful  skins  ;  the  under  side 
being  dressed,  with  the  feathers  on,  are  made  into  muffs  and  tippets. 


CRESTED  GREBE. 


THE   LITTLE   GREBE,  OR  DABCHICK. 

The  Dabchick,  the  smallest  of  the  species,  in  length  only  about  ten 
inches,  is  again  a  race  of  birds  common  to  the  colder  parts  of  both 
continents,  having  been  seen  round  Hudson's  Bay,  though  hitherto 
unknown  even  as  a  visitor  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States. 
This  is  the  least  and  most  plentiful  species,  being  common  in  Europe 
and  the  north  of  Asitf  in  most  lakes,  slow  running  rivers,  streams,  and 
ponds,  which  are  well  supplied  with  the  shelter  of  reeds.  It  seldom 
takes  to  wing,  but  dives  on  the  least  alarm,  and  will  remain  under 
water  amongst  the  floating  weeds  and  sheltering  herbage,  with  its  bill 


THE   RED   PHALAROPE. 


757 


alone  elevated  above  for  respiration.  Its  nest,  like  that  of  other  Grebes, 
is  formed  of  a  large  quantity  of  coarse  aquatic  plants,  piled  together  to 
the  thickness  of  a 
foot,  and  is  gen- 
erally fastened  to 
the  reeds  or  flags, 
in  order  to  pre- 
vent its  removal 
by  the  current. 
The  eggs,  five  or 
six  in  number,  are 
of  a  dirty  white, 
and  somewhat  less 
than  those  of  a 
Pigeon.  These  are 
generally  covered 
with  weeds  for 
concealment  in  the 
absence  of  the 
birds ;  yet  with 
every  precaution 
they  are  frequently  destroyed  by  the  Water  Eat. 

In  large  rivers  these  little  divers  are  often  devoured  by  Pike 
and  Trout,  while  they  are  themselves  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  small 
fish.  In  the  spring  the  males  are  very  active  in  pursuit  of  their 
intended  mates,  and  at  such  times  frequently  fly  along  the  surface  of 
the  water  to  a  small  distance,  uttering  often  a  shrill  chattering  noise. 
After  the  breeding  season,  they  frequent  the  inlets  of  the  sea,  and 
feed  on  shrimps  and  other  marine  productions.  This  species  is  not 
uncommon  in  most  parts  of  the  old  continent,  but  is  by  no  means 
frequent  in  the  north. 


LITTLE   GREBE. 


THE   BED    PHALAROPE. 

The  Flat-billed,  or  Bed  Phalarope,  inhabits  the  whole  Arctic  circle 
during  summer,  where,  in  the  security  of  solitude,  it  passes  the  import- 
ant period  of  reproduction.  It  is  observed  in  the  north  and  east  of 
Europe  ;  in  abundance  in  Siberia,  upon  the  banks  of  lakes  and  rivers, 
and  it  extends  its  vernal  migrations  to  the  borders  of  the  Caspian.  They 
abound  in  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  America,  breeding  on  the  North 
Georgian  Islands,  and  the  remote  and  wintry  coasts  of  Mellville 
Peninsula.  The  late  enterprising  and  scientific  northern  navigators, 
on  the  10th  of  June,  in  the  latitude  of  68°,  saw  a  company  of  these 
little  daring  voyagers  out  at  sea,  four  miles  from  land,  swimming 
at  their  ease,  amidst  mountains  of  ice.  They  are  seen  also  by  mari- 
ners between  Asia  and  America.  According  to  Mr.  Bullock,  the 
Ked  Phalarope  is  found  common  in  the  marshes  of  Sunda  and  Westra, 
the  most  northerly  of  the  Orkney  Isles,  where  they  pass  the  breeding 
season,  and  are  there  so  tame,  and  little  alarmed  by  the  destructive 


758 


THE   RED   PHALAROPE. 


RED  PHALAROPE. 


arts  of  man,  as  to  suffer  the  report  of  a  gun  without  fear,  so  that  Mr. 

B.  killed  as  many  as 
nine  of  them  without 
moving  from  the 
spot  where  he  made 
the  first  discharge. 
When  seen  swim- 
ming in  pools,  it  is 
continually  dipping 
the  bill  into  the 
water  as  if  feeding 
on  some  minute 
insects,  and  while 
thus  engaged  it  will 
often  allow  of  a  very 
near  approach. 
When  disturbed 
they  fly  out  a  short 
distance  only,  like 
ihe  Dunlins.  Sometimes,  though  rarely,  they  are  seen  to  approach 
the  shore  or  the  land  in  quest  of  food,  but  their  proper  element  is  the 
water,  and  more  particularly  that  of  the  sea  or  saline  pools. 

The  Flat-billed  Phalarope  breeds  around  Hudson's  Bay  in  the  month 
of  June,  soon  after  their  arrival  from  their  tropical  winter  quarters ; 
for  this  purpose,  they  select  some  dry  and  grassy  spot,  wherein  they 
lay  about  four  eggs  of  an  oil-green  color,  crowded  with  irregu- 
lar spots  of  dark  umber  brown,  which  become  confluent  towards  the 
obtuse  end.  The  young  take  to  wing  in  July,  or  early  in  August,  and 
they  leave  the  inclement  shores  of  their  nativity  in  the  month  of 
September.  At  this  period,  as  well  as  in  the  spring,  a  few  stragglers 
visit  the  United  States,  where  they  have  been  occasionally  shot  in  the 
vicinity  of  Philadelphia  and  Boston.  These  and  other  species  are  also 
seen,  in  the  autumn,  about  Yera  Cruz,  where  they  are  sold  with  other 
game  in  the  market.  Their  visits  in  England  and  Germany  are 
equally  rare  as  in  the  United  States,  and  they  have  been  known  some- 
times to  stray  into  Switzerland,  having  been  shot  on  the  lake  of 
Geneva. 


SWIMMERS. 


IN  the  Anseres,  or  Swimmers,  the  bill  is  smooth,  obtuse  at  the  point, 
and  covered  with  a  membranaceous  skin.  The  legs  are  short  and 
compressed ;  and  the  feet  formed  for  swimming,  the  toes  being  con- 
nected by  a  membrane. 


OF  THE  DUCK  TKIBE  IN  GENEEAL. 

THE  bill  in  this  tribe  (which  comprehends  Swans  and  Geese,  as  well 
as  Ducks)  is  strong,  broad,  flat,  and  generally  furnished  at  the  end 
with  a  kind  of  nail :  the  edges  of  the  mandibles  are  marked  with  sharp 
serratures.  The  nostrils  are  small  and  oval.  The  tongue  is  broad, 
having  the  edges  fringed  near  the  base.  The  toes  are  four  in  number, 
three  before  and  one  behind ;  the  middle  one  is  the  longest. 


THE   HOOPER     OR  WHISTLING   SWAN 

The  Whistling  Swan  is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  tame  species 
The  bill  is  three 
inches  long ;  yel- 
lowish white  to  the 
middle,  but  black 
at  the  end.  The 
whole  plumage  is 
white;  and  the 
legs  are  black. 

This  species  is  an 
inhabitant  of  the 
northern  regions ; 
never  appearing  in 
England,  except  in 
hard  winters,  when 
flocks  of  five  or  six 
are  now  and  then 
seen. 

In  Iceland  these 
birds  are  an  object 
of  chase.  In  the 
month  of  August  they  lose  their  feathers  to  such  a  degree,  as  not  to 
be  able  to  fly.  The  natives,  at  that  season,  resort  in.  great  numbers  to 
the  places  where  they  most  abound  ;  and  are  accompanied  with  dogs, 
and  active  and  strong  horses,  trained  to  the  sport,  arid  capable  of 

(75*) 


HOOPER,   OR  WHISTLING   SWAN. 


760  THE   TAME,    OR    MUTE    SWAN. 

passing  nimbly  over  the  boggy  soil  and  marches.  The  Swans  are 
able  to  run  as  fast  as  a  tolerably  fleet  horse.  •  The  greater  number 
are  caught  by  the  dogs,  which  are  taught  to  seize  them  by  the  neck ; 
a  mode  of  attack  that  causes  them  to  lose  their  balance,  and  become 
an  easy  prey. 

Notwithstanding  their  size,  these  birds  are  so  extremely  swift  on  the 

wing,  when  in  full  feather,  as  to 
make  them  more  difficult  to  be  shot 
than  almost  any  others  ;  it  being  fre- 
quently necessary  to  aim  ten  or 
twelve  feet  before  their  bills.  This, 
however,  is  only  when  they  are 
flying  before  the  wijid  in  a  brisk 
gale ;  at  which  time  they  seldom 
proceed  -at  the  rate  of  less  than  a 
hundred  miles  an  hour :  but  when 

•  ^  .  . 

flying  across  the  wind  or  against  it, 
they  are  not  able  to  make  any  great  progress. 

The  present  species  has  several  marks  of  distinction  from  that  called 
by  us  the  Tame  Swan :  but  the  most  remarkable  one  is  the  strange 
form  of  the  windpipe ;  which  falls  into  the  chest,  then  turns  back  like 
a  trumpet,  and  afterwards  makes  a  second  bend  to  join  the  lungs. 
By  this  curious  construction  the  bird  is  enabled  to  utter  a  loud  and 
shrill  note.  The  tame  Swan  on  the  contrary,  is  the  most  silent  of  all 
the  feathered  tribes  ;  it  can  do  nothing  more  than  hiss,  which  it  does 
on  receiving  any  provocation.  The  vocal  Swan  emits  its  loud  notes 
only  when  flying,  or  calling :  the  sound  is  whoogh,  whoogh,  very  loud 
and  shrill,  but  not  disagreeable  when  heard  high  in  the  air  and  mod- 
ulated by  the  winds.  The  Icelanders  compare  it  to  the  notes  of  the 
violin ;  they  hear  it  at  the  end  of  their  long  and  gloomy  winter,  when 
the  return  of  the  Swans  announces  also  the  return  of  summer ;  every 
note,  therefore,  must  to  them  be  melodious,  which  presages  a  speedy 
thaw,  and  a  release  from  their  tedious  confinement. 


THE    TAME,    OK    MUTE    SWAN. 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  beauty  and  elegance  with  which  the  Swan 
rows  itself  along  in  the  water,  throwing  itself  into  the  proudest 
attitudes  imaginable  before  the  spectators ;  and  there  is  not  perhaps  in 
all  nature  a  more  lively  or  striking  image  of  dignity  and  grace. 

This  bird  is  able  to  swim  faster  than  a  man  can  walk.  The  Swan 
is  very  strong,  and  at  times  extremely  fierce :  and  this  bird  has  not 
unfrequently  been  known  to  throw  down  and  trample  upon  youths  of 
fifteen  or  sixteen  years  of  age ;  and  an  old  Swan,  we  are  told,  is  able  to 
break  the  leg  of  a  man  with  a  single  stroke  of  its  wing.  A  female, 
while  in  the  act  of  sitting,  observed  a  Fox  swimming  towards  her  from 
the  opposite  shore :  she  instantly  darted  into  the  water,  and  having 
kept  it  at  bay  for  a  considerable  time  with  her  wings,  at  last  succeeded 
in  drowning  him ;  after  which,  in  the  sight  of  several  persons,  she 


THE   BLACK  STFAN — SNOW   GOOSE. 


761 


returned  to  her  nest  in  triumph.  This  circumstance  took  place  at 
Pensy  in  Buckinghamshire. 

Swans  are  very  long-lived,  sometimes  attaining  the  great  age  of  a 
hundred  years.  The  flesh  of  the  old  birds  is  hard  and  ill-tasted  ;  but 
that  of  the  young-ones,  or  cygnets,  was  formerly  much  esteemed. 

The  Swan  makes  its  nest  of  grass,  among  reeds  ;  and  in  February 


TAME  SWAN. 


begins  to  lay,  depositing  an  egg  every  other  day  till  there  are  six  or 
eight.  These  occupy  six  weeks  in  hatching.  Dr.  Latham  says,  he 
knew  two  females  that  for  three  or  four  years  successively  agreed  to 
associate,  and  had  each  a  brood  yearly,  bringing  up  together  about 
eleven  young-ones :  they  sat  by  turns,  and  never  quarrelled.  These 
birds  are  found  wild  in  Kussia  and  Siberia. 


THE    BLACK    SWAX. 

"  Like  a  Black  Swan,"  was  formerly  a  well  known  proverb,  analogoivs 
to  the  Horse  Marines  of  the  present  day  ;  unfortunately  for  the  provei  b 
a  Swan  has  been  discovered  in  Australia,  the  whole  of  whose  plumage 
is  a  jetty  black,  with  the  exception  of  the  quill  feathers,  which  are 
white.  It  has  been  domesticated  in  England,  and  may  be  seen  in  St. 
James'  Park,  eagerly  seeking  after  the  crumbs  offered  by  juvenile 
hands.  It  is  rather  smaller  than  the  Whistling  Swan. 


THE    SXOW    GOOSE. 

This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  the  common  Goose.     The  upper  man- 


762 


THE   WILD   GOOSE. 


dible  of  the  bill  is  scarlet,  and  the  lower  one  whitish.  The  general 
color  of  the  plumage  is  white  ;  except  the  first  ten  quills  of  the  wings, 
which  are  black  with  white  shafts.  The  young  birds  are  of  a  blue 
color,  till  they  are  a  year  old.  The  legs  are  red. 

Snow  Geese  are  very  numerous  about  Hudson's  Bay ;  where  they 
are  migratory,  going  further  northward  to  breed.  They  are  also 
found  in  several  of  the  northern  parts  of  the  Old  Continent. 

These  birds  have  so  little  of  the  shyness  of  other  Geese,  that,  about 
Jakut,  and  the  other  parts  of  Siberia  which 
they  frequent,  they  are  caught  in  the  most 
ridiculous  manner  imaginable.  The  inhabi- 
tants place  near  the  banks  of  the  rivers  a  great 
net  in  a  straight  line ;  or  else  form  a  hovel  of 
skins  sewed  together.  This  done,  one  of  the 
company  dresses  himself  in  the  skin  of  a  white 
rein-deer,  advances  towards  the  flock  of  Geese, 
and  then  turns  back  towards  the  net  or  hovel ; 
and  his  companions  go  behind  the  flock,  and, 
by  making  a  noise,  drive  them  forward.  The 
simple  birds  mistake  the  man  in  white  for  their 
leader,  and  follow  him  within  reach  of  the  net ;  which  is  suddenly 
pulled  down,  and  thus  captures  the  whole.  When  he  chooses  to  con- 
duct them  even  into  the  hovel,  they  follow  in  a  similar  manner ;  he 
creeps  in  at  a  hole  left  for  that  purpose,  and  out  at  another  on  the 
opposite  side,  which  he  closes  up.  The  Geese  follow  him  through  the 
first ;  and  as  soon  as  they  are  in,  he  passes  around  and  secures  every 
one  of  them.  In  that  frozen  climate  the  Snow  Geese  afford  an  essential 
means  of  subsistence  to  the  natives  ;  and  their  feathers  are  an  article 
of  commerce.  Each  family  kill  thousands  in  a  season;  and,  after 
plucking  and  gutting  them,  they  fling  them  in  heaps,  into  holes 
dug  for  that  purpose,  and  covered  only  with  earth.  The  mould  freezes 
and  forms  over  them  an  arch ;  and  whenever  the  family  have  occasion 
to  open  one  of  these  magazines,  they  find  their  provisions  perfectly 
sweet  and  good. 


8XOW   GOOSE 


THE  WILD   GOOSE. 

These  birds  are  often  seen  in  flocks  of  from  fifty  to  a  hundred, 
flying  at  very  great  heights,  and  seldom 
resting  by  day.  Their  cry  is  frequently 
heard  while,  from  their  distance  above,  they 
are  imperceptible  to  the  sight.  Whether 
this  be  their  note  of  mutual  encouragement, 
or  only  the  necessary  consequence  of  respira- 
tion, seems  doubtful ;  but  they  seldom  exert 
it  when  they  alight  in  their  journeys.  On 
the  ground  they  always  arrange  themselves 
in  a  line,  and  seem  to  descend  rather  for  rest 
than  refreshment ,  for  having  continued 


WILD  GOOSE. 


THE   BERNACLE   GOOSE. 


763 


there  an  hour  or  two,  one  of  them  with  a  long  loud  note,  sounds  a 

kind   of  signal,  to  which    the  rest   always 

punctually  attend,  and,  rising  in  a   group, 

they   pursue    their   journey   with   alacrity. 

Their  flight  is  conducted  with  vast  regular- 
ity.    They  always  proceed  either  in  a  line 

abreast,  or  in  two  lines  joining  in  an  angle 

at  the  middle.     In  this  order  they  often  take 

the  lead  by  turns,  the  foremost  falling  back 

in   the   rear  when   tired,  and   the   next  in 

station   taking   his   place.      Their  track   is 

generally  so  high,  that  it  is  almost  impossi- 
ble to  reach  them  from  a  fowling-piece  ;  and 

even  when  this  can  be  done,  they  file  so  equally,  that  one  discharge 
seldom  kills  more  than  a  single  bird. 

They  breed  in  the  plains  and  marshes  about 
Hudson's  Bay  in  North  America  :  in  some  years 
the  young  ones  are  caught  in  considerable  num- 
bers •  and  at  this  age  they  are  easily  tamed.  It 
is,  however,  singular,  that  they  will  never  learn 
to  eat  corn,  unless  some  of  the  old  ones  be  caught 
along  with  them. 

Our  common  tame  Goose  is  no  other  than 
'  this  species  in  a  state  of  domestication. 
These  birds  are  kept  in  vast  quantites  in  the  fens  of  Lincolnshire  ; 

several  persons  there  having  as  many  as  a  thousand 

breeders.    They  are  bred  for  the  sake  of  their  quills 

and  feathers;   for  which  they  are  stripped  while 

alive,  once  in  the  year  for  the  quills,  and  five  times 

for  the  feathers. 

However  simple  in  appearance,  or  awkward  in 

gesture,  the  Goose  may  be,  it  is  not  without  many 

marks  both  of  sentiment  and  understanding.     The 

courage  with  which  it   protects  its  offspring  and 

defends  itself  against   ravenous  birds,  and .  certain 

instances   of  attachment    and   even   of    gratitude, 

which  have  been  observed  in  it,  render  our  general 

contempt  of  the  Goose  ill-founded. 


TAME  GOOSE. 


TAME  CHINA  GOOSE. 


THE    BERNACLE    GOOSE. 

The  usual  weight  of  this  bird  is  about  five  pounds.  The  bill  is  short 
and  black,  crossed  with  a  flesh-colored  mark  on  each  side.  Part  of  the- 
head,  the  chin,  throat,  and  under  parts  of  the  body,  and  the  upper  tail- 
coverts  are  white ;  and  the  rest  of  the  head  and  neck,  and  the  beginning 
of  the  back,  are  black.  The  thighs  are  mottled.  Bound  the  knee  the 
feathers  are  black ;  and  the  lower  feathers  of  the  back  are  the  same, 
edged  with  white.  The  wing-coverts  and  scapulars  are  blue  gray ;  the 


764 


THE    CANADA   GOOSE. 


ends  black,  fringed  with  white  at  the  tip.     The  rump,  tail  and  legs  are 

black. 

Of  all  the  marvellous  productions  which  ignorance,  ever  credulous, 

has  substituted  for  the 
simple  and  truly  won- 
derful operations  of 
nature,  perhaps  the 
most  absurd  is  the 
assertion  that  this  spe- 
cies of  Goose  grows  in 
a  kind  of  shell,  called 
Lepas  anatifera,  (Goose- 
bearing  shell)  on  certain 
trees  on  the  coast  of 
Scotland  and  the  Ork- 
neys, or  on  the  rotten 
timbers  of  old  ships. 

In  winter  Bernacle 
Geese  are  not  uncom- 
mon on  many  of  the 
northern  and  western 
coasts  of  Great  Britain ; 
but  they  are  scarce  in 
the  south,  and  are 
there  seldom  seen 
except  in  inclement 
seasons.  They  leave 
England  in  February, 
and  retire  northward 


BERNACLE  GOOSE. 


to  breed. 


THE    CANADA    GOOSE. 

This  is  a  bird  somewhat  bigger  than  the  tame  Goose.  The  bill,  the 
head,  and  the  neck,  are  black ;  and  under  the  throat  there  is  a  broad 
white  band,  like  a  crescent.  The  breast,  the  upper  part  of  the  belly, 
the  back,  and  wing-coverts,  are  dusky  brown ;  the  lower  parts  of  the 
neck  and  belly,  and  upper  tail-coverts,  white.  The  quills  and  tail 
are  'black,  and  the  legs  dark  lead-color. 

Canada  Geese  inhabit  the  more  distant  parts  of  North  America. 
Immense  flocks  of  these  birds  appear  annually  in  the  spring  in 
Hudson's  Bay :  they  pass  further  north  to  breed ;  and  return  south- 
ward in  the  autumn.  The  English  at  Hudson's  Bay  depend  greatly 
on  Geese,  of  this  and  other  kinds,  for  their  support ;  and  in  favorable 
years  they  often  kill  three  or  four  thousand,  which  they  salt  and 
barrel.  The  arrival  of  the  birds  is  impatiently  waited,  because  they 
are  considered  the  harbingers  of  the  spring,  and  the  month  in  which 
they  return  is  named  by  the  Indians  the  Goose  Moon. 


THE   CEREOPSIS. 


765 


The  English  settlers  send  out  their  servants,  as  well  as  the  Indians, 
to  shoot  these  birds 
on  their  passage. 
The  men  for  this  • 
purpose  form  of 
boughs  a  row  of 
huts,  at  gun-shot 
distance  from  each 
other,  and  in  a  line 
across  the  vast 
marshes  of  the 
country.  The 
sportsman  remains 
motionless,  and  on 
his  knees,  with,  his 
gun  cocked  the 
whole  time ;  and 
does  not  fire  till  he 
can  perceive  the 
eyes  of  the  Geese. 
The  Geese  that  he 
has  killed,  he  sets  up  on  sticks,  as  if  alive,  to  decoy  others ;  he  also 
makes  artificial  birds  for  the  same  purpose. 


CANADA   GOOSE. 


THE    CEREOPSIS. 

The  Cereopsis  is  a  native  of  New  Holland, 
the  common  Goose  and 
nearly  of  the  same  car- 
riage, with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  length  of 
the  legs.  A  broad 
patch  on  the  top  of  the 
head  is  of  a  dull  white, 
and  the  rest  of  the 
plumage  of  a  dingy 
grey,  deeper  on  the 
upper  than  on  the 
under  parts,  having 
the  extremity  of  each 
of  the  feathers  of  the 
back  margined  with  a 
lighter  band,  and  most 
of  the  wing-coverts  and 
secondary  quill-feathers 
marked  with  rounded 
dusky  spots  of  from 
two  to  four  lines  in 
diameter. 


It  is  about  the  size  of 


766 


THE   BRENT   GOOSE — EIDER   DUCK. 


THE  BRANT,  OR  BRENT  GOOSE. 

The  Brent  is  another  of  the  hardy  aquatic  birds  common  to  the 

hyperboreal  regions 
of  both  continents. 
They  breed  in  great 
numbers  on  the 
coasts  and  islands  ot 
Hudson's  Bay  and 
the  Arctic  Sea,  and 
are  rarely  seen  in 
the  interior.  In  Eu- 
rope they  proceed 
to  the  most  northern 
isles  of  Greenland, 
and  to  the  dreary 
shores  of  Spitsberg- 
en. In  winter  they 
are  very  abundant 
in  Holland  and  in 
Ireland,  as  well  as 
in  Scotland,  where 
they  remain  until 
spring.  In  America,  though  they  visit  in  the  course  of  their  migra- 
tions, most  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  they  proceed  still 
farther  south,  to  spend  the  winter,  being  seen  on  the  Mississippi 
nearly  to  New  Orleans.  They  retire  from  their  natal  regions  in  the 
north  in  September  :  and  early  in  October  are  seen  to  arrive  in  great 
numbers  about  Ipswich,  Cape  Ann,  and  Cape  Cod  in  Massachusetts, 
continuing  to  come  till  the  month  of  November,  and  generally 
appearing  in  great  numbers  after  the  occurrence  of  an  eastwardly 
storm.  In  hazy  weather  they  also  fly  low  and  diverge  into  the  bays 
and  inlets.  Many  of  these  wandering  flocks  pass  on  to  the  south  almost 
without  any  delay,  usually  in  marshalled  and  angular  lines,  but  some- 
times in  a  confused  gang,  loudly  gabbling  as  they  proceed.  Their 
stay  here  is  commonly  so  short  that  it  is  necessary  to  ambuscade  in 
huts  on  their  route  in  order  to  obtafn  them. 


BRANT  GOOSE. 


THE   EIDER   DUCK. 

This  species  is  about  twice  the  size  of  the  common  Duck.  Its  bill 
is  black,  and  the  feathers  of  the  forehead  and  cheeks  advance  far  into 
the  base.  In  the  male,  the  feathers  of  part  of  the  head,  of  the  lower 
part  of  the  breast,  the  belly,  and  the  tail,  are  black,  as  are  also  the 
quill-feathers  of  the  wings  ;  and  nearly  all  the  rest  of  the  body  is  white. 
The  legs  are  green.  The  female  is  of  a  reddish  brown  color,  variously 
marked  with  black  and  dusky  streaks.  The  Eider  Duck  is  principally 


THE   EIDER    DUCK. 


767 


EIDER  DUCK. 


found  in  the  western  isles  of  Scotland,  and  on  the  coasts  of  Norway, 
Iceland,  and  Greenland. 

In  Iceland,  the  Eider  Ducks  generally  form  their  nests  on  small 
islands  not  far  from  the  shore  ;  and  sometimes 
even  near  the  dwellings  of  the  natives,  who  treat 
them  with  so  much  attention  and  kindness  as 
to  render  them  nearly  tame.  Sometimes  two 
females  will  lay  their  eggs  in  the  same  nest,  in 
which  case  they  always  agree  remarkably  well. 

As  long  as  the  female  is  sitting,  the  male 
continues  on  watch  near  the  shore :  but  as  soon 
as  the  young-ones  are  hatched  he  leaves  them. 
The  mother,  however,  remains  with  them  a  considerable  time  after- 
wards. It  is  curious  to  observe  her  manner  of  leading  them  out  of 
the  nest,  almost  as  soon  as  they  creep  from  the  eggs.  Going  before 
them  to  the  shore,  they  trip  after :  and,  when  she  comes  to  the  water- 
side, she  takes  them  on  her  back,  and  swims  a  few  yards  with  them  ; 
when  she  dives,  and  the  young-ones  are  left  floating  on  the  surface, 
and  are  obliged  to  take  care  of  themselves.  They  are  seldom  seen 
afterwards  on  land. 

From  these  birds  is  produced  the  'soft  down  so  well  known  by  the 
name  of  eider  or  eder- 
down.  This  the  old 
birds  pluck  from 
their  breasts  in  the 
breeding  season,  to 
line  their  nests : 
making  with  it  a  soft 
bed  for  their  young- 
ones.  When  the 
bird-catchers  come  to 
the  nest,  they  care- 
fully remove  the 
female,  and  take 
away  the  superflu- 
ous down  and  eggs ; 
after  this  they  replace 
her.  She  then  begins 
to  lay  afresh,  and 
covers  her  eggs  with  new  down,  which  she  plucks  from  her  body. 
When  she  has  no  more  left,  the  male  comes  to  her  assistance,  and  covers 
the  eggs  with  his  down,  which  is  white,  and  easily  distinguished  from 
that  of  the  female.  When  the  young-ones  leave  the  nest,  which  is 
about  an  hour  after  they  are  hatched,  it  is  once  more  plundered. 

The  best  down  and  the  most  eggs,  are  obtained  during  the  first 
three  weeks  after  the  nest  is  formed ;  and  it  has  generally  been  ob- 
served, that  the  birds  lay  the  greatest  number  of  eggs  in  rainy 
weather.  One  female,  during  the  time  of  laying,  generally  yields 
half  a  pound  of  down  ;  which,  however,  is  reduced  one-half  after  it  is 
cleansed. 


EIDER  DUCK. 


768 


THE   GOOSANDER. 


The  eider-down,  when  pure,  is  of  such  value  that  it  is  sold  in 
Lapland  for  two  dollars  a  pound.  It  is  extremely  soft  and  warm  , 
and  so  light  and  expansive,  that  a  couple  of  handsful  squeezed  together, 
are  sufficient  to  fill  a  down  quilt ; — a  covering  like  a  feather-bed,  used 
in  cold  countries  instead  of  a  common  quilt  or  blanket. 

The  Greenlanders  kill  these  birds  with  darts;  pursuing  them  in 
their  little  boats,  watching  their  course  by  the  air-bubbles  when  they 
dive,  and  always  striking  at  them  when  they  rise  wearied  to  the 
surface.  The  flesh  is  valued  as  food,  and  their  skins  are  made  into 
warm  and  comfortable  under-garments. 


THE    GOOSANDEK. 

The  Goosander  inhabits  the  remote  northern  regions  of  both  con- 
tinents, being  seen 
during  summer  on 
the  borders  of  grassy 
lakes  and  streams 
through  the  whole 
of  the  fur  countries, 
and  are  among  the 
latest  of  their  tribe  in 
autumn  to  seek  an 
asylum  in  milder 
climates.  They  are 
said  to  breed  in 
every  latitude  in  the 
coos.™*.  Russian  empire,  but 

mostly  in  the  north. 

They  are  common  also  in  Kamtschatka  and  extend  through  northern 
Europe,  to  the  wintry  shores  of  Iceland  and  Greenland.  Many, 
however,  pass  the  breeding  season  in  the  Orkne}7s,  and  these  scarcely 
ever  find  any  necessity  to  migrate.  They  are  seen  in  small  families 
or  companies  of  six  or  eight  in  the  United  States  in  winter,  and 
frequent  the  sea  shores,  lakes  and  rivers,  continually  diving  in  quest 
of  their  food,  which  consists  principally  of  fish  and  shelly  mollusca. 
They  are  also  very  gluttonous  and  voracious,  like  the  Albatross 
sometimes  swallowing  a  fish  too  large  to  enter  whole  into  the 
stomach,  which  therefore  lodges  in  the  oesophagus  till  the  lower 
part  is  digested  before  the  remainder  can  follow.  The  roughness 
of  the  tongue,  covered  with  incurved  projections,  and  the  form 
of  the  bent  serratures  which  edge  the  bill,  appear  all  purposely 
contrived  with  reference  to  its  piscatory  habits.  In  the  course  of  the 
season  they  migrate  probably  to  the  extremity  of  the  Union,  being 
seen  in  winter  in  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri,  from  whence  at  the 
approach  of  spring  they  migrate  north  or  in  the  interior  to  breed 


THE   COMMON   WILD   DUCK. 


769 


COMMON  WILD  DUCK. 


THE    COMMON    WILD    DUCK. 

Wild  Ducks  frequent  marshy  places ;  but  no  where  in  such  abund- 
ance as  in  Lincoln- 
shire,  (England,) 
where  prodigious 
numbers  of  them 
are  annually  taken 
in  the  decoys.  In 
only  ten  decoys  in 
the  neighborhood  of 
Wainfleet,  as  many 
as  thirty-one  thous- 
and two  hundred 
have  been  caught 
in  one  season. 

A  decoy  is  a 
pond  generally  sit- 
uated in  a  rnarsh, 
so  as  to  be  sur- 
rounded with  wood 
or  reeds,  and,  if 
possible,  with  both, 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  birds  which  frequent  it  from  being 
disturbed.  In  this  pond  the  birds  sleep  during  the  day  ;  and,  as  soon 
as  the  evening  sets  in,  the  decoy  rises,  (as  it  is  termed.)  and  the  wild-fowl 
feed  during  the  night.  If  the  evening  be  still,  the  noise  of  their  wings 
during  flight  is  heard  at  a  great  distance,  and  is  a  pleasing  though 
somewhat  melancholy  sound.  The  decoy-ducks  (which  are  either  bred 
in  the  pond-yard,  or  in  the  marshes  adjacent ;  and  which,  although 
they  fly  abroad,  regularly  return  for  food  to  the  pond,  and  mix  with 
the  tame  ones  that  never  quit  the  pond)  are  fed  with  hemp-seed,  oats, 
and  buck-wheat.  In  catching  the  wild  birds,  hemp-seed  is  thrown 
over  the  screens  to  allure  them  forward  into  the  pipes  •  of  which  there 
are  several,  leading  up  a  narrow  ditch,  that  closes  at  last  with  &  funnel- 
net.  Over  these  pipes,  which  grow  narrower  from  the  first  entrance, 
there  is  a  continued  arch  of  netting  suspended  on  hoops.  It  is 
necessary  to  have  a  pipe  for  almost  every  wind  that  can  blow,  as  on 
that  circumstance  it  depends  which  pipe  the  fowl  will  take  to.  The 
decoy-man  likewise  always  keeps  to  the  leeward  of  the  wild-fowl,  and 
burns  in  his  mouth  or  hand  a  Apiece  of  Dutch  turf,  that  his  effluvia  may 
not  reach  them  ;  for,  if  they  once  discover  by  the  smell  that  a  man  is 
near,  they  all  instantly  take  flight.  Along  each  pipe  are  placed  reed 
screens,  at  certain  intervals,  to  prevent  him  from  being  seen  till  he 
thinks  proper  to  show  himself,  or  the  birds  have  passed  up  the  pipe 
to  which  they  are  led  by  the  trained  Ducks,  (which  know  the  man's 
whistle,)  or  enticed  by  the  hemp-seed.  A  Dog  is  sometimes  used,  who 
is  taught  to  play  backward  and  forward  between  the  screens,  at  the 


770  THE   COMMON   WILD   DUCK. 

direction  of  his  master.  The  fowl  roused  by  this  new  object,  advance 
towards  it,  while  the  Dog  is  playing  still  nearer  the  entrance  of  the 
pipes ;  till  at  last  the  decoy-man  appears  from  behind  the  screens,  and 
the  wild-fowl  not  daring  to  pass  by  him,  and  unable  to  fly  off  on 
account  of  the  net  covering  the  hoops,  press  forward  to  the  end  of  the 
funnel-net,  which  terminates  upon  the  land,  where  a  person  is  stationed 
ready  to  take  them.  The  trained  birds  return  back  past  the  decoy- 
men,  into  the  pond,  till  a  repetition  of  their  services  is  required. 

Wild  Ducks  are  very  artful  birds.  They  do  not  always  build  their 
nests  close  to  the  water,  but  often  at  a  considerable  distance  from  it ; 
in  which  case  the  female  will  take  the  young-ones  in  her  beak,  or 
between  her  legs,  to  the  water.  They  have  sometimes  been  known  to 
lay  their  eggs  in  a  high  tree,  in  a  deserted  Magpie  or  Crow's  nest ;  and 
an  instance  has  been  recorded  of  one  being  found  at  Etchingham,  in 
Sussex,  sitting  upon  nine  eggs,  in  an  oak,  at  the  height  of  twenty -five 
feet  from  the  ground :  the  eggs  were  supported  by  some  small  twigs 
laid  crossways. 

Prodigious  numbers  of  these  birds  are  taken  by  decoys,  near  Pi- 
cardy  in  France,  particularly  on  the  river  Somme.  It  is  customary 
there,  to  wait  for  the  flock's  passing  over  certain  known  places  :  when 
the  sportsman  having  ready  a  wicker  cage  containing  a  number  of 
tame  birds,  lets  out  one  at  a  time,  which  enticing  the  passengers 
within  gun-shot,  five  or  six  are  often  killed  at  once  by  an  expert 
marksman.  They  are  now  and  then  also  caught  by  means  of  hooks 
baited  with  raw  meat,  which  the  birds  swallow  while  swimming  on 
the  water. 

Other  methods  of  catching  Ducks  and  Geese  are  peculiar  to  certain 
nations :  one  of  these,  from  its  singularity,  seems  worth  mentioning. 
A  person  wades  into  the  water  up  to  the  chin ;  and,  having  his  head 
covered  with  an  empty  calabash,  approaches  the  place  where  the  Ducks 
are.  These,  not  regarding  an  object  of  this  kind,  suffer  the  man 
freely  to  mix  with  the  flock ;  and  he  has  only  to  pull  them  by  the 
legs  under  the  water,  one  after  another,  and  fix  them  to  his  belt,  till 
he  is  satisfied.  This  curious  method  is  frequently  practised  on  the 
river  Ganges,  the  earthen  vessels  of  the  Gentoos  being  there  used  in- 
stead of  calabashes.  These  vessels  are  what  the  Gentoos  boil  their 
rice  in :  after  having  been  once  used,  they  are  considered  as  defiled, 
and  are  thrown  into  the  river  as  useless.  The  duck-takers  find  them 
convenient  for  their  purpose ;  as  the  Ducks,  from  seeing  them  constantly 
float  down  the  stream,  consider  them  as  objects  not  to  be  regarded. 

The  Chinese  make  great  use  of  Ducks,  but  prefer  as  food  the  tame 
to  the  wild  ones.  It  is  said  that  the  major  part  of  the  Ducks  in  China 
are  hatched  by  artificial  heat.  The  eggs,  being  laid  in  boxes  of  sand, 
are  placed  on  a  brick  hearth,  to  which  is  given  a  proper  heat  during 
the  time  required  for  hatching.  The  Ducklings  are  fed  with  craw-fish 
and  crabs,  boiled  and  cut  small,  and  afterwards  mixed  with  boiled 
rice :  and  in  about  a  fortnight  they  are  able  to  shift  for  themselves. 
The  Chinese  then  provide  them  an  old  stepmother  who  leads  them 
where  to  find  provender ;  being  first  put  on  board  a  sampane,  or  boat, 
which  is  destined  for  their  habitation  :  and  from  which  the  whole 


THE   GARGANEY. 


771 


flock,  often  to  the  amount  of  three  or  four  hundred,  go  out  to  feed, 

and  return  at  command.     This  method  is  used  nine  months  out  of 

twelve,  (for   in  the   colder  months  it 

does  not  succeed,)  and  it  is  so  far  from 

a  novelty,  that  it  may  every  where  be 

seen,  but   more   especially  about  the 

time  of  cutting  the  rice,  and  gleaning 

the   crop,    when    the   masters   of  the 

Duck-sampanes  row  up  and  down  the 

river,  according  to  the  opportunity  of 

procuring   food,    which    is    found    in 

plenty,  at  the  tide  of  ebb,  on  the  rice 

plantations,  as  they  are  overflowed  at 

high  water.     It  is  curious  to  observe 

how  the  Ducks  obey  their  masters  ;  for  some  thousands,  belonging  to 

different  boats  will  feed  on  the  same  spot,  and,  on  a  signal  given,  will 

follow  their  leader  to  their  respective  sampanes,  without   a  single 

stranger  being  found  among  them.     This  is  still  more  extraordinary, 

if  we  consider  the  number  of  inhabited  sampanes  *  on  the  Tigris : 

there  are  supposed  to  be  no  fewer  than  forty  thousand;  they  are 

moored  in  rows  close  to  each  other,  with  here  and  there  a  narrow 

passage  for  boats  to  sail  up  and  down  the  river. 


CniXESE.DCCK. 


THE    GAKGANEY. 

This  bird  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  Teal.  The  bill  is  black 
The  crown  and  hind  part  of  the  head  are  of 
a  dusky  brown.  On  the  chin  there  is  a  large 
black  spot ;  and,  from  the  eye,  a  white  streak 
passes  to  the  back  of  the  head.  The  cheeks 
and  neck  are  of  a  pale  purple  and  white. 
The  breast  is  light  brown,  crossed  with  semi- 
circular bars  of  black  :  and  the  belly  is  white, 
having  its  lower  parts  varied  with  dusky 

1  rrn         i  "       i          -i  -i  n  J  GARGANEY. 

specks.     The  legs  are  lead-colored. 

A  couple  of  these  birds  were  for  more  than  two  months  in  the 
possession  of  M.  Frisch,  who  has  given  the  following  detail  of  their 
mode  of  living  in  this  sort  of  incipient  domestication.  "  I  presented 
to  them  (he  says)  different  seeds,  and  they  would  touch  none:  but 
scarcely  had  I  set  beside  their  water-trough,  a  basin  filled  with  millet, 
than  they  both  ran  to  it.  At  every  bill-full  which  they  took  each 
went  to  the  water,  and  they  carried  as  much  water  as,  in  a  short  time, 
completely  to  soak  the  millet ;  yet  the  grain  was  not  moistened  suffi- 
ciently to  their  mind,  and  I  saw  them  busied  in  carrying  millet  and 
water  to  the  ground  of  their  pen,  which  was  of  clay,  and  when  the 
bottom  was  softened  and  tempered  enough,  they  began  to  dabble,  and 

*  Sampane  is  a  common  name  for  a  boat :  the  inhabited  sampanes  contain  each 
a  separate  family,  of  which  they  are  the  only  dwelling ;  and  many  of  the  Chinese 
pass  almost  their  whole  lives  in  this  manner  on  the  water 

49 


772  THE   GADWALL,   OR   GREY. 

made  a  cavity,  in  which  they  ate  their  millet,  mixed  with  earth.  1 
put  them  into  a  room,  and  they  carried  in  the  same  way,  though  to 
little  purpose,  the  millet  and  water  to  the  deal  floor.  I  led  them  on 
the  grass,  and  they  seemed  to  do  nothing  but  dig  for  seeds,  without 
eating  the  blades,  or  even  the  earth-worms.  They  pursued  flies,  and 
snapped  at  them  like  Ducks.  When  I  delayed  to  give  them  their  ac- 
customed food,  they  called  for  it  with  a  feeble  hoarse  cry,  quoak, 
repeated  every  minute.  In  the  evening  they  lay  in  the  corners  ;  and 
even  during  the  day,  when  any  person  went  near  them,  they  hid 
themselves  in  the  narrowest  holes.  They  lived  thus  till  the  approach 
of  winter,  but  when  the  severe  cold  set  in,  they  both  died  suddenly." 


THE   GADWALL,  OR   GREY. 

The  Gradwall  inhabits  the  northern  regions  of  both  continents,  but 

does  not  in  America, 
according  to  Eichard- 
son,  proceed  farther 
than  the  68th  parallel, 
and  in  Europe  it  seems 
not  to  advance  higher 
than  Sweden.  In  the 
Russian  empire  it  ex- 
tends over  most  of  the 
latitudes  of  the  Euro- 
pean and  Siberian  part, 
except  the  east  of  the 
latter  and  Kamtschat- 
ka.  In  their  migrations  they  pass  chiefly  into  the  warmer  parts  of 
Europe,  being  very  rare  in  England,  but  common  on  the  coasts  of 
France,  Italy,  and  Sardinia.  In  the  United  States  it  appears  to  be 
generally  rare.  A  few  of  the  young  birds  are  seen  in  this  vicinity  ; 
and  Wilson  met  with  it  in  the  interior  on  Seneca  Lake,  in  October, 
and  in  February,  at  Louisville  on  the  Ohio ;  and  near  the  Big  Bone 
Lick,  in  Kentucky. 

The  Gadwall  breeds  in  the  woody  districts  of  the  remote  northern 
fur  countries  of  Canada.  In  the  north  of  Europe  they  inhabit  the 
vast  rushy  marshes ;  and  in  Holland,  where  they  are  common,  they 
associate  in  the  same  places  with  the  Wild  Duck  or  Mallard.  They 
nest  in  meadows  and  among  rushes,  laying  eight  or  nine  greenish 
gray  eggs.  They  are  very  much  esteemed  as  game,  are  very  alert  at 
diving  and  swimming,  and  plunging  at  the  flash  of  the  gun  are  ob- 
tained with  difficulty.  It  is  very  timorous,  lurking  in  the  marshes  by 
day,  feeding  only  in  the  twilight  of  the  morning  and  evening,  and 
often  till  some  time  after  night-fall ;  they  are  then  heard  flying  in 
company  with  the  Whistlers,  and  like  these  obey  the  call  of  the  decoy 
Ducks.  Their  cry  much  resembles  that  of  the  "common  Wild  Duck  ; 
nor  is  it  more  raucous  or  louder,  though  Gesner  seems  to  have  meant 
to  characterize  its  note  by  applying  the  epithet  strepera,  which  has  been 


THE  AMERICAN  WIDGEON". 


773 


adopted  by  succeeding  ornithologists.     Their  food,  consists  of  small 
fish,  shelly  mollusca,  insects  and  aquatic  plants. 


AMERICAN  WIDGEON. 


THE   AMERICAN  WIDGEOX. 

This  species,  so  nearly  allied  to  the  European  Widgeon,  has  not 
been  found  in  the 
old  continent,  yet 
it  retires  north  to 
breed,  inhabiting 
in  summer  the 
woody  districts  of 
the  remote  fur 
countries,  near  the 
Saskatchewan  and 
the  coasts  of  Hud- 
son's Bay,  as  far 
as  the  68th  degree 
of  northern  lati- 
tude. In  autumn 
and  winter  they 
are  seen  common 
in  nearly  all  parts 
of  the  Union, 
many  wintering  in' North  and  South  Carolina  in  the  open  rivers  and 
bays,  sometimes  considerably  inland.  Indeed  I  have  never  seen  them 
any  where  so  numerous  as  in  the  Neuse  river,  round  Newbern,  forty 
miles  from  the  ocean,  where  in  company  with  the  Canvas-Back  and 
Buffel-Head,  they  are  seen  constantly  in  February  and  March.  They 
are  also  numerous  in  Chesapeake  Bay;  and  in  the  course  of  the 
winter  extend  their  migrations  as  far  as  St.  Domingo  and  other  of 
the  West  India  islands,  as  well  as  into  Cayenne  in  the  tropical  parts 
of  the  continent.  They  are  also  observed  in  the  interior  of  the 
United  States,  as  on  the  Missouri,  and  probably  other  inland  parts, 
where  in  the  month  of  April,  as  well  as  on  the  sea  coast,  they  aro 
seen  on  their  way  to  their  northern  breeding  places  to  which  they 
repair  in  May,  on  the  thawing  of  the  ice,  and  are  then  commonly 
associated  by  pairs.  According  to  Hutchins  their  eggs  are  from  six 
to  eight;  and  they  frequent  the  swamps,  and  feed  much  on  insects. 

The-  Widgeon,  or  Bald-Pate,  is  a  frequent  attendant  on  the  Canvas- 
Back,  and  often  profits  by  this  association.  The  former,  not  being 
commonly  in  the  habit  of  diving  for  subsistence,  or  merely  from 
caprice,  watches  the  motions  of  its  industrious  neighbor,  and  as  soon 
as  the  Canvas-Back  rises  with  the  favorite  root  on  which  they  both 
greedily  feed,  the  Bald-Pate  snatches  the  morsel  and  makes  off  with 
his  booty.  They  are  always  very  alert  and  lively,  feeding  and  swim- 
ming out  into  the  ponds  and  rivers  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  but  are 
extremely  watchful,  sheltering  in  coves  and  behind  the  land,  and  on 
the  slightest  attempt  to  steal  upon  them,  immediately  row  out  into 


SUMMER  DUCK. 


774  THE  SUMMER,  OR   WOOD  DUCK. 

the  stream  beyond  gun-shot,  and  then  only  take  to  wing  when  much 
disturbed. 


THE   SUMMER,  OR  WOOD   DUCK. 

This  most  beautiful  of  Ducks  seems  to  be  dressed  in  a  studied  attire, 

to  which  the  addition  of  a  flowing  crest 
adds  a  finish  of  peculiar  elegance ;  and 
hence  Linnaeus  has  dignified  the  species 
with  the  title  of  sponsa  or  the  bride. 
This  splendid  bird,  according  to  Nut- 
tall,  is  peculiar  to  America  but  extends 
its  residence  from  the  cold  regions  of 
Hudson's  Bay  in  the  54th  parallel  to 
Mexico  and  the  Antilles.  Throughout 
a  great  part  of  this  vast  space,  or  at 

least  as  far  south  as  Florida  and  the  Mississippi  territory,  the  Summer 
Duck  is  known  to  breed.  In  the  interior  they  are  also  found  in  the 
State  of  Missouri,  and  along  the  woody  borders  and  still  streams 
which  flow  into  most  of  the  great  north-western  lakes  of  the  St.  Law- 
rence. The  Summer  Duck,  so  called  from  its  constant  residence  in 
the  United  States,  has  indeed  but  little  predilection  for  the  sea  coast, 
its  favorite  haunts  being  the  solitary,  deep,  and  still  waters,  ponds, 
woody  lakes,  and  the  mill  dams  in  the  interior,  making  its  nest  often 
in  decayed  and  hollow  trees  impending  over  the  water. 

Though  many  migrate  probably  to  the  shores  of  the  Mexican  Gulf, 
numbers  pass  the  winter  in  the  States  south  of  Yirginia.  Early  in 
February  they  are  seen  associated  by  pairs  on  the  inundated  banks 
of  the  Alabama,  and  are  frequent  at  the  same  season  in  the  waters  of 
West  Florida.  In  Pennsylvania  they  usually  nest  late  in  April  or 
early  in  May,  choosing  the  hollow  of  some  broken  or  decayed  tree, 
and  sometimes  even  constructing  a  rude  nest  of  sticks  in  the  forks  of 
branches.  The  eggs  twelve  or  thirteen  are  yellowish-white,  rather 
less  than  those  of  the  domestic  Hen,  and  they  are  usually  covered 
with  down,  probably  plucked  from  the  breast  of  the  parent.  The 
same  tree  is  sometimes  occupied,  by  the  same  pair,  for  several 
successive  years,  in  the  breeding  season.  The  young,  when  hatched, 
are  carried  down  in  the  bill  of  the  female,  and  afterwards  conducted 
by  her  to  the  nearest  water.  To  these  places,  when  once  selected,  if 
not  disturbed,  they  sometimes  show  a  strong  predilection,  and  are  not 
easily  induced  to  forsake  the  premises,  however  invaded  by  noise  and 
bustle.  While  the  female  is  sitting,  the  male  is  usually  perched  on 
some  adjoining  limb  of  the  same  tree,  keeping  watch  for  their 
common  safety.  The  species  is  scarcely  ever  gregarious,  they  are 
only  seen  in  pairs  or  by  families. 

The  Wood  Duck  has  sometimes  been  tamed,  and  soon  becomes 
familiar.  They  have  even  been  so  far  domesticated  as  to  run  about 
at  large  in  the  barn  yard  like  ordinary  fowls.  In  France  they  have 
also  been  acclimated  and  tamed,  and  have  bred  in  this  condition. 


THE   AMERICAN   TEAL. 


775 


THE   AMERICAN   TEAL. 


Green-  Winged 


Teal,  as  a  species,  is  common  to  the  northern 


AMERICAN   TEAL. 


The 

and  temperate 
parts  of  both  con- 
tinents.  The 
American  bird 
appears  to  be  a 
permanent  and 
distinct  variety. 
There  is,  accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Eich- 
ardson,  however, 
in  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Museum,  a 
specimen  from 
the  fur  countries 
agreeing  in  all 
respects  with  the 
European  species.- 
Our  variety  is 
abundant  to  the 
extremity  of  the  continent,  both  in  the  woody  and  barren  districts  of 
the  remote  fur  countries  of  Hudson's  Bay.  It  is  also  plentiful  about 
Severn  river,  in  the  woods  and  plains  near  fresh  waters,  where  it 
breeds,  the  young  being  about  six  or  seven  at  a  hatch.  It  feeds 
much  upon  fresh-water  insects,  seeds,  and  aquatic  plants,  and  when 
fat  is  delicate  food.  In  the  autumn  and  winter  it  is  very  common 
throughout  the  waters  of  the  United  States,  both  in  the  interior  and 
contiguous  to  the  sea  coast.  In  the  course  of  the  winter  they  retire 
as  far  south  as  Jamaica,  and  are  probably  common  also  along  the 
coasts  of  the  Mexican  Gulf.  It  frequents  ponds,  marshes,  the  reedy 
shores  of  creeks  and  rivers,  and  in  winter  is  very  abundant  in  the 
rice  plantations  of  the  South.  They  usually  fly  in  small  parties, 
feeding  mostly  by  night  ;  associating  with  the  Mallard,  and  are  com- 
monly decoyed  by  its  call. 

The  Teal  is  found  in  the  north  of  Europe  as  far  as  Greenland  and 
Iceland,  and  it  also  inhabits  the  borders  of  the  Caspian  to  the  south. 
In  France  and  England  it  is  said  to  breed.  They  are  commonly  seen 
on  the  pools,  in  close  companies  of  ten  or  twelve  together,  frequent- 
ing the  rivers  and  unfrozen  springs  in  winter,  where  they  subsist  on 
aquatic  plants.  They  fly  very  swiftly,  and  utter  a  sort  of  whistling 
cry.  The  Teal  breeds  in  the  fens,  continuing  in  the  temperate  parts 
of  Europe  the  whole  year.  It  conceals  its  nest  among  the  bulrushes, 
constructing  it  of  their  stalks,  and  lining  it  with  feathers  ;  it  rests 
also  sometimes  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  so  as  to  rise  and  foil  with 
the  flood.  The  eggs  are  about  ten  or  twelve,  of  a  soiled  white,  indis- 
tinctly marked  with  brown  spots.  The  female  takes  the  whole  man 


MCSCOVY    DUCK. 


776  THE  MUSK  OR,  MUSCOVY  DUCK. 

agement  of  the  incubation ;  the  males,  at  this  time,  seem  to  leave 
them  and  associate  for  themselves  in  companies. 


THE   MUSK,    OR   MUSCOVY   DUCK. 

The  Musk  Duck  derives  its  name  from  its  exhaling  at  times  a 

strong  odor  of  that  drug.  The 
term  Muscovy  is  wholly  misap- 
' plied,  since  it  is  an  exclusive 
native  of  the  warmer  and  tropical 
parts  of  America  and  its  islands. 
They  exist  wild  in  Brazil,  Deme- 
rara,  and  the  overflowed  savannas 
of  Guianna,  and  are  occasionally 
seen  along  the  coasts  of  the  Mexi- 
can Gulf,  in  the  lower  part  of 
Mississippi,  and  stragglers  are  fre- 
quently observed  along  the  coasts  of  the  warmer  parts  of  the  Union. 
They  feed  in  the  tropical  savannas  chiefly  upon  the  seeds  of  some 
grasses  which  resemble,  and  are  called,  wild  rice;  flying  in  the  morn- 
ing to  those  immense  and  overflowed  meadows  to  feed,  and  returning 
in  the  evening  to  their  roosts  near  the  sea.  They  are  said  to  pass  the 
warmer  parts  of  the  day  indolently  perched  upon  trees,  which  over- 
hang the  rivers  and  marshes,  in  the  hollows  of  which,  like  our  Wood 
Ducks,  they  construct  their  nest,  and  convey  the  young  to  the  water 
as  soon  as  they  are  hatched.  They  breed  at  all  times  of  the  year, 
and  are  very  prolific,  but  many  of  the  young  fall  victims  to  the  Cay- 
mans and  other  predatory  animals  with  which  those  countries  are 
infested.  The  eggs  are  nearly  quite  round  and  of  a  greenish- white 
color.  The  male  is  very  ardent  and  readily  couples  with  the  domestic 
Duck.  In  a  wild  state  they  are  very  shy  and  watchful  and  approached 
with  difficulty. 

The  Musk  Duck  is  now  commonly  domesticated,  feeds  and  fattens 
well,  is  deservedly  esteemed  as  food,  more  particularly  the  young,  and 
though  derived  from  the  mildest  of  climates,  endures  the  winter  of 
the  Eastern  and  Northern  States  without  any  difficulty  or  hardship. 
In  the  poultry-yard,  like  Turkeys,  they  have  very  singular  and  ex- 
citing antipathies.  On  such  occasions  both  Ducks  and  Drakes  shake 
their  tails,  stretch  out  their  heads,  and  hiss  and  quack  in  a  low  tone 
with  great  affectation  of  anger  and  earnest.  The  male  puffs  and 
blows  very  much,  but  the  whole  one  by  one  make  their  retreat  before 
a  small  clucking  Hen,  who  seems  to  view  them  with  total  indifference. 
Two  males  will  also  sometimes  wage  a  very  warm  but  harmless  war 
in  jealousy.  In  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  these  domestic  birds 
begin  to  lay  as  early  as  February. 


THE  VELVET  DUCK — CANVASS-BACKED  DUCK.       /  /  7 


THE  VELVET  DUCK. 

The  Velvet  Duck  is  common  to  the  northern  ^regions  of  both 
continents,  «where 
it  retires  late  in 
the  spring  to  pass 
the  period  of  re- 
production. Like 
the  preceding, 
they  live  princi- 
pally upon  the 
sea  and  its  pro- 
ductions, diving 
often  in  broken 
water  for  shell- 
fish and  other 
marine  bodies. 
They  breed  along 
the  Arctic  coasts 
and  around  Hud- 
son's Bay  and 
Labrador,  retir- 
ing inland  for  the 
purpose;  nesting 

contiguous  to  small  fresh-water  pools  in  the  shelter  of  Juniper  or  Pine 
bushes,  laying  from  eight  to  ten  white  eggs,  which  the  female  closely 
covers  with  her  elastic  feather.  The  young  are  attended  by  the 
female  only,  who  remains  with  her  brood  in  these  seclusions  until 
they  are  nearly  ready  to  fly.  She  also  makes  a  show  of  defending 
them,  and  the  young  themselves  often,  by  their  great  alertness  in 
diving,  escape  the  attacks  of  their  enemies.  They  are  abundant  in 
the  Orkneys  and  Hebrides,  as  well  as  in  Norway,  Sweden,  Lapland ; 
and  are  common  in  some  parts  of  Siberia  and  Kamtschatka.  Near 
Kingis,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tornea  in  Lapland,  a  little  beyond  the 
6^th  parallel,  Skioldebrand  remarked  them  nesting  in  trees,  particu- 
larly Pines,  accompanied  by  the  Golden  Eye  (Fuligula  cangula.)  The 
inhabitants,  he  also  adds,  knowing  the  trouble  they  have  in  forming 
their  nests,  attach  hollowed  pieces  of  wood  to  the  trees  for  their  con- 
venience ;  and  in  recompense  receive  a  quantity  of  their  eggs,  which 
supply  the  place  of  those  of  the  common  fowl,  no  longer  found  to 
endure  the  severity  of  these  hyperboreal  climates. 


CANVASS-BACKED   DUCK. 

The  Canvass-Back,  so  well  known  as  a  delicacy  of  the  table,  is  a 
species  peculiar  to  the  continent  of  America.  It  breeds,  according 
to  Richardson,  in  all  parts  of  the  remote  fur  countries  from  the  50th 


778 


THE    CANVASS-BACKED   DUCK. 


parallel  to  their  most  northern  limits,  and  at  this  period  associates 
much  on  the  water  with  the  ordinary  tribe  of  Ducks.     After  the  close 

of  the  period  of 
reproduction,  accu- 
mulating in  flocks, 
and  driven  to  the 
open  waters  of  the 
south  for  their 
favorite  means  of 
subsistence,  they 
arrive  about  the 
middle  of  October 
seawards  on  the 
coast  of  the  United 
States.  A  few  at 
this  time  visit  the 
Hudson  and  the 
Delaware,  but  the 
great  body  of  emi- 
grants take  up  their 
ke,  and  in  the  numerous  estuaries  and 
into  it;  particularly  the  Susquehanna, 
They  also  frequent  the 


CAXTASS-BACKED  DUCK. 


quarters  in  the  Bay  of  Chesapea 
principal  rivers  which  empty  ii 
the  Patapsco,  Potomac  and  James'  rivers. 

sounds  and  bays  of  North  Carolina,  and  are  abundant  in  the  river 
Neuse,  in  the  vicinity  of  Newbern,  and  probably  in  most  of  the  other 
southern  waters  to  the  coast  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  being  seen  in 
winter  in  the  mild  climate  of  New  Orleans.  In  these  different 
sections  of  the  Union  they  are  known  by  the  various  names  of 
Canvass-Backs,  White- Backs,  and  Sheldrakes.  In  the  depth  of 
winter,  a  few  pairs,  probably  driven  from  the  interior  by  cold,  arrive 
in  Massachusetts  Bay,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cohasset  and  near  Martha's 
Vineyard :  these,  as  in  the  waters  of  New  York,  are  commonly 
associated  with  the  Keel-Head,  or  Pochard,  to  which  they  have  so 
near  an  affinity.  Their  principal  food,  instead  of  the  fresh-water 
plant  Valisneria,  which  is  confined  to  so  small  a  space,  is,  in  fact, 
the  different  kinds  of  Sea- Wrack,  known  here  by  the  name  of 
Eelgrass,  from  its  prodigious  length,  (Zostera  marina,  and  Ruppiy 
maritima.)  These  vegetables  are  found  in  nearly  every  part  of  the 
Atlantic,  growing  like  submerged  fields  over  all  the  muddy  flats, 
shallow  bays,  estuaries,  and  inlets,  subject  to  the  access  of  salt  or 
brackish  waters.  They  are  the  marine  pastures  in  which  most  of  the 
Sea  Ducks,  no  less  than  the  present,  find  at  all  times,  except  in 
severe  frosts,  an  ample  supply  of  food. 

The  Canvass-Backs  on  their  first  arrival  are  generally  lean,  but  by 
the  beginning  of  November,  they  become  in  good  order  for  the  table. 
They  are  excellent  divers,  and  swim  with  speed  and  agility.  They 
sometimes  assemble  by  thousands  in  a  flock,  and  rising  suddenly 
on  wing  produce  a  noise  like  thunder.  During  the  day,  they  are 
commonly  dispersed  about  in  quest  of  food,  but  towards  evening  col- 
lect together,  and  coming  into  the  creeks  and  river  inlets,  ride  as  it 


THE  HARLEQUIN    DUCK.  779 

were  at  anchor,  with  their  heads  under  their  wings  asleep;  sentinels, 
however,  appear  awake  and  ready  to  raise  an  alarm  on  the  least 
appearance  of  danger.  At  other  times  they  are  seen  swimming 
about  the  shoals,  and  diving  after  the  sea-wrack,  which  they  com- 
monly pluck  up,  and  select  only  the  tenderest  portion  towards  the 
root.  Though  thus  laboriously  engaged,  they  are  still  extremely 
shy,  and  can  rarely  be  approached  but  by  stratagem,  for  even  while 
feeding,  several  remain  unemployed  and  vigilant  against  any  sur- 
prise. When  wounded  in  the  wing  they  dive  to  prodigious  distances, 
and  with  such  rapidity,  and  perseverance  as  almost  to  render  the 
pursuit  hopeless.  The  great  demand  and  high  estimation  in  which 
these  Ducks  are  held,  spurs  the  ingenuity  of  the  gunner  to  practise 
every  expedient  which  may  promise  success  in  their  capture.  They 
are  sometimes  decoyed  to  shore  or  within  gun-shot  by  means  of  a 
dog  trained  for  the  purpose,  which,  playing  backwards  and  forwards 
along  the  shore,  attracts  the  vacant  curiosity  of  the  birds,  and  as 
they  approach  within  a  suitable  distance  the  concealed  fowler  rakes 
them  first  on  the  water,  and  afterwards  as  they  rise.  Sometimes  by 
moonlight  the  sportsman  directs  his  skiff  towards  a  flock,  whose 
position  he  had  previously  ascertained,  and  keeping  within  the  pro- 
jecting shadow  of  some  wood,  bank,  or  headland,  he  paddles  silently 
along  to  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  of  a  flock  of  many  thousands, 
among  whom  he  consequently  makes  great  destruction. 

As  the  severity  of  the  winter  augments,  and  the  rivers  become 
extensively  frozen,  the  Canvass-Backs  retreat  towards  the  ocean,  and 
are  then  seen  in  the  shallow  bays  which  still  remain  open ;  occa- 
sionally also  frequenting  the  air-holes  in  the  ice,  and  openings  which 
are  sometimes  made  for  the  purpose,  immediately  over  the  beds  of 
sea  grass,  to  entice  them  within  gun-shot  of  the  hut  or  bush  fixed  at 
a  convenient  distance  for  commanding  the  hungry  flocks.  So  urgent 
sometimes  are  the  Ducks  for  food  in  winter,  that  at  one  of  these 
artificial  openings  in  the  ice,  in  James'  river,  a  Mr.  Hill,  according 
to  Wilson,  accompanied  by  a  second  person,  picked  up  from  one  of 
these  decoys,  at  three  rounds  each,  no  less  than  eighty-eight  Canvass- 
Backs.  The  Ducks  crowded  to  the  place,  so  that  the  whole  open 
space  was  not  only  covered  with  them,  but  vast  numbers,  waiting 
their  turn,  stood  inactive  on  the  ice  around  it. 


THE   HARLEQUIN   DUCK. 

This  singularly  marked  and  beautiful  species  is  almost  a  constant 
resident  of  the  hyperboreal  regions  of  the  northern  hemisphere,  from 
which  it  migrates  but  short  distances  towards  more  temperate  lati- 
tudes, and  is  as  in  Europe  a  rare  and  almost  accidental  visiter  as  far 
as  the  Middle  States  of  the  Union.  It  is  however  more  frequent  in 
Eastern  Europe  up  to  Greenland;  and  common  from  lake  Baikal  to 
Kamschatka.  Now  and  then  it  is  killed  in  Scotland  and  the  Orkneys. 
Dr.  Kichardson  found  it  to  be  a  rare  bird  in  the  fur  countries,  haunt- 
ing eddies  under  cascades,  and  rapid  streams,  where  it  dwells  and 


780 


THE   LONG-TAILED   DUCK. 


HARLEQUIN  DUCK. 


breeds  apart  from  all  other  Ducks.    In  Kamschatka  it  affects  the 

same  retired  and  remark 
able  romantic  situations; 
like  the  alpine  Cinclus,  it 
seeks  out  the  most  rocky 
and  agitated  torrents;  in 
such  situations  it  has 
been  seen  in  the  rivulets 
of  Hudson's  Bay,  as 
much  as  ninety  miles  in- 
land from  the  sea ;  here 
it  seeks  out  its  appro- 
priate fare  of  spawn, 
shell-fish,  and  the  larvoe 
of  aquatic  or  fluviatile 
insects.  On  the  low 
bushy  and  shady  banks  of  these  streams  it  constructs  its  nest,  which 
contains  from  twelve  to  fourteen  pure  white  eggs.  On  the  margins 
of  fresh- water  ponds  in  Labrador  Mr.  Audubon  also  observed  this 
species,  and  he  remarks,  that  instead  of  rearing  their  young  in  the 
same  situations  chosen  for  breeding,  as  with  the  Velvet  and  Surf 
Duck,  it  conducts  its  brood  to  the  sea  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched. 
Its  flight  is  high  and  swift;  and  it  swims  and  dives  with  the 
utmost  dexterity.  So  great  is  its  confidence  in  the  security  of  its 
most  natural  element,  that  on  the  report  of  a  gun  over  the  water, 
it  instantly  quits  its  flight  and  dives  at  once  with  the  celerity  of 
thought.  It  is  said  to  be  clamorous,  and  that  its  voice  is  a  sort  of 
whistle;  the  anatomy  of  the  trachea  is  however,  unknown,  and  it  is 
not  said  whether  this  sibilation  be  really  produced  from  the  throat  or 
the  wings,  as  is  the  latter  case  in  the  Common  Clangula  or  Golden 
Eye.  Driven  from  their  solitary  resorts  in  the  interior  by  the  invasion 
of  frost,  they  are  now  seen  out  at  sea  engaged  in  obtaining  a  different 
mode  of  subsistence.  Amidst  these  icy  barriers  they  still  continue  to 
endure  the  rigors  of  winter,  continually  receding  further  out  to  sea, 
or  making  limited  and  almost  accidental  visits  to  milder  regions. 
When  discovered,  they  display  the  utmost  vigilance,  and  instantly 
take  to  wing.  It  is  considered  to  be  a  game  superior  in  flavor  to  the 
Common  Wild  Duck.  From  the  singular  and  beautiful  crescent- 
shaped  lines  and  marks  which  ornament  its  neck  and  breast  it  has 
probably  come  by  the  dignified  appellation  of  /ore?,  among  the  fishers 
of  Newfoundland.  It  is  here  too  rare  to  have  acquired  any  particular 
name. 


THE  LONG-TAILED   DUCK. 


This  elegant  and  noisy  Duck,  known  so  generally  in  the  Southern 
States  by  the  nickname  of  "  South-Southerly,"  from  its  note,  and,  in 
most  other  parts  by  the  appellation  of  "  Old  Squaws"  or  "  Old  Wives," 
is  an  Arctit  inhabitant  of  both  continents,  and  abounds  in  the  glacial 


THE   LONG-TAILED   DUCK. 


781 


LONG-TAILED  DUCK. 


seas  of  America,  where  it  is  seen  commonly  associated  with  the  Eider, 
Surf,  Black  and 
other  Ducks  of 
congenial  habits, 
who  invariably 
prefer  the  frail 
but,  to  them,  pro- 
ductive dominion 
of  the  sea  to  the 
land  or  its  more 
peaceful  waters. 
So  strong  is  the 
predilection  of 
this  species  for 
its  frigid  natal 
climes  and  their 
icy  barriers,  says 
Nuttall,  that  it  is 
seen  to  linger  in 

the  north  as  long  as  the  existence  of  any  open  water  can  be  ascer- 
tained ;  when  the  critical  moment  of  departure  at  length  approaches, 
common  wants  and  general  feeling  begin  so  far  to  prevail  as  to  unite 
the  scattered  families  into  numerous  flocks.  They  now  proceed 
towards  the  south,  and  making  a  halt  on  the  shores  and  inland  lakes 
round  Hudson's  Bay,  remain  until  again  reluctantly  driven  towards 
milder  climes.  They  are  the  last  birds  of  passage  that  take  leave  of 
the  fur  countries.  Familiar  with  cold,  and  only  driven  to  migrate 
for  food,  in  the  latter  end  of  August  when  already  a  thin  crust  of 
ice  is  seen  forming  in  the  night  over  the  still  surface  of  the  Arctic 
Sea,  the  female  Harelda  is  observed  ingeniously  breaking  away  with 
her  wings  for  the  egress  of  her  young  brood. 

According  to  the  state  of  the  weather  we  consequently  observe  the 
variable  arrival  of  these  birds.  In  October  they  generally  pay  us  a 
visit,  the  old  already  clad  in  the  more  dazzling  garb  of  winter.  The 
young  sometimes  seek  out  the  shelter  of  the  fresh  water  ponds,  but 
the  old  keep  out  at  sea.  No  place  in  the  Union  so  abounds  with 
these  gabblers  as  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake.  They  are  lively,  restless 
and  gregarious  in  all  their  movements,  and  fly,  dive  and  swim  with 
unrivalled  dexterity ;  and  subsist  chiefly  upon  small  shell-fish,  and 
marine  plants,  particularly  the  Zostera  or  Grass- wrack.  Late  in  the 
evening,  or  early  in  the  morning,  towards  spring  more  particularly, 
vast  flocks  are  seen  in  the  bays  and  sheltered  inlets,  and  in  calm  and 
foggy  weather  we  hear  the  loud  and  blended  nasal  call,  reiterated  for 
hours  from  the  motley  multitude.  There  is  something  in  the  sound 
like  the  honk  of  the  Goose,  and,  as  far  as  words  can  express  a  subject 
so  uncouth,  it  resembles  the  gutteral  syllables,  'ogh  ough  egh,  and  then 
'ogh  ogh  ogh  ough  egh,  given  in  a  ludicrous  drawling  tone;  but  still 
with  all  the  accompaniments  of  scene  and  season,  this  humble  harbin- 
ger of  spring,  obeying  the  feelings  of  nature,  and  pouring  forth  his 
final  ditty  before  his  departure  to  the  distant  north,  conspires  with 


782 


THE   GREAT   AUK. 


the  novelty  of  the  call,  to  please  rather  than  disgust  those  happy 
few  who  maybe  willing  "  to  find  good  in  everything."  This  peculiar 
cry,  is  well  known  to  the  aboriginal  sons  of  the  forest,  and  among 
the  Crees  the  species  is  called  'Hah-haway,  so  much  like  the  syllables 
I  have  given  above,  that  many  might  imagine  my  additions  no  more 
than  a  version  of  the  same. 


OF  THE   AUK  TEIBE   IN  GENERAL. 

THE  bills  of  these  birds  are  thick,  convex,  and,  except  in  very  few 
species,  are  compressed  at  the  sides,  and  crossed  with  transverse 
furrows.  The  nostrils  are  linear,  and  situated  parallel  to  the  edge  of 
the  bill.  The  Auks  have  three  toes,  all  placed  forward. 

The  Auks  are,  for  the  most  part,  inhabitants  of  the  Northern  Ocean. 
They  breed  in  holes,  which  they  sometimes  dig  in  the  earth,  or  in  the 
fissures  of  rocks ;  and  lay  but  one  egg.  They  generally  rest  in  these 
holes  during  the  night.  Their  feet  are  placed  behind  the  centre  of 
gravity,  which  makes  some  of  the  species  stand  with  their  heads 
almost  upright. 


THE    GREAT    AUK. 

The  Great  Auk  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  Arctic  Circle,  but  is  some- 
times seen  in  the 
northern  islands  of 
Scotland.  The 
wings  of  this  bird 
are  incapable  of 
raising  it  into  the 
air,  but  serve  ad- 
mirably as  paddles 
when  diving.  It 
breeds  principally 
on  the  shores  of 
Iceland  and  Spitz- 
bergen,  laying  one 
large  egg  on  a  cleft 
of  a  high  rock.  The 
eggs  are  extremely 
scarce,  and  fetch  a 
very  high  price 
among  collectors,  a 
circumstance  which 
has  caused  some 


most 
positions, 
case    two 


In     one 
of   these 


THE    PUFFIN    AUK. 


783 


eggs  were  offered  for  sale  at  a  shop  where  natural  curiosities  are 
bought  and  sold.  They  were  offered,  I  believe,  at  five  pounds  each, 
which  being  a  very  low  price,  excited  the  suspicions  of  the  buyer, 
who  asked  the  seller  to  leave  them  while  he  examined  them.  He 
examined  them  accordingly,  and  although  he  doubted,  yet  they 
looked  very  genuine  indeed.  They  had  the  peculiar  smell  of  the 
Auk's  eggs,  the  hole  through  which  the  contents  were  extracted  was 
perfectly  natural,  the  lining  membrane  of  the  egg  being  still  in  its 
place.  Just  as  the  price  was  about  to  be  paid,  a  visitor  happened 
to  enter  the  shop,  who  recognised  the  seller  as  a  man  who  had  sold 
many  of  these  eggs  of  late  at  the  same  price,  but  who  manufactured 
all  the  eggs  himself.  They  were,  in  fact,  nothing  but  models,  ex- 
quisitely copied,  and  accurate  in  every  particular,  but  yet  only  a 
composition  of  plaster  of  Paris  with  other  ingredients. 
\  The  length  of  the  bird  is  nearly  three  feet. 


THE  PUFFIN  AUK. 

This  bird  is  about  twelve  inches  in  length.  The  bill  is  an  inch  and 
a  quarter  long, 
much  compressed 
at  the  sides ;  and 
nearly  an  inch  and 
a  half  deep  at  the 
base,  whence  both  ^^f 
mandibles  tend  to  £*£'££ 
a  point,  which  is  a 
little  curved: 
across  these  there 
are  oblique  fur-  H 
rows  :  the  half  of 
the  bill  next  to  the 
point  is  red ;  and 
that  next  to  the 
base  blue-gray. 
The  top  of  t  h  e 
head,  the  hind 
part  of  the  neck,  and  all  the  upper  parts  of  the  plumage,  are  black  , 
which  color  passes  also  round  the  throat  like  a  collar.  The  sides  of 
the  head,  the  chin,  and  all  the  under  parts  are  white.  The  legs  are 
orange. 

The  Puffin  Auks  appear  in  some  parts  of  England  about  the  begin- 
ning of  April.  Their  first  employment  is  the  forming  of  burrows  for 
their  young-ones,  in  the  earth  or  sand.  This  is  the  task  of  the  males, 
who  are  so  intent  on  the  business,  as  to  suffer  themselves  at  that  time 
to  be  taken  with  the  hand.  Some,  where  there  is  opportunity,  save 
themselves  the  trouble  of  forming  holes,  by  dispossessing  Rabbits  of 
theirs. 

The   females  lay  one  white  egg  each ;  and  the  males  as  well  as 


784 


THE  LITTLE   AUK,  OR    SEA   DOVE. 


females  perform  the  office  of  sitting,  relieving  each  other  when  they 

go  to  feed.  The  young-ones 
are  hatched  in  the  beginning 
of  July.  The  noise  they 
make  when  with  their 
young,  is  a  singular  kind  of 
humming,  much  resembling 
that  produced  by  the  large 
wheels  used  for  the  spinning 
of  worsted.  On  being  seized, 
they  emitted  this  noise  with 
greater  violence  ;  and  from 
its  being  interrupted  by 
their  struggling  to  escape,  it 
sounded  not  much  unlike 
the  efforts  of  a  dumb  man 
to  speak. 

The  young-ones  are  en- 
tirely covered  with  a  long. 
blackish  down ;  and,  in 
shape,  are  altogether  so  different  from  the  parent  birds  that  no  one 
would  at  first  sight  suppose  them  of  the  same  species.  Their  bill  also 
is  long,  pointed,  and  black,  with  scarcely  any  marks  of  furrows. 

The  Kamtschadales  and  Keriles  wear  the  bills  of  Puffins  fastened 
about  their  necks  with  straps.  The  priests  put  them  on  with  certain 
ceremonies,  and  the  persons  are  supposed  to  be  always  attended  with 
good  fortune,  so  long  as  they  retain  them  there. 

It  appears  certain,  that  Puffins  do  not  breed  till  their  third  year. 


PUFFIN  AUK. 


THE   LITTLE   AUK,    OK   SEA   DOVE. 

This  neat  and  singular  little  bird,  with  a  quaint  resemblance  to  the 

Colombine  tribe,  is  known  to  mariners 
by  the  name  of  the  Greenland  Dove ;  and 
in  this  vicinity  it  is  also  called  the  Pigeon 
Diver.  It  inhabits,  however,  a  res-ion 
where  the  gentle  cooing  of  the  Dove  is 
never  heard.  It  dwells  far  within  the 
Arctic  circle,  approaching  the  very  pole, 
having  been  obtained  by  Dr.  Richardson 
from  the  dreary  coast  of  Melville  Island, 
in  the  latitude  of  75°  and  76°,  in  August, 
where  they  were  seen  by  thousands.  It 
is  probably  almost  the  last  bird  seen 
within  the  desolate  and  glacial  boundaries 
of  the  earth.  In  Greenland  and  Spits- 
bergen they  congregate  in  great  flocks ; 
and  in  the  depth  of  winter,  watching  the 


THE     LITTLE   AUK. 


motion  of  the  ice  in  the  offing,  when  it  is 


THE   PARROQUET   AUK. 


785 


broken  up  by  storms,  they  crowd  by  thousands  into  every  opening 
fissure  or  flaw,  in 
order  to  snatch  up  the 
marine  productions  on 
which  they  subsist. 
Mr.  Audubon  found 
a  few  breeding  on  the 
coast  of  Labrador.  In 
Newfoundland  they 
are  called  the  Ice-Bird, 
being  the  sure  har- 
bingers of  severe 
weather,  as  they 
seldom  proceed  far 
from  their  inclement 
natal  regions,  except 
when  accidentally 
driven  to  shore  by 
storms.  In  the  United 
States  their  appearance  SEA  DOTE_ 

is    always    solitary, 

being  mere  wanderers,  as  they  are  also  along  the  milder  coasts  of 
Europe.  Their  uniform  predilection  is  for  the  hyperboreal  regions 
of  their  nativity,  and  they  even  fatten  in  storms  when  not  over- 
whelmed by  their  fury;  as,  at  these  times  the  small  Crustacea,  and 
marine  insects  on  which  they  feed  are  cast  up  and  brought  to  the 
surface  in  great  abundance.  At  times  they  appear  to  fly  well,  as 
appears  by  their  extensive  accidental  migrations,  having  sometimes 
been  met  with  considerably  inland.  The  water,  however,  being  their 
more  natural  element,  they  dive  with  great  facility,  and  are  often 
observed  dipping  their  bills  into  the  water  as  if  drinking. 

Those  which  have  been  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  usually 
in  the  depth  of  winter,  have  sometimes  been  found  in  Fresh  Pond, 
and  so  lean  ani  exhausted,  by  buffeting  weather  and  fatigue,  as  to 
allow  themselves  to  be  quietly  taken  up  by  the  hand. 


THE  PAKROQUET  AUK. 

This  bird  is  about  the  size  of  a  blackbird.  The  bill  is  much  com- 
pressed, and  convex  both  above  and  beneath.  The  nostrils  are 
placed  in  the  middle  of  it,  and  pervious,  and  above  these  there  is  a 
furrow  that  reaches  from  the  base  to  the  middle.  The  color  of  the 
bill  is  deep  red.  From  the  hinder  part  of  the  eye  springs  a  slender 
tuft  of  white  feathers,  which  hangs  loosely  on  the  neck.  The  upper 
parts  of  the  plumage,  and  the  neck,  are  black ;  and  the  under  parts, 
from  the  breast,  white.  The  wings  are  short.  The  legs  are  of  a 
dirty  yellow,  and  the  webs  of  the  feet  brown. 

This  species  of  Auk  is  found  in  flocks  in  Kamtschatka,  in  the  isles 
towards  Japan,  and  on  the  western  shores  of  America.  In  the  nights 
they  harbour  in  the  crevices  of  rocks.  Like  most  of  the  tribe,  they 


786 


THE    RAZOR-BILL   AUK. 


are  indolent  and  stupid  birds,  as  the  following  extraordinary  method 

of  catching  them  suffi- 
ciently proves :  One  of 
the  natives  places  him- 
self in  the  evening 


among  the  rocks, 
under  a  loose  garment 
of  fur,  of  a  particular 
shape,  with  large  open 
sleeves,  when  the 
birds,  returning  to 
their  lodging-places  at 
lusk,  run  under  the 
skirts  and  up  the  arm- 
holes,  in  order  to  shelter 
themselves  during  the 
night;  the  man  con- 
cealed beneath,  kills 
them  as  fast  as  they 
enter,  and,  by  this 
means,  as  many  are 
often  taken  in  one 
evening  as  he  can  carry  away.  Their  stupidity  likewise  occasions 
them  very  often  to  fly  on  board  ships  at  such  times,  mistaking  these 
for  roosting  places:  by  which  navigators  have  sometimes  been  taught 
to  avoid  the  danger  of  approaching  too  near  the  land,  either  in  the 
evenings,  or  on  the  approach  of  storms. 


PARROQUET  AUK. 


THE    RAZOR-BILL   AUK. 


RAZOR-BILL   AUK. 


The  Eazor-bill  Auk 
abounds  among  the 
cliffs  of  England.  It 
lays,  sits,  and  breeds 
up  its  young,  on  the 
ledges  of  the  craggy 
cliffs  and  steep  rocks 
by  the  sea  shore.  On 
the  coast  of  Labrador 
they  abound,  and  the 
thousands  of  birds 
there  killed  for  the 
sake  of  the  breast 
feathers,  which  are  very 
warm  and  elastic,  and 
the  quantities  of  eggs 
there  collected,  amount 
to  almost  incredible 
numbers.  The  summer 
and  winter  dress  of  the 


THE   CRESTED   PENGUIN.  787 

Razor-bill,  though  different,  do  not  vary  so  remarkably  as  the 
plumage  of  many  other  birds.  In  the  summer  dress,  the  white 
streak  which  goes  from  the  bill  to  the  eyes,  becomes  very  pure ;  and 
the  cheeks,  throat,  and  upper  part  of  the  front  of  the  neck  are  of  a 
deep  black,  shaded  with  red.  In  winter  the  throat  and  forepart  of 
the  neck  are  white. 


OF  THE  PENGUINS  IN  GENEEAL. 

THEIR  bill  is  strong,  straight,  furrowed  at  the  sides,  and  bent  to- 
wards the  point.  The  nostrils  are  linear,  and 
placed  in  the  furrows.  The  tongue  is  covered 
with  strong  spines,  pointing  backward.  The 
wings  are  small,  not  unlike  fins,  and  are  cov- 
ered with  feathers  no  longer  than  those  of  the 
rest  of  the  body.  The  body  is  clothed  with 
thick  short  feathers ;  which  have  broad  shafts, 
and  are  placed  almost  as  compactly  as  scales. 
The  legs  are  short  and  thick,  situated  back- 
wards, near  the  tail.  The  toes  are  four,  all 
placed  forward;  the  interior  ones  are  loose, 
and  the  rest  webbed.  The  tail  is  very  stiff, 
consisting  of'broad  shafts  scarcely  webbed.  PENGUIN. 

The  Penguins  seem  to  hold  the  same  place  in  the  southern  parts 
of  the  world,  that  the  Auks  do  in  the  northern.  They  resemble 
these  birds  in  almost  all  their  habits :  they  walk  erect,  and  are  very 
stupid.  They  also  resemble  them  in  color,  and  in  their  mode  of 
feeding,  and  of  making  their  nests.  From  the  extreme  shortness 
of  their  wings,  they  are  altogether  incapable  of  flying.  They  swim 
with  great  swiftness;  and  are  fortified  against  the  effects  of  a  long 
continuance  in  the  cold  water,  by  an  abundance  of  fat.  They  hatch 
their  young-ones  in  an  erect  position;  and  cackle  like  Geese,  but  in  a 
hoarser  tone. 


THE   CRESTED    PENGUIN. 

The  Crested  Penguins  are  inhabitants  of  several  of  the  South  Sea 
Islands.  They  have  the  names  of  Hopping  Penguins,  and  Jumping 
Jacks,  from  their  action  of  leaping  quite  out  of  the  water,  sometimes 
to  the  height  of  three  or  four  feet,  on  meeting  with  any  obstacle  in  their 
course.  All  the  Penguins,  while  swimming,  sink  above  the  breast, 
the  head  and  neck  only  appearing  out  of  the  water ;  and  they  row 
themselves  along  with  their  finny  wings  as  with  oars. 

This  species  have  a  greater  air  of  liveliness  in  their  countenance-than 
almost  any  of  the  others :  yet  they  are  very  stupid  birds,  and  so  re- 
gardless of  their  own  safety,  as  even  to  suffer  any  person  to  lay  hold 
of  them.  When  provoked,  they  erect  their  crest  in  a  very  beautiful 
50 


788  THE    STORMY   PETREL. 

manner ;  and  we  are  told,  that,  when  attacked  by  our  voyagers,  they 

ran  at  them  in  flocks,  pecked  their  legs, 
and  spoiled  their  clothes.  "  When  the 
whole  herd  was  beset,  (says  Mr.  Forster, 
in  his  account  of  one  of  the  South  Sea 
islands,)  they  all  became  very  bold  at 
once ;  and  ran  violently  at  us,  biting 
our  legs,  or  any  part  of  our  clothes." 

Their  sleep  is  extremely  sound ;  for 
Dr.  Sparrman  accidentally  stumbling 
^  over  one  of  them,  kicked  it  several 
yards  without  disturbing  its  rest;  nor 
was  it  until  after  being  repeatedly 
shaken  that  the  bird  awoke.  They  are 
very  tenacious  of  life.  Mr.  Forster  left 
a  great  number  of  them,  apparently 
lifeless  from  the  blows  they  had  re- 
ceived, while  he  went  in  pursuit  of 
others ;  but  they  all  afterwards  got  up  and  marched  off  with  the 
utmost  gravity. 

These  birds  form  their  nests  among  those  of  the  Pelicans,  and  live 
in  tolerable  harmony  with  them.  The  female  generally  lays  only  a 
single  egg.  Their  nests  are  holes  in  the  earth  ;  which  they  easily  form 
by  means  of  their  bills,  throwing  back  the  dirt  with  their  feet.  They 
are  often  found  in  great  numbers  on  the  shores  where  they  have  been 
bred. 


OF  THE  PETKEL  TEIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  bill  is  somewhat  compressed;  the  mandibles  are  equal  in 
length,  and  the  upper  one  is  hooked  at  the  point.  The  nostrils  form 
a  kind  of  truncated  cylinder,  lying  over  the  base  of  the  bill.  The 
feet  are  webbed,  and,  in  the  place  of  a  hind  toe,  have  a  spur  pointing 
downwards. 

These  birds  frequent  only  the  ocean,  and  are  seldom  to  be  seen  on 
shore,  except  during  the  breeding  season.  Their  legs  are  bare  of 
feathers  a  little  above  the  knee.  They  have  the  singular  faculty  of 
spouting  from  their  bills,  to  a  considerable  distance,  a  large  quantity 
of  pure  oil;  which  they  do,  by  way  of  defence,  into  the  face  of  any 
one  that  attempts  to  annoy  them.  This  oil  has  been  frequently  used 
in  medicine,  and,  some  writers  say,  with  success. 


THE   STORMY   PETREL,   AND  NORFOLK   ISLAND   PETREL. 

The  Stormy  Petrel  is  not  larger  than  a  swallow ;  and  its  color  is 
entirely  black,  except  the  coverts  of  the  tail,  the  tail  itself,  and  the 
vent  feathers,  which  are  white.  Its  legs  are  long  and  slender. 

The  length  of  the  Norfolk  Island  Petrel  is  about  sixteen  inches. 


THE   STORMY   PETREL. 


789 


STORMY  PETREL. 


The  "bill  is  about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  black  and  much  hooked 

at  the  end.     The  ^^ 

head  as  far  as  the 

eyes,      and      the 

chin,  are  mottled 

in  waves  of  brown 

and    white :     the 

rest  of  the  body 

is     of     a     sooty 

brown  above,  and 

a   deep   ash-color 

beneath.     The 

w  ings,      when 

closed,  exceed  the 

tail   by   an   inch. 

The  legs  are  of  a 

pale  yellow,   and 

part   of  the   toes 

and  webs  is  black. 

Banging  over  the  expanse  of  the  ocean,  and  frequently  at  a  vast 
distance  from  land,  the  former  of  these  birds  is  enabled  to  brave  the 
utmost  fury  of  the  storms.  Even  in  the  most  tempestuous  weather  it 
is  frequently  observed  by  the  mariners,  skimming  with  almost  in- 
credible velocity,  along, the  hollows  of  the  waves,  and  sometimes 
over  their  summits.  It  often  follows  vessels,  in  great  flocks,  to  pick 
up  any  thing  that  is  thrown  overboard;  but  its  appearance  is  always 
looked  upon  by  the  sailors  as  the  sure  presage  of  stormy  weather  in 
the  course  of  a  few  hours  after.  It  seems  to  seek  for  protection  from 
the  fury  of  the  wind  in  the  wake  of  the  vessels ;  and  from  the  same 
reason  it  very  probably  is,  that  it  often  flies  along  between  two 
surges. 

The  nests  of  these  birds  are  found  in  the  Orkney  Islands,  under 
loose  stones,  in  the  months  of  June  and  July.  The  Stormy  Petrels, 
live  chiefly  on  small  fish,  and,  although  rnute  by  day,  are  very4' 
clamorous  during  the  night. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  Feroe  Islands  are  said  to  draw  a  wick 
through  the  bird,  which,  being  lighted  at  one  end,  serves  for  a 
candle,  the  flame  being  fed  by  the  fat  and  oil  of  the  body. 

The  other  species  of  Petrel  here  mentioned  are  found  in  great 
numbers  in  Norfolk  Island,  where  they  burrow  in  the  sand  like 
Rabbits.  On  Mount  Pit,  the  highest  land  in  the  island,  the  ground 
was  as  full  of  holes  as  a  Babbit-warren,  and  an  immense  number  of 
aquatic  birds  burrowed  and  built  their  nests  in  them.  These,  during 
the  day,  were  at  sea ;  but  as  night  approached  they  returned  in  vast 
flocks.  The  settlers  lighted  small  fires  every  night  on  this  mount, 
around  which  the  birds  dropped  as  fast  as  the  people  could  pick 
them  up  arid  kill  them ;  for  the  wings  of  many  sea-birds  are  so  long 
as  to  prevent  their  rising  till  they  can  ascend  some  small  elevation. 
Hunter  says  that  eighteen  thousand  birds  of  different  species  were 
killed  in  the  space  of  about  six  weeks. 


790 


THE    COMMON   GUILLEMOT — FULMAR   PETREL. 


COMMON   GUILLEMOT. 


THE    COMMON   GUILLEMOT. 

The  Common  Guillemot  makes  its 
appearance  on  our  coasts  in  the  beginning 
of  spring,  and  inhabits  the  cliffs  over- 
hanging the  sea.  Each  female  deposits 
one  egg  on  a  naked  ledge  of  rock,  and 
sits  upon  it  with  great  perseverance,  even 
suffering  itself  to  be  taken  by  hand.  The 
egg  is  usually  a  pale  green,  streaked  and 
blotched  with  brown,  but  is  very  variable 
both  in  color  and  markings.  The  length 
of  the  bird  is  fifteen  inches. 


THE    FULMAR   PETREL. 

The  Fulmar  Petrel  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  Arctic  circle,  but  breeds 

abundantly  in 
St.  Kilda  and 
the  Orkneys. 
The  inhabitants 
of  those  islands 
consider  the 
Fulmar  as  one 
of  their  princi- 
pal means  of 
subsistence,  and 
to  obtain  the 
birds  they  ex- 
pose themselves 
to  the  greatest 
dangers.  T  h  e 
feathers  of  the 
Fulmar  Petrel 
are  used  for 
their  beds,  its 

flesh  they  eat,  its  oil  is  delicate  and  gives  an  excellent  light  when 
used  in  a  lamp,  besides  which  it  is  considered  a  good  remedy  for 
wounds.  To  obtain  the  birds,  the  inhabitants  wait  until  they  are 
nearly  fledged,  when  they  lower  themselves  down  the  face  of  the 
most  fearful  precipices,  saved  from  destruction  merely  by  a  rope. 
This  rope  is  one  of  the  principal  items  of  the  property  of  the  people 
who  live  in  the  Orkneys.  It  is  sometimes  made  of  hide,  but  the 
best  ropes  are  woven  of  hair,  and  are  found  to  be  less  liable  to  fray 
against  the  rocks  than  if  they  were  made  of  any  other  material. 
There  are  many  stories  of  the  dangers  encountered  by  the  daring 
cragsman,  but  there  is  no  space  for  their  insertion. 


FULMAR  PETREL. 


THE   WANDERING   ALBATROSS. 


791 


The  Fulmar  Petrel  lays  one  white  egg,  large  and  brittle,  which  is 
imbued  with  the  peculiar  oily  odor  that  characterises  the  bird. 
The  food  of  the  Fulmar  consists  of  the  flesh  and  blubber  of  dead 
whales  and  other  cetacea,  and  also  of  molluscs  and  Crustacea.  The 
length  of  the  bird  is  sixteen  inches. 


OF  THE  ALBATROSS  TKIBE. 

THERE  are  but  four  species  of  Albatross  ;  of  which  three  are  found 
principally  in  the  seas  of  hot  climates,  and  the  fourth  is  confined  to 
those  within  the  Antarctic  Circle.  Their  bill  is  straight :  the  upper 
mandible  hooked  at  the  point ;  and  the  lower  truncated,  or  appearing 
as  if  cut  off.  The  nostrils  are  oval,  wide,  prominent,  and  lateral ;  the 
tongue  is  very  small ;  and  the  feet  have  each  three  toes,  all  placed 
forward. 


THE  WANDERING  ALBATROSS,  OR  MAN-OF-WAR  BIRD. 

In  size  these  birds  are  sometimes  as  large  as  a  Swan.    Their  general 
color   is  white,  the 
upper    parts '  are 
marked  with  black 
lines. 


The  quill- 
feathers  are  black; 
and  the  tail  is 
rounded,  and  of  a 
lead,  color.  The 
bill  is  of  a  pale  yel- 
low, and  the  legs 
are  flesh-colored. 

These  birds  are 
found  in  most  seas, 
but  chiefly  in  those 
within  the  Tropics : 
they  are,  however, 
often  seen  about 
the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope ;  and,  towards 
the  end  of  July, 
they  collect  in  great 
numbers  in  Kamt- 
schatka,  and  the  seas  which  separate  that  part  of  Asia  from  America. 

They  are  exceedingly  voracious,  and  feed  on  various  species  of  fish 
and  molluscoe.  The  shoals  of  flying-fish,  when  persecuted  by  their 
enemies  of  the  deep,  make  their  appearance  for  a  short  flight  in  the 
air,  and  suffer  greatly  from  the  voracity  of  these  birds.  They  also 
often  pursue  the  shoals  of  salmon  into  the  mouths  of  large  rivers  ;  and 


WAXDERING    ALBATROSS. 


792  THE   PELICAN    TRIBE    IN    GENERAL. 

so  gorge  themselves  as,  notwithstanding  their  otherwise  extraordinary 
powers  of  flight,  to  be  prevented  by  their  weight  and  consequent 
stupidity  even  from  rising. 

In  the  West  Indies  the  appearance  of  these  birds  is  said  to  foretell 
the  arrival  of  ships  ;  this  indeed  is  sometimes  true,  and  arises  from  a 
very  natural  cause.  They  always  fish  in  fine  weather ;  so  that  when 
the  wind  is  boisterous  out'  at  sea,  they  retire  into  the  harbors,  where 
they  are  protected  by  the  land  ;  and  the  same  wind  that  blows  them 
in,  oftentimes  brings  also  vessels  to  seek  a  retreat  from  the  storm. 

Their  voice  very  much  resembles  the  braying  of  an  Ass.  In  South 
America  they  build  their  nests  about  the  end  of  September ;  these  are 
formed  of  earth,  on  the  ground,  and  are  from  one  to  three  feet  high. 
The  eggs  are  as  large  as  those  of  a  goose,  and  have  the  singular 
property  of  their  white  not  becoming  hard  by  boiling.  When 
attempted  to  be  seized,  these  birds  make  a  vigorous  defence  with  their 
bills. 

Many  of  the  Indians  set  a  high  value  on  the  feathers  of  these  birds ; 
which  they  use  for  arrows,  as  they  last  much  longer  than  those  of  any 
other  birds.  The  natives  of  the  South  Sea  Islands  watch  the  arrival 
of  the  Man-of-war  Birds  at  the  rainy  season  ;  and,  when  they  observe 
them,  they  launch  from  their  canoes  into  the  water  a  light  float  of 
wood,  baited  with  a  small  fish.  When  one  of  the  birds  approaches  it, 
ii  man  stands  ready  with  a  pole,  about  eighteen  feet  in  length ;  and. 
on  its  pouncing,  he  strikes  at  the  bird,  and  seldom  fails  of  bringing  it 
down.  If,  however,  he  miss  his  aim,  he  must  wait  for  some  other 
bird,  for  that  will  no  more  be  tempted  to  approach.  The  cock  birds 
are  reckoned  the  most  valuable  ;  and  sometimes  even  a  large  hog  is 
given  in  exchange  for  one  of  these. 

The  inhabitants  of  Kamtschatka  make  buoys  to  their  nets,  of  the  in- 
testines of  the  Man-of-war  Birds,  which  they  blow  up  like  bladders. 
They  also  make  tobacco-pipes  and  needle-cases  of  the  bones  of  the 
wings ;  and  use  them  likewise  for  heckling  the  grass,  which  serves  them 
instead  of  flax.  The  flesh  is  very  hard  and  dry. 


THE  PELICAN  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  this  tribe  the  bill  is  long  and  straight;  and  the  end  either 
hooked,  or  sloping.  The  nostrils  are  placed  in  a  furrow  that  runs 
along  the  sides  of  the  bill,  and,  in  most  of  the  species,  they  are  scarcely 
perceptible.  The  face,  except  in  two  species,  is  destitute  of  feathers. 
The  gullet  is  naked,  and  capable  of  great  extension.  The  number 
of  toes  is  four,  and  these  are  all  webbed  together. 

The  Pelicans  are  gregarious ;  and,  in  general  remarkable  for  their 
extreme  voracity.  They  are  very  expert  in  seizing  fish  with  their 
long  and  apparently  unwieldy  bills;  and  many  of  the  species  are 
rendered  of  use  to  mankind,  by  being  trained  to  fishing.  In  general, 
they  keep  out  far  at  sea;  but  some  of  them  are  found  occasionally  in 
the  interior  parts  of  continents. 


THE   WHITE,    OR  GREAT   PELICAN. 


793 


THE   WHITE,    OE   GREAT  PELICAN. 

This  Pelican,  when  full  grown,  is  larger  than  a  Swan.  The  bill  is 
about  sixteen  inches  long ; 
and  the  skin  between  the 
sides  of  the  lower  mandi- 
ble is  very  flaccid  and 
dilatable,  extending  eight 
or  nine  inches  down  the 
neck.  This  skin  is  bare  of 
feathers,  and  is  capable  of 
containing  many  quarts  of 
water.  The  tongue  is  so 
small  as  scarcely  to  be  dis- 
tinguishable. The  sides  of 
the  head  are  naked;  and 
on  the  back  of  the  head 
there  is  .a  kind  of  crest. 
The  whole  plumage  is 
whitish,  suffused  with  a 
pale  blush  color;  except 
some  parts  of  the  wings, 
which  are  black.  The  legs 
are  lead-colored,  and  the 
claws  gray. 

The  bag  in  the  lower  mandible  of  the  bill  of  this  bird,  is  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  members  that  is  found  in  the  structure  of  any  ani- 
mal. Though  it  wrinkles  up  nearly  into  the  hollow  of  the  chap,  and 
the  sides  to  which  -it  is  attached,  are  not  (in  a  quiescent  state)  above 
an  inch  asunder,  it  may  be  extended  to  an  amazing  capacity;  and 
when  the  bird  has  fished  with  success,  its  size  is  almost  incredible. 
It  will  contain  a  man's  head  with  the  greatest  ease;  and,  it  has  been 
said,  that  even  a  man's  leg,  with  a  boot  on,  has  been  hidden  in  one 
•of  these  pouches.  In  fishing,  the  Pelican  fills  this  ba<r,  and  does  not 
immediately  swallow  his  prey;  but  when  the  bag  is  full,  he  returns 
to  the  shore  to  devour  at  leisure  the  fruits  of  his  industry.  He  is  not 
long  in  digesting  his  food ;  for  he  has  generally  to  fish  more  than 
once  in  the  course  of  a  day. 

At  night,  when  the  toils  of  the  day  are  over,  these  birds,  which 
are  lazy  and  indolent  when  they  have  glutted  themselves  with  fish, 
retire  a  little  way  on  the  shore  to  take  their  rest  for  the  night.  Their 
attitude  in  that  state  is  with  their  head  resting  against  the  breast. 
They  remain  almost  motionless  till  hunger  calls  them  to  break  off 
their  repose:  thus  they  pass  nearly  the  whole  of  their  life  in  eating 
and  sleeping.  When  thus  incited  to  exertion,  they  fly  from  the  spot, 
and,  raising  themselves  thirty  or  forty  feet  above  the  surface  of  the 
sea,  turn  their  head  with  one  eye  downward,  and  continue  to  fly  in 
that  position  till  they  see  a  fish  sufficiently  near  the  surface.  They 


\CHITE  FELICAN. 


794 


THE   WHITE,    OR    GREAT   PELICAN. 


then  dart  down  with  astonishing  swiftness,  seize  it  with  unerring  cer- 
tainty, and  store  it  in  their  pouch.  Having  done  this,  they  rise  again, 
and  continue  the  same  actions  till  they  have  procured  a  competent 
stock. 

Whence  it  was  that  the  ancients  attributed  to  this  stupid  bird  the 
admirable  qualities  and  parental  affections  for  which  it  was  celebrated 
amongst  them,  I  am  unable  to  imagine;  unless,  struck  with  its  extra- 
ordinary figure,  they  were  desirous  of  supplying  it  with  propensities 
equally  extraordinary.  For,  in  truth,  the  Pelican  is  one  of  the  most 
heavy,  sluggish,  and  voracious,  of  all  the  feathered  tribes;  and  is  but 
ill-fitted  to  take  those  vast  flights,  or  to  make  those  cautious  pro- 
visions, which  have  been  mentioned. 

It  is,  however,  by  no  means  destitute  of  natural  affection,  either 

towards  its  young-ones,  or 
towards  others  of  its  own 
species.  Clavigero,  in  his 
History  of  Mexico,  says,  that 
sometimes  the  Americans,  in 
order  to  procure,  without 
trouble,  a  supply  of  fish, 
cruelly  break  the  wing  of  a 
live  Pelican,  and,  after  tying 
the  bird  to  a  tree,  conceal 
themselves  near  the  place. 
The  screams  of  the  miserable 
bird  attract  other  Pelicans  to 
the  place,  which,  he  assures 
us,  eject  a  portion  of  the  pro- 
visions from  their  pouches, 
for  their  imprisoned  compa- 
nion. As  soon  as  the  men 
observe  this,  they  rush  to  the 
spot,  and,  after  leaving  a 
small  quantity  for  the  bird, 
carry  off  the  remainder. 

The  female  feeds  her  voting- 
ones  with  fish  macerated  for 
some  time  in  her  bag.  Labat 
informs  us,  that  he  caught 
cwo  Pelicans,  when  very  young,  and  tied  them  by  the  leg  to  a  post 
stuck  into  the  ground  ;  and  he  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  one  of  the 
old  ones  come  for  several  clays  to  feed  them,  remaining  with  them 
the  greatest  part  of  the  day,  and  passing  the  night  on  the  branch  of 
a  tree  that  hung  over  them.  By  this  means  they  all  three  became  so 
familiar  as  to  suffer  themselves  to  be  handled ;  and  the  young-ones 
always  took  the  fish  that  he  offered  to  them,  storing  it  first  in  their 
bag,  and  then  swallowing  it  at  leisure. 

The  Pelican  has  often  been  rendered  domestic;  and  this  writer 
assures  us,  that  he  saw  one  among  the  Americans  so  well  trained, 
that  it  would,  at  command,  go  off  in  the  morning,  and  return  before 


PELICANS    FISHING. 


THE   FRIGATE   PELICAN.  795 

night,  having  its  pouch  distended  with  prey ;  part  of  which  it  was 
made  to  disgorge,  arid  the  rest  it  was  permitted  to  retain  for  its 
trouble. 

According  to  the  account  of  Faber,  a  Pelican  was  kept  in  the  court 
of  the  Duke  of  Bavaria  above  forty  years.  He  says  that  it  seemed 
fond  of  being  in  the  company  of  mankind ;  and  that  when  any  one 
sang  or  played  on  an  instrument,  it  would  stand  perfectly  still,  turn 
its  ear  to  the  place,  and,  with  its  head  stretched  out,  would  seem  to 
pay  the  utmost  attention.  We  are  told  that  the  Emperor  Maximilian 
had  a  tame  Pelican  that  lived  more  than  eighty  years,  and  always 
attended  his  soldiers  when  on  their  marches.  M.  de  Saint  Pierre 
mentions  his  having  seen,  at  Cape  Town,  a  large  Pelican  playing 
with  a  great  dog,  whose  head  she  often,  in  her  frolic,  took  into  her 
enormous  beak. 

When  a  number  of  Pelicans  and  Corvorants  are  together,  they  are 
said  to  have  a  very  singular  method  of  taking  fish.  They  arrange 
themselves  in  a  large  circle,  at  some  distance  from  land;  and  the 
Pelicans  flap  with  their  extensive  wings  above,  on  the  surface,  while 
the  Corvorants  dive  beneath  :  hence  the  fish  contained  within  the 
circle  are  driven  before  them  toward  the  land  ;  and  as  the  circle 
lessens  by  the  birds  coming  close  together,  the  fish  at  last  are 
brought  into  a  small  compass,  when  their  pursuers  find  no  difficulty 
in  filling  their  bellies.  In  this  exercise  they  are  often  attended 
by  various  species  of  gulls,  which  likewise  obtain  a  share  of  the 
spoil. 


THE    FRIGATE   PELICAX. 

The  Frigate  Pelican,  or  Man-of-war  Bird  is  chiefly  seen  on  the 
tropical  seas,  and  generally  on  the  wing.  They  are  abundant  in  the 
Island  of  Ascension,  India,  Ceylon  and  China.  In  the  South  Sea 
they  are  seen  about  the  Marquesas,  Easter  Isles  and  New  Caledonia, 
also  at  Otaheite.  Dampier  saw  them  in  great  plenty  in  the  island  of 
Aves  in  the  West  Indies,  and  they  are  common  off  the  coast  of  East 
Florida,  particularly  around  the  reefs  or  keys,  often  assembled  in 
flocks  of  from  fifty  to  a  thousand.  They  are  also  not  uncommon, 
during  summer,  along  the  coasts  of  the  Union  as  far  as  South 
Carolina,  and  breed  in  various  places,  retiring  to  warmer  latitudes  on 
the  approach  of  cool  weather. 

The  Frigate  Bird  is  often  seen  smoothly  gliding  through  the  air, 
with  the  motions  of  a  Kite,  from  one  to  two  hundred  leagues  from 
the  land,  sustaining  these  vast  flights  with  the  greatest  apparent  ease, 
sometimes  soaring  so  high  as  to  be  scarcely  visible,  at  others 
approaching  the  surface  of  the  sea,  where,  hovering  at  some  distance, 
it  at  length  espies  a  fish,  and  darts  upon  it  with  the  utmost  rapidity, 
and  generally  with  success,  flying  upwards  again,  as  -quick  as  it 
descended.  In  the  same  manner  it  also  attacks  the  Boobies  and  other 
marine  birds  which  it  obliges  to  relinquish  their  prey. 

They  breed  abundantly  in  the  Bahamas,  and  are  said  to  make  their 


796 


THE   CORYORANT. 


nests  on  trees,  if  near :   at  other  times  they  lay  on   the  rocks ;   the 

eggs  one  or  two, 
are  of  a  flesh 
color,  marked 
with  crimson 
spots.  The 
young  birds 
covered  with  a 
g  r  e  y  i  s  h-white 
down,  are  assid- 
uously attended 
by  the  'parents 
who  are  then 
tame,  and  easily 
approached. 
When  alarmed, 
like  Gulls,  they 
as  readily  cast 
up  the  contents 
of  their  pouch, 
as  these  birds 
do  of  the  stom- 
ach. The  gene- 
ral plumage  is 
brownish  -  black, 
with  violet  re- 
flections, except 
the  wing  coverts 
which  have  a 
rufous  tinge. 
THE  CORVORANT. 

These  birds  are  common  on  many  of  our  sea-coasts.  They  build 
tneir  nests  on  the  highest  parts  of  the  cliffs,  that  hang  over  the  sea ; 
and  lay  three  or  more  pale  green  eggs,  about  the  size  of  those  of  a 
Goose.  In  winter  they  disperse  along  the  shores,  and  visit  the  fresh 
waters,  where  they  commit  great  depredations  among  the  fish.  They 
are  remarkably  voracious  ;  having  a  most  rapid  digestion,  promoted 
perhaps,  by  an  infinite  number  of  small  worms  which  fill  their  intes- 
tines. They  are  very  wary,  except  when  they  have  filled  their 
stomach ;  but  in  this  case  they  sometimes  become  so  stupid,  that  it  is 
easy  to  take  them  in  a  net,  or  even  by  means  of  a  noose  thrown  over 
their  heads. 

Their  smell  when  alive,  is  excessively  rank  and  disagreeable ;  and 
their  flesh  is  so  disgusting,  that  even  the  Greenlanders,  among  whom 
they  are  very  common,  will  scarcely  eat  them. 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  see,  on  the  rocks  of  the  sea-coast, 
twenty  of  these  birds  together,  with  extended  wings,  drying  them- 
selves in  the  wind;  in  this  position  they  remain  sometimes  nearly  an 
hour,  without  once  closing  their  wings,  and,  -as  soon  as  these  are  suf- 


FRIGATE   PELICAN. 


THE   GANNET,    OR    SOLAN   GOOSE. 


797 


ficiently  dry  to  enable  the  feathers  to  imbibe  the  oil,  they  press  this 
substance  from  the 
receptacle  on  their 
rumps,  and  dress  the 
feathers  with  it.  It 
is  only  in  one  parti- 
cular state  that  the 
oily  matter  can  be 
spread  on  them; 
when  they  are  some- 
what damp  ;  and  the 
instinct  of  the  birds 
teaches  them  the  pro- 
per moment. 

The  skins  of  Cor- 
vorants  are  very 
tough  ;  and  are  used 
by  the  Greenlanders, 
when  sewed  together 
and  put  into  proper 
form,  for  garments. 
And  the  skin  of  the 
ja\vs  serves  that  peo- 
ple for  bladders  to 
buoy  up  their  smaller 
kinds  of  fishing  darts.  COEVORANT. 


THE   GANNET    OR   SOLAN   GOOSE. 


These  birds  are 
insatiably  v  o  r  a  - 
cious,  and  yet  they 
are  somewhat 
particular  in  their 
choice  of  prey ; 
disdaining,  unless 
in  great  want,  to 
eat  any  food  worse 
than  Herring  or 
Mackerel.  No  fewer 
than  one  hundred 
thousand  Gannets 
are  supposed  to 
frequent  the  rocks 
of  St.  Kilda:  and 
of  these,  including 
the  young-ones,  at 
least  twenty  thous- 
and are  annually 


798 


THE   GANNET,    OR    SOLAN    GOOSE. 


killed  by  the  inhabitants  for  food.  Allowing  that  the  birds  remain 
in  this  part  of  the  country  about  six  months  in  the  year,  and  that  each 
bird  destroys  five  Herrings  in  a  day,  which  is  considerably  less  than 
the  average,  we  have  at  least  ninety  millions  of  the  finest  fishes  in  the 
world  annually  devoured  by  a  single  species  of  Saint  Kilda  Birds. 

The  Gannets  frequent  nearly  all  the  Hebrides,  and  are  sometimes 

seen  on  the  Cornish  Coast ;  but  they  seldom  occur  in  any  other  parts 

of  Europe.     They  are  migratory  ;  and  first  appear  in  the  above  islands 

about  the  month  of  March  :  they  remain  till  August  or  September. 

They  build  their  nest  on  the  highest  and  steepest  rocks  they  can 

^  find     near    the     sea ; 

-^ '  ^^  ~  "  laying,  if  undisturbed 

only  one  egg  in  the 
year ;  but  if  that  be 
taken  away,  they  will 
lay  another,  and  if 
that  be  also  taken,  a 
third,  but  never  more 
in  the  same  season. 
The  egg  is  white,  and 
is  rather  smaller  than 
that  of  the  Goose. 
The  nests  are  com- 
posed of  grass,  sea 
plants,  or  any  refuse 
fitted  for  the  purpose, 
that  the  birds  fi  n  d 
floating  on  the  water. 
The  young  Gannets, 
during  the  first  year, 
differ  greatly  from  the 
old  ones  ;  for  they  are 
of  a  dusky  hue,  and 
speckled  with  numer- 
ous triang-ular  white, 
spots.  While  the 
female  is  employed 
in  incubation,  the 
male  supplies  her  with 
food  ;  and  the  young 
birds,  with  their  bill 
as  a  pincer,  take  their  food  from  the  pouch  of  the  parent. 

These  birds,  when  they  pass  from  place  to  place,  unite  in  small 
flocks  of  from  five  to  fifteen ;  and,  except  in  very  fine  weather,  they 
fly  low,  near  the  shore,  but  never  pass  over  it ;  doubling  the  capes  and 
projecting  parts,  and  keeping  at  nearly  an  equal  distance  from  the 
land.  During  their  fishing  they  rise  high  into  the  air,  and  sail  aloft 
over  the  shoals  of  Herrings  or  Pilchards,  much  in  the  manner  of  Kites. 
When  they  observe  the  shoal  crowded  thick  together,  they  close  their 
wings  to  their  sides,  and  precipitate  themselves,  head  foremost  into 


VISITING    THE  NESTS  OF   THE  GANXET. 


THE    BOOBY. 


799 


the  water,  dropping  almost  like  a  stone.  Their  eye  in  this  act  is  so 
correct,  that  they  never  fail  to  rise  with  a  fish  in  their  mouth. 

Mr.  Pennant  says,  that  the  natives  of  Saint  Kilda  hold  these  birds 
in  much  estimation,  and  often  undergo  the  greatest  risks  to  obtain 
them.  Where  it  is  possible,  they  climb  up  the  rocks  which  they 
frequent,  and  in  doing  this  they  pass  along  paths  so  narrow  and 
difficult,  as,  in  appearance,  to  allow  them  barely  room  to  cling,  and 
that  too  at  an  amazing  height  over  a  raging  sea.  Where  this  cannot 
be  done,  the  fowler  is  lowered  by  a  rope  from  the  top ;  and,  to  take 
the  young-ones,  oftentimes  stations  himself  on  the  most  dangerous 
ledges.  Unterrified,  however,  he  ransacks  all  the  nests  within  his 
reach ;  and  then,  by  means  of  a  pole  and  his  rope,  he  moves  off  to 
other  places  to  do  the  same. 

We  are  told  also,  that  to  take  the  old  birds,  the  inhabitants  tie  a 
Herring  to  a  board,  and  set  it  afloat ;  so  that,  by  falling  furiously 
upon  it,  the  bird  may  break  its  neck  in  the  attempt. 


THE   BOOBY. 

This  and  some  other  species  have  been  denominated  Boobies  from 
their  excessive  stu- 
pidity ;  their  silly 
aspect ;  and  their 
habit  of  continually 
shaking  their  head 
and  shivering,  when 
they  alight  on  the 
yards  or  rigging  of 
vessels,  where  they 
often  suffer  t  h  e  m- 
selves  to  be  taken 
with  the  hand.  I  n 
their  shape  and  or- 
ganization  they 
greatly  resemble  the 
Corvorants. 

The  Boobies  have 
an  enemy  of  their 
own  tribe,  that  per- 
petually harasses 
them.  This  is  the 
Frigate  Pelican; 
which  rushes  upon 
them,  pursues  them 
without  intermission, 
and  obliges  them  by 
blows  _  with  its  wing  TnEDoor,Y 

and  bill,  to  surrender 
the  prey  that  they  have  taken,  which  it  instantly  seizes  and  swallows.  , 


800 


THE   FISHING  CORYORANT. 


Dampier  gives  us  a  curious  account  of  the  hostilities  between  what 
he  calls  Man-of-war  Birds,  and  the  Boobies,  in  the  Alcrane  Islands, 
on  the  coast  of  Yucatan.  "  These  birds  were  crowded  so  thick,  that 
I  could  not  (he  says)  pass  their  haunts  without  being  incommoded  by 
their  pecking.  I  observed  that  they  were  ranged  in  pairs ;  which 
made  me  presume  that  they  were  male  and  female.  When  I  struck 
them  some  flew  away  ;  but  the  greater  number  remained,  and  would 
not  stir,  notwithstanding  all  I  could  do  to  rouse  them.  I  remarked 
also,  that  the  Man-of-war  Birds  and  the  Boobies  always  placed  sentinels 
over  their  young-ones,  especially  when  they  went  to  sea  for  provisions. 
Of  the  Man-of-war  Birds,  many  were  sick  or  maimed,  and  seemed  unfit 
to  procure  their  subsistence.  They  lived  not  with  the  rest  of  their 
kind  ;  being  either  expelled  from  society,  or  separated  by  choice,  and 
were  dispersed  in  different  places,  probably  that  they  might  have  a 
better  opportunity  of  pillaging.  On  one  of  the  islands  I  once  saw 
more  than  twenty  sally  out  from  time  to  time  into  the  open  country, 
in  order  to  carry  off  booty,  and  return  again  almost  immediately. 
._---,...._._  When  one  of  them 

surprised  a  young 
Booby  that  had  no 
guard,  he  gave  it  a 
violent  peck  on  the 
back  to  make  it  dis- 
gorge ;  which  it  did 
instantly :  it  cast  up 
one  or  two  fish  about 
the  bulk  of  one's 
hand,  which  the  old 
M  a  n-o  f-w  a  r  Bird 
swallowed.  The  vig- 
orous ones  play  the 
same  game  with  the 
old  Boobies  which 
they  find  at  sea.  I 
saw  one  myself,  which 
flew  right  against  a 
Booby  ;  and,  with 
one  stroke  of  its  bill, 
made  him  deliver  up 
a  fish  that  he  had 
just  swallowed.  The 
M  a  n-o  f-w  a  r  Bird 
darted  so  rapidly,  as 
to  catch  this  fish  in  the  air  before  it  could  fall  into  the  water." 


BOOBY  OF  THE  BASS  ROCK. 


THE   FISHING   CORVOBANT. 


The  following  account  of  this  Chinese  bird,  by  Sir  George  Staunton, 
is  the  most  authentic  of  any  that  has  jet  been  given  to  us  : 


THE   FISHING   CORVORANT. 


801 


signal   from  the  owner, 
into  the  water;'  and  it  is 
ishing  to  see 
the 


"The  embassy  (he  says)  had  not  proceeded  far  on  the  southern 
branch  of  the  Imperial  Canal,  when  they  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
place  where  the  Leutze,  or  famed  fishing-bird  of  China,  is  bred,  and 
instructed  in  the  art  and  practice  of  supplying  his  owner  with  fish 
in  great  abundance. 

"  On  a  large  lake  close  to  this  part  of  the  canal,  and  to  the  east- 
ward of  it,  are  thousands  of 
small  boats  and  rafts,  built 
entirely  for  this  species  of  fish- 
ing. On  each  boat  or  raft  are 
ten  or  a  dozen  birds,  which  at  a 

plunge 
aston- 

the  enormous  size 
of  the  fish  with  which  they 
return,  grasped  within  their 
bills.  They  appeared  to  be  so 
well  trained,  that  it  did  not 
require  either  ring  or  cord 
about  their  throats,  to  prevent 
them  from  swallowing  any  por- 
tion of  their  prey,  except  what 
the  master  was  pleased  to  re- 
turn to  them  for  encouragement 
and  food.  The  boat  used  by 
these  fishermen  is  of  a  remark- 
ably light  make ;  and  is  often  carried  to  the  lake,  together  with  the 
fishing  birds,  by  the  men  who  are  there  to  be  supported  by  it." 

M.  de  Buffon  says,  that  they  are  regularly  educated  to  fishing,  as 
oien  rear  Spaniels  or  Hawks,  and  one  man 
3an  easily  manage  a  hundred.  The  fisher- 
man carries  them  out  into  a  lake,  perched 
on  the  gunnel  of  his  boat ;  where  they  cori- 
cinue  tranquil,  and  wait  for  his  orders  with 
patience.  When  arrived  at  the  proper 
place,  on  the  first  signal,  each  flies  a  diff- 
erent way,  to  fulfil  the  task  assigned  to  it.  It 
is  pleasant  on  this  occasion  to  behold  with 
what  sagacity  they  portion  out  the  lake  or 
canal  where  they  are  upon  duty.  They 
hunt  about,  they  plunge,  they  rise  a  hun- 
dred times  to  the  surface,  until  they  have  CORVORANT 
at  last  found  their  prey.  They  then  seize  it 

by  the  middle,  and  carry  it  to  their  master.  When  the  fish  is  too 
large,  they  assist  each  other;  one  seizes  it  by  the  head,  and  another 
by  the  tail,  and  in  this  manner  they  carry  it  to  the  boat  together. 
There  the  boatman  stretches  out  one  of  his  long  oars;  on  which 
they  perch,  and  after  being  delivered  of  their  burden,  again  fly  off 
to  pursue  their  sport.  When  they  are  wearied,  he  suffers  them  to 
rest  awhile ;  but  they  are  never  fed  until  their  work  is  over.  In 


FISHING  CORVORANT. 


802  THE    RED-BACKED   PELICAN THE    DARTER    TRIBE. 

this  manner  they  supply  a  very  plentiful  table;  but  still  their  natural 
gluttony  cannot  be  reclaimed  even  by  education.  They  have  always 
a  string  fastened  round  their  throats  while  they  fish,  for  the  purpose 
of  preventing  them  from  swallowing  their  prey;  as  they  would 
otherwise  at  once  satiate  themselves,  and  discontinue  their  pursuit. 


THE   RED-  BACKED   PELICAN. 

Mr.  Lewis,  a  navy  surgeon,  described  to  Dr.  Latham  the  mode  in 

which  a  Red-backed  Pelican,  that 
had  been  brought  up  tame,  stowed 
its  food  into  its  pouch.  Like  others 
of  its  race,  it  was  very  voracious. 
A  number  of  different-sized  fishes 
were  laid  before  it  on  the  ground. 
The  bird  first  attempted  to  take  up 
one  that  weighed  ten  pounds,  but 
the  bill  was  much  too  weak  for  this 
exertion;  it,  however,  picked  up  as 
many  as  ten  others,  each  of  which 
weighed  about  a  pound,  arranged 


BED-BACKED   PELECAN.  r°WS>        Wlth 

towards  the  throat;    and   after  this, 

it  walked  off  in  a  stately  manner,  with  the  bag  hanging  down  to  its 
feet.     The  pouch  held  about  two  gallons  of  water. 


OF  THE  DARTER  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  birds  have  a  small  head,  and  a  very  long  and  slender  neck. 
Their  bill  is  long,  straight,  and  sharp-pointed;  and,  at  its  base,  are  the 
nostrils,  situated  in  a  long  and  conspicuous  fissure.  The  face  and 
chin  are  bare  of  feathers.  The  legs  are  short,  and  the  four  toes  are 
all  well  webbed  together. 

There  are  but  three  ascertained  species  of  this  tribe,  and  these  are 
confined  to  the  hot  latitudes ;  two  to  America,  and  the  third  princi- 
pally to  Ceylon  and  Java.  They  live  almost  entirely  on  fish,  which 
they  take  by  darting  forward  their  bill.  They  generally  build  their 
nests  and  roost  in  the  trees. 


THE   BLACK-BELLIED   DARTER,    AND  THE   WHITE-BELLIED   DARTER. 

Iii  countries  where  every  one's  ideas  run  on  poisonous  animals, 
any  person  who  sees  only  the  head  and  neck  of  the  Black-bellied 
Darter,  while  the  rest  of  the  body  is  concealed  among  the  foliage, 
would  naturally  mistake  it  for  one  of  those  serpents  accustomed  to 
climb  into  and  reside  in  trees.  And  the  illusion  is  increased  bv  its 


THE   BLACK   AND   WHITE-BELLIED   DARTERS. 


803 


BLACK-EELLEED  DARTER. 


having  all  the  tortuous  motion  of  those  reptiles.  In  whatever  situa- 
tion it  happens  to 
be,  whether  swim- 
ming, flying,  or  at 
rest,  the  most  appa- 
rent and  remarka- 
ble part  of  its  body 
is  its  long  and 
slender  neck,  which 
is  constantly  in  mo- 
tion, except  during 
flight,  when  it  be- 
comes immovable 
and  extended,  and 
forms,  with  the  tail, 
a  perfectly  straight 
and  horizontal  line. 

The  principal  food 
of  the  Black-bellied 
Darter  is  fish, 
which,  if  small 
enough,  it  swallows 
entire ;  but,  if  they  are  too  large,  it  flies  off  with  them  to  some  rock  or 
stump  of  a  tree,  where,  fixing  them  under  one  of  its  feet,  it  tears  them 
to  pieces  with  its  bill. 

Though  water  is  its  principal  element,  yet  this  bird  builds  its  nest 
and  rears  its  offspring  on  rocks  and  trees ;  but  always  on  those  that 
are  so  near  to  the  rivers,  that  it  can,  either  in  case  of  danger,  or 
when  the  young-ones  are  old,  enough  to  swim,  precipitate  them 
into  it. 

There  are  few  birds  that  exceed  these  in  sagacity  and  cunning, 
particularly  when  surprised  on  the  water.  In  this  situation  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  kill  them.  Their  head,  which  is  the  only  part 
exposed,  disappears  the  instant  the  flint  touches  the  hammer  of  the 
gun ;  and,  if  once  missed,  it  is  in  vain  to  think  of  approaching  them 
a  second  time,  as  they  never  show  themselves  more  than  once,  unless 
at  very  great  distances,  and  then  only  for  the  moment  necessary  for 
breathing.  In  short,  so  cunning  are  they,  that  they  will  often  baffle 
the  sportsman,  by  plunging  at  the  distance  of  a  hundred  paces  above, 
and  rising  again  to  breathe  at  the  distance  of  more  than  a  thousand 
below  him;  and  if  they  have  the  good  fortune  to  find  any  reeds,  they 
conceal  themselves  there,  and  entirely  disappear. 

These  birds  are  found  in  several  parts  of  the  south  of  Africa,  and 
in  the  islands  of  Ceylon  and  Java. 

The  Whitc-lellied  Darters,  according  to  the  account  of  Mr.  Bartram, 
are  natives  of  America.  He  states,  that  they  have  a  peculiar  manner 
of  spreading  out  their  tail,  like  an  unfurled  fan.  They  delight  to  sit 
in  little  peaceable  communities,  on  the  dry  limbs  of  trees,  hanging 
over  the  still  waters,  with  their  wings  and  tail  expanded ;  and,  when 
51 


804 


THE    NORTHERN    DIVER,    OR    LOON. 


approached,  they  drop  from  the  limb  into  the  water,  as  if  dead,  and 

for  a  minute  or  two  are  not  seen, 
when,  on  a  sudden,  at  a  vast  distance, 
their  long  slender  heads  and  necks 
are  raised,  and  have  much,  the  ap- 
pearance of  snakes,  as  no  other  parts 
of  the  body  are  to  be  seen  when 
swimming,  except  sometimes  the  tip 
of  the  tail.  In  the  heat  of  the  day 
they  are  often  seen  in  great  numbers 
sailing  high  in  the  air  over  the  rivers 
and  lakes. 


\VniTE-EEI,L!ED   DAJITEB. 


OF  THE  DIVER -TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  the  Divers  the  bill  is  slender,  pointed,  and  nearly  straight;  the 
nostrils  are  linear,  and  situated  at  the  base.  The  tongue  is  long  and 
slender;  and  the  legs  are  placed  backwards  near  the  tail. 

These  birds  walk  awkwardly,  and  with  great  difficulty ;  but  they 
fly  .very  swiftly  along  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  swim  and  dive 
with  remarkable  dexterity.  One  division  of  them,  the  Guillemots, 
chiefly  inhabit  the  sea;  but  the  rest  seldom  frequent  any  but  rivers 
and  fresh-water  lakes.  They  all  live  on  fish. 


THE   NORTHERN   DIVER,    OR    LOON. 

Every  part  and  proportion  of  this  bird  is  so  incomparably  adapted 

to  its  mode  of  life, 
that  in  no  instance 
do  we  see  the  wis- 
dom of  God  in  the 
creation  to  more  ad- 
vantage. The  head 
is  sharp ;  and  smaller 
than  the  part  of  the 
neck  adjoining,  in 
order  that  it-  may 
pierce  the  water : 
the  wings  are  placed 
forward,  and  out  of 
the  centre  of  grav- 
ity ;  for  a  purpose 
which  will  be 
noticed  hereafter:  the  thighs  are  quite  backward,  in  order  to  facili- 
tate diving ;  and  the  legs  are  flat,  and  almost  as  sharp  backwards  as 
the  edge  cf  a  knife,  that,  in  striking  they  may  easily  cut  the  water : 
while  the  feet  are  broad  for  swimming;  yet  so  folded  up,  when 


NORTHERN  DIVER. 


NORTHERN  DIVER. 


OF  THE  GULLS  IN  GENERAL.  805 

advanced  forward  to  take  a  fresh  stroke,  as  to  be  full  as  narrow  as 
the  shank.  The  two  exterior  toes  of  the  feet  are  longest ;  and  the 
nails  are  flat  and  broad,  resembling  those  of  the  human  body; 
which  give  strength  to  the  bird,  and  increase  its  power  of  swimming. 
The  foot,  when  expanded,  is  not  at  right  angles  to  the  leg ;  but  the 
exterior  part,  inclining  towards  the  head,  forms  an  acute  angle  with  the 
body  :  the  intention  being,  not  to  give  motion  in  the  line  of  the  legs 
themselves,  but  by  the  combined  impulse  of  both  in  an  intermediate 
line,  the  line  of  the  body. 

Mjst  people  who  have  exercised  any  degree  of  observation,  know 
that  the  swimming  of  birds  is  nothing  more 
than  walking  in  the  water,  where  one  foot 
succeeds  the  other  as  on  the  land  ;  but  no  one, 
as  far  as  I  am  aware,  says  the  Eev.  Mr. 
White,  has  remarked  that  diving-fowls,  while 
under  water,  impel  and  row  themselves  for- 
ward by  a  motion  of  their  wings,  as  well  as 
by  the  impulse  of  their  feet :  yet  such  is 
really  the  case,  as  any  one  may  easily  be 
convinced,  who  will  observe  ducks  when 
hunted  by  dogs  in  a  clear  pond.  Nor  do  I 
know  that  any  one  has  given  a  reason  why 
the  wings  of  diving- fowls  are  placed  so 
forward:  doubtless,  not  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  their  speed  in 
flying,  since  that  position  certainly  impedes  it:  but  probably  for  the 
increase  of  their  motion  under  water,  by  the  use  of  four  oars  instead 
of  two  ;  and  were  the  wings  and  feet  nearer  together,  as  in  land- birds, 
they  would,  when  in  action,  rather  hinder  than  assist  one  another. 


OF   THE   GULLS  IN   GENEKAL. 

THEIR  bill  is  strong,  straight,  and  slightly  hooked  .at  the  point. 
On  the  under  part  of  the  lower  mandible  there  is  an  angular  promi- 
nence. The  nostrils  are  oblong  and  narrow,  placed  in  the  middle  of 
the  bill ;  and  the  tongue  is  somewhat  cloven.  The  legs  are  short,  and 
naked  above  the  knees ;  and  the  back  toe  is  small. 

The  Gulls  frequent  chiefly  the  northern  countries,  and  their  habits 
differ  from  those  of  most  other  water-fowl.  They  do  not  dive  so  mucli 
as  others  ;  but  they  usually  feed  on  the  gregarious  species  of  fish  and 
their  fry,  which  they  catch  near  the  surface  of  the  water.  When  the 
,sea  is  rough  they  come  into  the  harbors,  where  they  feed  on  worms. 
They  are  exceedingly  voracious;  and,  when  terrified,  throw  up  their 
undigested  food.  By  the  lightness  of  their  body,  and  the  length  of 
their  wings,  they  are  enabled  to  fly  with  considerable  rapidity.  The 
young-ones  do  not  become  of  the  same  color  with  the  old  birds,  until 
their  third  year.  The  eggs  are  eatable,  but  their  flesh  is  generally 
tough  and  unpleasant. 


806 


THE  SKUA  GULL — BLACK-HEADED  GULL. 


THE  SKUA  GULL. 

The  Skua  Gull  inhabits  Norway,  the  Feroe  islands,  and  other  parts 

of  the  north  of  Europe.  It  is  the  most 
formidable  bird  of  its  tribe;  its  prey 
being  not  only  fish,  but  (what  is  won- 
derful in  a  web-footed  bird)  all  the 
lesser  sorts  of  water-fowl,  and  (according 
to  the  account  of  Mr.  Schroter,  a  sur- 
geon of  the  Feroe  Isles)  Ducks,  Poultry, 
and  even  young  Lambs. 

In  defending  its  offspring  it  has  the 
fierceness  of  the  Eagle.  When  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Feroe  islands  visit  the 
nest  of  the  Skua  Gull,  the  parent  birds 

attack  them  with  such  force,  that,  if  they  hold  a  knife  perpendicu- 
larly over  their  heads,  the  Gulls  will  sometimes  transfix  themselves 
in  their  fall  on  the  plunderers. 

In  Foula,  the  Skua  Gulls  are  privileged;  being  said  to  defend  the 
flocks  from  the  attacks  of  the  Eagle,  which  they  beat  off  and  pursue 
with  great  fury;  so  that  even  that  rapacious  bird  seldom  ventures  to 
approach  the  "places  which  they  inhabit.  The  natives  of  Foula  on 
this  account  impose  a  fine  upon  any  person  who  destroys  one  of  these 
useful  defenders:  and  deny  that  they  ever  injure  their  flocks  or 
poultry ;  but  imagine  them  to  live  only  on  the  dung  of  the  Arctic 
Gull  and  other  larger  birds. 


BLACK-HEADED   GULL. 


This  species    very  common  in   most   parts  of  America,   is  also 

frequent  in  Europe, 
particularly  in  the 
warmer  parts,  as 
the  coasts  of  Sicily, 
Spain,  and  the 
islands  of  the  Med- 
iterranean ;  e  1  s  e- 
where,  in  that  con- 
tinent it  is  rare  and 
accidental.  In 
America  it  is  found 
as  far  south  as  Cay- 
enne and  Mexico 
but  does  not  appear 
to  inhabit*  far  north 
of  the  limits  of  the 

BLACK-HEADED  OTHi.  UniOU.         On      the 


RICHARDSON  S   JAGER. 


807 


coast  of  New  Jersey  they  make  their  appearance  in  the  latter  part  of 
April,  and  are  soon  discovered  by  their  familiarity  and  noise ;  com- 
panies are  even  seen  at  times  around  the  farm  house,  or  coursing 
along  the  river  shores,  attending  upon  the  track  of  the  fishermen 
for  garbage,  gleaning  among  the  refuse  of  the  tide;  or  scattering 
over  the  marshes  and  plowing  fields,  they  collect,  at  this  season,  an 
abundant  repast  of  worms,  insects  and  their  larvae.  Great  numbers 
are  also  seen  collected  together  to  feed  upon  the  prolific  spawn  of 
the  King-Crab.  While  thus  engaged,  if  approached,  they  rise  as  it 
were  in  clouds,  at  the  same  time  squalling  so  loudly  that  the  din 
may  be  heard  for  two  or  three  miles. 

The  Black-Headed  Gulls  breed  in  the  marshes  of  New  Jersey,  but 
are  not  seen  at  this  period  in  New  England,  and  are  indeed  at  all 
times  rare  in  that  quarter.  The  eggs,  three  in  number,  are  of  a  drab 
or  olive  grey,  thinly  marked  with  small  irregular  touches  of  pale 
purple,  and  dilute  brown.  They  measure  two  and  a  quarter  inches 
by  one  and  a  half.  Being  apparently  a  somewhat  tender  species, 
they  retire  to  the  south  early  in  autumn,  and  on  commencing  their 
migrations,  if  the  weather  be  calm,  they  are  seen  to  rise  up  in  the 
air  spirally,  all  loudly  chattering  as  it  were  in  concert,  like  a  flock 
of  cackling  hens,  the  note  changing  at  short  intervals  into  a  'haw, 
'ha,  'ha,  'ha,  'haw,  the  final  syllable  lengthened  out  into  an  excessive 
and  broad  laugh.  After  ascending  to  a  considerable  height,  they 
all  move  off,  by  common  consent,  in  the  line  of  their  intended 
destination. 


RICHARDSON'S  JAGER. 

This  species,  according  to  Dr.  Kichardson,  breeds  in  considerable 
numbers  in  the 
Barren  Grounds, 
at  a  distance  from 
the  coast,  in  the 
latitude  of  about 
65°.  It  feeds  on 
shelly  molusca, 
which  abound  in 
the  small  lakes  of 
the  fur  countries : 
and  it  harasses 
the  Gulls  in  the 
same  way  with 
others  of  the 
genus.  This 
species  is  occa 

f  ,,  .  RICHARDSON'S  JAGER. 

sionally    seen    in 

winter,  in  the  inland  bays  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  flying  about  in 

pairs,  or  sitting  on  the  water. 


808  THE  GREAT,   OR    COMMON    TERN. 


THE    GREAT,    OR   COMMON   TERN. 

The  Common  Tern  is  an  inhabitant  of  both  continents,  being  met 

with  on  the  coasts 
of  most  parts  of 
Europe  as  far  north 
as  the  ever  incle- 
ment shores  of 
Greenland  and 
Spitzbergen ;  it  is 
also  found  on  the 
Arctic  coasts  of 
Siberia  and  Karnt- 
schatka.  In  the 
winter  it  migrates 
to  the  Mediterra- 
nean, Madeira,  and 
the  Canary  Islands. 
In  America,  it 

GREAT  TERN.  ,  -  '    , 

breeds  along  all  the 

coasts  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  and  penetrates  north  into 
the  fur  countries,  up  to  the  57th  parallel  of  latitude.  They  also 
breed  on  the  sand-bars  of  the  great  western  lakes,  being  frequent 
in  those  of  Erie,  Huron  and  Superior.  In  short,  no  bird  is  more 
common  along  the  sea  coasts,  and  lakes,  of  the  whole  northern 
hemisphere,  within  the  limits  of  cool  or  moderate  temperature. 

The  Great  Tern  arrives  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  about  the 
middle  of  April,  and  soon  after  tliey  are  seen  on  the  shores  of  'New- 
England,  where  they  are  known  by  the  name  of  the  Mackerel  Gull, 
appearing,  with  the  approach  of  that  fish,  towards  the  places  of  their 
summer  residence.  In  New  York  it  is  dignified,  for  the  same  reason, 
with  the  appellation  of  the  Sheep's-Head  Gull,  prognosticating  also, 
the  arrival  of  that  dainty  fish  in  the  waters  of  the  State.  About  the 
middle  of  May,  still  gregarious  as  they  arrive,  they  commence  with 
the  cares  of  reproduction.  Artless  in  contrivance,  the  Terns  remedy 
the  defect  of  a  nest,  by  selecting  for  their  eyries,  insulated  sand-bars, 
wide  beaches,  but  -most  commonly  desolate,  bare,  and  small  rocky 
islets,  difficult  of  access,  and  rarely  visited  by  any  thing  but  them- 
selves and  birds  of  similar  habits.  A  small  hollow  scratch  on  the 
surface  of  the  shelving  rock,  with  the  aid  of  a  little  sand  or  gravel, 
merely  sufficient  to  prevent  the  eggs  from  rolling  off,  are  all  the 
preparations  employed  by  these  social  and  slovenly  birds. 


THE   BLACK   SKIMMER, — HOODED   MERGANSER. 


809 


THE   BLACK  SKIMMER. 

This  singular  bird,  inhabits  the  warmer  and  milder  parts  of  the 
United  States  from 
the  coasts  of  New 
Jersey  to  Florida, 
it  is  also  found  in 
Guiana,  Cayenne, 
and  Surinam.  The 

East   India  species  ^8BEBK*  -4tH£l££. 

is  probably  distinct.  z  "* 
The  E.  fulva  of  " 
Guiana,  described 
by  Linnaeus,  differs 
from  the  present  in 
having  those  parts 
fulvous  which  in 
this  are  black; 
their  general  ap- 
pearance and  habits 
are  however  the 

Same.  BIACK-SKIMMER. 


THE   HOODED   MERGANSER. 

This  elegant  species  is  peculiar  to  North  America,  and  inhabits  the 
interior  and  north- 
ern parts  of  the  fur 
countries  to  their 
utmost  limits.  It 
is  alsO  among  the 
latest  of  the  Ana- 
tidas  to  quit  those 
cold  and  desolate 
regions.  It  makes 
a  nest  of  withered 
grass  and  feathers 
in  retired  and  un- 
frequented places, 
by  the  grassy  bor- 
ders of  rivers  and 
lakes.  According 
to  Audubon,  it  also 
breeds  around  the 
lagoons  of  the  Ohio,  and  on  the  great  North- Western  Lakes  of  the 
interior.  On  the  river  St.  Peters,  in  the  45th  parallel,  Mr.  Say 
observed  them  on  the  18th  of  July,  no  doubt  in  the  same  place  where 


HOODED  MERGANSER. 


810  THE   HOODED   MERGANSER. 

they  had  passed  the  rest  of  the  summer.  At  Hudson's  Bay,  where 
they  arrive  about  the  end  of  May,  they  are  said  to  nest  close  to  the 
borders  of  lakes  and  lay  six  white  eggs.  The  young  are  at  first 
yellowish  and  begin  to  fly  in  July.  The  Hairy  Head,  as  this  species 
is  sometimes  called,  is  rarely  seen  but  in  fresh  waters  and  lakes, 
approaching  the  sea  only  in  winter,  when  its  favorite  haunts  are 
blocked  up  with  ice.  It  delights  in  the  woody  interior,  and  traces 
its  way  up  still  creeks,  and  sometimes  visits  the  mill  ponds,  per- 
petually diving  for  small  fish  and  insects  in  the  manner  of  the  Red- 
breasted  Merganser.  In  the  course  of  the  winter  they  migrate  as  far 
south  as  Mexico,  are  very  common  throughout  the  whole  winter  in 
the  Mississippi,  and  are  rendered  very  conspicuous  by  the  high 
circular  and  parti-colored  crest  which  so  gracefully  crowns  the  top  of 
the  head. 


AMPHIBIOUS    ANIMALS. 

REPTILES 

OF  THE   TOETOISE   TKIBE. 

THE  animals  of  this  tribe  have  an  advantage  over  most  others, 
even  from  their  first  seeing  the 
light,  in  a  solid  and  durable  house ; 
an  asylum  which  is  at  the  same 
time  capable  of  resisting  very 
powerful  enemies,  and  yet  is  not 
fixed  to  one  spot.  They  carry 
every  where  along  with  them  the 
dwelling  which  their  Creator  has  THI  TORTOISE> 

famished,  and  under  which  they 

generally  dwell  in  perfect  security.  This  consists  of  two  plates  ;  the 
one  above,  and  the  other  below,  joined  together  at  the  sides.  The 
upper  one  is  convex,  and  into  it  the  ribs  and  back-bone  are  ossified : 
the  other  contains  the  breast  bones,  or  sternum. 

At  each  end  of  the  two  united  shells,  there  is  a  hole ;  one  for  the 
head,  neck,  and  fore-feet  to  pass  through,  and  the  other,  at  the  oppo- 
site end,  for  the  hinder  feet,  and  the  tail. 

When  these  animals  are  inclined  to  walk  or  swim,  they  extend 
their  head  and  feet  from  under  their  armor.  These  parts,  with  the 
tail,  are  covered  by  a  strong,  flexible  skin,  which  is  fixed  within,  to 
the  edges  of  the  shell. 

The  head  is  small,  and  in  the  place  of  teeth  it  is  furnished  with  hard 
and  bony  ridges.  The  upper  jaw  closes  over  the  lower  one  like  the 
lid  of  a  box ;  and  the  strength  of  the  jaws  is  said  to  be  so  great,  that 
it  is  impossible  for  any  person  to  open  them  when  they  have  once  fas- 
tened. Even  after  the  head  has  been  cut  off,  the  muscles  .retain  a 
surprising  degree  of  rigidity. 

The  legs  are  short,  but  inconceivably  strong.  One  of  the  larger 
species  has  been  known  to  carry  five  men,  all  at  the  same  time,  on  its 
back,  with  the  greatest  apparent  ease  and  unconcern. 

No  animals  are  more  tenacious  of  life  than  these  :  even  if  their  head 
be  cut  off,  and  their  chest  be  opened,  they  will  continue  to  live  for 
several  days.  The  species  that  inhabit  land  or  the  fresh- waters,  sub- 
sist principally  on  worms,  snails,  and  fish ;  and  the  others,  which 
reside  in  the  ocean,  feed,  for  the  most  part,  on  sea- weeds. 

The  Marine  Tortoises,  or  Turtles,  are  distinguished  from  the  others 

(811) 


812 


THE   COMMON,    OR   GREEK    TORTOISE. 


by  their  large  and  long  fin-shaped  feet,  in  which  are  enclosed  the  bones 
of  the  toes ;  the  first  and  second  only  of  each  foot  having  visible  or 
projecting  claws. 

Of  these  animals,  there  are,  in  the  whole,  about  thirty-six  species : 
four  marine,  eighteen  inhabiting  the  fresh  waters,  and  the  rest  resi- 
ding on  land. 


THE  COMMON  TORTOISE. 


THE   COMMON,  OR   GREEK   TORTOISE. 

The  upper  shell  of  this  Tortoise  is  so  protuberant,  that  the  animal  is 

able,  without  much 
difficulty,  to  recover 
its  procumbent  pos- 
ture, if,  by  accident, 
it  has  been  turned 
upon  its  back  ;  and 
it  does  not,  in  this 
case,  like  some  of 
the  Turtles,  remain 
a  prey  to  its  ene- 
mies. 

The  jaws  of  the 
Greek  Tortoise  are 
moved  by  means  of 
muscles,  which  have 
such  extraordinary 
force  and  activity, 
that  sometimes  for  more  than  half  an  hour  after  the  head  of  the 
animal  is  cut  off,  they  will  gnash  together  with  considerable  force. 

For  extreme,  slowness  in  all  its  movements,  the  Tortoise  has  been 
notorious,  even  from  the  most  remote  periods  of  antiquity.  This  is 
principally  occasioned  by  the  position  of  the  legs,  which  are  situated 
very  much  towards  the  sides  of  the  body,  and  are  consequently  spread 
far  out  from  each  other.  It  may  likewise  be  in  some  degree  caused 
by  the  great  weight  of  the  shell  pressing  on  this  unfavorable  position 
of  the  legs.  In  walking,  the  claws  of  the  fore-feet  are  rubbed  separ- 
ately, and  one  after  another,  against  the  ground  ;  when  one  of  the  feet 
comes  in  contact  with  the  ground,  the  inner  claw  first  bears  the  weight 
of  the  body,  and  so  on  along  the  claws  in  succession  to  the  outermost. 
The  foot  in  this  manner  acts  somewhat  like  a  wheel. 

This  species  resides  principally  in  burrows  that  it  forms  in  the 
ground.  In  these  it  sleeps  away  the  greatest  part  of  its  time,  appear- 
ing abroad  only  for  a  few  hours  in  the  middle  of  each  day.  It  feeds 
on  various  kinds  of  herbs,  fruit,  worms,  snails,  and  insects  ;  but  never 
attacks  warm-blooded  animals  nor  fish.  Its  manners  are  exceedingly 
gentle  and  peaceable ;  hence  it  is  easily  domesticated,  and  is  an 
agreeable  object  in  gardens,  where  it  destroys  noxious  slugs  and 
insects.  In  defect  of  its  usual  food,  it  may  be  supplied  with,  and  will 
live  sufficiently  well  on  bran  or  meal. 


THE   COMMON"   OR   GREEK   TORTOISE. 

In  the  autumn  it  retires  to  some  hiding-place  under  the  surface  of 
the  earth,  where  it  remains  in  a  state  of  torpor  for  four  or  five  months 
not  again  making  its  appearance  abroad  until  re-called  into  life  by 
the  warmth  of  the  vernal  sun.  About  the  beginning  of  June,  the 
female  when  in  her  native  wilds,  scratches  a  hole  in  some  warm  situ- 
ation, where  she  deposits  her  four  or  five  eggs.  These  are  hatched 
in  September ;  and  the  young-ones  when  they  first  come  into  the 
world  are  not  bigger  than  a  walnut. 

The  Kev.  Mr.  White  of  Selbourne,  attended  accurately  to  the  man- 
ners of  one  that,  for  upwards  of  thirty  years,  was  in  the  possession  of 
a  lady  of  his  acquaintance  who  resided  in  Sussex.  It  regularly  re- 
tired under  ground  about  the  middle  of  November,  whence  it  did 
not  emerge  until  about  the  middle  of 
April.  Its  appetite  was  always  most  vor- 
acious in  the  height  of  summer,  eating 
very  littb  either  in  the  spring  or  autumn. 
Milky  plants,  such  as  lettuces,  dandelions,  ~~^ 
and  sowthistles,  were  its  principal  food.  * 
In  scraping  the  ground  to  form  its  winter 
retreat,  it  used  its  fore. feet,  and  threw  up 
the  earth  with  its  hinder  ones  over  its  back;  but  the  motion  of  its 
legs  was  so  slow,  as  scarcely  to  exceed  the  hour-hand  of  a  clock.  It 
worked  with  the  utmost  assiduity,  both  night  and  day,  in  scooping 
out  the  earth,  and  forcing  its  great  body  into  the  cavity;  notwith- 
standing which,  the  operation  occupied  more  than  a  fortnight  before 
it  was  completed. 

It  was  always  extremely  alarmed  when  surprised  by  a  sudden 
shower  of  rain  during  its  peregrinations  for  food.  Though  its  shell 
would  have  secured  it  from  injury,  even  if  run  over  by  the  wheel  of 
a  loaded  cart,  yet  it  discovered  as  much  solicitude  about  rain,  as  a 
lady  dressed  in  her  most  elegant  attire  ;  shuffling  away  on  the  first 
sprinklings,  and  always,  if  possible,  running  its  head  up  into  a  corner. 
When  the  Tortoise  is  attended  to,  it  becomes  an  excellent  barometer, 
if  it  walk  elate,  and,  as  it  were,  on  tiptoe,  feeding  with  great  earnest- 
ness, in  a  morning,  there  will  almost  invariably  be  rain  before  night. 

Mr.  White  was  much  pleased  with  the  sagacity  of  the  above-men- 
tioned animal,  in  distinguishing  those  persons  from  whom  it  was  accus- 
tomed to  receive  attention.  Whenever  the  good  old  lady  came  in 
sight,  who  had  waited  on  it  for  more  than  thirty  years,  it  always  hob- 
bled, with  awkward  alacrity,  towards  its  benefactress,  whilst  to 
strangers  it  was  altogether  inattentive.  Thus  did  the  most  abject  of 
torpid  creatures  distinguish  the  hand  that  fed  it,  and  exhibit  marks 
of  gratitude  not  always  to  be  found  in  superior  orders  of  animal  being 
It  was  a  diurnal  animal,  never  stirring  out  after  dark,  and  very  fre- 
quently appearing  abroad  even  a  few  hours  only  in  the  middle  of  the 
day.  It  retired  to  rest  during  every  shower,  aud  in  wet  days  never 
came  at  all  from  its  retreat.  Although  this  Tortoise  loved  warm 
weather,  yet  he  carefully  avoided  the  hot  sun,  since  his  thick  shell, 
when  once  heated,  must  have  become  extremely  painful,  and  proba- 
bly dangerous  to  him.  He  therefore  spent  the  more  sultry  hour? 


814  THE   COMMON,   OR   GREEK   TORTOISE. 

under  the  umbrella  of  a  large  cabbage-leaf,  or  amidst  the  waving 
forests  of  an  asparagus  bed.  But,  as  he  endeavored  to  avoid  the 
heat  in  the  summer,  he  improved  the  faint  autumnal  beams  by  getting 
within  the  reflection  of  a  fruit-tree  wall;  and  though  he  had  certainly 
never  read  that  planes  inclining  to  the  horizon  receive  a  greater  share 
of  warmth,  he  frequently  inclined  his  shell,  by  tilting  it  against  the 
wall,  to  collect  and  admit  every  feeble  ray. 

Very  satisfactory  evidence  has  been  produced  of  this  species  of 

Tortoise  living  to  a  most  extraor- 
dinary  age.  One  that  was  intro- 
duced into  the  garden  at  Lambeth, 
in  the  time  of  Archbishop  Laud, 
was  living  in  the  year  1753,  a  hun- 
dred and  twenty  years  after  its 
introduction  ;  and  at  last  it  per- 
ished from  a  neglect  of  the  gar- 
dener. 

Like  other  oviparous  quadrupeds 
the  Tortoise  can  subsist  for  an 
amazing  length  of  time  without 

LAND  TORTOISE.  »  °  .         .  , 

food.  Gerard  Blasms  kept  one  by 

him  ten  months,  during  which  time  it  neither  ate  nor  drank.  It  died 
at  the  end  of  that  period,  as  it  was  believed,  not  from  hunger,  but 
on  account  of  being  kept  unsheltered  in  an  unusually  cold  season. 

The  horrid  experiments  of  Eedi,  to  prove  the  extreme  vital 
tenacity  of  the  Tortoise,  are  disgraceful  to  human  nature.  In  one 
instance  he  made  a  large  opening  in  the  skull,  and  drew  out  all  the 
brain,  washing  the  cavity,  so  as  not  to  leave  the  smallest  part 
remaining,  anil  then,  with  the  hole  open,  set  the  animal  at  liberty. 
It  marched  off,  as  he  says,  without  seeming  to  have  received  the 
slightest  injury,  save  from  the  closing  of  its  eyes,  which  it  never 
afterwards  opened.  In  a  short  time  the  hole  was  observed  to  close, 
and  in  about  three  days  a  complete  skin  covered  the  wound :  in  this 
manner  the  animal  lived  without  any  brain,  for  six  months,  walking 
about,  and  still  moving  its  limbs  in  the  same  manner  as  it  had  done 
previously  to  the  operation. 

The  males  of  this  species  are  said  to  fight  very  often.  This  is  done 
by  butting  at  each  other,  and  with  such  force,  that  the  blows  may 
be  heard  at  a  considerable  distance. 

In  Greece  these  Tortoises  form  an  article  of  food.  The  inhabitants 
also  swallow  the  blood  without  any  culinary  preparation,  and  are 
very  partial  to  the  eggs,  when  made  palatable  by  boiling.  In  the 
gardens  of  some  parts  of  Italy,  there  are  formed  for  the  purpose,  wells, 
in  which  the  inhabitants  bury  the  eggs  of  the  Tortoise.  These  remain 
until  the  ensuing  spring,  when,  by  the  natural  warmth  of  the  climate, 
they  are  hatched,  and  the  young-ones  come  forth.  The  Tortoises  are 
kept  in  banks  of  earth. 


THE   GREEN    TURTLE.  815 


The  two  following  Species  are  Marine  Tortoises,  or  Turtles,  as  they  are 
usually  denominated. 

THE   GREEN    TURTLE. 

This  species  is  found  in  great  numbers  on  the  coasts  of  all  the 
islands  and  continents  of  the 
torrid  zone,  both  in  the  old 
and  new  worlds.  The  shoals 
that  surround  these  islands, 
and  border  the  whole  coasts  of 
these  continents,  produce  vast 
quantities  of  algae,  and  other 
marine  plants,  which,  though 
covered  by  the  water,  are  near 
enough  to  the  surface  to  be 

readily  seen  by  the  naked  eye,  during  calm  weather.  Amid  these 
submarine  pastures,  numerous  marine  animals  are  found,  and  amongst 
them  the  Green  Turtles  are  often  seen,  in  vast  numbers  feeding 
quietly  on  the  plants  which  are  there  produced. 

As  the  Turtles  find  a  constant  abundance  of  food,  on  the  coasts 
which  they  frequent,  they  have  no  occasion  to  quarrel  with  animals 
of  their  own  kind,  for  that  which  is  afforded  in  such  plenty  to  them  all. 
They  flock  peaceably  together ;  but  they  do  not  appear,  like  many 
other  herding  animals,  to  have  any  kind  of  associations.  They  merely 
collect,  as  if  by  accident,  and  they  remain  without  disturbance. 

These  animals,  by  means  of  their  powerful  jaws,  browse  on  the 
grass,  sea-weed,  and  other  plants  which  grow  on  the  shoals  and  sand- 
banks ;  and  with  them  they  are  likewise  able  to  crush  the  shell-fish 
on  which  they  sometimes  feed. 

After  having  satisfied  their  appetites,  they  often  retire  to  the  fresh 
water,  at  the  mouth  of  the  great  rivers,  where  they  float  on  the  surface, 
holding  their  heads  above  the  water,  apparently  for  the  purpose  of 
breathing  the  fresh  air.  But  as  they  are  surrounded  with  many 
dangers,  both  from  their  natural  enemies,  and  from  mankind,  they  are 
necessitated  to  use  great  precaution,  in  thus  indulging  themselves  with 
cool  air,  and  with  the  refreshing  streams  of  river  water.  The  instant 
they  perceive  even  the  shadow  of  any  object,  from  which  they  suspect 
danger,  they  dive  to  the  bottom  for  security. 

The  legs  of  the  Green  Turtles  bear  so  great  a  resemblance  to  fins, 
as  to  afford  them  little  service  except  in  swimming.  These  animals 
are  indeed  seldom  found  on  shore  at  any  other  than  their  breeding 
time,  about  the  month  of  April ;  when  the  females  leave  the  water, 
from  time  to  time,  in  order  to  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  sand.  By 
means  of  their  fore  paws  they  each  dig  a  hole  in  the  sand,  above  high- 
water  mark,  about  one  foot  wide,  and  two  feet  deep,  into  which  they 
sometimes  drop  upwards  of  a  hundred  eggs.  When  engaged  in  this 
operation,  they  are  so  intent  on  the  business,  that  they  do  not  notice 


816 


THE    GREEN    TURTLE. 


any  person  who  approaches  the  place,  and  they  will  even  drop  their 
eggs  into  a  hat  if  it  be  held  under  them.  If,  however,  they  be  dis- 
turbed before  the  commencement  of  the  operation,  they  alwa}7s  forsake 
the  place.  They  lay  their  eggs  at  three,  and  sometimes  four  different 
times,  about  fourteen  days  asunder ;  so  that  the  young-ones  are  hatched 
and  come  forth  also  at  different  periods.  After  the  eggs  are  deposited, 
the  parent  scratches  over  them  a  layer  of  sand,  sufficient  to  prevent 
them  from  being  seen  by  any  person  or  animal  that  might  endeavor 
to  destroy  or  carry  them  off,  but  so  thin  as  to  admit  of  their  receiving 
the  full  influence  of  the  sun's  heat,  for  warming  and  hatching  them. 
The  eggs  are  spherical,  and  each  two  or  three  inches  in  diameter, 


=-iv... 


CATCHIXG  GREEN  TURTLES. 


covered  by  a  strong  membrane  greatly  resembling  wet  parcnment. 
They  are  composed  of  a  yolk,  which  by  boiling  may  be  coagulated 
like  that  of  other  eggs,  and  of  a  white,  which  is  said  not  to  be  coagu- 
lable  in  any  other  degree  of  heat. 

At  the  end  of  twenty  or  thirty  days,  (for  the  time  differs  according 
to  the  heat  of  the  climate,)  the  young  Turtles  may  be  seen  creeping 
out  from  under  the  sand,  being  then  two  or  three  inches  long,  and 
not  quite  so  much  in  breadth.  Their  natural  instinct  leads  them, 
about  eight  days  afterwards,  (when  they  have  attained  sufficient 
strength,)  to  seek  the  neighboring  water,  as  a  place  of  security,  and 
where  they  may  find  their  proper  food.  To  this  they  crawl  very 


LOGGERHEAD   TURTLE — IMBRICATED    TURTLE.  817 

slowly,  and,  being  still  too  light,  and  too  weak  to  bear  the  force  of  the 
surf,  they  are  often  driven  back  on  the  beach,  where  great  numbers  of 
sea-fowl  are  generally  in  waiting  to  devour  them.  Hence  only  a  small 
number,  in  proportion  to  the  multitudes  that  are  hatched,  escape  into 
their  proper  element.  Mankind  likewise  search,  with  great  eagerness, 
for  the  eggs,  on  account  of  their  furnishing  an  agreeable  and  whole- 
some food. 

On  the  coast  of  Isini,  in  Africa,  the  inhabitants  catch  great  numbers 
cf  the  young-ones  immediately  after  they  are  hatched.  These  they 
secure  in  a  kind  of  enclosures,  surrounded  by  stakes,  and. so  situated 
as  to  admit  the  influx  of  the  sea.  Here  they  are  allowed  to  feed  and 
grow,  in  order  to  be  taken  out  when  wanted;  this  being  a  more  ready 
and  less  dangerous  mode  of  supply,  than  by  the  common  manner  of 
catching  the  grown  animals. 

The  old  females  of  this  species,  notwithstanding  they  only  come  on 
shore  in  the  night,  in  order  to  deposit  their  eggs,  are  often  caught  by 
the  fishermen,  who  are  in  waiting  about  their  haunts ;  and  who  either 
dispatch  them  by  blows  with  a  club,  or  turn  them  over  on  their  backs. 
When  they  happen  to  be  large,  it  sometimes  requires  the  efforts  of 
several  men  to  turn  one  of  them  over,  and  these  must  often  employ 
even  handspikes  or  levers  for  that  purpose.  The  back  shell  in  this 
species  is  so  flat,  as  to  render  it  impossible  for  the  animal  to  recover 
its  proper  position,  when  once  it  is  thrown  upon  its  back. 

These  animals  have  their  name  from  the  green  color  of  the  flesh. 
Besides  affording  to  mankind  their  flesh  and  eggs  for  food,  some  of 
them  yield  between  twenty  and  thirty  pints  of  a  yellow  or  greenish 
oil,  which  is  used  in.  lamps  for  burning,  or,  when  fresh,  with  different 
kinds  of  provisions. 


THE  LOGGERHEAD  TURTLE,  AND  IMBRICATED  TURTLE. 

These  Turtles  inhabit  the  seas  about  the  West  India  islands  ;  they 
are  also  found  in  the  Mediterranean,,  but 
particularly  about  the  coasts  of  Italy  and 
Sicily.  In  some  seas  they  are  more  numer- 
ous than  the  Green  Turtles ;  and  being 
stronger,  they  occasionally  make  much  longer 
voyages.  They  are  often  found  in  the 
ocean,  at  a  distance  of  more  than  eight 
hundred  leagues  from  land.  One  of  them 
was  seen  by  Catesby,  sleeping  on  the 
surface  of  the  water,  in  latitude  thirty 
degrees  north,  apparently  about  midway  between  the  Azores  and  the 
Bahama  islands. 

They  are  excessively  bold  and  fierce.  When  attacked  they  vigor- 
ously defend  themselves,  both  with  their  mouth  and  paws,  against  the 
assailants ;  and  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  make  them  quit  any  hold 
which  they  happen  to  take  with  their  jaws :  so  powerful  are  these, 
that  the  animals  are  able  to  divide  even  very  strong  substances  by 


LOGGERHEAD  TURTLE. 


818  OF    THE   FROG   TRIBE. 

means  of  them.  Aldrovandus  assures  us,  that  on  offering  a  thick 
walking-stick  to  the  gripe  of  a  Loggerhead  Turtle,  which  he  saw 
publicly  exhibited  at  Bologna,  the  animal  bit  it  in  two  in  an  instant. 

The  Loggerheads  are  not,  like  the  Green  Turtles,  contented  with 
marine-plants:  their  principal  food  is  shell-fish,  which  their  strong 
beak  enables  them,  without  difficulty,  to  tear  from  the  rocks  and  break 
to  pieces ;  and  their  voracity  is  said  to  be  such,  that,  in  some  countries, 
it  leads  them  to  attack  even  young  Crocodiles,  which  they  even  muti- 
late of  their  limbs  or  tail. 

As  the  food  of  this  species  is,  in  its  nature,  more  subject  to  putre- 
faction than  that  of  the  Green  Turtle,  its  flesh  participates  of  the  bad 
flavor  of  these  substances,  and  is  oily,  rancid,  fibrous,  tough,  and 
fishy.  The  musky  smell  which  proceeds  from  most  of  the  Tortoises, 
is  peculiarly  strong  and  disagreeable  in  this  species. 

The  body  of  the  Loggerhead  Turtle  yields  a  great  quantity  of  oil, 
which  is  too  offensive  to  be  used  in  any  manner  of  food ;  but  it  serves 
for  lamps,  for  the  dressing  of  leather,  and  for  the  bottoms  of  ships, 
which  last  it  is  said  to  preserve  from  the  attacks  of  worms.  The 
plates  of  the  shell  are  not  of  sufficient  thickness  to  be  of  great  use  in 
the  manufacture  of  ornamental  articles. 

The  substance  that  we  call  Tortoise-shell  is  the  production  of  the 
Imbricated  Turtle,  a  species  nearly  allied  to  the  present,  which  is  found 
in  the  Asiatic  and  American  seas,  and  sometimes  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean. The  plates  of  this  species  are  far  more  strong,  thick,  and 
clear  than  those  of  any  other ;  and  these  constitute  the  sole  value  of 
the  animal.  They  are  semi-transparent,  beautifully  variegated  with 
different  colors,  and,  when  properly  prepared  and  polished,  are  used 
for  a  variety  of  ornamental  purposes.  They  are  first  softened  by 
being  steeped  in  boiling  water,  after  which  they  may  be  moulded  into 
almost  any  form. 


OF  THE  FEOG  TEIBE. 

THE  animals  which  compose  this  tribe  are  very  generally  dispersed 

over  the  globe.  They  feed 
on  insects  and  worms,  and 
reside  principally  in  dark 
and  unfrequented  places, 
from  which  they  crawl  forth 
only  in  the  night.  Many  of 
them  have  an  aspect  very 
disgusting  and  unpleasant. 
Some,  however,  less  unpleas- 
ant to  the  sight,  are  furnished 

GROUP  OP  FROGS.  Viiih  slender  limbs,  and  have 

their  toes  terminated  by  flat, 

circularly-expanded  tips,  which  enable  them  to  adhere  at  pleasure  to 
the  surface  of  even  the  smoothest  bodies :  these  reside  generally  in 


THE   COMMON   FROG.  819 

the  trees,  where  they  adhere  to  the  lower  sides  of  the  leaves  or 
branches. 

All  the  species  are  oviparous,  and  the  eggs  are  perfectly  gelatinous. 
From  the  egg  proceeds  a  Tadpole  without  feet,  but  furnished  with  a 
tail  to  aid  its  motion  in  the  water :  this  drops  off  as  the  legs  become 
protruded.  In  this  imperfect  state  the  animals  have  also  a  sort  of 
gills  or  subsidiary  lungs :  and  several  of  them  have  a  small  tube  on 
the  lower  lip,  by  means  of  which  they  can  fix  themselves  to  solid 
bodies,  for  the  purpose  of  eating,  or  of  performing  other  functions. 
They  all  arrive  at  maturity  about  their  fourth  y^ear,  and  very  few  out- 
live the  age  of  ten  or  twelve. 

The  whole  of  this  tribe  catch  their  food  by  means  of  their  tongue, 
which  is  inserted  into  the  front  of  the  mouth,  and,  when  the  animal 
is  at  rest,  lies  with  its  point  towards  the  throat.  The  moment  the 
animal  observes  an  insect  within  its  reach,  this  is  suddenly  thrown 
out,  and  the  little  victim  is  secured  on  its  glutinous  extremity. 

In  several  of  the  species,  the  toes  both  of  the  fore  and  hind  feet 
are  separate  :  but  in  others,  these  are  connected  together  by  webs  or 
membranes,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  them  in  swimming. 

The  number  of  species  hitherto  described  is  about  fifty.  They  are 
divided  into  three  sections;  namely, 

1.  Frogs,  which  have  smooth  bodies,  longish  legs,  and  discharge 
their  eggs  in  a  mass.     These  leap  with  great  agility  ;  and  their  hind 
legs  are,  in  general,  equal  in  length  to  the  head  and  body. 

2.  ffylce,  or   Tree-Frogs,  which  have  their  hinder   legs  very  long, 
and  the  toes  unconnected.     These  are  generally  smaller  than  Frogs, 
and  more  elegant  in  all  their  proportions.     Their  toes  are  furnished 
with  little  viscid  pellets,  by  means  of  which  they  are  enabled    to 
attach  themselves  even  to  the  under  surfaces  of  polished  bodies.    They 
are  extremely  nimble,  leap  with  great  force,  and  are  able  to  pursue 
insects,  on  which  they  feed,  with  great  agility,  even  on  the  branches 
and  leaves  of  trees. 

3.  Toads,  which  have  their  bodies  puffed  up  and   covered  with 
warts.     These  have  short  legs,  and  can   scarcely  be  said  to   leap. 
They  avoid  the  light,  and  seldom  leave  their  retreats  in  search  of 
prey  except  during  the  night.     These  animals  discharge  their  eggs  in 
a  long  necklace-like  string. 


THE   COMMON   FROG. 

The  appearance  of  the  common  Frog  is  lively.  The  limbs  are  well 
calculated  for  aiding  the  peculiar  motions  of  the  animal,  and  its  web- 
bed hind  feet  for  assisting  its  progress  in  the  water,  to  which  it 
occasionally  retires  during  the  heats  of  summer,  and  again  in  the  frosts 
of  winter.  During  the  latter  period,  and  till  the  return  of  warm, 
weather,  it  lies  in  a  state  of  torpor,  either  deeply  plunged  in  the  soft 
rnud  at  the  bottom  of  stagnant  waters,  or  in  the  hollows  beneath  their 
banks.  Immediately  on  coming  forth  in  the  spring,  these  animals, 
change  their  skin,  and  this  operation  they  repeat,  generally  about 
52 


820 


THE    COMMON    FROG. 


COMMON    FROG. 


every  eight  or  ten  days,  through  the  whole  summer.  The  old  skin, 
after  it  is  separated  from  the  body,  resembles  rather  a  kind  of  thin 
mucus  than  a  membrane. 

The  spawn  of  this  Frog,  which  is  generally  cast  in  the  month  of 
March,  consists  of  a  clustered  mass  of  gelatin- 
ous, transparent  and  spherical  eggs,  from  six 
hundred  to  a  thousand  in  number,  in  the 
middle  of  each  of  which  is  contained  the 
embryo  or  Tadpole,  in  the  form  of  a  black 
globule.  This  sinks  to  the  bottom  of  the 
water.  During  some  hours  it  suffers  no  per- 
ceptible change ;  but  when  the  eggs  begin  to 
enlarge  in  consequence  of  becoming  propor- 
tionally lighter,  it  rises  to  the  surface.  Koesel,  the  German  naturalist, 
who  paid  great  attention  to  this  tribe,  informs  us,  that  at  the  end  of 
eight  hours  the  gelatinous  part  of  the  eggs  grow  thicker ;  and  that 
the  eggs  themselves,  as  they  increase  in  size,  take  somewhat  of  a 
spherical  form.  On  the  twenty-first  day,  the  egg,  if  carefully  examined, 
will  be  found  to  have  opened  a  little  on  qne  side,  where  the  tail  of 
the  Tadpole  makes  its  appearance ;  and  this  afterwards  becomes  more 
and  more  distinct  every  day.  About  the  thirty-ninth  day  the  little 
animals  begin  to  have  motion.  Shortly  after  this,  they  tear  asunder 
the  membrane  that  immediately  surrounds  them,  and  float  in  the 
glary  fluid  which  connects  the  eggs  together.  The  Tadpole  at  first 
quits  this  glary  matter  only  occasionally,  as  if  to  try  its  strength, 
and  it  soon  afterwards  returns,  apparently  for  the  double  purpose  of 
retreat  and  nourishment. 

The  Tadpoles  are  furnished  with  a  small  tubular  kind  of  sucker 

beneath  the  lower  jaw,  by 
means  of  which  they  are  ena- 
bled to  hang  at  pleasure  to 
the  under  surface  of  aquatic 
plants.  From  the  situation  of 
this  sucker,  the  little  animal 
is  obliged  always  to  turn  on 
its  back,  when  inclined  either 
to  respire  or  to  lay  hold  of 
any  substance  on  the  surface 
of.  the  water.  The  interior 
organs  of  the  Tadpole,  when 
closely  examined,  are  found  to 
differ  in  many  respects  from 
those  of  the  future  Frog.  The 
intestines,  in  particular,  are 
coiled  into  a  flat  spiral  form, 

somewhat  resembling  a  cable  in  miniature.     When  the   animal  is 
about  six  weeks  old,  the  hind  legs  appear,  and  in  about  a  fortnight 
these  are  succeeded  by  the  fore  legs.     Not  long  afterwards  the  form  is 
completed,  and  the  animal,  for  the  first  time,  ventures  upon  land. 
With  this  wonderful  change  of  body,  the  animals  also  change  their 


THE    COMMOS    FROG. 


821 


COMMON   FROGS. 


food;  they  now  surrender  their  former  vegetable  diet,  for  the  smaller 
species  of  snails,  worms,  and  insects  ;  and  the  structure  of  their  tongue 
is  admirably  adapted  for  seizing  and  securing  this. prey.  The  root  is 
attached  to  the  fore  part  of 
the  mouth,  so  that  when  un- 
employed, the  tongue  lies 
with  the  tip  towards  the 
throat.  The  animal,  by  this 
singular  contrivance,  is  ena- 
bled to  bend  it  to  a  consider- 
able distance  out  of  its  mouth. 
When  it  is  about  to  seize  on 
any  object,  it  darts  out  the 
tongue  with  great  agility,  and 
the  prey  is  secured  on  its 
broad  and  jagged  glutinous 
extremity.  This  it  swallows 
with  so  instantaneous  a  mo- 
tion, that  the  eye  can  scarcely 
perceive  the  act.  Nothing, 
however,  .can  appear  much 
more  awkward  and  ludicrous, 
than  a  Frog  engaged  with  a 
large  worm  or  a  small  Snake*, 
for  nature  seems  to  have  put  a  restraint  upon  the  voracity  of  these 
animals,  by  forming  them  very  inaptly  for  seizing  and  holding  their 
larger  prey. 

About  the  end  of  July,  when  the  young  Frogs  have  entirely  laid 
aside  their  Tadpole  shape,  they  quit  the  water,  and  soon  afterwards 
emigrate  into  the  woods  and  meadows.  The  commencement  of  their 
journey  is  always  in  the  evening.  They  travel  all  night,  and  Conceal 
themselves  during  the  day,  under  stones,  or  in  other  recesses ;  and 
resume  their  journey  only  when  the  night  begins.  In  the  day-time, 
however,  whenever  it  happens  to  rain,  the}7  come  out  of  their  retreats,  as 
if  to  solace  and  refresh  themselves  in  the  falling  moisture.  Hence 
originated  a  superstition  common  among  the  lower  classes  of  people 
throughout  Europe.  These  immense  multitudes  of  Frogs,  thus  often 
suddenly  emerging,  and  afterwards  as  suddenly  disappearing,  have 
greatly  puzzled  the  weak  heads  of  the  vulgar,  who  could  not  explain 
so  wonderful  a  phenomenon,  but  by  the  strange  conjecture,  that  they 
descended  in  showers  from  the  clouds,  or  thatThey  were  suddenly  en- 
gendered by  the  mixture  of  drops  of  rain  with  the  dust ;  and  that,  as 
soon  as  the  sun  regained  his  influence,  they  were  all  immediately 
annihilated. 

Frogs  are  numerous  throughout  Europe;  and  in  the  parts  of 
America,  about  Hudson's  Bay,  as  far  north  as  the  sixty-first  degree 
of  latitude.  They  frequent  there  the  margins  of  lakes,  ponds,  rivers, 
and  swamps ;  and  as  the  winter  approaches,  they  burrow  under  the 
moss,  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  water,  where  they  remain  in 


a  frozen  state  till 


Mr.  Hearne  says,  he  has  frequently  seen 


822  THE    EDIBLE   FROG. 

them  dug  np  with  the  moss,  frozen  as  hard  as  ice.  In  this  state  their 
legs  may  be  as  easily  broken  off'  as  the  stem  of  a  tobacco-pipe,  and 
without" communicating  to  them  the  least  sensation  ;  but  by  wrapping 
them  up  in  warm  skins,  and  exposing  them  to  a  slow  fire,  they  soon 
come  to  life,  and  the  mutilated  animals  gain  their  usual  activity.  If, 
however,  they  be  permitted  to  freeze  again,  they  are  past  all  recovery. 

The  mode  of  respiration  of  these  animals,  in  common  with  many 
of  the  other  reptiles,  is  exceedingly  curious.  The  organs  adapted  to 
this  use  are  not  placed  in  the  belly,  nor  in  the  lungs  themselves,  but 
in  the  mouth.  Behind  the  root  of  the  tongue  is  the  slit-like  opening 
of  the  trachea;  and,  at  the  front  of  the  upper  part  of  the  head  are 
two  nostrils,  through  which  only  the  animal  draws  the  air,  never 
opening  its  mouth  for  this  purpose.  Indeed,  the  jaws  during  this 
action,  are  kept  closely  locked  into  each  other  by  grooves;  for  if  the 
mouth  be  open,  the  animal  cannot  respire  at  all,  and  it  will  presently 
be  seen  struggling  for  breath.  "When  we  carefully  observe  this  Frog, 
we  perceive  a  frequent  dilatation  and  contraction  in  the  skinny  bag- 
like  part  of  the  mouth  which  covers  the  under  jaw.  From  this  it 
would  appear,  at  first  sight,  as  if  the  creature  lived  all  the  while  on 
one  mouthful  of  air,  which  it  seems  to  be  playing  backward  and 
forward,  between  its  mouth  and  lungs.  But,  for  each  movement  in 
the  jaw,  a  corresponding  twirling  movement  may  be  observed  in  the 
nostrils.  The  mouth  seems  therefore  to  form  a  sort  of  bellows,  of 
which  the  nostrils  are  the  air-holes,  and  the  muscles  of  the  jaws,  by 
their  contraction  and  dilatation,  make  the  draught.  The  nostrils  are 
so  situated,  that  the  least  motion  on  them  enables  them  to  perform 
the  office  of  a  valve.  By  the  twirl  of  the  nostril  the  air  is  let  into  the 
mouth,  when  a  dilatation  of  the  bag  takes  place :  it  is  then  emptied 
from  the  mouth,  through  the  slit  behind  the  tongue,  into  the  lungs, 
when  there  is  a  slight  motion  in  the  sides  of  the  animal,  and  the 
muscles  of  the  abdomen  again  ex  jel  it ;  and  soon  afterwards  a  second 
twirl  in  the  nostrils  ta'kes  place  and  the  like  motions  follow.  Thus 
it  appears  that  the  lungs  are  filled  by  the  working  of  the  jaws,  or,  in 
other  words,  that  Frogs  swallow  air  much  in  the  same  manner  that 
we  swallow  food. 

Frogs,  during  the  greatest  part  of  the  year,  remain  on  land ;  and 
do  not  altogether  retire  to  the  water  until  the  cold  nights  of  autumn 
begin  to  set  in.  They  then  retreat,  for  the  winter,  to  the  bottom  of 


stagnant  waters. 


They  arrive  at  full  age  in  about  five  years,  and  are  supposed  to 
live  twelve  or  fifteen;  and  these  animals  are  so  tenacious  of  life, 
that  they  will  continue  to  live,  and  will  even  jump  about  for  several 
hours  after  their  heads  have  been  cut  off. 


THE   EDIBLE   FROG. 


The  Edible  Frog  is  considerably  larger  than  the  common  species : 
and,  though  somewhat  rare  in  England,  is  found  in  plenty  in  -Italy 
France,  and  Germany. 


THE    EDIBLE   FROG.  823 

Its  color  is  olive  green,  marked  with  black  patches  on  the  back, 
and  on  its  limbs  with  transverse  bars  of  the  same.  From  the  tip  of 
the  nose,  three  distinct  stripes  of  pale  yellow  extend  to  the  extremity 
of  the  body  ;  the  middle  one  slightly  depressed,  and  the  lateral  ones 
considerably  elevated.  The  under  parts  are  of  a  pale  whitish  color, 
tinged  with  green,  and  marked  with  irregular  brown  spots. 

The  ova  or  spawn  of  this  species,  is  not  often  deposited  before  the 
month  of  June.  The  globules  are  much  smaller  than  those  of  the 
common  frogs;  and  the  young  animals  (which  undergo  precisely  the 
same  changes  as  the  young  of  that  species)  are  considerably  longer 
in  attaining  their  complete  state:  this  indeed  seldom  takes  place  till 
towards  the  beginning  of  November.  They  arrive  at  their  full 
growth  in  about  four  years,  and  live  to  the  age  of  sixteen  or  seven- 
teen. 

These  Frogs,  during  their  breeding  season,  make  a  noise  so  loud,  that 
in  the  night,  it  may  be  heard  to  a  very  considerable  distance.  This 
cry  begins  in  the  early  part  of  the  spring,  as  soon  as  the  fine  weather 
sets  in.  -  Like  the  rest  of  their  tribe,  they  are  said  always  to  be  most 
vociferous  before  rain,  and  thereby  to  foretell  the  approach  of  damp 
or  rainy  weather.  In  some  particular  places  where  the  animals  are 
numerous,  their  croaking  is  very  oppressive  to  persons  who  are  un- 
accustomed to  it.  The  males  are  always  much  louder  than  the  females. 

Like  the  common  species,  these  Frogs  feed  on  various  kinds  of  in- 
sects, worms,  and  snails ;  but  they  are  somewhat  nice  in  the  choice 
of  their  food.  They  never  seize  anything  till  they  first  perceive  it  to 
move.  They  remain  motionless,  waiting  till  the  worm  or  insect  comes 
within  their  reach  ;  they  then  spring  towards  it  with  great  agility,  and 
dart  out  their  tongue,  which  is  smeared  over  with  so  tenacious  a  glue, 
that,  when  once  it  touches  an  insect,  the  latter  can  never  escape. 
They  are  exceedingly  voracious,'  sometimes  venturing  to  attack  and 
swallow  young  mice,  small  birds,  and  even  newly-hatched  ducks, 
when  they  can  surprise  these  at  the  surface  of  the  water. 

This  species  lives  a  good  deal  in  the  water,  from  which,  however, 
they  often  come  out,  both  in  search  of  food,  and  to  bask  in  the  sun. 
They  become  torpid  at  the  commencement  of  winter  ;  and  this  torpor 
generally  takes  place  in  some  concealed  retreat  beneath  the  water, 
either  in  marshes,  ponds,  or  lakes.  Some  few  are  found  in  subter- 
raneous holes. 

These  creatures  are  brought  from  the  country,  thirty  or  forty  thou- 
sand at  a  time,  to  Vienna,  and  sold  to  the  great  dealers,  who  have  con- 
servatories for  them,  which  are  large  holes,  four  or  five  feet  deep,  dug 
in  the  ground,  the  mouth  covered  with  aboard,  and  in  severe  weather 
with  straw.  In  these  conservatories,  even  during  a  hard  frost,  the 
Frogs  never  become  quite  torpid.  When  taken  out  and  placed  on 
their  backs,  they  are  always  sensible  of  the  change,  and  have  strength 
enough  to  turn  themselves.  They  instinctively  get  together  in  heaps, 
one  upon  another,  and  thereby  prevent  the  evaporation  of  their 
humidity  :  for  no  water  is  ever  put  to  them.  In  Vienna,  in  the  year 
1793,  there  were  only  three  great  dealers,  b^  whom  most  of  those 


824  THE    BULL    FROG. 

persons  were  supplied  who  brought  them  to  the  market  ready  for  the 
cook. 

The  Edible  Frogs  are  caught  in  various  ways:  sometimes  in  the 
night,  by  means  of  nets,  collecting  together  round  the  light  of  torches 
that  are  carried  out  for  the  purpose  ;•  and  sometimes  by  hooks,  baited 
with  worms,  insects,  flesh,  or  even  a  bit  of  red  cloth.  Being  exceed- 
ingly voracious,  they  seize,  greedily,  everything  that  moves,  and,  when 
once  they  have  fixed,  they  keep  their  hold  with  great  tenacity.  la 
Switzerland  they  are  caught  by  means  of  large  rakes,  with  long,  close 
set  teeth,  which  are  thrown  into  the  water,  and  drawn  suddenly  out 
again. 


THE    BULL-FROG. 

The  interior  parts  of  America  are  the  principal  residence  of  this 

species,  where,  at  the 
springs  or  small  rills, 
a  they  are  said  to  sit  in 
pairs.  In  Virginia  they 
are  in  such  abundance, 
that  there  is  scarcely 
any  where  a  spring 
that  has  not  a  pair  of 
them.  When  suddenly 
surprised,  they  leap 
into  their  hole,  at  the 
bottom  of  which  they 
lie  perfectly  secure. 
The  inhabitants  fancy 
that  these  frogs  purify 
the  water,  and  they  ac- 
cordingly respect  them 
as  genii  of  the  fountains. 
Their  croaking  some- 
what resembles  the 
hoarse  lowing  of  a  bull; 
and  when,  in  a  cairn 
night,  many  of  these 
animals  are  making  a 
noise  together,  they  may  be  heard  to  the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a 
half.  The  night  is  the  time  when  they  croak,  and  they  are  said  to 
do  this  at  intervals.  In  this  act  they  are  either  hidden  among  the  grass 
or  rushes,  or  they  are  in  the  water  with  their  heads  above  the  surface. 
.When  alarmed,  these  animals  leap  to  a  most  surprising  distance  at 
each  exertion.  A  full-grown  Bull-Frog  will  sometimes  leap  three 
yards. 

They  are  edible,  and  have  frequently  as  much  meat  on  them  as  a 
young  fowl. 


tHE   BXJLL-FROG. 


THE    GREEN    TREE-FROG. 


825 


THE     GREEN    TREE-FROG. 

This  Frog  is  small,  and  of  slender  and  very  elegant  shape, 
upper  parts  are 
green,  and  the  ab- 
domen is  whitish, 
marked  by  numer- 
ous granules.  The 
under  surface  of  the 
limbs  is  reddish ; 
and  on  each  side  of 
.the  body  there  is  a 
longitudinal  black- 
ish or  violet-colored, 
streak.  The  body 
smooth  above, 
legs 
and 

slender.       At 
end     of    each 


All  its 


is 

and    the   hind 

are  very  long 


the 

toe 

there  is  a  round, 
fleshy,  concave  ap- 
paratus, not  unlike 
the  mouth  of  a 
leech,  by  means  of 
which  the  animal  is 
enabled  to  adher^ 

even      to      the     most  TREE-FROG 

polished  surfaces. 

Were  it  not  from  the  deeply-rooted  prejudices  which  are  imbibed, 
during  childhood,  against  all  the  animals  of  the  Frog  tribe,  the  beauty 
of  color,  and  the  elegance  of  motions  of  the  present  species  are  such, 
that  they  would  afford  delight  to  every  beholder.  During  the  sum- 
mer months  it  resides  principally  among  the  upper  branches  of  trees, 
where  it  wanders  among  the  foliage  in  quest  of  insects.  These  it 
catches  with  great  dexterity,  stealing  softly  towards  them  as  a  cat 
does  towards  a  mouse,  till  at  a  proper  distance,  when  it  makes  a  sud- 
den spring  upon  them,  of  frequently  more  than  two  feet  in  height. 
It  often  suspends  itself  by  its  feet  or  abdomen,  to  the  under  parts  of 
leaves  ;  and  in  this  position,'  remains  concealed  among  the  foliage. 

The  skin  of  the  abdomen  is  covered  with  small  glandular  granules, 
of  such  a  nature  as  to  allow  the  animal  to  adhere  as  well  by  these 
as  by  the  toes.  It  will  even  stick  to  a  glass,  by  pressing  its  body 
against  it. 

Although  during  summer  it  inhabits  woods,  yet,  about  the  end  of 
autumn,  it  retires  to  the  waters,  and  lies  concealed  in  a  torpid  state,  in 
the  mud,  or  under  banks,  till  the  spring.  At  the  return  of  warm 
weather,  it  emerges,  like  the  rest  of  its  tribe,  in  order  to  depost  its 


826  THE   COMMON   TOAD. 

spawn  in  the  water.  This  is  done  about  the  end  of  April,  or  the  be- 
ginning of  May ;  and,  as  soon  as  the  operation  is  over,  the  animals 
return  to  their  accustomed  haunts  in  the  trees.  The  offspring  con- 
tinue until  the  month  of  August  in  their  Tadpole  state. 

During  the  breeding  season  the  male  inflates  his  throat  in  a  very 
surprising  manner,  so  much  indeed  as  to  form  a  tolerable  large  sphere 
beneath  his  head.  He  then  also  exerts  a  very  rough  croak,  that  may 
be  heard  to  a  vast  distance.  Whenever  one  of  these  Frogs  begins,  all 
that  are  within  hearing  join  in  the  discordant  chorus  ;  and  the  whole 
is  so  loud,  as  almost  to  resemble  the  noise  of  a  pack  of  hounds  :  this, 
in  still  evenings,  especially  before  rain,  when  they  most  exert  them- 
selves, has  been  heard  nearly  three  miles.  These  Frogs  are  said  to  be 
so  excellent  as  barometers,  that,  if  kept  in  glasses  in  a  room  and 
supplied  with  proper  food,  they  will  afford  a  sure  presage  of  changes 
in  the  weather. 


THE   COMMON  TOAD. 

The  Toad  is  an  animal   known  to  every  one  ;    and  by  his  livid 

appearance,  and  sluggish  and 
disgusting  movements,  is  easily 
recognized. 

In  some  countries,  as  at  Car- 
tliagena,  and  Porto  Bello,  in 
America,  Toads  are  so  extreme- 
ly numerous,  that,  in  rainy 
weather,  not  only  all  the  marshy 
ground,  but  the  gardens,  courts, 
and  streets,  are  almost  covered 

Wlth       ^^   J        S°       mUCh     S°>      ^ 

many  of  the  inhabitants  believe 
that  every  drop  of  rain  is  converted  into  a  Toad.  In  these  countries 
the  Toad  is  of  great  size,  the  smallest  individuals  measuring  at  least 
six  inches  in  length.  If  it  happen  to  rain  during  the  night,  all  the 
Toads  quit  their  hiding  places,  and  then  crawl  about  in  such  incon- 
ceivable numbers,  as  almost  literally  to  touch  each  other,  and  to  hide 
the  surface  of  the  earth:  on  such  occasions  it  is  impossible  to  stir  out 
of  doors,  without  trampling  them  under  foot  at  every  step. 

When  it  is  irritated,  the  Toad  emits  from  various  parts  of  its  skin 
a  kind  of  frothy  fluid,  which,  in  our  climate,  produces  no  other 
unpleasant  symptoms  than  slight  inflammation,  from  its  weakly  acri- 
monious nature.  Dogs,  on  seizing  these  animals,  appear  to  be  affected 
with  a  slight  swelling  in  their  mouth,  accompanied  by  an  increased 
evacuation  of  saliva.  The  limpid  fluid  which  the  Toad  suddenly  ejects 
from  his  body  when  disturbed,  has  been  ascertained  to  be  perfectly 
free  from  any  noxious  qualities.  It  is  merely  a  watery  liquor,  the 
contents  of  a  peculiar  reservoir,  which,  in  case  of  alarm,  appears  to  be 
emptied  in  order  to  lighten  the  body,  that  the  animal  may  the  more 
readily  escape.  It  is  its  extremely  forbidding  asoect  only  that  has  ob- 


til    COMMON   TOAB. 


THE   COMMON    TOAD.  827 

tained  for  the  Toad  its  present  unjust  character  of  being  a  dangerously 
poisonous  animal.  It  is  persecuted  wherever  it  appears,  on  the  sup- 
position merely  that  because  it  is  ugly  it  must  in  consequence  be 
venomous.  Its  eyes  are,  however,  proverbially  beautiful,  having  a 
brilliant,  reddish,  gold-colored  iris  surrounding  the  dark  purple,  and 
forming  a  striking  contrast  with  the  remainder  of  its  body.  Hence 
Shakspeare,  in  Eomeo  and  Juliet,  remarks: 

Some  say  the  Lark  and  loathed  Toad  change  eyes. 

Its  reputation  as  a  poisonous  animal  obtained  for  it,  among  the 
superstitious,  many  preternatural  powers,  and  the  repeated  dealers  in 
magic  art  are  stated  to  have  made  much  use  of  it  in  their  compounds. 
This  circumstance  caused  it  to  be  inserted  among  the  ingredients 
adopted  by  the  witches  in  Macbeth,  to  raise  the  spirits  of  the  dead : 

Toad  that  under  the  cold  stone 
Days  and  nights  has  thirty-one 
Swelter'd  venom,  sleeping  got, 
Boil  thou  first  i'  th'  charmed  pot. 

It  is  no  difficult  task,  singular  as  it  may  appear  to  those  who  have 
never  attended  to  this  animal,  to  render  it  so  tame,  that  it  may  be 
taken  up  into  the  hand,  and  carried  about  a  room  to  catch  flies  that 
alight  on  the  walls.  A  correspondent  of  Mr.  Pennant  supplied  him 
with  some  curious  particulars  respecting  a  domestic  Toad,  which  con- 
tinued in  the  same  place  for  upwards  of  thirty-six  years.  It  frequented 
the  steps  before  the  hall-door  of  a  gentleman's  house  in  Devonshire. 
By  being  constantly  fed,  it  was  rendered  so  tame  as  always  to  come 
out  of  its  hole  in  an  evening  when  a  candle  was  brought,  and  to  look 
up,  as  if  expecting  to  be  carried  into  the  house,  where  it  was  frequently 
fed  with  insects.  An  animal  of  this  description  being  so  much  noticed 
and  befriended,  excited  the  curiosity  of  all  who  came  to  the  house, 
and  even  females  so  far  conquered  the  horrors  instilled  into  them  by 
their  nurses,  as  generally  to  request  to  see  it  fed.  It  appeared  most 
partial  to  flesh-maggots,  which  were  kept  for  it  in  bran.  It  would 
follow  them  on  the  table,  and,  when  within  a  proper  distance,  would 
fix  his  eyes  and  remain  motionless  for  a  little  while,  apparently  to 
prepare  for  the  stroke  which  was  to  follow,  and  which  was  instanta- 
neous. It  threw  out  its  tongue  to  a  great  distance,  and  the  insect, 
stuck  by  the  glutinous  manner  to  its  tip,  was  swallowed  by  a  motion 
quicker  than  the  eye  could  follow.  After  having  been  kept  more 
than  thirty-six  years,  it  was  at  length  destroyed  by  a  tame  Kaven, 
which  one  day,  seeing  it  at  the  mouth  of  its  hole,  pulled  it  out,  and 
so  wounded  it  that  it  died. 

The  Spider  was  formerly  considered  an  inveterate  enemy  to  the 
Toad  ;  and  it  has  been  said,  that  whenever  these  animals  met,  a  con- 
test always  took  place,  in  which,  from  its  superior  dexterity  and 
address,  the  former  often  proved  victorious. 

Like  the  rest  of  the  animals  of  its  tribe,  the  Toad  becomes  torpid 
towards  the  conclusion  of  the  autumn,  and  remains  so  during  all  the 


828 


OF    THE    LIZARD    TRIBE. 


winter  months.  The  place  of  its  retreat  is  either  in  the  cleft  of  some 
rock,  under  the  hollow  root  of  a  tree,  or  among  the  mud  at  the  bottom 
of  stagnant  pools.  It  is  long-lived  ;  and  so  extremely  difficult  to  be 
killed,  that  though  its  body  be  covered  with  lacerations,  it  will  con- 
tinue  to  exhibit  signs  of  life  for  many  hours  afterwards. 

Of  the  Toad  we  have  a  property  recorded,  more  astonishing  than 
what  is  mentioned  of  most  other  animals, 
that  of  continuing  alive  for  centuries,  en- 
closed in  solid  substances.  Although 
I  some  allowance  should  be  made  for  that 
Natural  love  of  the  marvellous  which  per- 
vades the  great  mass  of  mankind,  yet  we 
have  too  many  respectable  authorities  for 
the  fact,  and  too  frequent  instances  of  its 
recurrence,  to  allow  us  to  doubt  its  truth. 
A  stone-cutter  of  the  name  of  Charlton,  found  in  the  Isle  of  Ely  a 
living  Toad,  enclosed  in  a  block  of  marble.  The  cavity  in  which  it 
was  contained,  was  somewhat  larger  than,  but  nearly  of  the  figure  of, 
the  animal.  The  Toad  seemed  in  perfect  health,  although  the  marble 
was,  on  all  sides,  several  inches  thick. 


COMMON   TOAD. 


THE     CROCODILE. 


.       OF  THE  LIZAED  TEIBE. 

THE  animals  of  this  tribe,  which  have  each  four  legs  and  a  tail, 

are  distinguishable  at  first  sight 
from  other  oviparous  quadrupeds: 
They  have  no  shields,  like  the 
Tortoises,  and  they  are  all  fur- 
nished with  tails,  which  are 
entirely  wanting  in  Toads  and 
Frogs.  Their  bodies  are  either 
covered  with  scales,  of  greater  or 
less  rigidity,  or  with  a  kind  of 
warts  or  tubercles.  Some  of  the 
species  are  scarcely  more  than  two  inches  in  length,  whilst  others 
exceed  even  the  length  of  five  or  six  and  twenty  feet. 

Their  tails,  'at  the  base,  are  nearly  as  thick  as  the  hinder  part  of  the 
body  from  which  they  rise.  In  some  species  these  are  flat ;  in  others 
rounded  :  in  some  short  and  thick  ;  and  in  others  more  than  twice  as 
long  as  the  body,  and  tapering  to  a  slender  point.  The  tail  of  the 
Chameleon  is  prehensile,  that  is,  the  animal  can  coil  it  fast  round  any 
object,  in  order  to  prevent  itself  from  falling. 

The  Lizards  are  principally  inhabitants  of  the  warmer  regions  of  the 
globe.  The  larger  ones  live  on  animals,  which  they  seize  by  stratagem, 
and  the  smaller  ones  on  insects.  Many  of  them  serve  mankind  for 
food.  The  aquatic  species  undergo  a  metamorphosis,  from  a  Tadpole 
to  a  perfect  state.  Most  of  them  are  produced  from  eggs  externally, 
but  some  are  brought  forth  alive.  In  this  tribe  are  found  nearly  the 
largest  and  the  smallest  animals  in  the  creation. 


THE   CROCODILE. 


829 


Although  in  many  of  the  species  the  color  and  form  are  exceedingly 
beautiful,  these  animals,  like  the  Toad,  have  obtained  the  general 
character  of  being  poisonous.  The  whole  tribe,  however,  (except  one 
species,  the  Spitting  Lizard,  which,  when  irritated,  discharges  a  black 
and  acrid  matter,  easily  cured  by  camphorated  spirits  of  wine,)  is  des- 
titute of  poison. 

THE   .CROCODILE. 

The  Crocodile  has  no  lips ;  so  that  even  when  walking  or  swim 
ming  with  the 
utmost  t  r  a  n- 
quillity,  the  teeth 
are  bare,  and  the 
aspect  seems 
animated  by  rage. 

Another  c  i  r- 
cu  instance  that 
contributes  to 
increase  the 
terrific  appearance 
of  its  countenance, 
is  the  fiery  glare 
of  its  eyes ;  and 
these,  being  situ- 
ated near  each 
other,  have  also  a 
malignant  aspect. 

The  armor  with 
which  the  Croco- 
dile is  clad,,  may  be  accounted  among  the  most  elaborate  pieces  of 
natural  mechanism.  In  the  full-grown  animal  it  is  so  strong,  as  easily 
to  repel  a  musket-ball.  On  the  lower  parts  it  is  much  thinner  and 
more  pliable  than  on  the  upper.  The  whole  animal  appears  as  if 
covered  with  the  most  regular  and  curious  carved  work.  The  color 
of  the  full-grown  Crocodile  is  blackish-brown  above,  and  yellowish- 
white  beneath.  The  upper  parts  of  the  legs  and  sides  are  varied  with 
deep  yellow,  somewhat  tinged  with  green.  The  mouth  *,  of  vast 
width,  and  furnished  with  numerous  sharp-pointed  teeth,  thirty  or 
more  on  each  side  of  the  jaws  ;  and  these  are  so  disposed,  as,  when  the 
mouth  is  closed,  to  fit  alternately  above  and  below. 

The  Crocodile  and  Alligator  have  the  largest  mouths  of  almost  any 
land  animals.  It  has  been  asserted  by  various  writers,  that  both 
their  jaws  are  moveable.  A  single  glance,  however,  at  the  skeleton 
will  afford  sufficient  proof,  that  the  upper  jaw  is  fixed,  and  that  the 
motion  is  altogether  confined  to  the  under  one.  These  animals  are 
also  generally  believed  to  have  no  tongue.  This  again  is  an  error,  for 
the  tongue  in  both  species  is  larger  than  that  of  the  Ox  ;  but  it  is  so 
connected  with  the  sides  of  the  lower  ja\v,  as  to  be  incapable  of  being 
stretched  far  forward,  as  in  other  animals. 


THE  CROCODILE. 


830 


THE    CROCODILE. 


In  the  water  the  Crocodile  seems  to  enjoy  his  whole  strength  with 
much  greater  advantage  than  on  land.  Notwithstanding  his  size,  and 
his  apparent  unwieldiness,  he  moves  about  in  the  water  with  con- 
siderable agility,  often  emitting  a  kind  of  silent,  half-suppressed 
murmuring  noise.  Although  the  great  length  of  hi,s  body  prevents 
him  from  turning  suddenly  round,  he  swims  forward  with  astonishing 
velocity  when  about  to  seize  his  prey.  On  land  his  motions  are  much 
more  embarrassed,  and  he  is  consequently  there  a  less  dangerous  enemy 
than  in  the  water. 

Except  when  pressed  by  hunger,  or  urged  by  the  necessity  of  de- 
positing its  eggs,  'this 
enormous  creature 
seldom  leaves  the 
water.  Its  usual 
method  is  to  fl  o  a  t 
along  upon  the  surface, 
like  a  large  piece  of 
timber,  and  seize 
whatever  animals 
come  within  its  reach  ; 
but,  when  this  method 
fails,  it  then  goes  closer 
to  the  bank.  There 
it  waits  in  patient  ex- 
pectation of  some  land 
animal  that  may  con>e 
to  drink  ;  the  Do<£, 
the  Bull,  the  Tiger, 

frjfesaJaaawwii^ii11  ihmjim\MWtapa*''Mm^z  or  man  h  i  m  s  e  1  i' . 

Nothing  is  to  be  seen 
in  approaching  the 
river,  nor  is  its  retreat 
discovered  till  it  is  too 
late  for  safety.  I  t 
seizes  the  victim  with 
a  spring,  and  goes  at 
a  bound  much  further 
than  such  an  unwieldy 
animal  could  be  sup- 
posed capable  of  doing.  Then,  having  secured  the  prey,  it  drags  it  into 
the  water,  instantly  sinks  with  it  to  the  bottom,  and,  in  this  manner, 
quickly  drowns  it.  Sometimes  it  happens  that  the  creature  wounded 
by  the  Crocodile  makes  its  escape ;  in  which  case,  the  latter  pursues 
and  often  takes  it  a  second  time.  He  seldom  moves  far  from  rivers, 
except  in  covert  and  marshy  places ;  so  that,  in  many  parts  of  the 
East,  it  is  very  dangerous  to  walk  carelessly  on  the  banks  of  unknown 
rivers,  or  among  sedgy  grounds ;  and  still  more  so  to  bathe,  without 
the  utmost  circumspection,  in  unfrequented  places. 

All  the  rivers  of  Guinea  are  pestered  with  vast  shoals  of  Crocodiles. 
On  hot  days,  great  numbers  of  these  animals  lie  basking  on  the  banks 


NEGRO   ATTACKING    A   CROCODILE. 


THE   CROCODILE.  831 

of  rivers,  and  as  soon  as  they  observe  any  one  approach,  they  plunge 
into  the  water.  M.  Adanson  says,  that  in  the  river  Senegal,  on  the 
western  coast  of  Africa,  he  has  sometimes  seen  more  than  two  hun- 
dred of  them  swimming  together,  with  their  heads  just  above  water, 
resembling  a  great  number  of  trunks  of  trees  floating  down  the  river. 
In  the  neighborhood  of  Thebes,  in  Egypt,  the  small  boat,  in  which 
M.  Sonnini  sailed  up  the  river,  was  often  surrounded  by  Crocodiles  on 
a  level  with  the  surface.  They  observed  the  boat  pass  by  them,  but 
with  apparent  indifference. 

The  young  of  the  Crocodile  are  produced  from  eggs  deposited  in  the 
sand,  and  hatched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  near  the  bank  of  some  river 
or  lake.  The  female  is  said  to  be  extremely  cautious  in  depositing 
them  unobserved.  The  general  number  of  eggs  is  from  eighty  to  a 
hundred.  They  are  not  larger  than  those  of  a  Goose,  and  are  covered 
with  a  tough  white  skin.  She  carefully  fills  up  the  hole  before  she 
leaves  them.  In  each  of  the  two  succeeding  days  she  lays  as  many 
more,  which  she  hides  in  a  similar  manner.  The  eggs  are  hatched 
generally  in  about  thirty  days.  The  fetus  of  Crocodiles  are  rolled  up 
within  the  egg,  and  at  the  time  when  the  animals  break  the  shell,  they 
seldom  exceed  six  or  seven  inches  in  length.  They  sometimes  break 
the  shell  with  their  head,  and  sometimes  with  the  serrated  tubercles 
of  the  back.  On  emerging  into  the  air,  they  immediately  run  into  the 
water,  where  multitudes  of  them  are  devoured  by  various  kinds  of 
fish,  and  even  by  the  larger  animals  of  their  own  species.  It  is,  how- 
ever, in  the  destruction  of  their  eggs,  that  the  most  important  service 
to  mankind  is  affected.  The  Ichneumon  and  the  Vultures,  (the  latter 
of  which,  in  hot  climates,  collect  in  immense  numbers,)  seem  peculiarly 
appointed  by  Providence  to  abridge  the  enormous  fecundity  of  the 
Crocodiles,  and  in  this  capacity  they  destroy  and  devour  millions  of 
their  eggs. 

The  Crocodile,  from  its  immense  size  and  voracious  habits,  is 
doubtless  an  object  of  fear,  and,  by  no  very  uncommon  transition  of 
sentiment,  it  has  also  gradually  become  an  object  of  veneration ;  and 
offerings  are  in  some  countries  made  to  it  as  to  a  deity.  The  inhabi- 
tants of  Java,  when  attacked  by  disease,  sometimes  build  a  kind  of 
coop,  and  fill  it  with  such  eatables  as  they  think  most  agreeable  to 
the  Crocodiles.  They  place  the  coop  upon  the  bank  of  a  river  or 
canal,  in  perfect  confidence  that,  by  such  offerings,  they  shall  be 
freed  from  their  maladies ;  and  in  a  full  persuasion  that,  if  any  person 
could  be  so  wicked  as  to  take  away  those  viands,  such  person  would 
dra\v  upon  himself  the  malady,  for  the  cure  of  which  the  offering  was 
made.  The  worship  of  Crocodiles  was  indeed  a  folly  among  men  of 
ancient  date :  Herodotus,  says,  that  "  among  some  of  the  Egyptian 
tribes,  the  Crocodiles  are  held  sacred,  but  that  among  others,  they 
are  regarded  as  enemies.  The  inhabitants  in  the  environs  of  Thebes, 
and  the  Lake  Moeris,  are  firmly  persuaded  of  their  sanctity  ;  and  both 
these  tribes  bring  up  and  tame  a  Crocodile,  adorning  his  ears  with 
rings  of  precious  stones  and  gold,  and  putting  ornamental  chains 
about  his  fore  feet.  They  also  regularly  give  him  victuals,  offer 
victims  to  him,  and  treat  him  in  the  most  respectful  manner  while 


832 


THE  CROCODILE. 


living,  and,  when  dead,  embalm,  and  bury  him  in  a  consecrated 
coffin." 

The  king  of  Saba,  on  the  slave-coast  of  Africa,  has,  at  this,  day, 
two  ponds  always  filled  with  Crocodiles.  In  the  Kio  San  Domingo, 
likewise  on  the  western  coast  of  Africa,  M.  Brlie  was  astonished  to 
find  the  Crocodiles  (usually  considered  ferocious  animals)  perfectly 
harmless,  insomuch  that  the  children  played  with  them,  mounted  on 
their  backs,  and  even  beat  them,  without  danger,  or  any  appearance 
of  resentment.  This  gentleness  of  disposition,  he  says,  proceeds  from 
their  being  kept  always  full  fed,  and  from  the  attention  paid  to  them 
by  the  natives;  for  in  all  other  parts  of  Africa,  the  Crocodiles  attack 
indiscriminately  men  and  animals. 

The  eggs,  and  the  flesh  of  the  Crocodile,  particularly  the  flesh  of 


BLOWING 'UP   A    CROCODILE. 


the  tail  and  belly,  are  used  as  food  by  the  Negroes  of  Africa,  and  of 
several  of  the  Indian  nations.  This  flesh  is  white  and  juicy,  and  is 
considered  by  these  people  as  peculiarly  delicious.  But  such  Euro- 
peans as  have  ventured  to  eat  of  it,  have  been,  for  the  most  part, 
disgusted  by  the  strong  musky  flavor  with  which  it  is  impregnated. 

Some  gentlemen  in  India  blew  up  a  Crocodile,  by  means  of  a  gal- 
vanic apparatus  such  as  is  used  in  blowing  up  ships  and  rocks  under 
water. 


THE   ALLIGATOR,  OR   AMERICAN    CROCODILE.  833 


THE   ALLIGATOR,    OR   AMERICAN   CROCODILE. 

The  principal  distinction  between  the  Alligator  and  the  Crocodile, 
is,  that  the  former  has  its  head 
and  part  of  the  neck  more 
smooth  than  the  latter,  and  that 
the  snout  is  considerably  more 
wide  and  flat,  as  well  as  more 
rounded  at  the  extremity.  The 
length  of  the  full  grown  Alli- 
gator is  seventeen  or  eighteen 
feet. 

Alligators  are  natives  of  the 

_     .  .  _ 

warmer  parts  or  America.  It  was 
by  an  accidental  occurrence,  that  these  inhabitants  of  the  New  World 
obtained  their  appellation.  Had  the  first  navigators  seen  any  object 
that  more  resembled  their  form  than  a  lizard,  they  would  probably 
have  adopted  the  name  by  which  the  Indians  call  them,  Cayman; 
but  the  Spanish  sailors  remarking  their  great  resemblance  to  the 
Lizard,  they  called  the  first  of  them  which,  they  saw,  Lagarto,  or 
Lizard.  When  the  English  arrived  in  America,  and  heard  that 
name,  they  called  the  creature  a-Lagarto,  whence  was  afterwards 
derived  the  word  Alligato,  or  Alligator. 

Alligators  are  often  seen  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  like 
logs  of  wood,  and  are  mistaken  for  such  by  various  animals,  which  by 
this  means  they  surprise,  and  draw  underneath  to  devour  at  leisure. 
They  are  said  also  sometimes  to  form  a  hole  in  the  bank  of  a  river, 
below  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  there  to  wait,  till  the  fish,  that  are 
fatigued  by  the  strong  current,  come  into  the  smooth  water  to  rest 
themselves,  when  thev  immediately  seize  and  devour  them.  But,  as 
they  are  not  able  to  obtain  a  regular  supply  of  food,  from  the  fear  in 
which  they  are  held  by  all  animals,  and  the  care  by  which  these,  in 
general,  avoid  their  haunts,  they  are  able  to  sustain  a  privation  of  it 
for  a  great  length  of  time.  When  killed  and  opened,  stones  and  other 
hard  substances  are  generally  found  in  their  stomach.  In  many  that 
Mr.  Catesby  examined,  there  was  nothing  but  mucilage  and  pieces  of 
wood,  some  of  which  weighed  seven  or  eight  pounds  each.  The 
angles  of  these  were  so  worn  down,  that  he  fancied  they  must  have 
lain  in,  the  stomachs  of  the  animals  for  several  months.  Two  Alliga- 
tors that  Dr.  Brickell  saw  killed  in  North  Carolina,  had  in  their 
bellies  several  sorts  of  snakes,  and  some  pieces  of  wood;  and  in  one 
of  them  was  found  a  stone,  that  weighed  about  four  pounds. 

The  voracity  of  these  animals  is  so  great,  that  they  sometimes  do 
not  spare  even  mankind.  A  short  time  before  M.  Navarette  was  at 
the  Manillas,  he  was  told  that,  as  a  young  woman  was  washing  her 
feet  in  one  of  the  rivers,  an  Alligator  seized  and  carried  her.  off. 
Her  husband,  to  whom  she  had  been  but  that  morning  married, 
hearing  her  screams,  threw  himself  headlong  into  the  water,  and, 


834  THE  ALLIGATOR,  OR  AMERICAN  CROCODILE. 


ALLIGATOR  ATTACKING  A  JAGUAR. 


a  dagger  in  his  hand,  pursued  the  robber.  He  overtook,  and 
fought  tbe  animal  with  such  success,  as  to  recover  his  wife;  but,  un- 
fortunately for  her  brave  rescuer,  she  died  before  she  could  be 
brought  to  the  shore. 

Where  Alligators  are  very  numerous,  they  will  sometimes  endeavor 

to  get  into  the  canoes 
or  boats  that  pass  their 
/I  haunts  during  the 
Anight.  M. delaBorde, 
at  'Cayenne,  says,  he 
has  often  seen  them 
%x.  attempt  to  raise  them- 
selves against  the  sides 
of  small  boats  in  that 
river.  He  informs  us 
also,  that  the  Alliga- 
tors which  inhabit  the 
lakes  of  South  Amer- 
ica, are  sometimes  left 
dry,  in  consequence  of 
the  water  evaporating. 
In  this  case  they  subsist  by  catching  birds  or  land  animals,  or  even 
live  a  long  time  without  food. 

Alligators  deposit  their  eggs,  like  the  Crocodiles  and  Turtles,  at  two 
or  three  different  periods  of  the  year,  laying  from  twenty  to  about 
twenty -four  at  each  time.  It  is  said  that  those  of  Cayenne  and  Sur- 
inam raise  a  little  hillock  on  the  bank  of  the  water,  and,  hollowing 
this  out  in  the  middle,  amass  together  a  heap  of  leaves  and  other 
vegetable  refuse,  in  which  they  deposit  their  eggs.  These  being  also 
covered  with  leaves,  a  fermentation  ensues,  by  the  heat  of  which,  in 
addition  to  that  of  the  atmosphere,  the  eggs  are  hatched.  The  ani- 
mals generally  lay  their  eggs  in  the  month  of  April.  Multitudes  of 
the  eggs  are  destroyed  by  Vultures,  and  immense  numbers  of  the 
young  animals  are  devoured,  as  soon  as  they  reach  the  water,  by  vari- 
ous species  of  fish. 

It  appears  that  the  Alligator,  when  caught  young,  may,  in  some 
measure  be  domesticated.  Dr.  Brickell  saw  one  in  a  large  pond  before 
a  planter's  house.  It  remained  there  nearly  half  a  year,  during  which 
time  it  was  regularly  fed  with  the  entrails  of  fowls,  and  raw  meat.  It 
frequently  came  into  the  house,  where  it  would  remain  for  a  short  time 
and  then  return  again  to  its  shelter  in  the  pond.  It  is  supposed  at 
last  to  have  stolen  away  to  a  creek  near  the  plantation :  for  it  was  one 
day  missing,  and  from  that  time  was  never  afterwards  seen. 

The  voice  of  these  animals  is  very  loud  and  dreadful.  They  have 
an  unpleasant  and  powerful  musky  scent.  M.  Pages  says,  that  near 
one  of  the  rivers  in  America,  where  the  Alligators  were  numerous, 
their  effluvia  was  so  strong  as  to  impregnate  his  provisions,  and  even 
to  give  them  the  nauseous  taste  of  rotten  musk.  This  effluvium  pro- 
ceeds chiefly  from  four  glands,  two  of  which  are  situated  in  the  groin, 
near  each  thigh,  and  the  other  two  at  the  breast,  one  under  each  fore- 


THE   COMMON   GUANA.  835 

leg.  Dampier  informs  us,  that  when  his  men  killed  an  Alligator, 
they  generally  took  out  these  glands,  and,  after  having  dried  them, 
wore  them  in  their  hats  by  way  of  perfume. 

The  teeth  of  Alligators  are  as  white  as  ivory ;  and  snuff-boxes, 
chargers  for  guns,  and  several  kinds  of  toys,  are  manufactured  from 
them.  The  flesh  of  the  young  animals  is  said  to  be  white,  and  toler- 
ably palatable ;  but  that  of  the  old  ones,  is,  from  its  strong  scent, 
extremely  unpleasant  to  the  palate. 


THE   COMMON   GUANA. 

This  animal  grows  to  the  length  of  four  or  five  feet.  The  tail  is 
long  and  round,  the  back  ser- 
rated, and  the  crest  denticulated. 
The  individuals  vary  much  in 
color,  but  their  prevailing  tinge 
is  brownish  green.  Under  the 
chin  they  have  a  pouch  capable 
of  great  inflation,  and  by  which 
alone  they  are  easily  distinguish- 

,     „  *'••  T  .          •'  -.  GUANA,  OB  GERNA. 

ed  from  other  Lizards. 

The  Guana  feeds  on  insects  and  vegetables,  and  is  an  extremely 
gentle  and  harmless  animal.  Its-  appearance,  however,  is  alarming, 
especially  when  agitated  by  fear  or  anger.  Its  eyes  seem  on  fire  •  it 
hisses  like  a  serpent,  swells  out  the  pouch  under  its  throat,  lashes 
about  its  long  tail,  erects  the  scales  on  its  back,  and  holds  its  head, 
covered  over  with  tubercles,  in  a  menacing  attitude.  The  usual  places 
of  its  habitation  or  retreat,  are  the  clefts  of  rocks,  or  the  hollows  of 
trees ;  and  although  it  is  not  naturally  resident  in  the  water,  yet,  on 
necessity  it  will  continue  immersed  for  a  great  length  of  time.  In 
swimming  it  keeps  its  legs  pressed  close  to  its  body,  and  urges  itself 
forward  by  its  tail. 

It  is  quick  in  all  its  motions :  it  climbs  into  the  trees,  and  even 
among  the  highest  branches,  with  astonishing  agility.  Around 
these  it  will  often  entwine  itself,  concealing  its  head  in  some  of  the 
various  foldings  of  its  body. 

The  females  are  smaller  than  the  males  ;  their  colors  and  propor- 
tions more  agreeable,  and  their  appearance  is  more  gentle  and  pleasing. 
These  usually  quit  the  woods  or  mountains  about  two  months  after 
the  end  of  winter,  for  the  purpose  of  depositing  their  eggs  in  the  sand 
of  the  sea-shore.  The  eggs  are  always  unequal  in  number,  from  thir- 
teen to  twenty-five.  They  are  longer,  but  not  thicker,  than  pigeons' 
eggs.  The  outer  covering  is  white  aud  flexible.  Most  travellers  say, 
that  these  eggs  give  an  excellent  relish  to  sauces,  and  that  their  taste 
is  preferable  to  that  of  poultry  eggs. 

During  the  spring  of  the  year,  the  male  exhibits  great  attachment 

towards  the  female.     He  defends  her  even  with  fury,  attacking,  with 

undaunted  courage,  every  animal  that  seems  inclined  to  injure  her ; 

and  at  this  time,  though  his  bite  is  not  poisonous,  he  fastens  so  firmly, 

53 


836  THE   NIMBLE    LIZARD. 

that  it  is  necessary  either  to  kill  him,  or  to  beat  him  with  great  vio- 
lence on  the  nose,  to  make  him  quit  his  hold. 

The  Guana  cannot  without  difficulty  be  killed  by  blows,  or  even  by 
wounds  from  fire-arms  ;  but  it  dies  almost  instantaneously  if  even  a 
straw  be  put  up  his  nostrils.  This  occasions  the  flow  of  a  few  drops  of 
blood,  after  which  the  animal  expires. 

The  flesh  of  the  Guana  constitutes  a  principal  food  of  the  natives 
of  the  Bahama  Islands,  and  of  several  parts  of  America,  and  this  ani- 
mal is  hunted  by  dogs  that  are  trained  for  the  purpose.  It  is  also 
sometimes  ensnared  by  the  following  artifice,  which  has  been  described 
by  Labat.  u  We  were  attended  (he  says)  by  a  negro,  who  carried  a 
long  rod,  at  one  end  of  which  was  fastened  a  piece  of  whip-cord,  with 
a  running  knot.  After  beating  the  bushes  for  some  time,  the  negro 
discovered  our  game,  basking  in  the  sun,  on  the  dry  limb  of  a  tree. 

He  then  began  whistling  with  all  his  might :  to  which  the  Guana 
was  wonderfully  attentive,  stretching  out  his  neck,  and  turning  his 
head,  as  if  to  enjoy  it  more  fully.  The  negro  now  approached,  still 
whistling  and  advancing  his  rod  gently,  began  tickling,  with  the  end 
of  it,  the  sides  and  throat  of  the  Guana,  which  seemed  excessively 
pleased  with  the  operation  ;  for  he  turned  on  his  back,  and  stretched 
himself  out  like  a  cat  before  the  fire,  and  at  length  fell  asleep.  The 
negro  perceiving  this,  dexterously  slipped  the  noose  over  his  head,  and 
with  a  jerk  brought  him  to  the  ground."  Notwithstanding,  however, 
the  apparent  stupidity  and  gentleness  of  the  Guana,  it  no  sooner  finds 
itself  ensnared,  than  it  assumes  a  great  degree  of  violence.  It  becomes 
extremely  agitated ;  the  pouch  of  its  throat  swells  with  rage,  its  eyes 
glisten,  and  it  extends  its  wide  jaws.  But  all  its  efforts  are  now  use- 
less; for  the  hunter  pressing  it  to  the  ground,  with  his  whole  strength, 
holds  it  fast,  till  he  has  tied  his  mouth  and  legs  in  such  a  manner  that 
it  is  no  longer  capable  either  of  defence  or  flight.  As  soon  as  the 
animals  are  thus  secured,  their  mouths  are  sewed  up,  to  prevent  them 
from  biting ;  and  some  of  them  are  carried  alive  from  the  Bahama 
Islands  to  Carolina  for  sale ;  others  are  salted  and  barrelled  by  the 
natives,  for  home  consumption. 

The  Guana  is  found  in  many  parts  both  of  Africa  and  Asia,  and  is 
a  very  common  animal  in  Surinam,  in  the  woods  of  Guiana,  in  Cay- 
enne and  Mexico;  but  it  is  now  become  scarce  in  the  West  Indies,  in 
consequence  of  its  being  there  much  sought  after  for  the  table. 


THE   NIMBLE   LIZAED. 

This  elegant  little  animal,  which  is  known  in  almost  every  part  of 
the  temperate  regions  of  Europe,  seems  to 
be  the  most  gentle  and  inoffensive  of  all  the 
Lizard  tribe.  It  is  fond  of  basking  in  the 
sun;  but,  unable  to  bear  excessive  heat,  in 
tne  hottest  weather  it  seeks  for  shelter.  In 

•  •  -i          •  «  i  . 

spring,  during  fine  weather,  it   may  some- 
times  be  seen  extended  on  a  sloping  green 


THE  GREEN   LIZARD.  837 

bank,  or  on  a  wall  exposed  to  the  sun.  In  these  situations  it  enjoys 
the  full  effects  of  the  reviving  warmth;  it  expresses  its  delight  by 
gently  agitating  its  slender  tail,  and  its  lively  and  brilliant  eyes  are 
animated  with  pleasure.  Should  any  of  the  minute  animals,  on 
which  it  feeds,  appear,  it  springs  upon  them  with  the  quickness  of 
thought;  and  if  any  danger  occurs,  the  little  creature  itself  escapes 
into  some  place  of  retreat  with  equal  rapidity.  On  the  least  noise  it 
turns  suddenly  round,  drops  down,  and  seems,  for  a  moment,  stupe- 
fied by  its  fall:  or  else  it  suddenly  shoots  away  among  the  bushes 
or  thick  grass.  Its  great  rapidity  of  motion  is  chiefly  to  be  observed 
in  warm  countries,  for  in  the  temperate  regions  its  evolutions  are 
much  more  languid. 

The  tail  is  nearly  twice  the  length  of  the  body,  and  tapers  from 
the  root  to  the  extremity,  where  it  ends  in  a  sharp  point.  This,  from 
the  weakness  of  the  vertebrse,  is  so  brittle  as  often  to  snap  off  on  the 
least  roughness  in  handling.  In  this  case,  however,  ifc  is  sometimes 
reproduced.  When  the  tail  has  been  split  or  divided  lengthways, 
each  of  the  portions,  in  healing,  has  rounded  itself,  and  thus  the 
animal  has  had  a  double  tail.  One  of  these  has  contained  the  ver- 
tebrae, and  the  other  only  a  kind  of  tendon  in  the  centre. 

For  the  purpose  of  seizing  the  insects  on  which  it  feeds,  the  Nimble 
Lizard  darts  out,  with  astonishing  velocity,  its  forked  tongue.  This 
is  of  a  reddish  color,  and  is  beset  with  asperities  which  are  scarcely 
sensible  to  the  sight,  but  which  are  of  great  use  in  catching  its  winged 
prey.  Like  most  other  oviparous  quadrupeds,  this  Lizard  is  capable 
of  existing  for  a  long  time  without  food.  Some  of  these  animals 
have  been  kept  in  bottles,  without  nourishment,  for  upwards  of  six 
months. 

In  the  beginning  of  May,  the  female  deposits  her  eggs,  which  are 
nearly  spherical,  and  about  five  lines  in  diameter,  in  some  warm 
situations ;  as,  for  instance,  at  the  foot  of  a  wall  fronting  the  south. 
Here  they  are  hatched  by  the  heat  of  the  sun. 

Previously  to  the  breeding  season,  both  the  male  and  female  change 
their  skins,  and  this  they  again  do  about  the  beginning  of  winter. 
They  pass  that  season  in  a  state  of  torpor,  more  or  less  complete, 
according  to  the  rigor  of  the  climate,  either  in  holes  of  trees,  in  walls, 
or  in  subterranean  places. 


THE    GREEN   LIZARD. 

In  its  manners  it  is  as  gentle  as  the  Nimble  Lizard ;  and  if  taken 
young  may,  to  a  certain  degree,  be  tamed.  On  this  account,  and  from 
its  extremely  beautiful  appearance,  it  is  in  general  a  favorite  animal. 
In  Sweden  and  Kamschatka,  however,  it  is  looked  upon  by  the 
inhabitants  with  horror.  The  Kamtschadales  consider  it  as  sent  by 
the  infernal  dieties,  and  are  anxious  to  cut  it  to  pieces  whenever 
they  meet  with  it. 

When  driven  to  extremity,  the  Green  Lizard  will  sometimes  defend 
itself  even  against  the  attacks  of  dogs.  It  springs  instantl}7  at  the 


838     THE    CAROLINA   LIZARD — FLYING  DRAGON — CHAMELEON. 

muzzle  of  the  assailant,  and  often  fixes  itself  so  obstinately,  that  it 
will  allow  itself  to  be  carried  off,  and  even  killed,  rather  than  quit 
its  hold. 

It  feeds  principally  on  insects  and  earth-worms;  and  is,  in  every 
respect,  a  most  active  animal,  pursuing  with  wonderful  celerity,  its 
insect  prey,  and  when  disturbed  escaping  with  great  readiness  from 
pursuit.  It  devours  the  eggs  of  small  birds,  for  which  purpose  it 
climbs  with  agility  into  the  highest  branches  of  trees. 

It  runs  with  great  swiftness;  and  its  first  motions,  when  it  springs 
from  among  bushes  or  dry  leaves,  are  often  so  rapid,  as  to  excite 
sensations  of  surprise,  or  even  of  fear.  In  India  there  is  a  species 
called  Gecko. 

THE   GREEN   LIZARD   OF    CAROLINA. 

These  are  very  useful  animals  about  the  houses  in  Carolina:  they 
destroy  immense  numbers  of  flies,  and  other  troublesome  and  noxious 
insects.  It  is  scarcely  credible  with  what  industry,  agility,  and  dex- 
terity, they  lie  in  ambush  for,  follow,  and  seize  their  prey.  They  will 
sometimes  remain  motionless  for  half  a  day,  waiting  for  the  insects  on 
which  they  feed ;  and,  when  one  appears,  they  spring  at  it  with  the 
swiftness  of  an  arrow.  So  familiar  are  they,  that  they  enter  houses 
without  fear,  and,  in  pursuit  of  insects,  they  mount  the  tables  whilst 
people  are  eating.  They  are  so  cleanly  and  so  beautiful,  that  they 
are  sufferd  to  run  over  the  tables,  and  even  upon  the  plates,  without 
exciting  the  smallest  disgust. 


THE   FLYING   DRAGON. 


This  name  is  applied  to  a  Lizard  witt 
wing-like  appendages,  which,  however,  is, 
totally  unable  to  fly. 

This  characteristic  of  large  spreading 
wing-like  appendages,  is  not  confined  to 
one  variety  of  the  lizard,  but  is  found  in 
several  different  kinds.  The  name  of  Fly- 
ing Dragon,  was  originally  applied  to  fabu- 
lous beings,  and  seems  to  have  been  given 
to  the  lizard  from  mere  caprice. 


TLTINO  DRAGON. 


THE    CHAMELEON. 

Not  many  animals  of  the  present  class  have  attained  greater  celebrity 
than  the  Chameleon.  From  the  earliest  periods,  this  extraordinary 
reptile  has  been  metaphorically  employed  to  denote  the  most  abject 
flattery.  It  has  been  considered  as  always  deriving  its  color  from  the 
object  on  which  it  was  placed,  and  as  having  no  color  of  its  own. 

The  Chameleon  is  a  native  of  India,  the  Indian  Islands,  Africa,  and 


THE   CHAMELEON. 


839 


some  of  the  warmer  parts  of  Spain  and  Portugal,  as  well  as  of  several 
of  the  countries  of  South  America.  Its  usual  length  is  about  ten 
inches  ;  and  that  of  the  tail  is  nearly  the  same. 

Though  an  animal  extremely  ugly  and  disgusting  in  its  appearance, 
it  is  perfectly  harmless.  It 
feeds  only  on  insects,  for 
which  the  structure  of  its 
tongue  is  peculiarly  adapted, 
being  long  and  missile,  and 
furnished  with  a  dilated, 
glutinous,  and  somewhat 
tubular  tip.  By  means  of 
this  it  seizes  upon  insects 
with  the  greatest  ease,  dart- 
ing it  out,  and  instantane- 
ously retracing  it,  with  the 
prey  secured  on  its  tip, 
which  it  swallows  whole. 
The  skin  is  covered  with  small  warts  or  granulations,  each  about  the 
size  of  a  tolerably  large  pin's  head  ;  and  along  the  middle  of  the  back, 
there  is  a  row  of  serratures. 

All  the  motions  of  this  creature  are  extremely  slow  :  in  travelling 
from  one  branch  of  a  tree  to  another,  and  in  taking  food,  it  may  rather 
be  said  to  lie  in  ambush  among  the  leaves,  in  order  to  catch  such  in- 
sects as  may  alight  upon,  or  come  within  reach  of  its  long  adhesive 
tongue,  than  to  go  in  search  of  prey.  Its  feet  have  each  five  toes, 
which  are  situated  three  one  way  and  two  another,  in  order  to  enable 
it  to  lay  firmly  hold  of  the  branches  :  but,  whenever  it  happens  that 
these  are  too  large  for  the  animal  to  grasp  them  with  its  feet,  it  coils 
round  them  its  long,  prehensile  tail,  and  fixes  its  claws  strongly  into 
the  bark.  When  walking  on  the  ground  it  steps  forward  in  an  ex- 
tremely cautious  manner,  seeming  never  to  lift  one  foot,  until  it  is 
well  assured  of  the  firmness  of  the  rest.  From  these  precautions,  its 
motions  have  a  ridiculous  appearance  of  gravity,  when  contrasted  with 
the  smallness  of  its  size,  and  the  activity  that  one  might  expect  in  3,n 
animal  so  nearly  allied  to  some  of  the  most  active  in  the  creation. 

The  eyes  of  the  Chameleon  are  each  covered  by  a  rough  membrane, 
in  appearance  not  much  unlike  sha-  <^ 
green,  which  is  attached  to  the  eye- 
ball, and  follows  all  its  motions. 
This  membrane  is  divided  by  a  nar- 
row, horizontal  slit,  through  which 
the  bright  pupil,  as  if  bordered 
with  burnished  gold,  is  seen.  This 
wonderful  structure  resembles,  in 
some  degree,  the  artificial  defence 
employed  by  the  Laplanders  and 
.other  northern  nations,  for  defend- 
ing their  eyes  against  the  excessive  reflection  of  light  from  the  surface 
of  the  snow,  by  means  of  a  narrow  slit,  in  a  thin  and  hollow  piece  of 


THE  CHAMELEOX  CATCHING   FLIES. 


840 


THE   CHAMELEON. 


wood.  The  eyes  of  the  Chameleon  have  another  singular  property, 
that  of  looking  at  the  same  instant  in  different  directions.  One  of 
them  may  frequently  be  seen  to  move  when  the  other  is  at  rest ;  or 
one  will  be  directed  forward,  whilst  the  other  is  attending  to  some 
object  behind ;  or  in  a  similar  manner  upward  and  downward. 

The  Chameleon  has  likewise  a  power  of  inflating  most  parts  of  its 

body,  so  as  to  in- 
crease i  t  s  general 
bulk,  and  to  give  a 
full  and  round  ap- 
pearance to  such 
parts  as  are  naturally 
flaccid  and  lank. 
This  inflation  is  pro- 
duced by  slow  and 
irregular  efforts; 
and  proceeds  occa- 
sionally to  such  a 
degree,  as  to  double 
the  usual  size  of  the 
animal,  extending 
even  into  the  feet 
and  tail. 

The  color  of  the 
Chameleon,    is    nat- 
urally green ;  but  it 
of 
and 

particularly  of  three 
very  distinct  ones : 
Saxon  green,  deep 
green,  and  a  shade 
bordering  on  blue 
and  yellow  green. 
"When  free,  in  health, 
and  at  ease,  it  is  of  a 
beaut  if  ul  green; 
some  parts  excepted, 
where  the  skin, 
being  thicker  and 
more  rough,  pro- 
duces gradations  of 
brown,  red,  or  light 
gray.  When  the 
animal  is  provoked, 
in  open  air,  and  well 
fed,  it  becomes  blue 
green ;  but  when  feeble  or  deprived  of  free  air,  the  prevailing  tint  is 
yellow-green.  Under  other  circumstances,  and  especially  at  the 
approach  of  one  of  its  own  species,  no  matter  of  which  sex,  or  when 


is     susceptible 
many     shades, 


THE    SALAMANDER.  841 

surrounded  and  teased  by  a  number  of  insects  thrown  upon  him,  he 
then,  almost  in  a  moment  takes  alternately  the  three  different  tints 
of  green.  If  he  be  dying,  particularly  of  hunger,  the  yellow  is  at 
first  predominant ;  but  in  the  first  stage  of  purification  this  changes 
to  the  color  of  dead  leaves. 

The  causes  of  these  changes  are  various :  and  first,  the  blood  of  the 
Chameleon  is  of  a  violet  blue,  which  color  it  will  preserve  for  some 
minutes  on  linen  or  paper,  especially  on  such  as  have  been  steeped  in 
alum-water.  In  the  second  place,  the  different  tunicles  of  the  vessels 
are  yellow,  as  well  in  their  trunks  as  in  their  ramifications.  The 
epidermis,  or  exterior  skin,  when  separated,  is  transparent,  without 
any  color ;  and  the  second  skin  is  yellow,  as  are  all  the  little  vessels 
that  touch  it.  Hence  it  is  probable  that  the  change  of  color  depends 
upon  the  mixtures  of  blue  and  yellow,  from  which  result  different 
shades  of  green.  Thus,  when  the  animal, 
healthy  and  well  fed,  is  provoked,  its 
blood  is  carried  in  greater  abundance 
from  the  heart  towards  the  extremities ; 
and  swelling  the  vessels  that  are  spread 
-over  the  skin,  its  blue  color  subsides,  CHAMELEON. 

and,    with    the    yellow    of    the    vessels, 

produces  a  blue  green  that  is  seen  through  the  epidermis.  When,  on 
the  contrary,  the  animal  is  impoverished  and  deprived  of  free  air,  the 
exterior  vessels  being  more  empty,  their  color  prevails,  and  the 
animal  becomes  of  a  yellow-green  till  it  recovers  its  liberty,  is  well 
nourished,  and  without  pain,  when  it  regains  its  former  color;  this 
being  the  consequence  of  equilibrium  in  the  liquids,  and  of  a  due 
proportion  of  them  in  the  vessels. 

The  Chameleon  retires,  in  cold  weather,  into  holes  of  rocks,  and 
other  retreats,  where  it  is  supposed  to  become  torpid,  till  the  return 
of  the  warmth  restores  the  languid  energy  of  its  functions.  The  female 
not  long  afterwards,  emerges  from  this  confinement,  and  lays  from 
nine  to  twelve  eggs.  These  are  oval,  and  seven  or  eight  lines  in  their 
greatest  diameter.  They  are  covered  with  a  soft  parchment-like 
membrane. 


THE  SALAMANDER. 

No  animal  of  the  present  tribe,  except  the  Crocodile,  has  excited  so 
much  notice  as  the  Salamander.  Whilst  even  the  hardest  bodies  are 
unable  to  resist  the  action  of  fire,  the  generality  of  mankind  have  given 
credit  to  the  absurd  stories,  that  have  for  ages  been  circulated,  of  this 
little  Lizard  not  only  being  able  to  withstand  the  effects  of  this  power- 
ful element,  but  even  to  extinguish  it. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  Salamander  was  erroneously  considered  a 
poisonous  reptile,  and  has  been  generally  held  in  terror. 

Shady  woods,  high  mountains,  or  the  banks  of  unfrequented  rivulets, 
are  the  usual  retreats  of  these  animals  ;  and  they  are  not  often  seen 
except  during  wet  weather.  In  winter  they  lie  concealed  in  hollows 


842  THE   FRILLED    LIZARD. 

about  the  roots  of  old  trees,  in  subterraneous  recesses,  or  the  cavities 
of  old  walls,  where  several  of  them  have  sometimes  been  discovered, 
collected  and  twisted  together.  They  are  frequently  to  be  seen  in  the 
water,  where  they  are  able  to  live  as  on  land.  Their  principal  food 
consists  of  insects,  snails,  and  worms.  Their  pace  is  slow,  and  their 
manners  sluggish. 

When  the  Salamander  is  at  rest,  it  often  rolls  itself  into  a  spiral 
form  like  a  serpent.  Whenever  it  is  handled,  it  covers  itself  suddenly 
over  with  its  milky  fluid;  and  when  crushed,  or  even  when  squeezed, 
it  emits  a  peculiar  and  offensive  odor.  When  struck,  it  erects  its 
tail,  and  becomes,  for  some  time,  altogether  motionless. 

It  is  extremely  tenacious  of  life,  and  is  not  to  be  killed  by  blows 
or  wounds  without  difficulty  ;  but  if  wetted  with  vinegar,  or  sprinkled 
with  powdered  salt,  it  soon  dies  in  convulsions.  This  is  likewise 
the  case  with  some  other  Lizards,  and  with  most  worms. 


THE    FRILLED   LIZARD. 

This  extraordinary  Lizard,  a  native  of  Australia,  is  at  once  to  be 

known  by  an  expanse 
of  skin,  supported  by 
a  crescent-shaped  car- 
tilage on  each  side  of 
the  neck,  forming  an 
expanded  frill,  capable 
of  being  folded  up  or 
spread  out ;  the  edge 
of  this  frill  is  serrated, 
and  the  whole  is  cov- 
ered with  small  keeled 

FRILLED  LIZARD.  ,  ,  , 

scales;    the    head    is 

short;  the  tail  long:  the  feet  well  adapted  for  climbing.  There  are 
femoral  pores.  When 
fully  grown,  this  spe- 
cies measures  nearly 
three  feet  in  total 
length,  and  is  arbo- 
real in  its  habits. 
The  general  color  is 
yellowish  brown  vari- 
egated with  black ; 
tongue  and  inside  of 
the  mouth  yellow. 

This  species  resem- 
bles the  Flying  Dragon 
described  on  page  530, 
except  that  the  frill 

of  this  lizard  is  not  so .  DEAD  A™  FRILI" OF 

much  extended  as  the  wings  of  the  Dragon. 


THE   WATER   EFT. 


843 


THE   NEWT. 


THE  WATER  EFT,  OR    NEWT. 

This  Lizard,  which  is  very  common  in  stagnant  and  muddy  waters 
in  this  country,  is  six  or 
seven  inches  in  length, 
and  is  entirely  covered, 
except  on  the  belly,  with 
small  warts.  The  under 
parfs  are  of  a  bright  yel- 
low color,  and  the  upper 
mostly  black  brown, 
spotted  with  black.  It 
resides  altogether  either 
in  the  water,  or  in  very 
damp  places;  and  its 
tail,  being  flattened  per- 
pendicularly, serves  it  as 
a  rudder  in  swimming. 
It  is  usually  seen  crawl- 
ing along  the  bottom, 
but  it  now  arid  then  rises,  with  a  wriggling  motion  to  the  surface. 

To  the  Salamander  has  been  attributed  the  fabulous  property  of 
being  able  to  live  in  the  midst  of  fire  ;  whilst,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Eft  has  been  discovered  really  to  possess  the  opposite  quality,  of  pre- 
serving its  existence  in  the  midst  of  ice.  It  is  sometimes  caught  by 
the  sudden  formation  of  ice  in  the  ditches  or  ponds  that  it  inhabits ; 
here  it  remains  in  a  torpid  state,  till,  at  the  return  of  spring,  its 
prison  becomes  melted,  when  it  recovers  its  liberty,  and  its  powers 
of  motion.  Sometimes,  even  in  summer,  Efts  have  been  found  envel- 
oped in  lumps  of  ice  taken  from  ice-houses ;  and  in  these  they  must 
have  remained  without  either  food  or  motion,  from  the  commence- 
ment of  the  frost. 

When  the  young-ones  first  come  into  the  world,  they  have  some- 
what the  structure  of  fishes :  the  feet  are  short,  and  the  shoulders 
are  fur.  ;  ed  with  a  kind  of  small  fringed  fins.  These  appear  not  much 
unlike  1-r  thers,  and  are  attached  to  a  kind  of  notched  cartilaginous 
half  rings,  usually  about  four  CHI  each  side.  As  the  animals  become 
larger,  these  processes  diminish  in  size,  and  at  last  disappear. 

Almost  all  the  animals  of  the  lizard  tribe,  change  their  skins  once 
or  twice  a  year,  but  the  Efts  do  this  much  more  frequently.  From 
seven  individuals  kept  in  a  large  jar  of  water  for  many  months,  it 
appears,  that  they  generally  perform  this  operation  at  the  end 
of  every  fortnight  or  three  weeks. 

The  teeth  of  these  animals  are  so  small,  as  scarcely  to  be  perceptible. 
They  feed  on  flies  and  various  other  insects,  on  the  spawn  of  Frogs, 
and  on  the  vegetables  of  marshes,  ponds,  and  ditches.  They  will 
frequently  snap  at  the  angler's  bait,  and  are  thus  often  caught  by  his 
hook. 


844  THE   PROTEUS. 

It  has  been  satisfactorily  ascertained,  by  various  experiments,  that 
the  Eft  has  no  venomous  qualities  whatever. 


THE   PROTEUS. 

The  Proteus  breathes  in  two  ways — by  lungs  and  by  gills,  the  latter 

organs  appearing  in 
the  form  of  two  tufts, 
one  on  each  side  of 
the  neck,  just  above 
the  fore  limbs.  The 
circulation  o  f  t  h  e 
blood  in  these 
branchial  tufts  can 
easily  be  seen  with  a 
microscope  of 
«.»»».  moderate  power. 

These  tufts  are  of  a 

rather  deeper  pink  tinge  than  the  remainder  of  the  body,  which  is  of 
a  very  pale  flesh -color.  Exposure  to  light  darkens  the  tints  both  of 
gills  and  body.  It  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  young  of  the  Newts, 
which  are  furnished  with  branchial  tufts,  which  they  loose  upon  at- 
taining maturity,  and  was  therefore  for  some  time  thought  to  be  the 
young  of  some  unknown  reptile.  It  has,  however,  been  proved  to  be 
a  perfect  animal,  and  has  been  found  of  all  sizes. 

The  blood  discs  of  this  animal  are  exceedingly  large ;  so  large, 
indeed,  as  almost  to  be  distinguished  by  the  naked  eye.  When  in 
captivity,  its  movements  are  slow  and  eel-like,  nor  does  it  seem  to 
make  much  use  of  its  almost  rudimentary  limbs. 

It  has  usually  been  found  on  the  soft  mud  of  a  small  lake  in  the 
grotto  of  Madalena.  It  is  not  always  present,  and  has  been  conjec- 
tured to  be  the  inhabitant  of  some  unknown  subterranean  body  of 
water,  and  to  have  been  forced  through  the  crevices  of  the  rocks. 
Besides  the  grotto  of  Madalena  at  Adelsburg  they  have  also  been 
found  at  Sittich,  thirty  miles  distant  thrown  up  from  a  subterranean 
cavity 


SERPENTS. 


OF  THE  BATTLE-SNAKE  TKIBE. 

THE  animals  of  this  tribe,  which  are  few  in  number,  are  all  furnished 
with  poisonous  fangs ;  but  their 
bite  is  not  fatal,  unless  they  be 
much  irritated.  They  are  confined 
to  the  warmer  parts  of  America, 
where  they  prey  on  the  smaller 
species  of  birds,  lizards,  and 
insects.  They  give  notice  o  f 
their  approach  by  the  rattle  at  the 
extremity  of  their  tail ;  this  rattle 
is  composed  of  hollow,  membran- 
aceous  articulations,  that  annually 
increase  in  number  till  they 
amount  to  about  forty.  The 
head  is  broad,  and  covered  with  large  carinated  scales,  or  such  as  have 
a  prominent  middle  line  •  the  snout  is  rounded  and  obtuse. 


THE   RATTLE-SNAKE. 


THE   BANDED   KATTLE-SNAKE. 

This,  the  most  dreaded  of  all  serpents,  is  found  both  in  North  and 
South  America.  Providence  has 
given  to  mankind  a  security  against 
its  bite  ;  for  it  generally  warns  the 
passenger  of  its  vicinity  by  the 
rattling  of  its  tail.  In  fine  weather 
the  notice  is  always  given,  but  not 
always  in  rainy  weather  :  t  h  i  s 
inspires  the  Indians  with  a  dread 
of  travelling  among  the  woods  in 
wet  seasons.  In  addition  to  this 
circumstance,  the  odor  of  the 
Rattlesnake  is  so  extremely  fetid, 
that,  when  it  basks  in  the.  sun,  or  is 
irritated,  it  is  often  discovered  by  the  scent,  before  it  is  either  seen  or 
heard. 

The  Rattle-snake  usually  moves  with  its  head  on  the  ground ;  but, 
if  alarmed,  it  throws  its  body  into  a  circle,  coiling  itself  with  its  head 
in  the  centre  erect,  and  with  its  eyes  flaming  in  a  most  terrific 

(845) 


RATTLE-SNAKE    STRIKING. 


846  THE    BANDED   RATTLE-SNAKE. 

manner.  Happily,  it  may  easily  be  avoided :  it  is  slow  in  pursuit, 
and  has  not  the  power  of  springing  at  its  assailants. 

Its  tongue  is  frequently  darted  out  and  retracted  with  great 
agility.  Besides  the  fangs  with  which  Rattle-snakes  kill  their  prey, 
there  is  another  kind  of  teeth  much  smaller,  and  situated  in  both 
jaws:  these  serve  for  catching  and  retaining  it.  There  are  no  grin- 
ders ;  for  Kattle-snakes  do  not  chew  their  food,  but  always  swallow  it 
whole. 

A  farmer  was  one  day  mowing  with  his  negroes,  when  he  accident- 
ally trod  on  a  Rattle-snake,  that  immediately  turned  upon  him,  and 
bit  his  boot.  At  night,  whea  he  went  to  bed,  he  was  attacked  with 
sickness :  he  swelled,  and,  before  a  physician  could  be  called  in,  he 
died.  All  his  neighbors  were  surprised  at  this  sudden  death,  but  the 
body  was  interred  without  examination.  A  few  days  afterwards, 
one  of  the  sons  put  on  his  father's  boots,  and,  at  night,  when  he  pulled 
them  off,  he  was  seized  with  the  same  symptoms,  and  died  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning.  The  medical  man  arrived,  but,  unable  to  divine  the 
cause  of  so  singular  a  disorder,  he  seriously  pronounced  both  the 
father  and  the  son  to  have  been  bewitched.  At  the  sale  of  the  effects, 
a  neighbor  purchased  the  boots,  and  on  putting  them  on,  experienced 
the  like  dreadful  symptoms  with  the  father  and  son.  A  skilful 
physician,  however,  who  had  heard  of  the  preceding  affair,  being 
sent  for,  he  suspected  the  cause,  and,  by  applying  the  proper  reme- 
dies, recovered  his  patient.  The  fatal  boots  were  now  carefully 
examined,  and  the  two  fangs  of  the  snake  were  discovered  to  have 
been  left  in  the  leather,  with  the  poison  bladders  adhering  to  them. 
They  had  penetrated  entirely  through,  and  both  the  father  and  son 
had  imperceptibly  scratched  themselves  with  their  points  in  pulling 
off  the  boots. 

If  not  provoked,  these  animals  are  perfectly  inoffensive  to  mankind, 
being  so  much  alarmed  at  the  sight  of  men,  as  always,  if  possible,  to 
avoid  them,  and  never  themselves  commencing  an  attack. 

Mr.  St.  John  once  saw  a  tamed  Rattle-snake,  as  gentle  as  it  is 
possible  to  imagine  a  reptile  to  be.  It  went  to  the  water  and  swam 
whenever  it  pleased  ;  and  when  the  boys  to  whom  it  belonged  called 
it  back,  their  summons  was  readily  obeyed.  It  had  been  deprived  of 
its  fangs.  They  often  stroked  it  with  a  soft  brush  ;  and  this  friction 
seemed  to  cause  the  most  pleasing  sensations,  for  it  would  turn  on  its 
back  to  enjoy  it,  as  a  cat  does  before  the  fire. 

Rattle-snakes  are  viviparous,  producing  their  offspring,  generally 
about  twelve  in  number,  in  the  month  of  June ;  and  by  September 
these  acquire  the  length  of  twelve  inches.  It  has  been  well  attested 
that  they  adopt  the  same  mode  of  preserving  their  young-ones  from 
danger  as  that  attributed  to  the  European  Yiper,  receiving  them  into 
their  mouth  and  swallowing  them.  M.  de  Beauvois  declares  that  he 
was  an  eye-witness  to  the  process.  He  saw  a  large  Rattle-snake, 
which  he  had  disturbed  in  his  walks  :  it  immediately  coiled  itself  up, 
opened  its  jaws,  and  in  an  instant  five  small  ones  that  were  lying  by 
it,  rushed  into  its  mouth.  He  retired  in  order  to  watch  the  snake,  and 
in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  saw  her  again  discharge  them.  He  then 


THE   GREAT   BOA.  847 

approached  a  second  time,  when  the  young-ones  rushed  into  its  mouth 
more  quickly  than  before,  and  the  animal  immediately  moved  off  and 
escaped. 

The  Eattle-snake  is  known  to  devour  several  of  the  smaller  species 
of  animals,  and,  by  many  persons,  is  considered  to  be  endowed  with 
the  power  of  fascinating  its  prey,  until  they  even  run  into  its  jaws. 
Professor  Kalm  states,  that  this  Snake  will  frequently  lie  at  the  bottom 
of  a  tree  on  which  a  Squirrel  is  seated.  He  fixes  his  eyes  upon  the 
little  animal,  and  from  that  moment  it  cannot  escape :  it  begins  a  dole- 
ful outcry ;  runs  up  the  tree  a  little  way,  comes  down  again,  then  goes 
up,  and  afterwards  comes  still  lower.  The  Snake  continues  at  the 
bottom  of  the  tree,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  Squirrel ;  and  his  atten- 
tion is  so  entirely  taken  up,  that  a  person  accidentally  approaching 
may  make  a  considerable  noise,  without  so  much  as  the  Snake's 
turning  about.  The  Squirrel  comes  lower,  and  at  last  leaps  down  to  the 
Snake,  whose  mouth  is  already  wide  open  for  its  reception.  The  little 
animal  then  with  a  piteous  cry,  runs  into  his  jaws,  and  is  swallowed. 

In  summer  the  Rattle-snakes  are  generally  found  in  pairs :  in 
winter  they  collect  in  multitudes,  and  retire  into  the  ground,  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  frost.  Tempted  by  the  warmth  of  a  spring  day,  they 
are  often  observed  to  creep  out  in  a  weak  and  languid  state.  Mr.  Pen- 
nant mentions,  that  a  person  has  seen  a  large  piece  of  ground  covered 
with  them,  and  that  he  killed,  with  a  rod,  between  sixty  and  seventy ; 
till,  overpowered  with  the  stench,  he  was  compelled  to  retire. 


OF  THE  BOA  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 


THIS  is  a  noble  tribe  of 
animals,  the  largest  and 
strongest  of  the  serpent 
race.  They  are  destitute 
of  venom,  never  attack 
but  from  necessity,  always 
engage  with  open  courage, 
and  conquer  only  by 
superior  strength. 

Three  of  the  species  are 
found  in  Asia;  the  rest 
are  confined  to  the  warm- 
er parts  of  the  New  Con- 
tinent. 


THE    GREAT    BOA. 

This  immense  animal,  the  largest  of  all  the  serpent  tribe,  is 
frequently  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  length,  and  of  proportionate 
thickness.  A  gentleman,  who  had  some  extensive  mercantile  concerns 
in  America,  informs  us,  that  he  one  day  sent  out  a  soldier,  with  an 


848 


THE   GREAT   BOA. 


Indian,  to  kill  some  wild-fowl ;  and  in.  pursuing  their  game,  the  Indian 

who  generally  went 
before,  sat  down 
upon  what  he  sup- 
posed to  be  the  fallen 
trunk  of  a  tree.  But 
the  monster  begin- 
ning to  move,  the 
poor  fellow  perceived 
what  it  was  that  he 
had  thus  approached, 
and  dropped  down 
in  an  agony.  The 
soldier  who  at  some 
distance  saw  what 
had  happened,  lev- 
elled his  piece  at  the 
Serpent's  head,  and 
shot  it  dead;  then, 

GREAT   BOA.  gOlUg     Up    tO     tllO     16- 

lief  of  his  compa- 
nion, found  that  he  was  also  dead  from  the  fright.  On  his  return,  he 
related  what  had  happened  ;  the  animal  was  ordered  to  be  brought, 


SKELETON  OF  A  BOA. 


and  it  was  found  to  be  thirty-six  feet  long.     The  skin  was  stuffed, 
and  sent  to  the  cabinet  of  the 'Prince  of  Orange. 

A  Malay  prow  was  making  for  the  port  ofAmboyna;  but  the  pilot 


THE    GREAT   BOA. 


849 


finding  she  could  not  enter  it  before  dark,  brought  her  to  anchor  for 

the  night  close  under 

the  island  of  Celebes 

One  of  the  crew  went 

on      shore     into     the 

woods,    and     on     his 

return,    lay  down,   as 

it  is  supposed,  to  sleep 

on  the  beach.     In  the 

course  of  the  night  he 

was     heard,     by     his 

comrades,    to    scream 

out      for      assistance. 

They      immediately 

went  on  shore,  but  it 

was  too   late;   for   an 

immense  snake  of  this 

species    had     crushed 

him    to     death.     The 

"ting 

occupied  by  his  prey, 

the  people  went  boldly 

up   to    it,    cut   off  its 

head,  and  took  both  it 

and   the  body  of  the 

man   on    board    their 

boat.     The  snake  had 

seized  the  man  by  the 

right  wrist,  where  the 

marks    of    the    fangs 

were  very  distinct;  and 

the  mangled  corpse  bore  evident  signs  of  having  been  crushed  by  the 

monster's  twisting  itself  round  the  head,  neck,  breast,  and  thigh.    The 

length  of  the  snake  was  about  thirty  feet,  and  its  thickness  equal  to 

that  of  a  moderate-sized  man. 

We  have  been  assured  by  travellers,  that  these  snakes  are  some- 
times found  with  the  body  of  a  stag  in  their  gullet;  while  the  horns, 
which  they  are  unable  to  swallow,  are  seen  sticking-  out  at  their 
mouths. 

It  is  happy  for  mankind  that  their  rapacity  is  often  their  own 
punishment;  for,  whenever  they  have  gorged  themselves  in  this 
manner,  they  become  torpid,  and  may  be  approached  and  destroyed 
with  safety.  Patient  of  hunger  to  a  surprising  degree,  whenever  they 
seize  and  swallow  their  prey,  they  are,  like  surfeited  gluttons,  un- 
wieldy, stupid,  helpless,  and  sleepy.  They  at  that  time  seek  for  some 
retreat,  where  they  may  lurk  for  several  days  together,  and  digest 
their  meal  in  safety.  The  least  effort  then  will  destroy  them;  they 
scarcely  can  make  any  resistance;  and  equally  unqualified  for  flight 
or  opposition;  even  the  naked  Indians  do  not  fear  to  assail  them. 


BOA  CRUSHING  A  DEER. 


850 


THE   GREAT   BOA. 


But  it  is  otherwise  when  this  sleeping  interval  of  digestion  is  over ; 
they  then  issue,  with  famished  appetites,  from  their  retreats,  while 
every  animal  of  the  forest  flies  from  their  presence. 

When  Captain  Stedman  was  on  board  one  of  his  boats  on  the  river 
Cottica  in  Surinam,  he  was  informed,  by  one  of  his  slaves,  that  a 
large  snake  was  lying  among  the  brush-wood  on  the  beach,  not  far 
distant;  and,  after  some  persuasion,  he  was  induced  to  land,  in  order 
to  shoot  it.  At  the  first  shot,  the  ball  missing  the  head,  went  through 
the  body:  when  the  animal  struck  round,  and  with  such  astonishing 
force,  as  to  cut  away,  with  the  facility  of  a  scythe  mowing  grass,  all 


DOA   SEIZING  A   BIRD. 


the  underwood  around;  and,  by  flouncing  his  tail,  caused  the  mud  and 
dirt  in  which  he  lay,  to  fly  to  a  considerable  distance,  over  the  heads 
of  the  men  that  were  with  him.  They  started  back  some  way,  but 
the  snake  was  quiet  again  in  a  few  minutes.  Captain  Stedman  again 
fired,  but  with  no  better  success  than  before;  and  the  animal  sent  up 
such  a  cloud  of  dust  and  dirt,  as  he  had  never  seen  but  in  a  whirlwind: 
this  caused  them  once  more  suddenly  to  retreat.  After  some  per- 
suasion, he  was  induced,  though  much  against  his  inclination,  being 
exceedingly  weak  from  illness,  to  make  a  third  attempt.  Having, 
therefore,  once  more  discovered  the  snake,  they  discharged  their 


THE   GREAT    BOA. 


851 


pieces  at  once,  and  shot  him  through  the  head.  The  negro  brought 
a  boat-rope  to  drag 
him  to  the  canoe, 
which  was  lying  on 
the  bank  of  the 
river.  This  proved 
no  easy  undertak- 
ing, since  the  huge 
creature,  notwith- 
standing his  being 
mortally  wounded, 
still  continued  to 
writhe  about  in  such 
a  manner  as  to' ren- 
der it  dangerous  for 
any  person  to  ap- 
proach him.  The 
negro-  made  a  run- 
ning noose  on  the 
rope,  and,  after 
some  fruitless  at- 
tempts, threw  it 
over  his  head  with 
much  dexterity ; 

and  no.,  all  taJg     QH^^|HP!|^Pf 
hold    of    the    rope, 
they    dragged    him 
to   the    beach,    and 
tied  him  to  the  stern 
of  the  canoe  to  take 
him  in  tow.    Being, 
however,  still  alive, 
he  there  kept   swimming  like  an  eel.     His  length  was  more  than 
twenty-two  feet. 

When  they  came  to  one  of  their  stations,  they  hauled  him  on  shore, 
in  order  to  skin  him  and  take  out  the  oil.  To  effect  this,  one  of  the 
negroes,  having  climbed  up  a  tree  with  the  end  of  a  rope,  let  it  down 
over  a  strong  forked  branch,  and  the  others  hoisted  up  the  snake, 
and  suspended  him  from  the  tree.  This  done,  the  former  negro,  with 
a  sharp  knife  between  his  teeth,  left  the  branch,  and  clung  fast  upon 
the  monster,  which  was  still  writhing,  and  began  his  operations  by 
ripping  it  up,  and  stripping  down  the  skin  as  he  descended.  "Though 
I  perceived  (says  the  captain)  that  the  animal  was  no  longer  able  to 
do  him  any  injury,  I  confess  I  could  not,  without  emotion,  see  a  man 
stark  naked,  black  and  bloody,  clinging  with  his  arms  and  legs 
round  the  slimy  and  yet  living  monster."  The  negroes  cut  the  animal 
in  pieces,  and  would  have  eaten  it,  had  they  not  been  refused  the 
use  of  the  kettle  to  boil  it  in.  The  bite  of  this  snake  in  not  venomous ; 
nor  is  the  animal  believed  to  bite  at  all,  from  any  other  impulse  than 
that  of  anger. 
54 


BOA  SEIZING  A  TBAVHLLER. 


852 


THE   ANACONDA — BOA   CENCHRIA. 


THE  ANACONDA. 

The  Boa  Scytale,  or  Anaconda  (which  name  appears  to  be  of 

Ceylonese  origin)  is 
found  in  South  Amer- 
ica. It  has  scaly  plates 
from  the  eyes  to  the  end 
of  the  muzzle :  no  pits 
on  the  jaw-plates.  This 
serpent  is  not  venomous 
nor  known  to  injure 
man;  however,  the 
natives  stand  in  great 
fear  of  it,  never  bath- 
ing in  waters  where  it 
is  known  to  exist.  Its 
common  haunt,  or  rath- 
er domicile,  is  invaria- 
bly near  lakes,  swamps 
and  rivers ;  likewise 
close  to  wet  ravines 
produced  by  inunda- 
tions of  the  periodical 
rains.  .  Fish,  and  those 
animals  which  repair 
there  to  drink,  are  the 
objects  of  its  prey.  The 
creature  lurks  watch- 
fully under  cover  of  the 
water,  and,  whilst  the 
unsuspecting  animal  is 
drinking,  s  u  d  d  e  n  1  y 
makes  a  dash  at  the 
ANACONDA.  nose,  and  with  a  grip 

of  its  back-reclining 

double  range  of  teeth  never  fails  to  secure  the  terrified  beast  beyond 

the  power  of  escape. 


THE    BOA    CENCHRIA,    OK   ABOMA. 

In  the  Boa  Cenchria  there  are  scaly  plates  on  the  muzzle,  and  pits 
or  dimples  upon  the  plates  of  the  jaws.     The  size  attained  by  the  Boa 
is  often  very  great,  and  larger  individuals  than  any  now  seen  occurred 
formerly,  before  their  ancient  haunts  had  been  invaded  by  human  col 
onization.     It  is  found  in  South  America. 


THE   BOA   CANINA — TIGER   PITTEON-  -EMPEROR   BOA. 


853 


THE   BOA   CANINA. 

The  Boa  Canina  is  of  a  greenish  color,  with  white  irregular,  longish 
spots  somewhat  annularly  disposed.  The  Portuguese  relate  that  these 
serpents  sometimes  remain  in  the  houses,  doing  no  harm  till  irritated, 
when  they  at  last  bite  and  inflict  a  wound  full  of  danger,  not  from 
injected  poison,  for  the  serpent  has  none,  but  on  account  of  the  injury 
sustained  by  the  nerves  from  the  very  sharp,  slender,  and  long  teeth. 
Great  inflammation  follows,  and  the  symptoms  are  aggravated  by 
terror,  so  that  a  gangrene  is  the  consequence  unless  the  proper  reme- 
dies are  applied. 


THE   TIGER   PYTHON. 


The  Tiger  Py- 
thon is  found  in  Af- 
rica and  India.  It 
kills  its  prey  by 
constriction,  like  the 
Boa,  and  sometimes 
grows  to  an  enor- 
mous size.  It  was 
probably  a  small 
specimen  of  this 
snake  that  was  so 
unceremonio  usly 
dislodged  from  its 
hiding  place  among 
rocks  by  Mr.  Gum- 
ming and  his  black 
servant,  during  one 
of  his  hunting  ex- 
cursions in  Africa. 

There  are  several 
different  species  of 
the  Python  found 
in  Africa,  all  large 
and  constrictors. 
Some  of  them  are 
variegated  with 
beautiful  colors. 


TIGER   PYTHON. 


THE   EMPEROR   BOA. 

The  Emperor  Boa  is  a  Mexican  variety,  differing  but  slightly  from 
the  South  American  Boas. 


854  THE   COMMON    VIPER,   OR   ADDER. 


OF    THE    SNAKES    IN    GENERAL. 

THIS  tribe  comprises  a  great  number  of  species,  (nearly  two  hundred) 
which  differ  from  each  other  very  greatly,  both  in  size  and  habit. 
About  one-fifth  of  the  whole  have  been  discovered  to  be  poisonous. 
These  are,  in  general,  distinguishable  from  the  rest,  by  their  large, 
ilattish,  and  somewhat  heart-shaped  heads,  and  by  having  proportion- 
ally shorter  bodies.  The  harmless  species  have,  for  the  most  part 
small  heads,  with  more  extended  bodies. 


THE   COMMON   VIPER,  OR  ADDER. 

These  serpents  do  not  often  exceed  the  length  of  two  feet,  though 
they  are  sometimes  found  above  three.  The  ground  color  of  their 
bodies  is  a  dirty  yellow,  deeper  in  the  female  than  in  the  male.  The 
back  is  marked  throughout  with  a  series  of  rhomboidal  black  spots, 
joined  to  each  other  at  the  points  ;  and  the  sides  have  triangular  ones. 
The  belly  is  entirely  black. 

The  apparatus  of  poison  in  the  Yiper  is  very  similar  to  that  in  the 
Eattle-snake,  and  all  the  other  poisonous  serpents.  The  symptoms 
that  follow  the  bite,  are  an  acute  pain  in  the  wounded  part,  with  a 
swelling,  at  first  red,  but  afterwards  livid,  which,  by  degrees  spreads 
to  the  adjoining  parts ;  with  great  faintness,  and  a  quick,  though  low, 
and  sometimes  interrupted  pulse ;  sickness  at  the  stomach,  with  bil- 
ious, convulsive  vomitings,  cold  sweats,  and  sometimes  pain  about  the 
navel.  The  most  esteemed  remedy  is  common  salad-oil,  thoroughly 
rubbed  on  the  wounded  part.  This  is  always  used  by  the  viper- 
catchers.  The  bite  of  the  Yiper  in  this  country,  although  it  produces 
a  painful  and  troublesome  swelling,  is  rarely  attended  with  any  other 
bad  consequence. 

We  are  told,  however,  that  in  the  presence  of  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tuscany,  while  the  philosophers  were  making  elaborate  dissertations 
on  the  danger  of  the  poison  taken  inwardly,  a  viper-catcher,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  present,  requested  that  a  quantity  of  it  might  be  put  into 
a  vessel,  and  then,  with  the  utmost  confidence,  and  to  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  whole  company,  drank  it  off  in  their  presence.  Every 
one  expected  the  man  instantly  to  drop  down  dead ;  but,  says  the 
relator  of  the  story,  they  soon  perceived  their  mistake,  and  found  that, 
taken  inwardly,  the  poison  was  as  harmless  as  water. 

These  animals  are  viviparous,  and  produce  their  offspring  towards 
the  close  of  summer.  The  eggs,  which  are  hatched  in  the  womb,  are 
usually  ten  or  twelve  only  in  number,  and  chained  together  somewhat 
like  a  string  of  beads.  When  the  young-ones  have  burst  the  shell, 
they  creep  from  their  confinement  into  the  open  air,  where  they 
continue  for  several  days  without  taking  any  food.  The  Eev.  Mr. 
White,  of  Selborne,  in  company  with  a  friend,  surprised  a  large  female 
Yiper,  which,  as  she  lay  on  the  grass,  basking  in  the  sun,  seemed  very 


THE   COMMON,   OR   RINGED    SNAKE. 


855 


heavy  and  bloated.  They  killed  and  opened  her,  and  found  in  the 
abdomen  fifteen  young-ones,  about  the  size  of  full-grown  earth-worms. 
This  little  fry  issued  into  the  world  with  the  true  Viper  spirit  about 
them,  showing  great  alertness  as  soon  as  they  were  disengaged  from 
the  body  of  the  parent.  They  twisted  and  wriggled  about,  set  them- 
selves up,  and  gaped  very  wide  when  touched  with  a  stick ;  exhibit- 
ing manifest  tokens  of  menace  and  defiance,  though  as  yet  no  fangs 
were  to  be  discovered,  even  by  the  help  of  glasses. 

That  young  Vipers,  for  some  time  after  their  birth,  retreat,  when 
suddenly  alarmed,  into  the  mouth  of  the  female,  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  young  of  the  Opossum  do  into  the  abdominal  pouch  of  their 
parent,  seems  a  fact  satisfactorily  ascertained.  Vipers  attain  their  full 
growth  in  about  seven  years.  Their  food  consists  of  reptiles,  worms, 
or  young  birds,  which  they  swallow  whole,  though  it  sometimes 
happens  that  the  morsel  is  thrice  the  thickness  of  their  own  body.  . 

They  are  capable  of  supporting  long  abstinence :  a  Viper  was  kept 
more  than  six  months  in  a  box  without  food;  during  which  time  its 
vivacity  was  not  lessened.  When  at  liberty  these  animals  remain 
torpid  throughout  the  winter :  yet,  when  confined,  they  have  never 
been  observed  to  take  their  annual  repose. 


THE    COMMON,   OR  RINGED   SNAKE. 

The  Common,  or  Kinged  Snakes  are  well-known  inhabitants  of 
moist  and  warm  woods,  on  the  dry 
banks  of  which  they  are  often  seen 
during  the  summer,  either  sleeping 
or  basking  themselves.  They  are 
harmless  and  inoffensive  animals, 
being  totally  destitute  of  every 
means  of  injuring  mankind. 

In  winter  these  Snakes  conceal 
themselves,  and  become  nearly 
torpid;  re-appearing  in  spring, 
when  they  uniformly  cast  their 
skins.  This  is  a  process  which 
they  also  seem  to  undergo  in  the 
autumn. 

It  would  be  a  most  entertaining 
sight,  could  a  person  be  an  eye- 
witness to  such  a  feat,  and  see  the 
Snake  in  the  act  of  changing  its 
garment.  As  the  convexity  of  the 
eyes  in  the  slough  is  not  inward, 
that  circumstance  alone  is  a  proof  that  the  skin  has  been  turned ;  not 
to  mention  that  now  the  inside  is  much  darker  than  the  outer.  Thus 
it  appears  that  Snakes  crawl  out  of  the  mouth  of  their  own  sloughs, 
and  quit  the  tail-part  last,  just  as  Eels  are  skinned  by  a  cook-maid. 
While  the  scales  of  the  eyes  are  becoming  loose,  and  a  new  skin  is 


THE  RINGED  SNAKE. 


856  THE    HOODED,    OR    SPECTACLE    SNAKE. 

forming,  the  creature,  in  appearance,  must  be  blind,  and  must  feel 
itself  in  a  very  awkward  and  uneasy  situation. 

Several  instances  have  occurred  of  the  Common  Snake  being  in 
some  degree  domesticated.  Mr.  White  says  that  he  knew  a  gentleman 
who  had  one  in  his  house  quite  tame.  Though  this  Snake  was  usually 
as  sweet  in  its  person  as  any  other  animal,  yet,  whenever  a  stranger, 
or  a  Dog  or  Cat  entered,  it  would  begin  to  hiss,  and  would  soon  fill 
the  room  with  a  stench  so  nauseous  as  to  be  almost  insupportable. 

These  animals  prey  on  Frogs,  Insects,  Worms,  and  Mice;  for  the 
former  of  which  they  often  go  into  the  water,  where  they  swim  with 
great  elegance.  After  a  Snake  has  devoured  a  tolerable  large  Frog, 
or  a  small  bird,  its  prey  will  be  seen  to  form  a  knot  in  its  body ;  and 
it  then  becomes  so  stupid  and  inactive  as  easily  to  be  caught. 

The  Common  Snakes  are  said  to  be  particularly  fond  of  milk ;  so 
much  so,  that  they  will  occasionally  creep  into  dairies  to  drink  the 
milk  from  the  vessels.  It  is  even  said  that  they  will  twine  themselves 
round  the  legs  of  Cows,  in  order  to  reach  their  udders. 


THE   HOODED,    OR  SPECTACLE   SNAKE. 

When  it  is  irritated  or  preparing  to  bite,  this  animal  erects  its  body, 
bends  down  its  head,  and  seems,  as  it  were,  hooded  by  the  expanded 
skin  of  the  neck :  hence  its  name  of  Cobra  de  Capello,  or  Hooded 
Serpent.  It  opens  its  mouth,  exhibiting  its  sharp  poisonous  fangs ; 
and  then  springs  on  its  enemy  with  great  agility. 

From  its  frequently  moving  along  with  a  great  part  of  its  body  erect, 
and  with  its  head  in  continual  action,  as  if  looking  around  with  great 
circumspection,  this  species  in  India  is  esteemed  the  emblem  of 
prudence.  It  is  also  an  object  of  superstitious  veneration  among 
the  Gentoo  Indians,  founded  on  some  traits  of  legendary  mythology : 
they  seldom  name  it  without  adding  some  epithet,  such  as  the  royal, 
the  good,  the  holy.  Some  of  the  Grentoos  are  happy  when  they  see  it 
crawling  about  their  houses ;  though  they  are  liable  to  great  injury 
from  its  bite.  This  is  sometimes  mortal  in  two  or  three  hours,  espe- 
cially if  the  poison  has  penetrated  the  larger  vessels  or  muscles.  A 
dog  bitten  by  a  Hooded  Snake  died  in  twenty  seven  minutes ;  and 
another  survived  fifty -six  minutes.  A  chicken  died  in  less  than  half 
a  minute,  though  others  survived  a  couple  of  hours ;  depending, 
probably,  on  the  heat  of  the  weather,  and  the  condition  of  the  serpent 
at  the  time. 

In  India  the  Hooded  Snake  is  carried  about  in  a  basket,  to  be 
publicly  exhibited  as  a  show,  being  first  deprived  of  its  fangs,  in  order 
to  secure  the  men  from  the  danger  of  its  bite.  At  the  sound  of  a 
flageolet  it  is  taught  to  assume  a  kind  of  dancing  attitude  and  motions, 
which  it  continues  as  long  as  its  master  continues  his  music. 


BLACK  SXAKE, 


THE  BLACK  SNAKE.  857 


THE  BLACK  SNAKE. 

The  activity  of  these  animals  is  astonishing,  for,  in  speed,  they  will 
sometimes  equal  a  horse.  Their  different 
motions  are  very  diverting :  they  will  at 
times  climb  the  trees  in  quest  of  tree- 
frogs  ;  or,  for  other  prey,  they  will  glide 
at  full  length  along  the  ground.  On 
some  occasions,  they  present  themselves 
half  erect,  and  in  this  posture  their  eyes 
and  their  heads  appear  to  great  advan- 
tage. The  former  display  a  fiery  bright- 
ness, by  means  of  which  we  are  told  they  are  able  to  fascinate  birds 
and  the  smaller  quadrupeds,  in  a  manner  similar  to  the  Battle-snake. 
Their  body  is  said  to  be  so  brittle,  that  if,  when  pursued,  they  get 
their  head  into  a  hole,  and  a  person  seize  hold  of  the  tail,  this  will 
often  twist  itself  to  pieces. 

The  Black  Snake  is  sometimes  bold  enough  to  attack  mankind,  but 
it  may  be  driven  off  by  a  smart  stroke  from  a  stick,  or  whatever  other 
weapon  he  may  chance  to  have  in  his  hand.  When  the  snake  over- 
takes a  person  who  has  endeavored  to  escape,  (not  having  had  courage 
enough  to  oppose  it,)  it  is  said  to  wind  itself  round  his  legs  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  throw  him  down,  and  then  to  bite  him  in  the  leg,  or 
wherever  else  it  can  lay  hold  of,  and  run  off  again. 

The  following  description  of  a  contest  between  the  Black  Snake,  and 
another  species,  is  extracted  from  Mr.  St.  John's  Letters  of  an  American 
Farmer : — "  As  I  was  one  day  sitting,  solitary  and  pensive,  in  the  arbor, 
my  attention  was  engaged  by  a  strange  sort  of  rustling  noise,  at  some 
paces  distant.  I  looked  all  around  without  distinguishing  any  thing, 
until  I  climbed  up  one  of  my  great  hemp-stalks ; '  when,  to  my 
astonishment,  I  beheld  two  snakes  of  considerable  length,  the  one 
pursuing  the  other  with  great  celerity,  through  a  hemp  stubble  field. 
The  aggressor  was  of  the  black  kind,  six  feet  long ;  the  fugitive  was 
a  Water-snake,  nearly  of  equal  dimensions.  They  soon  met,  and, 
in  the  fury  of  their  first  encounter,  appeared  in  an  instant  firmly 
twisted  together ;  and,  whilst  their  united  tails  beat  the  ground,  they 
mutually  tried  with  open  jaws  to  lacerate  each  other.  What  a  fell 
aspect  did  they  present !  Their  heads  were  compressed  to  a  very 
small  size ;  their  eyes  flashed  fire ;  and  after  this  conflict  had  lasted 
about  five  minutes,  the  second  found  means  to  disengage  itself  from 
the  first,  and  hurried  towards  the  ditch.  Its  antagonist  instantly 
assumed  a  new  posture,  and  half  creeping,  half  erect,  with  a  majestic 
mien,  overtook  and  attacked  the  other  again,  which  placed  itself  in  a 
similar  attitude,  and  prepared  to  resist.  The  scene  was  uncommon 
and  beautiful,  for  thus  opposed,  they  fought  with  their  jaws,  biting 
each  other  with  the  utmost  rage ;  but  notwithstanding  this  appearance 
of  mutual  courage  and  fury,  the  Water-snake  still  seemed  desirous  of 
retreating  towards  the  ditch,  its  natural  element.  This  was  n,o  sooner 


858 


THE   CERASTES. 


perceived  by  the  keen-eyed  black  one,  than,  twisting  its  tail  twice 
round  a  stalk  of  hemp,  and  seizing  its  adversary  by  the  throat,  not  by 

means   of  its  jaws,  but  by  twisting 
its  own  neck  twice  round  that  of  the 
Water-snake,  he  pulled  it  back  from 
the  ditch.     To  prevent  a  defeat,  the 
YOA  latter  took  hold  likewise  of  a  stalk 
HU  on  the  bank,  and,  by  the  acquisition 
_j^^_ ,  j&Mi  of  that  point  of  resistance,  became  a 

^*?«W?fWTrrrrr»^~__rfOassaw  ,    t         n  T  •          n 

match  for  his  fierce  antagonist. 
Their  eyes  appeared  on  fire,  and 
ready  to  start  out  of  their  heads.  At 
one  time  the  conflict  seemed  decided ; 
the  Water-snake  bent  itself  into  great 
folds,  and  by  that  operation  rendered 
the  other  more  than  commonly  out- 
stretched ;  the  next  minute  the  new 
struggles  of  the  black  one  gained  an 
unexpected  superiority,  it  acquired 
two  great  folds  likewise,  which  ne- 
cessarily extended  the  body  of  its 
adversary,  in  proportion  as  it  had 
contracted  its  own.  These  efforts 
were  alternate :  victory  seemed 
doubtful,  inclining  sometimes  to  one 
side,  sometimes  to  the  other;  until 
at  last  the  stalk  to  which  the  Black 

Snake  was  fastened,  suddenly  gave  way,  and,  in  consequence  of  this 
accident,  they  both  plunged  into  the  ditch.  The  water  did  not  extin- 
guish their  vindictive  rage,  for  by  their  agitations  I  could  still  trace, 
though  I  could  not  distinguish,  their  attacks.  They  soon  re-appeared 
on  the  surface,  twisted  together,  as  in  their  first  onset :  but  the  Black 
Snake  seemed  to  retain  its  wonted  superiority ;  for  its  head  was  exactly 
fixed  above  that  of  the  other,  which  it  incessantly  pressed  down  under 
the  water,  until  its  opponent  was  stifled,  and  sunk.  The  victor  no 
sooner  perceived  its  enemy  incapable  of  further  resistance,  than,  aban- 
doning it  to  the  current,  it  returned  to  the  shore  and  disappeared.' 


WATER-SXAKK. 


THE    CERASTES. 


The  Cerastes  is  a  well-known 
snake  in  Egypt,  and  derives  its 
name  from  the  horny  scale  over 
each  eyebrow.  Bruce  mentions  that 
the  Cerestes  can  spring  several  feet 
in  any  direction ;  but  his  description 
of  the  stratagems  employed  by  it, 
"  to  surprise  any  one  who  is  too  far 
from  it,"  is  probably  more  fanciful 


THE   AMPHISBJENA.  859 

than  correct,  as  snakes  do  not  attack  unless  suddenly  surprised  or 
irritated.  The  size  of  the  Cerastes  is  by  no  means  great,  as  its 
average  length  is  only  eighteen  inches.  The  snake-charmers  of 
Egypt  employ  these  reptiles  precisely  as  their  brethren  of  India 
employ  the  Cobra  di  Capello, 


THE    AMPHISB^NA. 

The  Amphisbaena,  or  Double-Walkers,  are  a  still  smaller  group,  in- 
termediate in  some  respects  between  the 
true  serpents  and  slow-worms.  They 
derive  their  name  from  the  power  of 
moving  either  backwards  or  forwards 
with  equal  facility.  The  two  extremities 
of  the  body  are  so  much  alike,  that  they 
would  not  be  distinguished  by  a  super- 
ficial observer,  the  eyes  being  so  very 
small  as  sometimes  to  appear  wanting ; 
the  whole  body  is  of  nearly  equal  diameter.  This  group  is  restricted  to 
the  warmest  parts  of  South  America.  Notwithstanding  the  common 
idea  of  its  venomous  properties,  it  is  quite  harmless,  and  subsists  on 
ants  and  other  small  insects.  It  has  not  the  power  of  separating  the 
bones  of  the  jaws,  which  distinguishes  the  true  serpents. 


FISHES. 


APODAL    FISH. 


OF  THE  EEL  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 


THE  Apodal  Fish,  of  which  the  Eel  forms  the  first  Linnean  tribe, 

in  their  appearance  and 
manners,  approach,  in 
some  instances,  very 
nearly  to  the  serpents. 
They  have  a  smooth 
and  slippery  skin,  and 
are  in  general  naked, 
or  covered  only  with 
small,  soft,  and  distant 
scales.  Their  bodies 
are  long  and  slender, 
and  they  are  supposed 
to  live  entirely  on  ani- 
mal substances. 

There  are  about  nine  species,  most  of  which  are  found  only  in  the 
seas.  One  of  these  frequents  our  fresh  waters,  and  three  others  occa- 
sionally visit  our  shores. 


GROUP  OF   FISHES. 


THE   COMMON   EEL. 

The  Common  Eel  evidently  forms  a  connecting  link,  in  the  chain 

of  nature,  between  the  serpents  and 
the  fishes.  It  possesses  not  only 
the  serpent  form,  but  also  many  of 
the  habits  of  serpents. 

The  Eel  is  frequently  known  to 
quit  its  own  element,  and  to  wander, 
in  the  evening  or  night,  over  mead- 
ows, in  search  of  snails  and  other 
prey,  or  to  other  ponds  for  change 
of  habitation.  This  will  account  for  Eels  being  found  in  waters  that 
have  not  been  suspected  to  contain  them. 

The  usual  haunts  of  Eels  are  in  mud,  among  weeds,  under  the 
roots  or  stumps  of  trees  or  in  holes  in  the  banks  or  the  bottom  of 
rivers.     Thev  are  partial  to  still  waters,  and  particularly  to  such  as 
(860) 


COMMON  EEI, 


THE    CONGER    EEL.  861 

are  muddy  at  the  bottom.  Here  they  often  grow  to  an  enormous 
size,  sometimes  weighing  fifteen  or  sixteen  pounds. 

When  kept  in  ponds,  these  fish  had  been  known  to  destroy  young 
ducks.  Eels  seldom  come  out  of  their  hiding-places  except  in  the 
night,  during  which  time  they  are  caught  with  lines  that  have  several 
baited  hooks.  In  winter  they  bury  themselves  deep  in  the  mud,  and, 
like  the  serpent  tribe,  remain  in  a  state  of  torpor.  They  are  so  impa- 
tient of  cold,  as  eagerly  to  take  shelter  even  in  a  wisp  of  straw,  if 
flung  into  a  pond  in  severe  weather ;  and  this  has  sometimes  been 
practised  as  a  mode  of  catching  them. 

Eels  are  viviparous,  or  produce  living  offspring.  They  are  so 
tenacious  of  life,  that  their  parts  will  continue  to  move  for  a  con- 
siderable time  after  they  are  skinned  and  cut  into  pieces;  and  no 
other  fish  whatever  will  live  so  long  out  of  water  as  these.  They 
are  best  in  season  from  May  to  July;  but  they  may  be  caught  with  a 
line  till  September.  When  the  water  is  thick  with  rains,  they  may 
be  fished  for  during  the  whole  day;  but  the  largest  and  best  are 
caught  by  night-lines. 


THE    COXGER   EEL. 

When  at  its  full  size,  the  Conger  Eel  has  sometimes  been  known 
to    measure 
more  than  ten 
feet  in   length, 
and  from  four- 
teen to  sixteen 
inches    in    cir- 
cumference. It 
is    one    of   the 
most  danger- 
ous  and    most 
powerful     ene- 
mies     with 
which  the  fish- 
ermen of  the  British  Islands  have  to  contend.     Being  usually  can  slit 
by  a  hook  and  line,  it  requires  some  care  to  land  and  kill  the  large 
ones  without  injury.     We  are  informed,  that  on  such  occasions  they 
have  been  known  to  entwine  themselves  round  the  legs  of  a  fisher- 
man,  and   to  fight   with  the  utmost   fury.     A  Conger,  six  feet  in 
length,  was  caught  in  the  Wash  at  Yarmouth,  in  April,  1808 ;  but 
not  until  after  a  severe  contest  with  the  man  who  had  seized  it.     The 
animal   is   stated   to   have  risen  half  erect,   and   to   have   actually 
knocked  the  fisherman  down  before  he  could  secure  it.     This  Conger 
weighed  only  about  sixty  pounds;   but  some  of  the  largest  exceed 
even  a  hundred  weight. 

The  voracity  of  these  fish  is  enormously  great.  They  often  lie 
concealed,  in  the  mud  or  sand,  at  the  mouths  of  large  rivers,  for  the 
purpose  of  seizing  upon  any  prey  which  passes  either  in  or  out.  If 


862 


OF   THE   GYMNOTUS   TRIBE. — ELECTRICAL   EEL. 


this  happen  to  be  so  large  as  not  otherwise  to  be  immediately  over- 
come, we  are  told  that 
the  Conger  will  coil  its 
body  round,  and  thus 
prev.ent  its  escape; 
whilst  in  the  mean  time, 
it  kills  it  by  means  of 

^P^  its    teeth.      It    devours 

great   quantities  of  the 
different  species  of  Cut- 
tle-fish, and   other  soft   marine   animals,  which  have  not    sufficient 
agility  or  address  to  escape  from  its  pursuit. 

Until  the  Congers  are  grown  to  a  size  so  large  that  they  are  able 
stoutly  to  defend  themselves,  they  are  liable  to  attack  from  numerous 
foes.  The  Wolf-fish,  all  the  larger  species  of  Rays,  and  even  the  sea 
Craw-fish,  and  Lobsters,  destroy  them  in  vast  numbers. 

During  the  winter  months,  it  is  said  that  these  fish  conceal  them- 
selves deep  in  the  mud;  and  that,  so  long  as  the  cold  weather  lasts, 
they  seldom  come  forth  from  their  retreats. 


OF  THE  GYMNOTUS  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

SOME  of  the  species  of  Gymnotus  inhabit  the  fresh  waters,  and 
others  live  in  the  ocean.  They  are  all,  except  three,  confined  to 
America. 


THE   ELECTRICAL   GYMNOTUS,    OR  EEL. 

These  fishes  possess  the  singular  property  of  giving  a  shock,  (similar 

in  its  effects  to  that  produced 
from  a  charged  jar,)  to  any 
body,  or  any  number  of  bodies 
connected  together. 

On  touching  an  Electrical 
Eel  with  one  hand,  a  sensation 
is  experienced  similar  to  that 
arising  from  touching  the 
conductor  of  an  electrical 
machine:  with  a  short  iron 
rod  the  same  was  felt,  but  less 
powerfully.  While  another  person  provoked  the  fish,  Dr.  Williamson 
put  his  hand  into  the  water  at  the  distance  of  three  feet  from  it,  and 
felt  an  unpleasant  sensation  in  the  joints  of  his  fingers.  Some  small 
fish  were  thrown  into  the  water,  and  the  animal  immediately  stunned 
and  swallowed  them.  A  larger  fish  was  thrown  in,  which  he  stunned 
likewise  and  attempted  to  swallow;  but,  from  its  size,  he  could  not  do 
so.  Dr.  Williamson  put  his  hand  into  the  water,  and  had  another 


QYMNOTUS. 


THE   ELECTRICAL   EEL.  863 

fish  thrown  in  at  some  distance.  The  Eel  swam  up  to  it,  and  at  first 
turned  away  without  offering  it  any  violence :  after  a  little  time  he 
returned,  and,  looking  steadfastly  at  it  for  a  few  seconds,  gave  it  a 
shock,  by  which  it  instantly  turned  upon  its  back,  and  became 
motionless.  Dr.  Williamson  at  that  very  instant  felt  the  same  sen- 
sation in  his  fingers,  as  he  had  done  when  he  put  his  hand  into  the 
water  before.  A  fish  was  afterwards  struck,  but  not  quite  killed. 
When  the  Electrical  -Eel  perceived  this,  he  returned,  and  at  a  second 
shock,  evidently  more  severe  than  the  former,  rendered  it  motionless. 
On  touching  the  Eel  with  one  hand  so  as  to  provoke  it,  and  holding 
the  other  in  the  water  at  a  little  distance,  a  severe  shock  was  felt 
through  both  the  arms  and  across  the  breast,  similar  to  that  from  a 
charged  jar.  Eight  or  ten  persons,  with  their  hands  joined,  experienced 
the  same,  on  the  first  touching  the  head,  and  the  last  the  tail  of  the 
fish.  A  dog  being  made  a  link  in  this  chain,  uttered  a  loud  yell  at 
the  instant  of  contact.  When  the  Eel  was  touched  with  silk,  glass, 
or  any  other  non-conductor,  no  shock  was  felt.  From  a  long  series 
of  experiments,  it  appeared  to  Dr.  Williamson  that  these  properties 
partook  so  nearly  of  the  nature  of  electricity,  that  whatever  would 
convey  the  electrical  fluid,  would  also  convey  the  fluid  discharged  by 
the  Eel ;  and  vice  versa.  He,  however,  was  not  able  to  observe  that 
any  spark  was  produced  on  contact.  This  mode  of  defence  the  fish 
never  adopted  except  it  was  irritated ;  and  Dr.  Williamson  has  passed 
his  hand  along  the  back  and  sides  from  head  to  tail,  and  has  even 
lifted  part  of  its  body  out  of  the  water,  without  exciting  it  to  injure 
him. 

Mr.  Bryant  mentions  an  instance  of  the  shock  from  one  of  these  fish 
being  felt  through  a  considerable  thickness  of  wood.  One  morning, 
while  he  was  standing  by,  as  a  servant  was  emptying  a  tub,  in  which 
an  Electrical  Eel  was  contained,  he  had  lifted  it  entirely  from  the 
ground,  and  was  pouring  off  the  water  to  renew  it,  when  he  received 
a  shock  so  violent  as  occasioned  him  to  let  the  tub  fall.  Mr.  B.  then 
called  another  person  to  his  assistance,  and  caused  them  together  to 
lift  up  the  tub,  each  laying  hold  only  on  the  outside.  When  they 
were  pouring  off  the  remainder  of  the  water,  they  each  received  a 
shock  so  smart,  that  they  were  compelled  to- desist. 

Persons  have  been  knocked  down  with  the  stroke.  One  of  these  fish 
having  been  shaken  from  a  net  upon  the  grass,  an  English  sailor, 
notwithstanding  all  the  persuasions  that  were  used  to  prevent  him, 
would  insist  on  taking  it  up;  but  the  moment  he  grasped  it,  he 
dropped  down  in  a  fit ;  his  eyes  were  fixed ;  his  face  became  livid ; 
and  it  was  not  without  difficulty  that  his  senses  were  restored.  He 
said,  that  the  instant  he  touched  it,  "the  cold  ran  swiftlv  up  his  arm 
into  his  body,  and  pierced  him  to  the  heart." 

This  property  seems  principally  of  use  to  the  Electrical  Eels  in 
securing  their  food;  for  being  destitute  of  teeth,  they  would  otherwise 
be  scarcely  able  to  seize  it.  The  force  of  the  shock  has  been  satisfac- 
torily proved  to  depend  entirely  on  the  will,  and  to  be  exerted  as  cir- 
cumstances require.  The  prey  of  these  fish  are  generally  so  stunned 
by  the  shock,  as  to  appear  dead ;  but  when  these  have  been  taken 


864  THE   BROAD-FINNED    SWORD-FISH. 

into  another  vessel,  they  have  been  always  found  to  recover.  When 
the  Electrical  Eels  are  hungry,  they  are  tolerably  keen  in  pursuit  of 
their  food ;  but  they  are  soon  satisfied,  not  being  able  to  devour  much 
at  one  time.  An  Electrical  Eel,  upwards  of  three  feet  in  length,  could 
not  swallow  a  fish  more  then  three,  or  at  most  three  inches  and  a  half 
long. 

The  organs  which  produce  this  wonderful  accumulation  of  electric 
matter,  constitute  nearly  one- half  of  that  part  of  the  flesh  in  which 
they  are  placed,  and,  perhaps,  compose  more  than  one-third  of  the 
whole  animal.  There  are  two  pairs  of  these  organs,  one  on  each  side. 
Their  structure  is  very  simple  and  regular,  consisting  only  of  flat  par- 
titions, with  cross  divisions  between  them.  The  partitions  are  thin 
membranes  placed  nearly  parallel  to  one  another,  and  of  different 
lengths  and  braadths. 


OF   THE   SWORD-FISHES  IN   GENEKAL. 

THESE  are  very  large  and  powerful  animals,  often  growing  to  the 
length  of  twenty  feet  and  upwards.  Their  voracity  is  unbounded,  for 
they  attack  and  destroy  almost  every  living  thing  that  comes  in  their 
way.  The  larger  fish  they  penetrate  with  their  long,  hard,  and  sword  - 
shaped  upper  jaw.  There  are  two  species,  one  only  of  which  is  found 
in  the  European  seas. 


THE   BROAD-FINNED,   AND   THE   EUROPEAN   SWORD-FISH. 

The  former  of  these  inhabit  the  Brazilian  and  East  Indian  Seas,  and 

also  the  Northern  Ocean. 
They  frequently  grow  to 
the  length  of  twenty  feet 
or  upwards,  and  are  very 
powerful  fish. 

When  his  majesty's  ship 
Leopard,   after   her   return 

frT  1the™ast  T  °^ . Guinea 

and  the  West  Indies,  was 
ordered,  in  1725,  to  be  cleaned  and  refitted  for  the  Channel  service, 
in  stripping  off  her  sheathing  the  shipwrights  found  in  her  bottom, 
pointing  in  a  direction  from  the  stern  towards  the  head,  part  of  the 
sword  or  snout  of  one  of  these  fishes.  On  the  outside,  this  was 
rough,  not  unlike  seal-skin,  and  the  end,  where  it  was  broken  off, 
appeared  like  a  coarse  kind  of  ivory.  The  fish,  from  the  direction 
in  which  the  sword  lay,  is  supposed  to  have  followed  the  ship  when 
under  sail.  The  weapon  had  penetrated  through  the  sheathing, 
which  was  an  inch  thick  ;  and  passed  through  three  inches  of  plank, 
and  beyond  that,  four  inches  and  a  half  into  the  timber.  The  force 
requisite  to  effect  this  must  have  been  excessively  great,  especially  as 
no  shock  was  felt  by  the  persons  on  board.  The  workmen  declared 


THE   EUROPEAN  SWORD-FISH. 


867 


8WOBD  OF  SWORJ>ri3H> 


that  it  would  be  impossible,  with  a  hammer  of  a  quarter  of  a  hundred 

weight,  to  drive  an 

iron  pin  of  the  same 

form    and   size   into 

that   wood,    and    to 

the  same  depth,  by 

less    than    eight    or 

nine  strokes,  whilst 

this  had  been  effected 

by  only  one. 

And  about  sixteen 
years  ago,  a  letter 
was  written  to  Sir 
Joseph  Banks,  as 
president  of  the 
Eoyal  Society,  from 
the  captain  of  an 
East  Indiaman,  and 
was  accompanied  by 
an  account  of  an- 
other instance  of  the  amazing  strength  which  this  fish  occasionally 
exerts.  The  bottom  of  this  ship  had  been  pierced  through  in  such  a 
manner,  that  the  sword  was  completely  imbedded,  or  driven  through 
its  whole  length,  and  the  fish  killed  by  the  violence  of  the  effort. 

The  Sword-fishes  and  the  Whale  are  said  never  to  meet  without 
coming  to  battle;  and  the  former  has  the  reputation  of  being  always 
the  aggressor.  Sometimes  two  Sword-fishes  join  against  one  Whale  ; 
in  which  case  the  combat  is  by  no  means  equal.  The  Whale  uses 
his  tail  only  in  his  defence  :  he  dives  down  into  the  water,  head  fore- 
most, and  makes  such  a  blow  with  his  tail,  that,  if  it  take  effect, 
finishes  the  Sword-fish  at  a  stroke  :  but  the  other,  which  in  general  is 
sufficiently  adroit  to  avoid  it,  immediately  falls  upon  the  Whale,  and 
buries  his  weapon  in  his  sides.  When  the  Whale  discovers  the 
Sword-fish  darting  upon  him,  he  dives  to  the  bottom,  but  is  closely 
pursued  by  his  antagonist,  who  compels  him  again  to  rise  to  the 
surface.  The  battle  then  begins  afresh,  and  lasts  until  the  Sword-fish 
loses  sight  of  the  Whale,  who  is  at  length  compelled  to  swim  off, 
which  his  superior  agility  enables  him  to  do.  In  the  Sword-fish 
piercing  the  Whale's  body  with  the  tremendous  weapon  at  his  snout, 
he  seldom  does  any  great  damage 
to  the  animal,  from  not  being 
able  to  penetrate  much  beyond 
the  blubber. 

The  European  Sword-fish  has 
sometimes   been   found    on   the 
British  coasts  ;  and  is  very  com- 
mon in  the  Mediterranean. 
55 


EUROPEAN    STVOKI>-FISH. 


JUGULAR  FISH, 


OF  THE  COD  TRIBE  IN  GENERAL. 

THIS  is  a  numerous  tribe,  the  animals  of  which  inhabit  only  the 
depths  of  the  ocean,  and  seldom  visit  the  fresh  waters.  They  are  in 
general  gregarious,  and  feed  on  the  smaller  fish  and  other  marine 
animals.  The  flesh  of  most  of  them  is  white,  firm,  and  good  eating. 


THE   COMMON   COD. 

Th^se  fish  are  on  y  found  in  the  seas  of  the  northern  parts  of  the 

world ;  and  the  great  rendezvous 
for  them  are  the  sand-banks  of 
Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
New  England.  These  shallows  are 
their  favorite  situations ;  for  here 

COMMON  COD.  thev  are  able  to  obtain  great 

quantities  of  worms,  a  food  that  is 

peculiarly  grateful  to  them.  Another  cause  of  their  attachment  t3 
these  places  is  their  vicinity  to  the  polar  seas  where  they  return  to 
spawn.  There  they  deposit  their  roes  in  full  security,  and  afterwards 
repair,  as  soon  as  the  first  more  southern  seas  are  open,  to  the  banks 
for  subsistence.  Few  are  taken  north  of  Iceland,  and  the  shoals  never 
reach  so  far  south  as  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar. 

The  vessels  frequenting  these  fisheries,  are  from  a  hundred  to  two 
hundred  tons  burthen,  and  will  catch  thirty  thousand  Cod  or  upwards 
each.  The  hook  and  the  line  are  the  only  implements  employed  in 
taking  the  fish  ;  and  this  in  a  depth  of  water  from  sixteen  to  sixty 
fathoms.  The  great  bank  of  Newfoundland,  is  represented  to  be  like 
a  vast  mountain,  above  five  hundred  miles  long,  and  nearly  three 
hundred  broad ;  and  the  number  of  British  seamen  employed  upon 
it,  is  supposed  to  be  about  fifteen  thousand. 

The  best  season  for  fishing,  is  from  the  beginning  of  February,  to 
the  end  of  April ;  and  though  each  man  takes  no  more  than  one  fish  at 
a  time,  an  expert  fisherman  will  sometimes  catch  four  hundred  in  a 
day. .  The  employment  is  excessively  fatiguing,  from  the  weight  of 
the  fish,  and  the  great  coldness  of  the  climate. 

As  soon  as  the  Cod  are  caught,  their  heads  are  cut  off;  they  are 
opened,  gutted,  and  salted :  they  are  then  stowed  in  the  hold  of  the 
vessel,  in  beds  five  or  six  yards  square,  head  to  tail,  with  a  layer  of 
salt  to  each  layer  of  fish.  When  they  have  lain  here  three  or  four 
days  to  drain  off'  the  water,  they  are  shifted  into  a  different  part  of 
the  vessel,  and  again  salted.  Here  they  remain  till  the  vessel  is 
(868) 


THE   HADDOCK — WHITING.  869 

loaded.  Sometimes  they  are  cut  into  thick  pieces,  and  packed. in 
barrels,  for  the  greater  convenience  of  carriage. 

In  the  Newfoundland  fishery,  the  sounds,  or  air-bladders,  are  taken 
out  previously  to  incipient  putrefaction,  are  washed  from  their  slime 
and  salted  for  exportation.  The  tongues  are  also  cured,  and  brought 
in  barrels  containing  four  or  five  hundred  pounds  weight  each.  From 
the  livers  a  great  quantity  of  oil  is  extracted. 

Cod  feed  principally  on  the  smaller  species  of  fish,  on  worms, 
shell-fish,  and  crabs :  and  their  digestion  is  sufficiently  powerful  to 
dissolve  the  greatest  part  even  of  the  shells  which  they  swallow. 

They  are  so  extremely  prolific,  that  Leuwenhoek  counted  more 
than  nine  millions  of  eggs  in  the  roe  of  a  middling-sized  Cod-fish. 
The  production  of  so  great  a  number  will  surely  baffle  all  the  efforts 
of  man,  or  the  voracity  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  ocean,  to  diminish 
the  species  so  greatly,  as  to  prevent  its  affording  an  inexhaustible 
supply  of  grateful  provision  in  all  ages. 


THE   HADDOCK. 

Haddocks  migrate  in  immense  shoals,  which  usually  arrive  on  the 
Yorkshire  coasts  about  the 
middle  of  winter.  These 
shoals  are  sometimes  known 
to  extend,  from  the  shore, 
nearly  three  miles  in  breadth, 
and  in  length  from  Flam- 
borough  Head  to  Tinmouth 
Castle,  fifty  miles,  and  per- 
haps even  much  further. 
An  idea  of  the  number  of 
Haddocks  may  be  formed 

from  the  following  circumstance:  three  fishermen,  within  a  mile  of 
the  harbor  of  Scarborough,  frequently  loaded  their  boat  with  these 
fish  twice  a  day,  taking  each  time  about  a  ton  weight  of  them.  The 
large  Haddocks  quit  the  coast  as  soon  as  they  are  out  of  season,  and 
leave  behind  them  great  abundance  of  small  ones.  The  former  are 
supposed  to  visit  the  coasts  of  Hamburgh  and  Jutland  during  the 
summer. 


THE  WHITING. 

It  is  principally  near  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  that  the  Whiting 
resides.  Here  it  feeds  on  various  species  of  Crabs  and  Lobsters,  on 
molluscse,  and  young  fish.  In  its  stomach  there  are  often  found  both 
Sprats  and  young  Herrings.  With  these  the  fishermen  frequently 
bait  their  books  for  the  catching  of  Whitings:  they  also  occasionally 
bait  with  marine  Worms  and  Muscles. 

Whitings  are  generally  caught  off  certain   parts  of  the  French 


870 


THE   LING   AND   HAKE. 


coast,  in  the  months  of  January  and  February ;  but,  in  Holland  and 

England,  during  the  summer 
season.  They  sometimes  ap- 
proach the  English  coasts  in  such 
numbers,  that  their  shoals  have 
been  known  occasionally  to  ex- 
tend three  or  four  miles  in  length, 
and  upwards  of  a  mile  in  breadth. 
They  are  sometimes  caught  by 
means  of  nets,  but  lines  are  gene- 
rally preferred.  Where  a  fishery  is  well  conducted,  these  lines  are  of 
immense  length,  and  furnished  with  as  many  as  from  a  hundred  and 
fifty  to  two  hundred  hooks.  One  vessel  will  put  out  twenty  of  these 
lines,  having  in  the  whole  nearly  four  thousand  hooks.  Whitings 
pursue  the  shoals  of  Herrings  with  great  eagerness;  they  are,  conse- 
quently, often  caught  in  the  Herring-nets. 


THE    LING,   AND   HAKE. 

After  the  Herring,  the  Pilchard,  and  the  Cod,  the  Ling  may,  in 

a  commercial  view,  be 
considered  as  the  most 
important  of  all  fish. 
Nine  hundred  thousand 
pounds  weight  of  Ling 
are  annually  exported 
from  Norway.  In  En- 

OTu«».  Sland     these     fish     are 

caught     and    cured     in 

somewhat  the  same  manner  as  Cod.  Those  which  are  caught  off  the 
shores  of  America,  are  by  no  means  so  much  esteemed  as  those  which 
frequent  the  coasts  of  Great  Britain  and  Norway. 

They  are  in  season  from  February  till  about  the  end  of  May. 
During  this  time  the  liver  is  white,  and  yields  a  great  quantity  of 
fine  and  well-flavored  oil.  A  kind  of  isinglass  is  made  from  the  air- 
bladders.  The  tongues  are  eaten  either  fresh,  dried,  or  salted. 

Hake  are  found  in  the  Mediterranean,  in  the  British  Channel,  and 
in  the  North  Sea.  On  some  of  the  shores  of  Ireland,  particularly 
those  of  Galway  and  Waterford,  they  are  very  abundant.  They  are 
also  caught  in  vast  quantities  near  Penzance  in  Cornwall,  and  on 
some  parts  of  the  coast  of  Devonshire.' 

There  are  few  animals  more  voracious  than  these.  They  pursue, 
with  great  eagerness,  the  shoals  of  Herrings  and  Mackerel;  and,  when 
other  prey  is  not  easily  had,  they  attack  and  devour  even  their  own 
species. 


THORACIC  FISH. 


OF   THE   SUCKING-FISH  TEIBE. 

THE  Sucking-fishes  have  a  naked,  flat,  and  oily  head,  surrounded  by 
a  narrow  margin,  and  marked  with  several  transverse  streaks  or 
grooves.  They  have  also  ten  rays  in  their  gill-membrane ;  and  their 
body  is  destitute  of  scales. 

There  are  only  three  known  species ;  these  are  pccasionally  seen  in 
the  Mediterranean  Sea,  and  the  Pacific  Ocean. 


THE   COMMON   REMORA,  OR   SUCKING-FISH. 

From  the  time  of  Aristotle  to  the  present  day,  this  fish  has  been  an 
object  of  constant  attention 
and  surprise.  The  ancient 
naturalists,  not  satisfied  with 
imputing  to  it  wonderful 
qualities,  and  very  extraor- 
dinary powers,  proceeded 
so  far  as  even  to  regard  its 
properties  among  what  they 
denominated  the  occult  qualities  of  nature.  The  Eemora,  in  almost 
all  ages,  has  ranked  high  in  the  writings  of  poets,  in  the  comparisons 
of  orators,  the  narrations  of  travellers,  and  the  descriptions  of  natu- 
ralists. 

The  ancients  absurdly  believed  that,  small  as  it  is,  this  fish  had  the 
power  of  arresting  the  progress  of  a  ship  in  its  fastest  sailing,  by 
adhering  to  its  bottom. 

It  inhabits  most  parts  of  the  ocean,  and  is  often  found  so  strongly 
adhering  to  the  sides  of  Sharks  and  other  fish,  by  means  of  the  process 
on  the  upper  p  irt  of  its  head,  as  not  to  be  separated  without  great 
difficulty.  Five  of  these  fish  have  been  taken  .off  the  body  of  a  single 
Shark.  St.  Pierre  says,  he  has  put  some  of  them  on  an  even  surface 
of  glass,  from  which  he  could  not  afterwards  remove  them. 

The  Indians  of  Jamaica  and  Cuba  formerly  used  the  Sucking-fish  in 
the  catching  of  others,  somewhat  in  the  same  manner  as  Hawks  are 
employed  by  a  falconer  in  seizing  birds.  They  kept  them  for  the 
purpose,  and  had  them  regularly  fed.  The  owner,  on  a  calm  morning, 
would  carry  one  of  them  out  to  sea,  secured  to  his  canoe,  by  a  slender 
but  strong  line,  many  fathoms  in  length ;  and  the  moment  the  creature 
saw  a  fish  in  the  water,  though  at  a  great  distance,  it  would  dart  away 
with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow,  and  soon  fasten  upon  it.  The  Indian. 

(871) 


COMMON  REMORA. 


872 


THE   COMMON,   OR   JOHN  DOREE. 


in  the  mean  time,  loosened  and  let  go  the  line,  which  was  furnished 
with  a  buoy  that  floated  on  the  surface  of  the  ocean,  and  marked  the 
course  the  Sucking-fish  had  taken ;  and  he  pursued  it  in  his  canoe, 
until  he  perceived  his  game  to  be  nearly  exhausted.  He,  then,  taking 
up  the  buoy,  gradually  drew  the  line  towards  the  shore ;  the  Sucking- 
fish  still  adhering  with  so  inflexible  a  tenacity  to  his  prey  as  not  easily 
to  be  removed. 


OF  THE  DOKEE  TEIBE. 

NONE  of  the  fishes  of  the  present  tribe  were  known  to  the  ancient 
naturalists,  except  the  Common  Doree.  There  are  about  eight 
species,  some  of  which  are  found  in  the  European,  and  others  in  the 
American  seas.  One  of  them,  which  inhabits  the  fresh  waters  of 
India,  swims  near  the  surface,  like  the  beaked  ChaBtodon,  and  catches 
aquatic  insects,  by  jetting  water  upon  them  from  its  mouth.  The 
win°s  of  the  insects  are  by  this  means  wetted,  and  they  become  an 
easy  prey. 


THE   COMMON,    OR  JOHN   DOREE. 

The  ancients  were  well  acquainted  with  the  John  Doree:   it  is 

expressly  mentioned  in  the 
writings  both  of  Ovid  and 
Pliny.  This  fish,  and  not 
the  Haddock,  is,  by  many 
persons,  supposed  to  have 
been  the  same  out  of  the 
mouth  of  which  the  apostle 
Peter,  at  the  command  of 
our  Saviour,  took  the  tri- 
bute-money. The  indication 
of  this  is  stated  to  be  a  dark 
spot,  somewhat  like  a  finger 
mark,  on  each  side  of  the 
head. 

The  Doree  is  a  very  voracious  animal :  it  feeds  on  various  species 
of  small  fish,  which  it  pursues  with  great  rapidity.  It  will  seize, 
and  almost  without  discrimination,  all  kinds  of  baits.  The  auda- 
ciousness of  the  Doree  ought  not  to  surprise  us,  when  we  consider 
that,  independently  of  the  enormous  dimensions  of  its  mouth,  and  the 
number  and  strength  of  its  teeth,  it  has  a  longitudinal  range  of  strong 
spines,  not  only  on  each  side  of  the  dorsal  fins,  but  likewise  from  the 
mouth  all  the  way  to  the  second  anal  fin.  These  tend  to  protect  it 
from  injury  by  its  enemies  of  the  deep. 

When  the  Doree  is  taken  alive  out  of  the  water,  it  is  able  to 
compress  its  internal  organs  so  rapidly,  that  the  air,  in  rushing  through 


JOHN  DOREE. 


THE  TURBOT   AND   HOLIBUT.  873 

the  openings  of  the  gills,  produces  a  kind  of  noise  somewhat  like  that 
which,  on  similar  occasions,  is  emitted  by  the  Gurnards. , 

The  Doree  is  found  in  the  North  Sea,  in  the  British  Channel,  the 
Mediterranean,  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 


OF  THE  FLAT-FISH  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  present  tribe  comprehends  those  fish  that  are  usually  denomi- 
nated Flat-fish ;  such  as  the  Turbot,  Plaise,  Flounder,  Sole,  &c. 
These  are  generally  confined  to  the  muddy  or  sandy  banks  of  the 
sea,  where  they  have  the  power  of  burying  themselves,  as  far  as  the 
head,  for  the  purpose  of  escaping  the  devastations,  of  the  more 
rapacious  tribes.  They  seldom  rise  far  from  the  bottom,  since,  from 
the  want  of  an  air-bladder  to  buoy  them  up,  which  most  of  the  other 
fishes  possess,  they  are  compelled  to  use  their  pectoral  fins  for  this 
purpose,  in  somewhat  the  same  manner  as  birds  use  their  wings  to 
rise  in  the  air ;  and  this  is  not  done  without  considerable  exertion. 
Here,  therefore,  they  generally  swim,  with  their  bodies  in  an  oblique 
position,  and.  feed  on, such  aquatic  animals  as  come  in  their  way. 

Many  of  them  as  the  Holibut,  Turbot,  and  some  others,  grow  to  a 
large  size.  The  eyes  of  the  whole  tribe  are  situated  on  one  side  of 
the  head.  It  is  a  curious  circumstance,  that,  while  the  under  parts  of 
their  body  are  of  a  brilliant  white,  the  upper  parts  are  so  colored  arid 
speckled,  as,  when  they  were  half  immersed,  in  the  sand  or  mud,  to 
render  them  almost  imperceptible.  Of  this  resemblance  they  are  so 
conscious,  that  whenever  they  find  themselves  in  clanger,  they  sink 
into  the  mud,  and  there  continue  motionless.  This  is  a  circumstance  so 
well  known  to  fishermen,  that  within  their  palings  on  the  strand  they  are 
ofte.n  under  the  necessity,  of  tracing  furrows  with  a  kind  of  iron  sickle 
in  order  to  direct  by  the  touch,  what  they  are  not  otherwise  able  to 
distinguish.  Not  being  rapacious,  nor  furnished  with  any  weapons 
of  defence,  these  fishes  owe  their  security  to  this  stratagem  ;  while  the 
Thornback  and  Rays,  which  are  carnivorous,  and  armed  with  strong 
spines,  although  Flat-fish  of  a  different  class,  are  marbled  with  lighter 
colors,  that  they  may  be  perceived  and  avoided  by  less  powerful  fish. 


THE    TURBOT,   AND    HOLIBUT. 

The  northern  parts  of  the  English  coast,  and  some  places  off  the 
coast  of  Holland,  afford  Turbots  in  greater  abundance,  and  in  greater 
excellence,  than  any  other  parts  of  the  world.  Lying  here,  however, 
in  deep  waters,  they  are  seldom  to  be  caught  but  by  lines. 

In  fishing  for  Turbot  off  the  Yorkshire  coast,  three  men  go  out  in 
each  of  the  boats,  each  man  furnished  with  three  lines,  and  every  line 
having  two  hundred  and  eighty  hooks,  placed  exactly  six  feet  two 
inches  asunder.  These  are  coiled  on  an  oblong  piece  of  wicker-work, 
with  the  hooks  baited  and  placed  very  regularly  in  the  centre  of  the 


g74  THE   TDRBOT,    AND   HOLIBUT. 

coil.     When  they  are  used,  the  nine   lines  are   generally  fastened 

together,  so  as  to  form  one  line,  with 
above  two  thousand  hooks,  and  ex- 
tending nearly  three  miles  in  length. 
This  is  always  laid  across  the  current ; 
and  an  anchor  and  buoy  are  fixed  at 
the  end  of  each  man's  line.  The  tides 
run  here  so  rapidly,  that  the  fishermen 
can  only  shoot  and  haul  their  lines 
during  the  still  water  at  the  turn  of 
the  tide ;  .and  therefore,  as  it  is  flood 

and  ebb  about  every  alternate  six  hours,  this  is  the  longest  time  the  lines 
remain  on  the  ground.  When  the  lines  are  laid,  two  of  the  men  can 
usually  wrap  themselves  in  the  sail  and  sleep,  whilst  the  third  is  on 
watch,  to  prevent  their  being  run  down  by  ships,  and  to  observe  the 
weather. 

The  bait  that  the  Turbots  take  most  readily  is  a  fresh  Herring,  cut 
into  proper-sized  pieces :  they  are  also  partial  to  the  smaller  Lampreys, 
pieces  of  Haddock,  Sand-worms,  Muscles,  and  Limpets;  and  when 
none  of  these  are  to  be  had,  the  fishermen  use  Bullock's  liver.  The 
hooks  are  two  inches  and  a  half  long  in  the  shank,  and  nearly  an 
inch  wide  between  the  shank  and  the  point.  These  are  fastened  to  the 
lines  upon  sneads  of  twisted  Horse-hair,  twenty-seven  inches  in  length. 
The  line  is  made  of  small  cording,  and  is  always  tanned  before  it  is  used. 
The  voracity  of  Turbot,  when  in  pursuit  of  prey,  is  often  such,  that 
it  carries  them  into  the  mouths  of  rivers,  or  the  entrance  of  ponds  in 
salt-marshes,  which  communicate  with  the  sea.  But  they  are  not 
contented  with  merely  employing  agility  and  strength  in  procuring 
their  food,  they  likewise  have  recourse  to  stratagem.  They  plunge 
themselves  into  the  mud  or  sand  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  cover 
their  whole  body,  except  their  eyes  and  mouth.  Thus  concealed,  they 
seize  upon  and  devour  all  the  smaller  kinds  of  fish  which  incautiously 
approach  them.  It  is  said  that  they  are  very  particular  in  the  choice 
of  their  food,  invariably  refusing  all  except  living  animals,  or  such  as 
are  not  in  the  least  degree  putrid.  And  the  fishermen  assert,  that 
they  are  never  to  be  caught  with  baits  which  have  been  bitten  by 
other  fish. 

In  many  parts  of  England,  Turbot  and  Holibut  are  sold  indiscrimi- 
nately for  each  other.  They  are,,  however,  perfectly  distinct;  the 
upper  parts  of  the  former  being  marked  with  large,  unequal,  and 
obtuse  tubercles;  while  those  of  the  latter  are  quite  smooth,  and 
covered  with  oblong  soft  scales,  that  adhere  firmly  to  the  body.  The 
eyes  of  the  Turbot  also  are  on  the  left,  whilst  those  of  the  Holibut  are 
on  the  right  of  the  head. 

Holibuts  are  sometimes  caught  of  such  immense  size,  on  the  north- 
ern coasts  of  England,  as  to  weigh  from  two  to  three  hundred  pounds. 
Olafsen  speaks  of  having  seen  one  in  Iceland,  which  measured  five 
ells  in  length. 

The  Greenlanders  employ  the  membrane  of  the  stomach  of  the 
Holibut,  in  place  of  glass  for  their  windows. 


THE   BEAKED  CH^ETODON 


875 


%  THE   PLAISE   AND   FLOUNDER. 

The  general  habits  both  of  the  Plaise  and  Flounder,  resemble  those 
of  all  the  other  flat-fish.  These  fish  are 
each  found  in  great  abundance  in  most 
of  the  European  seas.  Flounders  often 
ascend  rivers,  and  occasionally  even  so 
far  as  to  be  beyond  the  immediate 
influence  of  the  tides. 


OF  THE  CHJ3TODON  TRIBE. 

IN  this  tribe,  although  the  species  are  very  numerous,  there  is  only 
one  of  which  I  have  met  with  any  account  in  the  least  degree  inter- 
esting. 

The  head  and  mouth  of  the  Chastodons  are  small,  and  they  have 
the  power  of  pushing  out  and  retracting  the  lips,  so  as  to  make  a 
tubular  orifice.  The  teeth  are  mostly  bristle-shaped,  flexible,  move- 
able,  closely  set,  and  -very  numerous.  The  gill-membrane  has  from 
three  to  six  rays.  The  body  is  scaly,  broad,  and  compressed ;  and  the 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  generally  terminated  with  prickles. 


THE   BEAKED   CH^TODON. 

The  Beaked  Ctetodon  or  Shooting-fish  frequents  the  shores  and 
mouths  of  rivers  in 
India,  and  about 
the  Indian  islands. 
It  is  somewhat 
more  than  six 
inches  in  length. 

This  fish  feeds 
principally  on  flies 
and  other  small 
winged  insects  that 
hover  about  the 
waters  it  inhabits  ; 
and  the  mode  of 
taking  its  prey  is 
very  remarkable. 
When  it  sees  a  fly 
at  a  distance,  on 
any  of  the  plants  in 
the  shallow  water, 
it  approaches  very 


876 


THE    BEAKED    CHJETODON. 


CHJETODON. 


slowly,  and  with  the  utmost  caution,  coming  as  much  as  possible  per- 
pendicularly under  the  object.     Then  putting  its  body  in  an  oblique 

direction,  with  the  mouth  and  e/es  near 
the  surface,  it  remains  for  a  moment  im- 
movable. Having  fixed  its  eyes  directly 
on  the  insect,  it  shoots  at  it  a  drop  of 
water  from  its  tubular  snout,  but  without 
showing  its  mouth  above  the  surface,  from 
whence  only  the  drop  seems  to  rise.  This 
is  done  with  so  much  dexterity,  that 
though  at  the  distance  of  four,  five,  or  six 
feet,  it  seldom  fails  to  bring  the  fly  into 
the  water.  With  the  closest  attention  the 
mouth  could  never  be  discovered  above 
the  surtace,  although  the  fish  has  been  seen  to  eject  several  drops 
one  after  another,  without  leaving  the  place,  or  in  the  smallest 
apparent  degree  moving  its  body. 

This  very  singular  action  was  reported  to  M.  Hommel,  the  governor 
of  the  hospital  at  Batavia,  near  which  place  the  species  is  sometimes 
found ;  and  it  so  far  excited  his  curiosity,  that  he  was  determined,  if 
possible,  to  convince  himself  of  its  truth,  by  ocular  demonstration. 

For  this  purpose,  he  ordered  a  large,  wide  tub  to  be  filled  with  sea- 
water  :  he  then  had  some  of  these  fish  caught  and  put  into  it ;  and  the 

water  was  changed 
every  other  day.  After 
a  while,  they  seemed 
reconciled  to  their  con- 
finement ;  and  he  tried 
the  experiment.  A 
slender  stick,  with  a 
fly  fastened  at  the  end, 
was  placed  in  such  a 
manner  on  the  side  of 
the  vessel,  as  to  enable 
the  fish  to  strike  it ; 
and  it  was  not  without 
inexpressible  delight, 
that  he  daily  saw  them 
exercising  their  skill 
in  shooting  at  it  with 
amazing  force  and 
seldom  missing  theii 
mark. 

The  flesh  of  this 
species  is  white  and 
well  tasted. 

The  Bat  Cbaetodon 
found  near  Ceylon  is 
a  large  species  with 
very  broad  fins. 


BAT  CHJBTODOX 


THE   COMMON   PERCH. 


877 


COMMON  PERCH. 


OF  THE  PERCH  TKIBE, 

OF  about  sixty  known  species  of  Perch,  the  ancients  were  acquainted 
only  with  three.  The  voracity  of  these  fishes  is  boundless.  They  are 
also  endowed  with  strong  muscular  powers  of  action,  and  with  great 
activity  of  body.  When  seized  in  the  hand,  or  attacked  by  an  enem}r, 
they  erect  the  spines  of  their  first  dorsal  fin,  and  strike  them  at  the 
intruder  with  such  force  and  address,  as  sometimes  to  cause  dreadful 
lacerations. 


THE    COMMOX    PERCH. 

The  Common  Perch  are  gregarious  ;  and,  contrary  to  the  nature  of 
nearly  all  fresh-water  fish  that 
swim  in  shoals,  they  are  so  vor- 
acious as  to  attack  and  devour 
even  their  own  species.  They 
grow  slowly,  and  are  seldom 
caught  of  extraordinary  size. 

Perch  are  found  in  clear, 
swift  rivers,  with  pebbly  or 
gravelly  bottoms,  and  in  those 
of  a  sandy  or  clayey  soil.  They 
seem  to  prefer  moderately  deep  water,  and  holes  by  the  sides  of,  or 
near  to  gentle  streams,  where  there  is  an  eddy ;  the  hollows  under 
banks,  among  weeds,  and  roots  of  trees;  the  piles  of  bridges  or 
ditches,  and  back  streams  that  have  a  communication  with  some 
river.  They  also  thrive  sufficiently  well  in  ponds  that  are  fed  by  a 
brook  or  rivulet.  These  fish  are  very  tenacious  of  life.  They  have 
been  known  to  survive  a  journey  of  near  sixty  miles,  although 
packed  in  dry  straw. 

It  is  generally  believed  that  a  Pike  will  not  attack  a  full-grown 
Perch :  he  is  deterred  from  so  doing,  by  the  spiny  fins  of  its  back, 
which  this  fish  always  erects  at  the  approach  of  an  enemy.  The 
smaller  Perch,  however,  are  frequently  used  as  bait  for  Pike. 

The  season  of  angling  for  Perch,  is  from  April  to  January;  and 
the  time  from  sunrise  till  ten  o'clock,  and  from  two  o'clock  till  sunset: 
except  in  cloudy  weather,  with  a  ruffling  south  wind,  when  they  will 
bite  all  day.  The  baits  are  various  kinds  of  worms,  a  minnow,  or 
grass-hopper.  So  voracious  are  these  fish,  that  it  is  said,  if  an  expert 
angler  find  a  shoal  of  them,  he  may  catch  every  one.  If,  however,  a 
single  fish  escape  that  has  felt  the  hook,  all  is  over;  this  fish  becomes 
so  restless,  as  soon  to  occasion  the  whole  shoal  to  leave  the  place. 

In  winter  the  Perch  is  exceedingly  abstemious,  and  during  that 
season  it  scarcely  ever  takes  a  bait,  except  in  the  middle  of  a  warm 
sunny  day.  In  clear  weather,  during  the  spring,  sometimes  a  dozen 
or  more  of  these  fish  may  be  observed  in  a  deep  hole,  sheltered  by 


878 


THE  COMMON   MACKEREL. 


trees  and  bushes.     The  angler  may  tnen  observe  them  striving  which 
shall  first  seize  his  bait,  till  the  whole  shoal  are  caught. 

In  one  of  the  pools  of  Merionethshire  there  is  a  singular  variety  of 
the  Perch,  the  back  of  which  is  hunched,  and  the  lower  part  of  the 
back-bone  next  the  tail  is  strangely  distorted.  The  common  kind  are 
as  numerous  in  this  pool  as  the  deformed  fish.  Some  of  the  crooked 
Perch  have  likewise  been  found  in  the  small  alpine  lakes  of  Sweden 


OF  THE  MACKEREL  TEIBE. 

NEARLY  all  the  species  of  Mackerel  are  gregarious,  and  unite  in 

immense  shoals.  Some  of  them  are 
migratory,  making  long  voyages  at 
certain  seasons  of  the  year.  It  is 
believed  that  they  are  all  eatable :  and 
some  of  them  are  well  known  to  be 
exceedingly  delicate  food.  They  afford 

employment  and  support  to  numerous  fishermen  in  various  countries. 

There  are  in  the  whole  about  twenty -five  species. 


MACKEREL. 


THE   COMMON   MACKEREL. 

From  the  elegance  of  its  shape,  and  the  brilliancy  of  its  colors  the 


COMMON  MACKEREL. 


Mackerel,  when  alive,  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  fish  that  frequents 
our  coasts.  Death,  in  some  measure,  impairs  the  colors,  but  it  by  no 
means  obliterates  them. 

Mackerel  visit  our  shores  in  vast  shoals ;  but,  from  being  very  tender 
and  unfit  for  long  carriage,  they  are  found  less  useful  than  other 
gregarious  fish.  In  some  places  they  are  caught  by  lines  from  boats ; 
for  during  a  fresh  gale  of  wind  they  readily  seize  a  bait.  The  usual 
bait  is  a  bit  of  red  cloth  or  a  piece  of  the  tail  of  a  Mackerel.  It  is 
necessary  that  the  boat  should  be  in  motion,  in  order  to  drag  the  bait 
along  near  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  great  fishery  for  Mackerel  is 
in  some  parts  of  the  west  coast  of  England.  This  is  of  such  an  extent 
as  to  employ,  in  the  whole,  a  capital  of  nearly  two  hundred  thousand 


THE    COMMON    MACKEREL. 


879 


pounds.  The  fishermen  go  out  to  the  distance  of  several  leagues  from 
the  shore,  and  stretch  their  nets,  which  are  sometimes  several  miles 
in  extent,  across  the  tide,  during  the  night.  The  meshes  of  these  nets 
are  just  large  enough  to  admit  the  heads  of  tolerably  large  fish,  and 
to  catch  them  by  the  gills.  A  single  boat  has  been  known  to  bring 
in,  after  one  night's  fishing,  a  cargo  that  has  been  sold  for  nearly 
seventy  pounds.  Besides  these,  there  is,  in  the  west  of  England, 
another  mode  of  fishing  for  Mackerel  with  a  ground  seine.  A  coil  of 


MACKEREL  BOATS. 


rope,  about  two  hundred  fathoms  in  length,  with  the  net  fastened  to 
one  end,  is  tied,  at  the  other,  to  a  post  or  rock,  on  the  shore.  The 
boat  is  then  rowed  to  the  extremity  of  this  coil,  when  a  pole,  fixed 
there,  and  leaded  heavily  at  the  bottom,  is  thrown  overboard.  The 
rowers,  from  this  place,  make  as  nearly  as  possible  a  semicircle,  two 
men  continually  and  regularly  putting  the  net  into  the  water.  When 
they  come  to  the  other  end  of  the  net,  where  there  is  another  leaded 
pole,  they  throw  that  overboard.  Another  coil  of  rope,  similar  to  the 
first,  is  by  degrees  thrown  into  the  water,  as  the  boatmen  make  for 
the  shore.  The  boat's  crew  now  land,  and,  with  the  assistance  of 
persons  stationed  there,  "haul  in  each  end  of  the  net  till  they  come  to 


880  THE    THUNNY. 

the  two  poles.  The  boat  is  then  again  pushed  off  towards  the  centre 
of  the  net,  in  order  to  prevent  the  more  vigorous  fish  from  leaping 
over  the  corks.  By  these  means,  three  or  four  hundred  fish  are  often 
caught  at  one  haul. 

Mackerel  are  said  to  be  fond  of  human  flesh.  Pontoppidan  informs 
us,  that  a  sailor,  belonging  to  a  ship  lying  in  one  of  the  harbors  on 
the  coast  of  Norway,  went  into  the  water  to  wash  himself;  when  he 
was  suddenly  missed  by  his  companions.  In  the  course  of  a  few 
minutes,  however,  he  was  seen  on  the  surface,  with  vast  numbers  of 
these  fish  fastened  on  him.  The  people  went  in  a  boat  to  his  assist- 
ance; and  though,  when  they  got  him  up,  they  forced  with  some  diffi- 
culty the  fishes  from  him,  they  found  it  was  too  late ;  for  the  poor 
fellow,  very  shortly  afterwards,  expired. 

Their  greatest  weight  seldom  exceeds  two  pounds,  though  some 
have  been  seen  that  weighed  more  thau  five.  Their  voracity  has 
scarcely  any  bounds ;  and  when  they  get  among  a  shoal  of  Herrings, 
they 'make  such  havoc  as  frequently  to  drive  it  away.  They  are  very 
prolific,  and  deposit  their  spawn  among  the  rocks  near  the  shore,  about 
the  month  of  June.  They  die  almost  immediately  after  they  are  taken 
out  of  the  water,  arid  for  a  short  time  exhibit  a  phosphoric  light. 

In  spring  their  eyes  are  covered  with  a  white  film,  that  grows  in 
the  winter,  and  is  regularly  cast  at  the  beginning  of  summer.  During 
this  time  they  are  said  to  be  nearly  blind. 


THE   TIIUNNY. 

On  the  coast  of  Sicily,  as  well  as  in  several  other  parts  of  the 

Mediterranean, 
there  are  very 
considerable 
Thunny  fisher- 
ies. The  nets 
are  spread  over 
a  large  space  of 
sea.  by  means  of 
cables  fastened 
to  anchors,  and 
taev  are  divided 
into  several  com- 
partments. A  man,  placed  upon  the  summit  of  a  rock  high  above 
the  water,  gives  the  signal  of  the  fish  being  arrived ;  for  he  can  dis- 
cern from  that  elevation  what  passes  under  the  water,  much  better 
than  any  person  near  the  surface.  As  soon  as  notice  is  given  that  a 
shoal  of  fish  has  penetrated  as  far  as  the  inner  compartment  of  the 
net,  the  passage  is  drawn  close,  and  the  slaughter  begins. 

Thunnies  enter  the  Mediterranean  about  the  vernal  equinox, 
travelling  in  a  triangular  phalanx  so  as  to  cut  the  waters  with  its 
point,  and  to  present  an  extensive  base  for  the  tides  and  currents  to 
act  against,  and  impel  forwards. 


THE   THUNNY.  881 

They  repair  to  the  warm  seas  of  Greece  to  spawn,  steering  their 
course  thither  along  the  European  shores;  but  as  they  return  they 
approach  the  African  coast:  the  young  fry  is  placed  in  the  van  of  the 
squadron  as  they  travel.  They  come  bads:  from  the  east  in  May,  and, 
about  that  time,  they  abound  on  the  coasts  of  Sicily  and  Calabria. 
In  autumn  they  steer  northward,  and  frequent  the  neighborhood  of 
Amalphi  and  Naples.  They  are  not  uncommon  on  the  western  coasts 
of  Scotland,  where  they  come  in  pursuit  of  the  Herrings,  and  often, 
during  the  night,  strike  into  the  nets,  and  do  considerable  damage. 
When  the  fishermen  draw  these  up  in  the  morning,  the  Thunny 
rises  at  the  same  time 
towards  the  surface, 
ready  to  catch  the  fish 
that  drop  out.  On  the 
Thunny  being  ob- 
served,  a  line  is 
thrown  into  the  water, 
having  a  strong  hook 
baited  with  a  Herring,  THDNNT 

which  it  seldom  fails 

to  seize.     As  soon  as  the  fish  finds  itself  ensnared,  it  seems  to  lose  all 
its  active  powers,  and  after  very  little  resistance,  submits  to  its  fate. 

The  quantity  of  these  fish  that  is  annually  consumed  in  the  two 
Sicilies,  almost  exceeds  the  bounds  of  calculation.  When  caught  in 
May  they  are  full  of  spawn,  and  are  then  esteemed  unwholesome,  a* 
being  apt  to  occasion  headaches  and  vapors ;  to  prevent  these  bad 
effects, .the  natives  fry  them  in  oil,  and  afterwards  salt  them.  The 
pieces  when  fresh,  appear  exactly  like  raw  beef;  but  when  boiled 
they  turn  pale,  and  have  somewhat  the  flavor  of  Salmon.  The  most 
delicate  parts  are  those  about  the  muzzle.  Those  fish  which  the 
inhabitants  are  not  able  to  use  immediately,  are  cut  into  slices,  salted, 
and  preserved  in  large  tubs,  either  for  sale  or  winter  provisions. 

The  Thunny  was  a  fish  so  well  known  to  the  ancients,  as  to  form 
a  principal  article  of  their  commerce.  By  the  Komans  it  was  held  in 
irreat  estimation. 


OF  THE  SUEMULLETS  IN  GENEEAL. 

BY  the  ancient  Greeks  and  Eomams,  Surmullets  were  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  for  the  table.  Pliny  was  acquainted  with  two  species ; 
and  the  principal  distinction  of  habit  that  he  has  mentioned  is,  that  one 
of  them  subsists  on  living  animals,  and  the  other  on  marine  plants. 
This  distinction,  however,  is  by  no  means  correct,  since  not  only  the 
mouth,  but  also  the  digestive  organs,  are  precisely  the  same  in  each ; 
consequently  their  food  is  necessarily  the  same  also. 

There  are  several  species.  They  feed  on  other  fish,  on.  testaceous 
animals,  Crabs  and  putrid  bodies  which  they  find  floating  in  the  ocean. 
None  of  them  are  known  to  inhabit  fresh  waters. 


882       THE  GRAY  GURNARD,  AND  RED  GURNARD. 


OF  THE   GURNARDS  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  are  carnivorous  and  predatory  fish.  They  inhabit  not  only 
the  North  Sea  and  the  Baltic,  but  are  also  found  in  the  Mediterranean, 
and  in  various  parts  of  the  ocean.  When  taken  alive  out  of  the 
water,  they  erect  their  sharp  dorsal  fin,  and  attempt  to  inflict  a  wound 
by  means  of  their  spines.  These  are  their  weapons  of  defence  against 
their  enemies  of  the  ocean.  When  taken  up  they  compress  their 
bodies,  and,  in  expelling  the  air  through  their  gills  they  make  a  sin- 
gular kind  of  noise :  hence  the  French  have  given  to  them  the 
appellation  of  Grondins,  or  grumblers. 


THE  GRAY  GURNARD,  AND  RED  GURNARD. 

About  the  months  of  May  and  June  the  Gray  Gurnards  approach 
the  sea-shores  in  consider- 
able shoals,  for  the  purpose 
of  depositing  their  spawn 
upon  the  shallows.  They 
are  occasionally  found  on 
most  of  the  shores  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland. 

They  chiefly  reside  in 
the  depths  of  the  ocean, 
where  they  have  a  plentiful 

supply  of  food,  in  Crabs,  Lobsters,  and  Shell-fish,  on  which  it  is  sup- 
posed they,  for  the  most  part  feed. 

Whilst  it  is  in  the  water,  the  colors  of  the  Red  Gurnard  are,  almor-t 
beyond  conception,  brilliant  and  beautiful,  particularly  in  the  broad 
glare  of  sunshine,  as  they  then  vary,  in  the  most  pleasing  manner, 
with  every  motion  of  the  fish. 

There  are  few  of  the  residents  of  the  ocean  so  voracious  as  this ;  for 
it  devour?,  with  eagerness,  almost  every  thing  eatable  that  comes  in 
its  way. 


ABDOMINAL    FISH. 


OF  THE    SALMON   TRIBE. 

THESE  fish  are  distinguished  from  all  others,  by  having  two  dorsal 
fins,  of  which  the  hindermost  is  fleshy  and  without  rays.  They  have 
teeth  both  in  the  jaws  and  on  the  tongue ;  and  the  body  is  covered 
with  round  and  minutely  striated  scales. 

Rapid  and  stony  rivers,  where  the  water  is  free  from  mud,  are  the 
favorite  places  of  most  of  the  Salmon  tribe.  Some  of  them  do  indeed 
inhabit  the  sea ;  but  they  come  up  the  rivers  for  the  purpose  of 
depositing  their  spawn  in  the  beds  of  gravel ;  and  in  this  instinctive 
pursuit  they  are  able  to  surmount  wonderful  obstacles  that  oppose 
their  course.  After  spawning,  they  return  to  the  sea  lean  and 
emaciated.  The  whole  tribe  is  supposed  to  afford  wholesome  food  for 
mankind. 

THE   COMMON   SALMON. 

This  fish  seems,  in  a  great  measure,  confined  to  the  northern  seas, 
being  unknown  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  in  the  waters  of  other  warm 


climates.  It  lives  in  fresh  as  well  as  in  salt  waters,  forcing  itself  in 
autumn  up  the  rivers,  sometimes  for  hundreds  of  miles,  for  the 
purpose  of  depositing  its  spawn.  In  these  peregrinations  it  is  that 
Salmon  are  caught  in  the  great  numbers  that  supply  our  markets  and 
tables.  Intent  only  on  the  object  of  their  journey,  they  spring  up 
cataracts,  and  over  other  obstacles  of  very  great  height.  This  extra- 
ordinary power  seems  to  be  owing  to  a  sudden  jerk  which  the  fish-, 
gives  to  its  body,  from  a  bent  into  a  straight  position. 

Where  the  water  is  low,  or  where  sand-banks  intervene,  they  throw 
themselves  on  one  side,  and  in  that  position  soon  work  themselves 
over  into  the  deep  water  beyond. 

56  (883) 


884 


THE   COMMON    SALMON. 


When  the  Salmon  have  arrived  at  a  proper  place  for  spawning  in, 
the  male  and  female  unite  in  forming,  in  the  sand  or  gravel,  a  proper 
receptacle  for  their  ova,  about  eighteen  inches  deep :  this  they  are 
also  supposed  afterwards  to  cover  up.  In  this  hole  the  ova  lie  until 
the  ensuing  spring,  (if  not  displaced  by  the  floods,)  before  they  are 
hatched.  The  parents,  however,  immediately  after  their  spawning, 
and  extremely  emaciated,  hasten  to  the  salt  water. 


COLXRAIN*  SALMON  LIAP  ON  THE  BAN.— ANGLING  FOR  SALMON. 

When  Salmon  enter  the  fresh  waters,  they  are  always  more  or  less 
infested  with  a  kind  of  insect  called  the  Salmon-louse ;  and  when  these 
are  numerous,  the  fish  are  esteemed  in  high  season.  Soon  after  the 
Salmon  have  left  the  sea.  the  insects  die  and  drop  off. 

Salmon  become  lean  after  the  spawning-time,  but  they  soon  acquire 
their  proper  bulk  when  they  return  to  the  sea.  Their  food  consists 
of  the  smaller  fishes,  insects,  and  worms;  for  all  these  are  used  with 
success  as  baits,  by  the  anglers  for  Salmon. 


THE  SALMON — COMMON  TROUT.  885 

The  Scotch  fisheries  are  very  productive;  as  are  also  several  of 
those  in  Ireland,  particularly  that  at  Cranna,  on  the  river  Ban,  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  Coleraine.  At  this  place,  as  many  as  three 
hundred  and  twenty  tons  of  Salmon  were  taken  in  one  year. 

Salmon  are  cured  by  being  split,  rubbed  with  salt,  and  put  in  pickle, 
in  tubs  provided  for  the  purpose,  where  they  are  kept  about  six  weeks: 
they  are  then  taken  out,  pressed,  and  packed  in  casks  with  layers  of 
salt. 

Different  species  of  Salmon  come  in  such  abundance  up  the  rivers  of 
Kamtschatka,  as  to  force  the  waters  before  them,  and  even  to  darn  up 
the  stream  so  as  sometimes  to  make  them  overflow  their  banks.  In 
this  case,  when  the  water  finds  a  passage,  such  multitudes  are  left  on 
the  dry  ground,  as  (if  it  were  not  for  the  violent  winds  which  are  preva- 
lent in  that  country,  assisted  by  the  bears  and  dogs)  would  soon 
produce  a  stench  sufficiently  great  to  cause  a  pestilence. 

Salmon  are  said  to  have  an  aversion  to  any  thing  red :  hence  the 
fishermen  are  generally  careful  not  to  wear  jackets  or  caps  of  that 
color.  Pontoppidan  says  also,  that  they  have  so  great  a  dislike  to 
carrion,  that,  if  any  happen  to  be  thrown  into  the  places  where  they 
are,  they  immediately  forsake  them. 


THE  SALMON,  OK  SEA  TROUT. 

Like  the  Salmon,  this  fish  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  sea,  but  in  the 
months  of  November  and  Decem- 
ber it  enters  the  rivers,  in  order 
to  deposit  its  ova ;  and,  conse- 
quently, during  the  spawning 
season  it  is  occasionally  found  in 

lakes  and  streams,  at  a  great  dis-  BAIM(W)  OR  SEA  TROCT> 

tance  from  the  sea, 

It  feeds  on  aquatic  insects,  worms,  and  small  fish,  and  is  often  caught 
by  anglers,  either  with  real  or  artificial  flies. 

The  flesh  of  this  Trout  is  red  and  of  excellent  flavor,  but,  like  that 
of  the  Salmon,  the  goodness  varies  according  to  the  quality  of  the 
water  in  which  they  are  caught.  On  this  also  depends  the  greater  or 
less  brilliancy  and  beauty  of  their  color.  In  muddy  or  putrid  waters, 
they  generally  become  insipid  and  unpalatable.  These  fish  chiefly 
delight  in  large  rivers,  where  the  stream  is  rapid,  and  the  bottom  is 
either  of  sand  or  gravel. 


OR   RIVER    TROUT. 

Though  this  is  a  delicate  and  excellent  fish  for  the  table,  it  was  in 
no  esteem  among  the  ancients.  It  abounded  in  most  of  the  lakes  of 
the  Roman  empire,  yet  is  only  mentioned  by  writers  on  account  of  its 
beautiful  colors. 

In  some  rivers,  Trouts  begin  to  spawn  in  October ;  but  November 


886 


THE    SMELT. 


is  the  chief  month  of  spawning.  About  the  end  of  September  they 
quit  the  deep  water,  to  which  they  had  retired  during  the  hot  weather, 
and  make  great  efforts  to  gain  the  course  of  the  currents,  and  seek  out 
a"  proper  place  for  depositing  their  ova.  This  is  always  done  on  a 
gravelly  bottom,  or  where  gravel  and  sand  are  mixed  among  stones, 
near  the  end  or  sides  of  streams.  At  this  period  they  turn  black  about 
the  head  and  body,  and  become  soft  and  unwholesome.  They  are 
never  good  when  they  are  full  of  roe  :  which  is  contrary  to  the  nature 
of  most  other  fish.  After  having  spawned  they  become  feeble,  their 

bodies  are  wasted,  and  those  beau- 
tiful spots,  which  before  adorned 
them,  are  imperceptible.  Their 
heads  appear  swelled,  and  their 
eyes  are  dull.  In  this  state  they 
seek  still  waters,  and  continue  there 
sick,  as  it  is  supposed,  all  the 
winter.  There  are  in  all  Trout- 
rivers  some  barren  female  fish,  which  continue  good  through  the 
winter. 

In  March,  or  sometimes  earlier,  if  the  weather  be  mild,  the  Trouts 
begin  to  leave  their  winter  quarters,  and  approach  the  shallows  or  tails 
of  streams,  where  they  cleanse  and  restore  themselves.  As  they 
acquire  strength  they  advance  still  higher  up  the  rivers,  till  they  fix 
on  their  summer  residence,  for  which  they  generally  choose  an  eddy 
behind  a  stone,  a  log,  or  bank,  that  projects- into  the  water,  and  against 
which  the  current  drives.  They  also  frequently  get  into  holes  under 
roots  of  trees,  or  into  deeps  that  are  shaded  by  boughs  and  bushes. 
These  fish  are  said  to  be  in  season  from  March  to  September. 


COMMON   TROUT. 


THE   SMELT 


THE   SMELT. 

It  is  generally  considered  that  the  smell  of  this  elegant  little  fish 

somewhat  resembles 
that  of  cucumbers 
, newly  cut.  From  its 
very  peculiar  scent,  so 
unlike  that  of  any 
other  species  of  fish, 
we  give  to  it  the  de- 
nomination of  Smelt,  or  "  smell  it."  The  Germans  call  it  Stinckfisch. 
The  best  season  for  these  fish,  is  from  December  to  May,  when  they 
approach  the  shores,  and  even  ascend  the  rivers  in  immense  shoals. 
Their  usual  season  of  spawning  is  about  the  months  of  March  and 
April.  In  certain  rivers,  Smelts  appear  a  long  time  before  they  spawn, 
and  in  others  it  has  been  remarked  that  they  do  not  at  all  appeax,  so 
long  as  there  is  any  snow-water  floating  down.  After  they  have  de- 
posited their  ova,  they  return  to  the  sea,  and  they  are  not  again  found 
in  the  rivers  until  the  ensuing  season.  In  the  Thames  they  are  caught 
in  great  numbers  from  November  to  January. 


THE   UMBER,   OR   GRAYLING COMMON   PIKE. 


887 


THE   UMBER,   OR   GRAYLING. 

The  ancient  writers  strongly  recommend  these  fish  as  food  for  sick- 
persons:  they  considered  them 
to  be  peculiarly  wholesome,  and 
easy  of  digestion.  To  oil  made 
from  the  fat  of  the  Graylings, 
they  attributed  the  property  of 
obliterating  the  marks  of  small- 
pox, freckles,  and  other  spots 
on  the  skin.  The  season  of  the 
year  during  which  these  fish  GRAYLING 

are  considered  in  greatest  per- 
fection, is  from  September  to  January.   ' 

Graylings  delight  chiefly  in  rapid  streams,  where  they  afford  great 
amusement  to  the  angler.  They  are  very  voracious,  and  rise  eagerly 
to  the  Fly.  They  are  bolder  'fish  than  Trout,  and  even  if  missed 
several  times  successively  they  will  still  pursue.  So  rapid  are  their 
motions  in  the  water,  that  their  name  of  Umber  has  been  thence 
derived.  Ausonius  says  of  them, 

"  The  Umber  swift,  escapes  the  quickest  eye." 

They  feed  principally  on  worms,  insects,  and  water-snails;  and  the 
shells  of  the  latter  are  often  found  in  great  quantity  in  their  stomachs. 


OF  THE   PIKE   TETBE. 

IT  does  not  appear  that  more  than  three  species  of  Pike  were 
known  to  the  ancients.  The  species  at  present  known,  are  fifteen  in 
number.  They  are  all  predatory  fish,  but  few  of  them  are  so  voracious 
as  the  Common  Pike.  They  multiply  fast,  and  increase  rapidly  in 
size.  Their  velocity  in  the  water  is  very  great,  and  their  general 
muscular  powers  are  beyond  those  of  most  other  fish. 


THE   COMMON  PIKE. 

There  is  scarcely  any  fish  of  its  size  in  the  world,  that  in  voracity 
can  equal  the  Pike.  One  of  these 
fish  has  been  known  to  choke 
itself  in  attempting  to  swallow 
another  of  its  own  species,  that 
proved  too  large  a  morsel:  and  it 
has  been  well  authenticated,  that 
in  Lord  Gower's  canal  at  Trent- 


COMMON  PIKE. 


888  THE   WHITE,    OR   COMMON   MULLET. 

ham,  a  Pike  seized  the  head  of  a  Swan  as  she  was  feeding  under 
water,  and  gorged  so  much  of  it,  as  to  kill  them  both. 

A  Pike  was  presented  to  Lord  Cholmondeley,  that  was  an  ell  long, 
and  weighed  thirty-five  pounds.  His  Lordship  directed  it  to  be  put 
into  a  canal  in  his  garden,  \\hich  at  that  time  contained  a  great 
quantity  offish.  Twelve  months  afterwards  the  water  was  drawn  o&\ 
and  it  was  discovered  that  the  Pike  had  devoured  all  the  fish  except 
a  large  Carp,  that  weighed  between  nine  and  ten  pounds  ;  and  even 
this  had  been  bitten  in  several  places.  The  Pike  was  again  put  in, 
and  an  entire  fresh  stock  of  fish  for  him  to  feed  on  :  all  these  he  de- 
voured in  less  than  a  }Tear.  Several  times  he  was  observed  by  work- 
men who  were  standing  near,  to  draw  Ducks  and  other  water-fowl 
under  water.  Crows  were  shot  and  thrown  in,  which  he  took  in  the 
•presence  of  the  men.  From  this  time  the  slaughtermen  had  orders 
to  feed  him  with  the  garbage  of  the  slaughter-house ;  but,  being  after- 
wards neglected,  he  died,  as  it  is  supposed,  from  want  of  food. 

Gesner  relates,  that  a  famished  Pike,  in  the  Rhone,  seized  the  lips 
o{  a  Mule,  and  was,  in  consequence,  dragged  out  of  the  water;  and 
that  people,  while, washing  their  legs,  had  often  been  bitten  by  these 
voracious  creatures. 

The  smaller  fish  exhibit  the  same  fear  of  this  tyrant,  as  many  of  the 
feathered  tribe  do  of  the  rapacious  birds ;  while  lying  dormant  near 
the  surface,  they  sometimes  swim  round  him  in  vast  numbers,  and 
with  great  anxiety. 

If  the  accounts  of  different  writers  on  the  subject  are  to  be  credited 
the  longevity  of  the  Pike  is  very  remarkable.  Gesner  mentions  a 
Pike,  whose  age  was  ascertained  to  be  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven 
years. 


OF  THE  MULLET  TRIBE. 

THE  lips  of  these  fish  are  membranaceous,  and  the  lower  lip  is 
carinate  inwards.  They  have  no  teeth  in  the  jaws,  but  on  the  tongue 
and  palate  only.  Above  the  angle  of  the  mouth  there  is  a  hard  callus. 
The  gill-membrane  has  seven  incurvated  rays.  The  gill-covers  are 
smooth  and  rounded. 


THE   WHITE,  OR   COMMON    MULLET. 

There  are  few  parts  of  the  globe  which  border  upon  the  sea,  where 
the  White  Mullet  are  not  found.  It  is  one  of  those  species  of  fish, 
which,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  pass  from  the  sea  into  the  rivers. 
These  they  usually  enter  in  the  months  of  May,  June,  and  July 
Fresh  water  is  so  little  injurious  to  the  Mullet,  even  for  permanent 
residence,  that  it  is  said  they  may  even  be  kept  through  the  whole 
year,  in  lakes  which  have  sandy  bottoms. 

They  usually  appear  in  immense  shoals,  and  swim  very  near  the 
surface  of  the  water.  When  the  fishermen  observe  an  unusual 


THE    WHITE,    OR    COMMON    MULLET. 


889 


rippling^ in  the  water,  and  also  perceive  the  water  at  a  distance  to  have 
a  peculiarly  blue  appearance,  they  know  that  a  shoal  of  Mullet  is 
there.  The  general  mode  in  which  these  fish  are  caught,  is  by  seine 
nets.  In  some  parts  of  the  continent,  the  fisherman  endeavor,  by 
making  violent  noises,  to  drive  the  fish  into  their  nets ;  but  they  are 
so  cunning,  that,  when  surrounded  by  the  net,  the  whole  shoal  will 


FISHERMEN  OFF  ST.  ABB'S   HZAD. 


sometimes  escape ;  for,  if  one  of  them  spring  over  it,  the  rest,  like 
Sheep,  are  sure  to  follow  their  leader. 

Mullet  are  in  considerable  esteem  for  the  table ;  and  are  in  best 
season  about  the  month  of  August.  They  are  usually  eaten  boiled ; 
and,  on  the  continent,  the  most  common  sauce  for  them  is  oil  and 
lemon-juice. 


890 


THE   COMMON    FLYING-FISH. 


OF  THE  FLYING-FISH  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  head  is  covered  with  scales,  and  the  mouth  is  destitute  of  teeth. 

The  belly  is  angular, 
and  the  pectoral  fins 
are  almost  as  long  as 
the  body. 

These  fish  chiefly 
inhabit  the  seas  of 
hot  climates ;  but 
they  are  occasionally 
found  within  the 
temperate  regions. 
There  are  only  three 
known  species. 


FLYING-FISH. 


COMMON    FLYING-FISH.. 


THE   COMMON   FLYING-FISH. 

The  wings,  as  they  are  usually  denominated,  with  which  these  fish 

have   the   power   of  raising  themselves 

into  the  air,  are  nothing  more  than  large 

pectoral  fins,  composed  of  seven  or  eight 

ribs   or   rays,    connected   by  a  flexible, 

transparent,    and    glutinous   membrane. 

They  have  their  origin  near  the  gills, 

and  are  capable  of  considerable  motion 

backward  and  forward.     These  fins  are 

used  also  to  aid  the  progress  of  the  fish 

in  the  water. 

The  Flying-fish  has  numerous  enemies  in  its  own  element ;  the 

Dorado,  the  Thunny,  and  many  others,  pursue  and  devour  it.     To  aid 

its  escape,  it  is  furnished  with  its  long  pectoral  fins ;  and  by  means  of 

these  it  is  able  to  raise  itself  into  the  air,  where  it  is  often  seized  by 

the  Albatross  or  tropic  birds.     Its  flight  is  short,  seldom  more  than 

sixty  or  seventy  yards  at  a  time,  but,  by  touching  the  surface  at 

intervals  to  moisten  its  fins,  it  is  able  to  double  or  treble  this  distance. 

The  whole  flight,  however,  is  of  so  short  a  duration,  that  even  in  the 

hottest  weather,  its  fins  do  not  become  dry.     By  touching  the  water 

it  not  only  wets  its  fins,  but  seems  to  take 
fresh  force  and  vigor,  for  another  spring 
into  an  element,  where  it  is  not  long  able 
to  support  its  weight  by  the  motion  of 
its  fins.  If  the  Flying-fishes  were  solitary 
animals  they  would  not  be  worth  the  pursuit 
of  some  of  their  larger  enemies :  they  are 

seldom  seen  to  rise  singly  from  the  water,  but  generally  appear  in 

large  shoals. 

It  has  been  inconsiderately  remarked,  that  all "  animated  nature  seems 


FLYING-FISH. 


THE   COMMON    FLYING-FISH. 


891 


combined  against  this  little  fish,  which  possesses  the  double  powers  of 
swimming  and  flying,  only  to  subject  it  to  greater  dangers.  If  it 
escape  its  enemies  of  the  deep,  this  is  only  that  it  may  be  devoured 
by  the  sea  fowl,  which  are  waiting  its  appearance  in  the  air."  Its 
destiny,  however,  is  not  peculiarly  severe:  we  should  consider  that, 
as  a  fish,  it  often  escapes  the  attack  of  birds;  and,  in  its  winged 
character,  the  individuals  frequently  throw  themselves  out  of  the 
power  of  fishes. 

The  eyes  of  these  fish  are  so  prominent,  as  to  admit  of  their  seeing 
danger  from  whatever  quarter  it  may  come ;  but,  on  emergency,  they 


FtYING-FISH   FURSUKD   BT  ALBATROSS  AND  FISH. 


are  able,  in  addition,  to  push  them  somewhat  beyond  the  sockets,  so 
as  considerably  to  enlarge  their  usual  sphere  of  vision. 

They  are  frequently  either  unable  to  direct  their  flight  out  of  a 
straight  line,  or  else  they  become  exhausted  on  a  sudden:  for  some- 
times whole  shoals  of  them  foil  on  board  the  ships  that  navigate  the 
seas  of  warm  climates. 

In  the  water,  they  have  somewhat  the  manner  of  the  Swallow  in 
the  air,  except  that  they  always  swim  in  straight  lines ;  and  the  black- 
ness of  their  backs,  the  whiteness  of  their  bellies,  and  their  forked 
and  expanded  tails,  give  them  much  the  same  appearance  as  that  of 
these  birds. 


892  THE    COMMON    HERRING. 


OF   THE   HERRING   TRIBE. 

THESE  fish  inhabit  the  depths  of  the  ocean.  They  feed  on  mol- 
luscae,  and  various  kinds  of  small  crustaceous  animals,  and  shell-fish. 
Three  of  the  species,  the  Common  Herring,  the  Shad,  and  the  An- 
chovy, were  known  to  the  ancients,  and,  as  articles  of  food,  were  held 
by  them  in  considerable  esteem.  It  is  not  known  that  any  of  these 
fish  are  natives  of  fresh  waters.  Most  of  the  species  are  migratory, 
and  generally  in  immense  shoals :  and  most,  if  not  all  of  them,  are 
excellent  food. 


THE   COMMON    HERRING. 

Herrings  are  found  in  the  greatest  abundance  in  the  high  northern 
latitudes."    In  those  inaccessible  seas  that  are  covered  with  ice  for  a 


THE    BERRIXQ. 


great  part  of  the  year,  they  find  a  quiet  and  sure  retreat  from  all  their 
numerous  enemies.  The  quantity  of  food  which  those  seas  supply  is 
immensely  great. 

Thus  remotely  situated,  and  defended  by  the  icy  rigor  of  the  cli- 
mate, they  live  at  ease,  and  multiply  beyond  expression,  issuing  thence 
in  such  shoals,  that,  were  all  the  men  in  the  world  to  be  loaded  with 
Herrings,  they  could  not  carry  off  the  thousandth  part  of  them.  Their 
enemies,  however,  are  extremely  numerous.  All  the  monst  rs  of  the 
deep  find  them  an  easy  prey  ;  and,  in  addition  to  these,  th  pirnmense 
flocks  of  sea-fowl  that  inhabit  the  polar  regions,  watch  their  outset, 
and  spread  devastation  on  all  sides. 

In  their  outset,  this  immense  swarm  of  living  creatures  is  divided 
into  distinct  columns,  each  five  or  six.  miles  in  length,  and  three  or 
four  in  breadth,  and  in  their  progress  they  even  make  the  water 
ripple  before  them. 

In  the  month  of  June  they  are  found  about  the  Shetland  islands, 
whence  they  proceed  to  the  Orkneys,  and,  then  dividing,  they  surround 
the  islands  of  great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  unite  again,  off  the  Land's 
End,  in  the  British  Channel,  in  September.  From  this  part  of  the 
ocean  the  great  united  body  steers  south-west,  and  is  not  found  any 
more  on  that  side,  or  in  the  Atlantic,  until  the  same  time  the  ensuing 
year,  but  next  appear  off  the  American  coasts.  They  arrive  in 


THE    COMMON     HERRING. 


893 


Georgia  and  Carolina  about  the  end  of  January,  and  off  the  coast  of 
Yirginia  in  February.  Hence  they  coast  eastward  to  New  England. 
They  then  divide,  and  go  into  all  the  bays,  rivers,  creeks,  and  even  small 
streams  of  water,  in  amazing  numbers,  and  continue  spawning  in  the 
fresh  water  until  the  end  of  April,  when  the  old  fish  return  into  the 
sea,  where  they  change  their  latitudes  by  a  northward  direction,  and 
arrive  at  Newfoundland  in  May.  After  this  they  are  no  more  seen  in 
America  till  the  following  spring.  Their  passing  sooner  or  later  up 
the  American  rivers,  depends  on  the  warmth  of  the  season ;  and  even 


YARMOUTH   JETTEE. — HERRING  ^BOATS   RETURNED. 

if  a  few  warm  days  invite  them  up,  and  cool  weather  succeed,  their 
passage  is  immediately  checked  till  the  heat  becomes  more  powerful. 

The  fecundity  of  the  Herring  is  astonishing.  It  has  been  calculated, 
that  if  the  offspring  of  a  single  Herring  could  be  suffered  to  multipLy 
unmolested  and  undiminished  for  twenty  years,  they  would  exhibit  a 
bulk  ten  times  the  size  of  the  earth.  But  happily,  Providence  has  so 
contrived  the  balance  of  nature,  by  giving  them  innumerable  enemies, 
as  always  to  keep  them  within  proper  bounds. 

They  once  swarmed  so  excessively  on  the  west  side  of  the  Isle  of 


894 


THE   COMMON    HERRING. 


Skye,  that  the  numbers  caught  were  more  than  could  possibly  be  car- 
ried away.  After  the  boats  were  all  loaded,  and  the  country  round  was 
served,  the  neighboring  farmers  made  them  up  into  composts,  and 
manured  their  ground  with  them  in  the  ensuing  season.  This  shoal 
continued  to  frequent  the  coast  for  many  years,  but  not  always  in 
numbers  equal  to  these. 

Herrings  die  almost  the  moment  after  they  are  taken  out  of  the 
water ;  whence  originated  the  adage,  in  common  use,  as  dead  as  a  Her- 
ring. They  also  soon  become  tainted  after  they  are  killed.  In 
summer,  they  are  sensibly  worse  for  being  out  of  the  water  only  a  few 


YARMOUTH  BEACH  CART,  FOE  CARRYING   HERRING   TO  MARKET 

hours  ;  and,  if  exposed  but  a  few  minutes  to  the  rays  of  the  sun,  they 
are  perfectly  useless,  and  will  not  take  the  salt. 

After  the  nets  are  hauled,  the  fish  are  thrown  upon  the  deck  of  the 
vessel,  and  each  of  the  crew  has  a  certain  task  assigned  to  him.  One 
part  is  employed  in  opening  and  gutting  them  ;  another  in  salting,  and 
a  third  in  packing  them  in  the  barrels  in  layers  of  salt.  The  red  Her- 
rings lie  twenty-four  hours  in  the  brine  ;  they  are  then  taken  out,  strung 
by  the  head  on  little  wooden  spits,  and  hung  in  a  chimney  formed  to 
receive  them ;  after  which  a  fire  of  brushwood,  which  yields  much 
smoke,  but  no  flame,  is  kindled  under  them,  and  they  remain  there  till 
they  are  sufficiently  smoked  and  dried,  when  they  are  put  into  barrels 
for  carriage. 


THE  PILCHARD. 


THE   PILCHAKD. 


895 


About  the  middle  of  July,  the  Pilchards,  which  are  a  smaller  species 
of  Herring,  appear  in  vast  shoals  off  the  coasts  of  Cornwall.     These 


shoals  remain  till  the  latter  end  of  October,  when  it  is  probable  they 
retire  to  some  undisturbed  deep,  at  a  little  distance,  for  the  winter. 
It  has  been  supposed,  but  improperly,  that,  like  the  Herring,  they 
migrate  into  the  arctic  regions.  If  Pilchards  performed  any  migration 
northward,  we  should  have  heard  of  their  being  occasionally  seen  and 
caught  on  their  passage  ;  but  of  this  we  have  no  authenticated  instance. 
The  utmost  range  of  the  Pilchards  seems  to  be  the  Isle  of  Wight  in 
the  British,  and  Ilfracomb  in  the  Bristol  Channel.  Forty  years  back, 
Christmas  was  the  time  of  their  departure :  this  alteration  in  time  is  a 
very  singular  fact. 

We  have  the  following  account  of  the  Pilchard-fishery  from  Dr. 
Borlase  : — "  It  employs  (he  says)  a  great  number  of  men  on  the  sea, 
training  them  thereby  to  naval  affairs;  employs  men,  women,  and 
children,  at  land,  in  salting,  pressing,  washing,  and  cleaning;  in 
'making  boats,  nets,  ropes,  and  casks.  The  poor  are  fed  with  the  refuse 
of  the  captures,  the  land  with  the  offals  of  the  fish  and  salt;  the 
merchant  finds  the  gains  of  commission  and  honest  commerce,  the 
fishermen  the  gains  of  the  fish.  Ships  are  often  freighted  hither 
with  salt,  and  into  foreign  countries  with  the  fish,  carrying  off,  at  the 
•same  time,  part  of  our  tin.  From  a  statement,  the  number  of 
hogsheads  exported  from  Great  Britain,  each  year,  for  ten  years, 
amounted  to  twenty-nine  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five 
hogsheads  yearly.  Every  hogshead,  for  ten  years  last  past,  together 
with  the  bounty  allowed  for  exportation,  and  the  oil  made  out  of  it, 
has  amounted,  one  year  with  another,  at  an  average,  to  the  price  of 
one  pound  thirteen  shillings  and  three-pence;  so  that  the  cash  paid 
for  Pilchards  exported  has,  at  a  medium,  annually  amounted  to  the 
sum  of  forty-nine  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty-two  pounds  and 
ten  shillings." 

When  Dr.  Maton  made  his  tour  of  the  western  counties,  he  and  a 
friend  hired  a  boat  to  go  out  and  see  the  Pilchard-fishing  at  Fowy. 
He  says,  that  the  fishing-boats,  which  are  numerous,  are  usually 


896 


THE   PILCHARD. 


stationed  in  ten  fathoms  water,  and  clear  of  all  breakers.  Light  sail- 
boats keep  out  at  a  little  distance  before  them,  to  give  notice  to  the 
fishermen  of  the  approach  of  a  shoal.  Persons  are  also  frequently 
stationed  on  the  neighboring  rocks,  to  watch  the  course  of  the  fish : 
these  are  called  huers,  from  their  setting  up  a  hue  to  the  fishermen. 
The  nets,  which  are  seines,  are  sometimes  two  hundred  fathoms  or 


PILCHARD    BOATS   OFF   SCARBOROUGH.' 


more  in  circumference,  and  about  eighteen  fathoms  deep.  Some  of 
them  are  said  to  be  capable  of  holding  upwards  of  two  hundred  hogs- 
heads of  fish,  each  containing  about  three  thousand.  About  thirty 
thousand  hogsheads  are  here  considered  a  tolerably  good  produce  for 
one  season.  But  it  happens,  now  and  then,  that  the  fishery  almost 
entirely  fails. 

The  Dog-fish  are  great  enemies  to  the  Pilchards,  often  devouring 
them  in  amazing  numbers. 


THE   SPRAT. 


89' 


THE    SPRAT. 

Sprats  are  caught  on  the  coasts  of  the  Mediterranean,  in  such 
immense  shoals,  that  at 
a  single  haul  of  a  large 
net,  as  many  have 
sometimes  been  landed 
as  would  have  filled 
between  forty  and  fifty 
barrels.  From  the  cir- 
cumstance of  these  fish 
being  caught  near  the  island  of  Sardinia  in  great  abundance,  and 
being  exported  from  that  island,  in  barrels,  to  various  parts  of  the 


81'IIAT    BOAT   FISHING    OFF  PCRFLEETON   THE  THA518 


world,  they  have  obtained,  in  several  countries,  ths  namo  of  Sardine. 
Sprats  are  likewise  found  in  the  North  Sea  and  the  Baltic. 

They  usually  frequent  the  deep  parts  of  the  sea ;  but  in  the  autumn 
they  approach  the  smooth  and  sandy  shores,  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
positing there  their  spawn. 


898  THE  SHAD — ANCHOVY. 


THE  SHAD. 

Shads  appear  in  the  river  Khine  in  the  month  of'  March ;  in  the 

Severn  and  Thames,  and  Dela- 
ware, in  April,  May,  and  June  ; 
and  in  the  Nile  in  December 
and  January.  As  soon  as 
they  arrive,  they  deposit  their 
spawn  in  places  where  the 
current  is  most  rapid;  and, 
some  months  afterwards,  return 
to  the  sea. 

They  ascend  the  Rhine  as  far  as  Basil,  where  they  are  caught  in 
nets,  and  osier  baskets  or  traps.  In  order  to  attract  them  into  the 
latter,  the  fishermen  use  a  bait  of  peas,  prepared  in  a  certain  way  with 
myrrh  :  this  bait  is  put  into  a  small  bag,  and  suspended  in  the  inside. 
When  caught  by  means  of  lines,  an  earthworm  is  used  for  a  bait. 

It  has  been  asserted  that  Shads  delight  in  music,  and  that  they  are 
afraid  of  storms.  They  are  so  little  tenacious  of  life,  that,  like  the  Her- 
ring, they  always  die  as  soon  as  they  are  taken  out  of  the  water. 

When  these  fish  are  taken  out  of  the  sea,  they  are  thin  and  ill- 
flavored  ;  but  the  longer  they  continue  in  the  rivers,  the  fatter  and 
more  eatable  they  become.  In  the  Severn  they  are  considered  very 
delicate  fish,  especially  in  that  part  of  the  river  which  flows  \>j 
Gloucester;  here  they  are  usually  sold  at  a  price  higher  than  that  of 
Salmon.  The  Thames  Shad  is  esteemed  a  very  coarse  and  insipid  fish. 
In  most  countries  the  males  are  considered  less  delicate  food  than  the 
females. 


THE   ANCHOVY. 

Like  the  Herring  and  the  Sprats,  these  fish  leave  the  deeps  of  the 
open  sea  inorder  to  frequent  the  smooth  and  shallow  places  of  the 
coasts,  for  the  purpose  of  spawning.  Between  the  months  of  December 
and  March,  immense  numbers  are  caught  on  the  shores  of  Provence, 
Brabant,  and  Catalonia :  during  June  and  July,  in  the  English 
Channel,  and  in  the  environs  of  Venice,  Genoa,  Rome,  and  Bayonne. 

The  fishermen  generally  light  a  fire  on  the  shore,  for  the  purpose 
of  attracting  the  Anchovies,  when  they  fish  for  them  in  the  night. 
After  the  Anchovies  are  cleansed  and  their  heads  are  cut  off,  they  are 
cured  in  a  certain  way,  and  packed  in  small  barrels  for  sale  and  expor- 
tation. The  ancient  Greeks  and  Romans  prepared  from  these  fish  a 
liquid,  which  they  denominated  garum,  and  which  was  highly  esteemed 
by  most  of  the  epicures  of  that  day. 

Anchovies  are  occasionally  found  both  in  the  North  Sea  and  in  the 
Baltic  ;  but  it  is  supposed  that  they  are  in  much  greater  number  in  the 
Mediterranean,  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 


THE   COMMON    CARP.  899 


OF  THE  CAEP  TKIBE. 

THE  Carp  tribe,  for  the  most  part,  inhabit  fresh  waters,  where  they 
feed  on  worms,  insects,  aquatic  plants,  fish,  and  clay  or  mould.  Some 
of  them  are  migratory.  Most  of  the  species,  which  are  very  numerous, 
are  found  only  in  the  northern,  countries  of  Europe  ;  and,  consequently, 
'were  unknown  to  the  ancient  naturalists  of  Greece  and  Rome. 


THE    COMMON"    CARP. 

In  their  general  habits,  these  fish  exhibit  so  great  a  degree  of 
cunning,  as  sometimes  to  be  called  by 
the  country  people  River-fox.  When 
attempted  to  be  taken  by  a  net,  they 
will  often  leap  over  it;  or  immerse 
themselves  so  deep  in  the  mud,  as  to 
suffer  the  net  to  pass  over  without 

rr~.  -  COMMON   CARP. 

touching  them.     They  are  also  very 

shy  of  taking  a  bait;  but,  during  spawning- time,  they  are  so  intent 
on  the  business  of  depositing  their  ova,  that  they  will  suffer  them- 
selves to  be  handled  by  any  one  who  attempts  it.  They  breed  three 
or  four  times  in  the  year,  but  their  first  spawning  is  in  the  beginning 
of  May. 

Carp  are  found  in  the  slow  rivers  and  stagnant  waters  of  Europe 
and  Persia ;  and  here  principally  in  deep  holes,  under  the  roots  of 
trees,  hollow  banks,  or  great  beds  of  flags,  &c.  They  do  not  often 
exceed  four  feet  in  length,  and  twenty  pounds  in  weight ;  but  Jovius 
mentions  some,  caught  in  the  lake  of  Como,  in  Italy,  that  weighed 
two  hundred  pounds  each;  and  others  have  been  taken  in  the 
Dneister  five  feet  in  length. 

From  their  quick  growth  and  vast  increase,  these  are  considered 
as  the  most  valuable  of  all  fish  for  the  stocking  of  ponds;  and  if  the 
breeding  and  feeding  of  them  were  better  understood,  and  more 
practised,  than  they  are,  the  advantages  resulting  from  them  would 
be  very  great. 

By  being  constantly  fed,  they  may  be  rendered  so  familiar  as 
always  to  come,  for  food,  to  the  side  of  the  pond  where  they  are  kept. 
Dr.  Smith,  speaking  of  the  Prince  of  Conde's  seat  at  Chantilly,  says, 
"  The  most  pleasing  things  about  it  were  the  immense  shoals  of  very 
large  Carp,  silvered  over  with  age,  like  silver  fish,  and  perfectly  tame ; 
so  that,  when  any  passengers  approached  their  watery  habitation,  they 
used  to  come  to  the  shore  in  such  numbers  as  to  heave  each  other  out 
of  the  water,  begging  for  bread,  of  which  a  quantity  was  always  kept 
at  hand  on  purpose  to  feed  them.  They  would  even  allow  themselves 
to  be  handled." 

Carp  are  very  long-lived:    the  pond    in  the  srarden  of  EmanueL 
57  ' 


900 


THE    TENCH — GUDGEON — CHUB. 


College,  Cambridge,  contained  a  Carp  that  had  been  an  inhabitant  of 
it  more  than  seventy  years ;  and  Gesner  has  mentioned  an  instance 
of  one  that  was  an  hundred  years  old.  They  are  also  extremely  tena- 
cious of  life,  and  will  live  for  a  great  length  of  time  out  of  water. 


THE  TENCH. 

Tench  are  partial  to  foul  and  weedy  waters ;  and  their  haunts  in 

rivers  are  chiefly  among  weeds, 
and  in  places  well  shaded  with 
rushes.  These  fish  thrive  best 
in  standing  waters,  where  they 
lie  under  weeds,  near  sluices 
and  pond-heads.  They  are 
TEKcH.  much  more  numerous  in  pools 

and   pits  than  in  rivers ;    but 

those  that  are  caught  in  the  latter,  are  far  preferable  for  the  table. 
They  begin  to  spawn  in  June,  and  may  be  found  spawning  in  some 
waters  till  September.  The  best  season  for  them  is  from  that  time 
until  the  end  of  May. 

They  do  not  often  exceed  four  or  five  pounds  in  weight. 


THE   GUDGEON. 

The  food  of  the  Gudgeon  consists  of  aquatic  plants,  worms,  the 
larvae  of  water-ansects,  and  the  spawn  of 
fish.  They  usually  swim  in  small  shoals, 
and  are  found  in  gentle  streams,  where 
the  bed  is  of  sand  or  gravel.  If  the  bed 
of  the  stream  be  raked  or  stirred  up, 
they  eagerly  collect  round  the  spot,  and 
are  easily  caught  with  lines  baited  with 
small  earth-worms. 

The  flesh  of  the  Gudgeon  is  white,  of  excellent  flavor,  and  easy  of 
digestion. 


THE   CHUB. 

The  Chub  is  a  handsome  fish ;  but  it  is  not  in  esteem  for  the  table, 

being  very  coarse,  and,  when  out  of 
season  full  of  small,  hairy  bones. 
Its  name  is  derived  from  the  shape 
of  its  head  ;  the  French  and  Italians 
know  it  by  a  name  synonymous 
with  ours. 

Its  haunts  are  rivers,  whose  bottoms  are  of  sand  or  clay,  or  which 
are  bounded  by  clayey  banks ;  in  deep  holes,  under  hollow  banks, 


CHUB. 


THE  DACE — ROACH. 


901 


shaded  by  trees  or  weeds.  These  fish  often  float  on  the  surface,  and 
are  sometimes  found  in  deep  waters,  where  the  currents  are  strong. 
In  ponds  fed  by  rivulets  they  grow  to  a  great  size.  They  seldom, 
however,  exceed  the  weight  of  four  or  five  pounds. 

When  the  Chub  seizes  a  bait,  he  bites  so  eagerly  that  his  jaws  are 
often  heard  to  chop  like  those  of  a  Dog.  He,  however,  seldom  breaks 
his  hold,  and,  when  once  he  is  struck,  is  soon  tired. 


THE   DACE. 

The  Dace  is  a  gregarious  and  lively  fish ;  and  during  summer  is 
fond  of  playing  near  the 
surface  of  the  water.  It 
is  generally  found  where 
the  water  is  deep,  and 
the  stream  is  gentle, 
near  the  piles  of  bridges.  DACK 

It   also   frequents  deep 

holes  that  are  shaded  by  the  leaves  of  the  water-lily ;  and  under  the 
foam  on  the  shallows  of  streams. 

These  fish  seldom  weigh  more  than  a  pound  and  a  half;  but  they 
are  exceedingly  prolific. 


THE   EOACH. 


This  fish  is  found  chiefly  in  deep,  still  rivers,  where  it  is/)ften 


seen  in  large  shoals.     In  summer  it  fre- 


ROACe. 


quents  shallows  near  the  tails  of  fords; 
or  lies  under  banks  among  weeds,  and 
shaded  by  trees  or  herbage,  especially 
where  the  water  is  thick.  As  the  winter 
approaches,  these  haunts  are  changed  for 
deep  and  still  waters. 

The  Roach  is  so  silly  a  fish,  that  it  has  acquired  the  name  of  the 
Water-sheep,  in  contradistinction  to  the  Carp,  which  from  its  subtlety 
is  termed  the  River-fox.  Sound  as  a  Roach,  is  a  proverb  that  appears 
but  indifferently  founded. 

This  is  a  handsome  fish,  either  in  the  water  or  when  immediately 
taken  out  of  it.  The  flesh,  although  reckoned  wholesome,  is  in  little 
esteem,  on  account  of  the  great  quantity  of  bones.  When  Roach  are 
in  season,  their  scales  are  very  smooth ;  but  when  they  are  out  of  sea- 
son, these  feel  like  the  rough  side  of  an  oyster-shell.  Their  fins  also 
are  generally  red  when  the  animals  are  in  perfection.  These  fish 
differ  much  in  quality,  according  to  the  rivers  in  which  they  are 
caught.  None  are  good  that  are  kept  in  ponds. 

Roach  feed  on  aquatic  plants  and  vermes.  Their  usual  weight  is 
from  half  a  pound  to  two  pounds.  Some,  however,  have  been  known 
to  weigh  as  much  as  five  pounds. 


902  THE   GOLD-FISH. 

The  baits  used  in  catching  Eoach  are  various  kinds  of  worms,  flies, 
and  pastes.  The  time  for  angling  is,  in  mild  cloudy  weather,  all  the 
day;  in  hot  weather,  only  in  the  mornings  and  evenings;  and  in  cold 
weather,  during  the  middle  of  the  day. 


THE   GOLD-FISH. 

Gold-fish  are  natives  of  China;  and  the  most  beautiful  kinds  are 

caught  in  a  small  lake  in  the  pro- 
vince of  Ghekyang,  at  the  foot  of  a 
mountain  called  Tsyen-king.  They 
were  first  introduced  into  England 
about  the  year  1691,  but  were  not 
generally  known  till  thirty  years 
afterwards. 

In  China  they  are  kept  in  ponds, 
or     large      porcelain     vessels,     by 

almost  every  person  of  distinction.  In  these  they  are  very  lively  and 
active,  sporting  about  the  surface  of  the  water  with  great  vivacity ; 
but  they  are  so  delicate,  that,  if  cannon  be  fired,  or  any  substance 
giving  out  a  powerful  smell,  as  pitch  or  tar,  are  burned  near  them, 
great  numbers  will  be  killed.  In  each  of  the  ponds  or  basins  where 
they  are  kept,  there  is  an  earthen  pan,  with  holes  in  it,  turned  upside 
down.  Under  this  they  retire  when,  at  any  time,  they  find  the  rays 
of  the  sun  too  powerful.  The  water  is  changed  three  or  four  times 
a  week.  Whilst  this  is  done,  it  is  necessary  to  remove  the  fish  into 
another  vessel;  but  they  ought  always  to  be  taken  out  by  means  of  a 
net,  for  the  least  handling  would  destroy  them. 

When  Gold-fish  are  kept  in  ponds,  they  are  often  taught  to  rise  to 
the  surface  of  the  water,  at  the  sound  of  a  bell,  to  be  fed.  At  Pekin, 
for  three  or  four  months  of  the  winter,  or  whilst  the  cold  weather 
lasts,  the  fish  in  the  ponds  are  not  fed  at  all.  They  are  able,  during 
that  time,  to  obtain  the  small  quantity  of  food  which  they  require, 
from  the  water.  In  order  to  prevent  their  being  frozen,  they  are 
often  taken  into  the  houses,  and  kept  in  china  vessels,  till  the  warm 
weather  of  spring  allows  their  being  returned  to  their  ponds  with 
safety. 

In  hot  countries,  Gold-fish  multiply  very  fast,  if  care  be  taken  to 
remove  the  spawn,  which  swims  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  into 
other  ponds;  for  otherwise,  the  animals  would  devour  the  greater  part 
of  it.  The  young  fry,  when  first  produced,  are  perfectly  black;  but 
they  afterwards  change  to  white,  and  then  to  gold  color.  The  latter 
colors  appear  first  about  the  tail,  and  extend  upwards. 

The  smallest  fish  are  preferred,  not  only  from  their  being  more 
beautiful  than  the  larger  ones,  but  because  a  greater  number  of  them 
can  be  kept.  These  are  of  a  fine  orange  red  color,  appearing  as  if 
sprinkled  over  with  gold-dust.  Some,  however,  are  white,  like  silver, 
and  others  white  spotted  with  red.  When  dead  they  lose  all  their 
lustre.  The  females  are  known  from  the  males  by  several  white  spots 


THE   GOLD-FISH.  903 

which  they  have  near  the  gills,  and  the  pectoral  fins:  the  males  have 
these  parts  very  bright  and  shining. 

In  China  the  Gold-fish  are  fed  with  "balls  of  paste,  and  the  yolks 
of  eggs  boiled  very  hard.  In  England,  many  persons  are  of  opinion 
that  they  need  no  aliment.  It  is  true  that  they  will  subsist  for  a  long 
while  without  any  other  food  than  what  they  can  collect  from  water 
frequently  changed;  yet  they  must  draw  some  support  from  animal- 
cules and  other  nourishment  supplied  by  the  water.  That  they  are 
best  pleased  by  such  slender  diet  may  easily  be  confuted,  since  they 
will  readily,  if  not  greedily,  seize  crumbs  that  are  thrown  to  them. 
Bread  ought,  however,  to  be  given  sparingly,  lest,  turning  sour,  it 
corrupt  the  water. 

Gold-fish  do  not  often  multiply  in  very  close  confinement.  If  it 
be  desirable  to  have  them  bred,  they  must  be  put  into  a  tolerably* 
large  reservoir,  through  which  a  stream  of  water  runs,  and  in  which 
there  are  some  deep  places. 

When  the  Gold-fish  was  originally  brought  from  China  to  Eng- 
land, about  two  hundred  years  since,  it  was  considered  a  great  curi- 
osity; now,  however,  it  is  quite  common,  and  is  found  to  live  in 
ponds  even  when  the  surface  of  the  water  is  thickly  covered  with  ice. 
The  ponds  in  Christ  Church  College,  and  the  Botanic  Gardens, 
Oxford,  are  thickly  populated  with  these  beautiful  fish,  which  in- 
crease with  the  most  marvelous  rapidity.  The  pond  in  the  centre 
of  the  Clarendon  Printing  Office  was  stocked  with  these  fish,  and  as 
the  spare  water  from  the  steam-engine  used  in  the  works  passed  into 
the  pond,  they  throve  amazingly.  One  unfortunate  morning,  the 
surface  of  the  pond  was  covered  with  Golden  Carp,  all  floating  dead. 
Some  verdigris  had  formed  in  some  part  of  the  engine,  had  been 
washed  into  the  pond,  and  had  poisoned  all  its  finny  inhabitants. 

Gold-fish  appear  to  have  been  first  brought  to  the  United  States 
from  England.  They  were  rapidly  diffused  to  every  part  of  the 
country.  Formerly  they  were  considered  great  rarities  and  were 
seen  only  in  the  parlors  and  conservatories  of  wealthy  people,  where, 
in  their  highly  ornamented  glass  globes  and  vases,  they  attracted 
much  attention  and  admiration;  but  now  they  are  raised  in  pon'ds  for 
sale,  are  kept  by  all  classes  of  people  in  their  houses  for  ornaments; 
and  form  one  of  the  usual  attractions  to  the  soda  water  fountain.  In 
these  latter  places  they  are  kept  in  elegantly  wrought  marble  vases. 
The  keeping  of  them  costs  very  little  trouble,  the  principal  precaution 
necessary  for  their  healthy  existence  being  a  frequent  change  of  the 
water  in  the  globe  or  vase  in  which  tl^ey  live. 


CHONDROPTERYGIOUS  FISH. 

OF  THE  STURGEONS  IN  GENERAL. 

ALL  the  species  of  Sturgeons  are  inhabitants  of  the  sea,  though 
some  of  them  occasionally  go  up  the -wider  rivers  to  spawn.  They 
are  of  large  size,  seldom  measuring,  when  full-grown,  less  than  three 
or  four  feet  in  length  The  flesh  of  the  whole  is  reckoned  extremely 
delicious;  and  to  the  inhabitants  on  the  banks  of  the  Caspian  Sea, 
and  indeed  of  many  other  parts  both  of  Europe  and  America,  these 
fish  are  very  useful  as  an  article  of  commerce.  Their  usual  food  is 
worms  and  other  fish. 


THE   COMMON  STURGEON. 

The  tendrils  on  the  snout  of  the  Sturgeon  are  three  or  four  inches 

in  length,  and  have  so 
great  a  resemblance  in 
form  to  earth-worms, 
that  at  first  sight,  they 
might  be  mistaken  for 
such.  This  clumsy, 
toothless  fish,  is  sup- 
posed, by  this  contri- 
vance, to  keep  himself 

in  good  condition,  the  solidity  of  his  flesh  evidently  showing  him  to 
be  a  fish  of  prey.  He  is  said  to  hide  his  large  body  among  the  weeds 
near  tae  sea-coast,  or  at  the  mouths  of  large  rivers,  only  exposing  his 
tendrils.  Small  fish  or  sea-insects,  mistaking  these  for  real  worms, 
approach  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  food,  and  are  sucked  into  the 
jaws  of  their  enemy.  The  Sturgeon  has  been  supposed  by  some 
persons,  to  root  into  the  mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea  or  rivers ;  but 
the  tendrils  above  mentioned,  which  hang  from  his  snout  over  his 
mouth,  must  themselves  be  yery  inconvenient  for  this  purpose ; 
as  he  has  no  jaws,  he  evidently  lives  by  suction,  and,  during  his 
residence  in  the  sea,  marine  insects  are  generally  found  in  his  stomach. 
At  the  approach  of  spring,  Sturgeons  leave  the  deep  recesses  of  the 
sea,  and  enter  the  rivers  to  spawn ;  and  from  May  to  July  the  Ameri- 
can rivers  abound  with  them.  Here  they  are  often  observed  to  leap 
to  the  height  of  several  yards  out  of  the  water ;  this  they  do  in  an 
erect  position,  falling  back  again  on  their  sides  with  such  noise,  as  to 
be  heard  in  still  evenings  at  a  great  distance.  They  have  often  been 
known,  at  these  times,  to  fall  into  small  boats,  and  sink  them. 
(904) 


OF    THE   SHARK   TRIBE.  905 

In  some  rivers  of  Virginia,  Sturgeons  are  found  in  such  numbers, 
that  six  hundred  have  been  taken  in  two  days,  with  no  more  trouble 
than  putting  down  a  pole,  with  a  hook  at  the  end,  to  the  bottom,  and 
drawing  it  up  again,  on  feeling  it  rub  against  a  fish.  They  are,  how- 
ever, chiefly  killed  in  the  night  with  harpoons,  attracted  by  the  light  of 
torches  made  of  the  wood  of  the  black  pine.  On  the  shores  are 
frequently  seen  the  bodies  of  Sturgeons  that  have  been  wounded  with 
spears,  and  have  afterwards  died. 

The  fecundity  of  these  fish  is  exceedingly  great.  Catesby  says,  that 
the  females  frequently  contain  a  bushel  of  spawn  each  ;  and  Leeuwen- 
hoek  found  in  the  roe  of  one  of  them  no  fewer  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  billion  eggs. 


OF  THE  SHARK  TKIBE. 

THE  animals  that  compose  this  rapacious  tribe,  are  entirely  marine 
and  are  more  frequent  in  hot 
than  in  temperate  climates. 
They  are  in  general  solitary, 
and  often  wander  to  vast  dis- 
tances, devouring  almost 
everything  that  comes  in 
their  way,  which  they  are 
able  to  swallow.  Some  of 
them  will  follow  vessels  seve- 
ral hundred  leagues,  for  the 

carcasses  and  filth  that  are  thrown  overboard.  The  size  to  which 
they  grow  is  enormous,  as  they  often  weigh  from  one  to  four  thous- 
and pounds  each.  Some  few  species  are  gregarious,  and  live  on 
molluscs  and  other  marine  worms.  They  are  all  viviparous  ;  their  off- 
spring wfien  first  protruded,  being  enclosed  (alive)  in  a  square,  pellucid, 
horny  case,  terminated  at  the  four  corners  by  long,  slender  filaments, 
which  are  generally  found  twisted  round  corallines,  sea-weed,  and 
other  fixed  substances. 

Their  flesh  is  altogether  so  tough,  coarse,  and  of  such  a  disagree- 
able smell,  that  even  the  young-ones  are  scarcely  eatable.  Their 
bodies  emit  a  phosphoric  light  in  the  dark.  The  skin  is  rough,  and 
is  in  general  use  for  polishing  ivory,  wood,  and  other  substances ; 
thongs  and  carriage  traces  are  also  occasionally  made  of  it.  The  liver 
is  generally  found  to  yield  a  considerable  quantity  of  oil.  There 
are  upwards  of  thirty  species. 


906 


THE   'WHITE    SHARK. 


THE   WHITE    SHARK. 

This  dreadful  species  of  Shark  has  six  rows  of  teeth,  hard,  sharply- 

=====^=  pointed,  and  of  a  wedge-like 
"7^  figure.     These    he    has   the 
|E  power   of  erecting  and   de- 
=E  pressing  at  pleasure.    When 
^  the  animal   is  at  rest,  they 
are  quite  flat  in  his  mouth ; 
but,   when    prey    is    to    be 
seized,    they    are    instantly 
erected  by  a  set  of  muscles 
that  join  them  to  the   jaw. 
Thus,     with    open     mouth, 
goggling  eyes,  and  large  and 
bristly  fins,  his  whole  aspect 
is  an  emphatical  picture  of 
the     fiercest,    deepest,    and 
most  savage  malignity. 
It  is  a  fortunate  circumstance,  for  those  who  would  avoid  its  attacks, 
that  its  mouth  is  so  situated,  under  the  head,  that  it  has  to  throw  it- 
self on  one  side  in  order  to  seize  its  prey ;  for  its  velocity  in  the 


WH1TI  SHARK. 


$  ~ 


SHARK  FISHING. 


water  is  so  great,  that  nothing  of  which  it  was  once  in  pursuit,  would 
otherwise  be  able  to  escape  its  voracity. 

These  creatures  are  the  dread  of  sailors  in  all  the  hot  climates;  for 
they  constantly  attend  ships,  in  expectation  of  what  may  be  thrown 


THE   WHITE    SHARK. 

overboard ;  and  if,  while  a  Shark  is  present,  any  of  the  men  have 
that  misfortune,  they  inevitably  perish. 

The  master  of  a  Guinea-ship  informed  Mr.  Pennant,  that  a  rage  for 
suicide  prevailed  among  his  slaves,  from  an  opinion  entertained  by 
the  unfortunate  wretches,  that,  after  death,  they  should  be  restored  to 
their  families,  friends,  and  country.  To  convince  them  that  their 
bodies  could  never  be  .reanimated,  he  ordered  the  corpse  of  one  that 
was  just  dead,  to  be  tied  by  the  heels  to  a  rope,  and  lowered  into  the 
seO;.  It  was  drawn  up  again  as  quickly  as  the  united  force  of  the 
crew  could  do  it ;  yet,  in  that  short  time,  the  Sharks  had  devoured 
every  part  but  the  feet,  which  were  secured  by  the  end  of  the  cord. 

Persons,  while  swimming,  have  often  been  seized  and  devoured  by 
Sharks.  The  late  Sir  Brooke  Watson  was,  some  years  ago,  swim- 
ming at  a  little  distance  from  a  ship,  when  he  saw  a  Shark  making 
towards  him.  Struck  with  terror  at  its  approach,  he  cried  out  for 
assistance.  A  rope  was  instantly  thrown  ;  and  even  while  the  men 
were  in  the  act  of  drawing  him  up  the  ship's  side,  the  monster  darted 
after  him,  and,  at  a  single  snap,  tore  off  his  leg. 

In  the  pearl-fisheries  of  South  America,  every  negro,  in  order  to 
defend  himself  against  these  animals,  carries  with  him  into  the  water 
a  sharp  knife,  which,  if  the'fish  offers  to  assault  him,  he  endeavors  to 
strike  into  its  belly ;  on  which  it  generally  swims  off'.  The  officers 
who  are  in  the  vessels,  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  these  voracious  crea- 
tures;  and,  when  they  observe  them  approach,  shake  the  ropes  fast- 
ened to  the  negroes,  in  order  to  put  them  on  their  guard.  Many, 
when  the  divers  have  been  in  danger,  have  thrown  themselves  into 
the  water,  with  knives  in  their  hands,  and  have  hastened  to  their  de- 
fence ;  but  too  often  all  their  dexterity  and  precaution  have  been  of 
no  avail. 

We  are  told,  that  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne  some  of  the  men  of 
an  English  merchant-ship,  which  had  arrived  at  Barbadoes,  were  one 
day  bathing  in  the  sea,  when  a  large  Shark  appeared,  and  sprung 
forward  directly  at  them.  A  person  from  the  ship  called  out  to  warn 
them  of  their  danger ;  on  which  they  all  immediately  swam  to  the 
vessel,  and  arrived  in  perfect  safety,  except  one  poor  man,  who  was 
cut  in  two  by  the  Shark,  almost  within  reach  of  the  oars.  A  com- 
rade and  intimate  friend  of  the  unfortunate  victim,  when  he  observed 
the  severed  tr.unk  of  his  companion,  was  seized  with  a  degree  of 
horror,  that  words  cannot  describe.  The  insatiable  Shark  was  seen 
traversing  the  bloody  surface  in  search  of  the  remainder  of  his  prey, 
when  the  brave  youth  plunged  into  the  water,  determining  either  to 
make  the  Shark  disgorge,  or  to  be  buried  himself  in  the  same  grave. 
He  held  in  his  hand  a  long  and  sharp-pointed  knife,  and  the  rapacious 
animal  pushed  furiously  towards  him;  he  had  turned  on  his  side, 
and  had  opened  his  enormous  jaws,  in  order  to  seize  him,  when  the 
youth,  diving  dexterously  under,  seized  him  with  his  left  hand  some- 
where before  the  upper  fins,  and  stabbed  him  several  times  in  the 
belly.  The  Shark,  enraged  with  pain  and  streaming  with  blood, 
plunged  in  all  directions  in  order  to  disengage  himself  from  his 
enemy.  The  crews  of  the  surrounding  vessels  saw  that  the  combat 


908 


THE    WHITE    SHARK. 


was  decided ;  but  they  were  ignorant  which  was  slain,  until  the 
Shark,  weakened  by  loss  of  blood,  made  towards  the  shore,  and 
along  with  him  his  conqueror;  who,  flushed  with  victory,  pushed  hia 
foe  with  redoubled  ardor,  and  by  the  aid  of  an  ebbing  tide,  dragged 
him  on  shore.  Here  he  ripped  up  the  bowels  of  the  animal,  obtained 


ATTACKING  A   WHITE  SHARK. 


the  severed  remainder  of  his  friend's  body,  and  buried  it  with  the 
trunk  in  the  same  grave.  This  story,  however  incredible  it  may  ap- 
pear, is  related  in  the  history  of  Barbadoes,  on  the  most  satisfactory 
authority. 

The  South  Sea  islanders  are  not  in  the  least  afraid  of  the  Sharks, 
but  will  swim  among  them  without  exhibiting  the  least  signs  of  fear. 
"I  have  seen,"  says  Captain  Portlock,  "five  or  six  large  Sharks 
swimming  about  the  ship,  when  there  have  been  upwards  of  a  hun- 
dred Indians  in  the  water,  both  men  and  women :  they  seem  quite 
indifferent  respecting  them,  and  the  Sharks  never  offered  to  make  an 
attack  on  any  of  these  people,  and  yet  at  the  same  time  would  greedily 
seize  our  baits ;  whence  it  is  manifest  that  these  people  derive  their 
confidence  of  safety  from  their  experience,  that  they  are  able  to  repel 
the  attacks  of  those  devouring  monsters." 

A  sailor,  on  the  coast  of  California,  on  plunging  into  the  sea, 
was  seized  by  a  Shark ;  but,  by  a  most  extraordinary  feat  of  activity, 
he  cleared  himself,  and,  though  much  wounded,  threw  blood  and 
water  at  the  animal,  to  show  his  bravery  and  contempt.  But  the 
voracious  monster  seized  him  with  horrid  violence  a  second  time, 
and  in  a  moment  dragged  him  to  the  bottom.  His  companions, 


THE  HAMMER-HEADED  SHARK. 


909 


though  not  far  from  him,  and  much  affected  by  the  loss,  were  not 
able  to  render  him  any  assistance. 

We  are  told  that  notwithstanding  the  voracity  of  these  creatures, 
they  will  not  devour  any  feathered  animal  that  is  thrown  overboard  ; 


ESCAPE   FROM   A   SHARK. 


but  that  they  will  readily  take  a  bait  of  a  piece  of  flesh  fastened  on  an 
iron  crook.  They  are  so  tenacious  of  life,  as  to  move  about  long  after 
their  head  is  cut  off. 

Their  flesh  is  sometimes  eaten  by  sailors  on  long  voyages ;  and, 
though  exceedingly  coarse  and  rank,  it  is  generally  considered  better 
than  that  of  any  others  of  the  tribe.  The  skin  is  rough,  hard,  and 
prickly  ;  and,  when  properly  manufactured,  is  used  in  covering  instru- 
ment cases,  under  the  name  of  shagreen. 


THE   HAMMER-HEADED   SHARK. 

The  Hammer-headed  Shark  inhabits  the  same  latitudes.  This 
curiously  constructed  fish  closely  resembles  the  White  Shark  in  all 
respects  but  the  head,  which  is  widened  out  at  each  side,  exactly  like 
a  double-headed  hammer  or  mallet..  The  eyes,  being  placed  at  each 
extremity  of  the  head,  must  of  course  possess  a  very  extended  power 
of  vision. 


910  THE    BASKING    SHARK. 


THE   BASKING    SHARK,  OR    MONK    FISH. 

This  species  has  derived  its  name  from  its  propensity  to  lie  on  the 
surface  of  the  water,  as  if  to  bask  itself  in  the  sun.  Though  a  very 
large  fish,  it  possesses  none  of  the  voracity  and  ferociousness  that  mark 
the  generality  of  the  Shark  tribe.  It  will  frequently  lie  motionless  on 
the  surface  of  the  water,  generally  on  its  belly  but  sometimes  on  its 
back ;  and  it  seems  so  little  afraid  of  mankind,  as  often  to  suffer  itself 
to  be  patted  and  stroked. 

Their  food  consists  entirely  of  marine-plants,  and  some  of  the 
species  of  medusae.  They  swim  very  deliberately,  and  generally 
with  their  upper  fins  above  water.  Sometimes  they  may  be  seen 

sporting  about  among  the 
waves,  and  leaping  seve- 
ral feet  above  the  surface. 
Their  liver  is  of  such 
i  immense  size,  as  fre- 
Iquently  to  weigh,  nearly 
a  thousand  pounds. 
From  this  a  great  quan- 
tity of  good  oil  may  be 

HOKK    FISH,    OK   HABIUXO   SK.F.K.  CXtraCtcd   J       SO     UlUCh,      ill- 

deed,  that  the  oil  of  a 
single  fish  will  sometimes  sell  for  twenty  or  thirty  pounds  sterling. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  northern  coasts  of  Europe  are  very  alert  in 
the  pursuit,  and  very  dexterous  in  the  killing,  of  these  fish.  When 
pursued,  the  Basking  Shark  does  not  accelerate  its  motion,  till  the 
boat  comes  almost  in  contact  Avith  it,  when  the  harpooner  strikes  his 
weapon  into  its  body,  as  near  the  gills 'as  he  can.  These  animals  seem 
not  to  be  very  susceptible  of  pain  ;  for  they  often  remain  in  the  same 
place,  till  the  united  strength  of  two  men  is  exerted  to  force  the  har- 
poon deeper.  As  soon  as  they  perceive  themselves  wounded,  they 
plunge  headlong  to  the  bottom  ;  and  frequently  coil  the  rope  round 
their  bodies  in  agony,  attempting  to  disengage  themselves  from  the 
fatal  instrument,  by  rolling  on  the  ground.  Discovering  that  these 
efforts  are  in  vain,  they  swim  off  with  such  amazing  rapidity,  that  ore 
instance  has  occurred  of  a  Basking  Shark  towing  to  some  distance  a 
vessel  of  seventy  tons  burden,  against  a  fresh  gale.  They  sometimes 
run  off  with  two  hundred  fathoms  of  line,  and  two  harpoons  in  then?  ; 
and  will  employ  the  men  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours  before  they 
are  subdued. 

As  soon  as  they  are  killed,  the  fishermen  haul  them  on  shore;  or, 
if  at  a  distance  from  land,  to  the  vessel's  side,  to  cut  them  up  and 
take  out  the  liver,  which  is  the  only  useful  part  of  their  bodies.  This 
is  melted  into  oil,  in  kettles  provided  for  the  purpose;  and,  if  the  fish 
be  a  lavge  one,  it  will  yield  eight  barrels  or  upwards. 


THE  FOX  SHARK — COMMON"  DOG-FISH.         911 


THE  FOX  SHARK. 


The  Fox  Shark,  sometimes  called  the  Thresher,  is  found  in  higher 
latitudes  than  others  of  the 
same   family.      It    is    most 
remarkable    for    the    great 
length  of  its  tail,  the  body 


being  about  seven  feet,  and 
the  tail  six  feet  long.  The 
head  is  short  and  conical ; 
the  eyes  are  large;  the  jaws 
are  armed  in  a  dreadful 

.    -        ;•  .  p  iux   SHARK. 

manner  with,  three  rows  ot 

triangular,  compressed,  and  pointed  teeth;  the  tongue  is  blunt.  It 
is  extremely  voracious.  The  ancients  believed,  that  when  it  had  the 
misfortune  to  have  taken  a  bait,  it  swallowed  the  hook  till  it  got  at 
the  cord,  which  it  bit  off,  and  so  escaped. 


THE   COMMON   DOG-FISH. 

So  excessively  voracious  are  these  animals,  that  they  are  altogether 
fearless  of  mankind.  They  follow  vessels  with  great  .eagerness, 
seizing  with  avidity  every  thing  eatable  that  is  thrown  overboard  ; 
and  they  have  sometim.es  been  known  to  throw  themselves  on  fisher- 
men, and  on  persons  bathing  in  the  sea.  As,  however,  they  are 
smaller  and  more  weak  than  most  other  Sharks,  they  do  not  attack 
their  more  exposed  enemies  by  open  force.  In  combating  them,  it  is 
necessary  to  have  recourse  to  stratagem.  They  consequently,  for  this 
purpose,  conceal  themselves  in  mud,  and  lie  in  ambush,  like  the  Rays, 
until  they  have  an  opportunity  of  acting  offensively  with  success. 
Their  usual  food  consists  of  fish  and  other  marine  animals,  of  which 
they  destroy  immense  numbers. 

These  fish  are  found  in  the  seas  of  all  climates,  both  hot  and  cold  : 
they  equally  abound  on  the  coasts  of  Great  Britain,  Norway,  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  and  the  Canary  Islands;  and  of  those  countries  which 
lie  immediately  under  the  equinoctial  line. 

Their  flesh  is  hard  and  disagreeable-  to  the  taste,  diffusing  also  a 
strong  odor,  which  somewhat  resembles  that  of  musk.  Their  dried 
skins  constitute  the  well-known  article  of  commerce  called  shagreen, 
or  the  skin  of  the  Dog-fisli.  The  small  and  hard  tubercles  with  which 
these  are  covered,  render  them  useful  in  the  polishing  of  wood,  ivory, 
and  even  of  iron.  A  considerable  quantity  of  oil  may  bp  extracted 
from  the  livers  of  Dog-fish. 


912  THE  TORPEDO,  OR  ELECTRIC  RAT. 


OF   THE    EAY   TRIBE. 

THE  Rays  are  entirely  confined  to  the  sea;  and,  from  being 
destitute  of  an  air-bladder  to  buoy  them,  they  live  altogether  at  the 
bottom,  and  chiefly  in  deep  water.  They  subsist  on  shell-fish,  or  any 
animal  substances  that  come  in  their  way.  Some  of  them  become  cf 
a  size  so  large,  as  to  weigh  two  hundred  pounds  and  upwards;  in 
which  case  they  are  sometimes  dangerous  enemies  to  man,  whom  they 
are  said  to  destroy,  by  getting  him  down,  lying  upon,  and  devouring 
him.  They  seldom  produce  more  than  one  young-one  at  a  time.  This, 
as  in  the  Sharks,  is  enclosed  in  a  four-cornered  bag  or  shell,  which 
ends  in  slender  points;  but  which  does  not  (as  in  those)  extend  into 
long  filaments.  The  liver  is  large,  and  often  produces  a  great 
quantity  of  oil. 

In  a  fresh  state,  most  of  the  Rays  have  a  fetid  and  unpleasant  smell, 
but  nearly  the  whole  are  eatable.  There  are  about  twenty  species. 
Those  with  which  we  are  best  acquainted,  are  the  Skate,  the  Thorn- 
back,  and  the  Torpedo,  or  Electric  Ray. 


OR  ELECTRIC   RAY. 

Torpedoes  are  partial  to  sandy  bottoms,  in  about  forty  fathoms  of 

water,  where  they  often  bury 
themselves  by  flinging  the 
sand  over  them,  with  a  quick 
flapping  of  all  their  extremi- 
ties. In  Torbay  they  are 
generally  caught,  like  other 
flat-fish,  with  trawl-nets ;  and 
instances  have  occurred  of 
their  seizing  a  bait. 

This  fish  possesses  the  same 
property  of  benumbing  its 
prey,  as  that  already  described 
in  the  Electric  Eel ;  and  when  it  is  in  health  and  vigor,  the  shock 
that  it  communicates  is  very  severe :  but  its  powers  always  decline  as 
the  animal  declines  in  strength ;  and  when  it  expires,  they  entirely 
cease.  In  winter  these  fish  are  also  much  less  formidable  than  during 
warm  weather. 

Dr.  Ingenhousz  had  for  some  time,  in  a  tub  of  sea-water,  a  Torpedo 
which,  during  winter,  seemed  to  be  feeble.  On  taking  it  into  his 
hands,  and  pressing  it  .on  each  side  of  the  head,  a  sudden  tremor, 
which  lasted  for  two  or  three  seconds,  passed  into  his  fingers, 
but  extended  no  further.  After  a  few  seconds,  the  same  trembling 
was  felt  again  ;  and  again  several  times,  after  different  intervals.  The 
sensation,  he  says,  was  similar  to  that  which  he  should  have  felt  by 
the  discharge  of  several  small  electrical  bottles,  one  after  another,  into 


THE   SKATE.  913 

his  hand.  The  shocks  sometimes  followed  each  other  very  quickly, 
and  increased  in  strength  towards  the  last.  Probably,  from  the  weak- 
ness of  the  fish,  the  shock  could  not  be  communicated  through  a  brass 
chain,  though  the  usual  contortion  was  evidently  made.  A  coated 
vial  was  applied  to  it,  but  could  not  be  charged. 

From  some  experiments  that  were  made  by  Mr.  Walsh,  on  a  very 
stout  and  healthy  Torpedo,  it  appears  that  although  it  seemed  to 
possess  many  electric  properties,  yet  no  spark  whatever  could  be  dis- 
covered to  proceed  from  it,  nor  were 
pith-balls  ever  found  to  be  affected  by  it. 
When  it  was  insulated,  it  gave  a  shock 
to  persons  likewise  insulated,  and  even 
to  several  that  took  hold  of  each  other's 
hands:  this  it  did  forty  or  fifty  times 
successively,  and  with  very  little  diminu- 
tion of  force.  If  touched  only  with  one 
finger,  the  shock  was  so  great  as  to  be 
felt  in  both  hands.  Each  effort  was  accompanied  by  a  depression  of 
the  eyes,  which  plainly  indicated  the  attempts  that  were  made  upon 
non-conductors.  Although  the  animal  was  in  full  vigor,  it  was  not 
able  to  force  the  torpedinal  fluid  across  the  minutest  tract  of  air,  not 
even  from  one  link  of  a  small  chain  freely  suspended  to  another,  nor 
through  an  almost  invisible  separation  made  by  a  penknife  in  a  slip 
of  tin-foil  pasted  on  sealing-wax. 


THE    SKATE    AND    THORNBACK. 

The  Skate  is  the  largest,  and  at  the  same  time  the  most  useful  fish 
of  its  tribe.  Its  flesh  is  white,  firm 
and  good.  In  some  parts  of  the 
Continent,  where  these  fish  are 
caught  in  great  abundance,  they 
are  dried  for  sale.  The  best  season 
for  Skate  is  the  spring  of  the  year. 
They  sometimes  attain  a  very  large 
size.  Willougby  speaks  of  one  so 
huge,  that  it  would  have  served  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men  for  dinner. 

From  the  month  of  May,  until  the  beginning  of  September,  the 
females  are  occupied  in  producing  their  offspring.  This  they  usually 
do  on  coasts  and  in  places  where  they  are  liable  to  little  interruption. 
Each  of  the  young-ones  is  enclosed  in  an  oblong,  angular  bag,  about 
half  an  inch  thick  in  the  middle.  These  are  called  purses  by  the 
fishermen.  After  the  fish  have  escaped,  the  empty  bags  are  frequently 
cast  ashore  by  the  tide. 

Dr.  Monroe  has  remarked,  that  in  the  gills  of  a  large  Skate  there 
are  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  forty-four  thousand  subdivisions,  or 
folds ;  and  that  the  whole  extent  of  this  membrane,  whose  surface  is 
nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  whole  human  body,  may  be  seen,  by  a 


914 


THE    THORNBACK LAMPREY. 


microscope,  to  be  covered  with  a  net-work  of  vessels  that  are  not  only 
extremely  minute,  but  exquisitely  beautiful. 

In  all  its  habits  the  T hornbook  resembles  the  Skate,  except  as  to  the 
time  in  which  its  offspring  are  produced.  This  is  usually  about  the 
months  of  June  and  July ;  during  which  time  these  fish  are  caught  in 
irreat  -numbers. 


OF  THE  LAMPEEY  TKIBE. 

bodies  of  these  fish  are  slippery  and  mucous.     Three  of  the 
are  inhabitants  exclusively  of  fresh  waters,  and  one  only  is 

known  to  frequent  the 
sea.  They  are  all  much 
esteemed  as  food.  So 
tenacious  are  they  of 
life,  that  they  will  even 
continue  firmly  attach- 
ed, by  their  mouths,  to 
solid  bodies,  for  some 
time  after  they  are  cut 
in  half.  They  feed  on 
worms,  insects,  small 
fish,  and  mud  or 
aquatic  plants. 


SPEAKING   FISH 


THE   TRUE   AND    LESSER   LAMPREY. 

The  surprising  faculty  of  adhesion  to  solid  bodies,  possessed  by 

these  fish,  arises  from  their 
drawing  up  the  middle  of 
their  circular  mouth,  and 
exhausting  the  air  from 
under  it.  The  edges  of  the 
mouth  are  thus  pressed 
closely  down  to  the  object, 
by  the  weight  of  the  super- 
incumbent atmosphere. 

Possessed  of  an  apparatus 
so  formidable  as  the  mouth 
of  the  True  Lamprey,  this 
fish,  although  it  feeds  on  animal  substances,  does  not  attack  the  largei 
and  more  powerful  inhabitants  of  the  water.  It 'usually  preys  or 
marine  worms  and  small  fish ;  and,  like  the  Eel,  will  even  content 
itself  with  the  flesh  of  dead  and  putrid  animals.  In  fact,  the  teeth 
from  the  circumstance  of  their  not  being  fixed  in  bony  jaws,  are  inc& 


THE  SEA-HORSE — ANGLER. 


915 


pable   of  offensive  operations  against  animals  more  powerful  than, 
themselves. 

The  branchial  orifices,  or  gills,  on  each  side  of  the  neck  of  the 
Lamprey,  are  mistaken  by  many  persons  for  eyes.  This  fish  is 
destitute  of  bones,  having  only  strong  cartilages  in  place  of  them. 


THE   SEA-HORSE. 

The  singular  fish  called  the  Sea-Horse  has  often  been  found  off  the 

southern  coasts  of  England. 

The  habits  of  this  fish  are  ^IHMgh 

very   singular   and   inter- 
esting.    A  pair  were  kept  a«^^^_. 

alive  for  some  time  in  a    -^IHHHHHi^^H^^HBBEE^     » 

glass  vessel,  and  exhibited 

considerable   activity  and 

intelligence.     They  swam 

about  with  an  undulating 

kind    of   movement,    and 

frequently    twined     their 

tails  round   the  weeds   placed   in  their  prison.     Their  eyes  moved 

independently  of  each  other,  like  those  of  the  Chameleon,  and  the 

changeable  tints  of  the  head  closely  resemble  that  animal. 

More  than  once,  these  curious  fish 
have  been  seen  curled  up  in  oyster 
shells. 

The  singular  creatures  called  Pipe- 
fish also  belong  to  the  Syngnathidse. 


THE   ANGLER,  OR  FISHING  FROG 

The  Angler,  or  Fishing  Frog,  as  it  is  more  generally  called,  is  not 
uncommon  in  all  the  European  seas.  The  peculiar  formation  of  its 
pectoral  fins  enables  it  to  crawl  for  some  distance  on  land. 

On  its  head  are  two  elongated  bony  appendages,  curiously  articu- 
lated to  the  skull  by  a  joint  formed  some- 
thing like  the  links  of  a  chain,  and  capable 
of  movement  in  any  direction.  The  An- 
gler couches  close  to  the  bottom  of  the 
sea,  and  by  the  movement  of  its  pectoral 
fins  stirs  up  the  sand  and  mud,  and  agitates 
the  bony  appendages  amid  the  turbid 
cloud  produced.  The  small  fishes,  observ- 
ing the  muddy  water,  and"  taking  the 
filaments  for  worms,  approach  to  seize 
them,  and  are  instantly  engulphed  in  the  capacious  jaws  of  the  crafty 
Angler. 

The  voracity  of  the  Angler  is  so  great,  that  when  caught  in  a  net 

Oo 


916 


THE  BARBEL LOACH. 


together  with  other  fish,  it  generally  devours  some  of  its  fellow 
prisoners — a  useless  act,  for  the  fishermen  mostly  open  its  stomach, 
and  recapture  the  flounders  and  other  fish  found  in  its  interior. 


THE    BARBEL. 

The  Barbel  is  found  in  most  of  the  European  rivers.     Its  flesh  is 

course  and  unsavory,  but.  it 
is  eagerly  sought  after  by 
anglers,  as  the  spirit  and 
vigor  displayed  by  it  when 
hooked  afford  fine  sport.  It 
is  peculiarly  apt  at  breaking 
the  line,  a  feat  sometimes 
accomplished  by  a  violent 
blow  of  the  tail,  and  some- 
times by  contriving  to  twist 
the  line  round  a  root  or  post,  and  giving  a  sudden  jerk. 

It  feeds  principally  on  larvae  and  molluscs,  inhabiting  the  banks,  and 
obtains  them  by  rooting  in  the  sand  with  its  snout.  The  Barbels,  or 
beards,  hanging  from  the  upper  jaw  doubtless  assist  in  these  investiga- 
tions. It  frequently  grows  to  a  very  great  size,  weighing  from  fifteen 
to  eighteen  pounds,  and  measuring  upwards  of  three  feet  in  length. 
Many  are  captured  by  nets  during  the  summer,  at  which  season  they 
frequent  the  weedy  parts  of  the  river  in  shoals ;  but  in  winter  they 
n:tire  to  the  shelter  afforded  by  banks  and  old  woodwork.  Several 
goqd  swimmers  have  been  known  to  dive  after  the  Barbel,  as  they  lay 
pressed  against  the  banks,  and  to  bring  up  one  each  time,  not  unfre- 
q  uently  appearing  with  two,  one  in  each  hand. 


THE    LOACH. 

In  some  countries  the  Loach  goes  by  the  name  of  "  Beardie,"  in 

allusion  to  the  little  fleshy  particles  that 
hang  from  its  lips.  It  has  also  the 
name  of  Groundling,  on  account  of  its 
habit  of  living  close  to  the  bottom  of 
the  water. 

It  is  a  common  fish,  and  may  be 

taken  in  most  streams,  especially  if  the  bait  is  drawn  over  the  bed 
ol'  the  stream.  The  principal  peculiarity  about  the  fish,  is  the  com- 
paratively great  breadth  of  the  tail  where  it  joins  the  spine.  This 
formation,  together  with  the  generally  pellucid  appearance  of  its 
body,  at  once  distinguish  it  from  any  other  fish. 


THE  BLENNIES — FATHER  LASHER,  ETC. 


917 


THE    BLENNIES. 


The  species  of  this  genus 
are  small,  live  in  shoals,  but 
not  in  great  numbers:  they 
are  very  active  and  tenacious 
of  life,  and  frequent  rocky 
coasts,  where  they  may  often 
be  found  in  the  pools  of 
water  left  by  the  tide,  hiding 
themselves  among  the  weeds, 
and  in  the  crevices  of  the 
rocks. 


THE   FATHER  LASHEK. 


FATHER  LASHER. 


The  Father  Lasher  is  found 
on  the  European  coasts.  It 
has  a  slender  body,  thick 
neck,  and  is  a  very*  rapid 
swimmer.  It  feeds  on 
smaller  fish,  and  receives  its 
name  from  its  violent  efforts 
when  taken. 


THE   SUCKING  FISH. 

The  great  resort  of  this  species  is  in  the  northern  seas,  about  the 
coast  of  Green- 
land.  Great 
numbers  are  de- 
voured by  Seals, 
who  swallow  all 
but  the  skins; 
quantities  of 
which,  thus  emp- 
tied, are  seen  floating  about  in  the  spring  months. 


THE  SUCKING  FISH. 


THE   HORNED   SILURUS. 


HORNED  SttlTRCB. 


The  Horned  Silurus  are  chiefly 
distinguished  by  the  want  of  true 
scales,  having  merely  a  naked  skin, 
or  large  osseous  plates.  The  species 
included  in  this  group  are  mostly 
river-fish,  of  considerable  size,  in- 
habiting warm  climates. 


918   THE  SEA  PORCUPINE — LUMP  SUCKER — DEYIL  FISH. 


THE  SEA  PORCUPINE. 


The  Sea  Porcupine 
is  found  on  the  coast 
of  Guinea,  and  in  the 
Indian  Ocean.  Like 
the  common  Porcu- 
pine, it  is  covered  with 
quills  or  spines,  which 
it  can  erect  at  pleasure 
when  angry. 


BEA  PORCUPINE. 


THE   LUMP   SUCKER. 

This  fish  derives  it  name  from  the  clumsiness  of  its  form :  its  height 
being  about  half  its  length, 
and  its  thickness  about  half 
its  height.  These  fish  are 
very  remarkable  for  the  man- 
ner in  which  their  ventral  fins 
are  Arranged.  They  are  uni- 
ted by  a  membrane  so  as  to 
form  a  kind  of  oval  and  con- 
cave disc,  by  means  of  which 
they  are  enabled  to  adhere 
with  great  force  to  any 
substance  to  which  they 
apply  themselves.  It  is  found  on  the  coast  of  Greenland. 


THK  LUMP  SUCKEB. 


THE   DEVIL   FISH. 


THE  PEVIL   FISH. 


The  Sea  Devil,  or  Fishing  Frog, 
is  an  inhabitant  of  the  British 
Seas.  It  grows  to  a  large  size, 
some  being  between  four  and  five 
feet  long.  The  fishermen  on  that 
coast  have  a  great  regard  for  this 
fish,  from  a  supposition  that  it  is  a 
great  enemy  to  the  Dog-fish;  and 
whenever  they  take  it  with  their 
lines,  set  it  at  liberty.  It  is  a  fish 
of  very  great  deformity;  the  head 
is  much  bigger  than  the  whole 
body ;  is  round  at  the  circumfer- 
ence, and  flat  above,  the  mouth 
of  a  prodigious  wideness. 


INSECTS. 


COLEOPTEROUS    INSECTS. 


THE  insects  of  the  Linnean  order  Coleoptera  have  crustaceous  elytra 
or  wing-cases,  which  shut  together  and  form  a  longitudinal  suture 
down  the  back. 


OF   THE  SCARAB.EUS,  OR  BEETLE   TRIBE. 

THE  larvae  or  grubs  of  these  insects  have  each  six  feet.  In  their 
general  appearance  they  are  not  much  unlike  the  Caterpillars  of  some 
of  the  Butternies,  having  their  bodies  composed  of  rings,  and  being 
somewhat  hairy.  Most  of  them  live  entirely  under  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  and  feed  on  the  roots  of  plants,  &c.  Their  pupa,  or  chrysalis, 
generally  lies  dormant  in  the  earth  till  the  perfect  insect  bursts  out. 

Beetles  inhabit  and  feed  in  various  situations.  Some  are  found  in 
the  dung  of  animals,  or  in  the  earth  immediately  under  the  dung. 
Others  live  on  the  leaves  of  trees ;  and  others  on  flowers. 


THE   BULL-COMBER,    CLOCK-BEETLE,   AND   SPRING  BEETLE. 

These  insects  are  all  nourished,  both  in  their  larva  and  perfect  state, 
in  the  dung  of  animals,  which  they  are  able  to 
discover  by  their  acute  faculty  of  smell,  or  other- 
wise, at  an  immense  distance.  Under  these  sub- 
stances they  dig,  in  the  earth,  cylindrical  holes, 
of  considerable  depth,  in  which  they  deposit 
their  eggs. 

They  usually  fly  in  the  evening,  towards  the 
end  of  twilight.  The  droning  noise  produced  by 
their  wings,  at  that  time,  is  often  heard,  particu- 
larly during  the  summer  season.  When  touched, 
these  insects  counterfeit  death ;  but  they  do  not 
contract  their  legs,  in  the  manner  of  the  Der- 
mestes,  and  some  other  Beetles:  they  stretch 
them  out,  so  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  stiffness  and  rigidity,  as 
though  the  animals  had  been  some  time  dead. 

(919) 


CLOCK-BEETLE. 


920  THE   COCK-CHAFER. 

All  these  insects  are  subject  to  be  infested  by  a  species  of  acarus, 
or  tick,  and  sometimes  in  such  numbers  that  they  are  scarcely  able 
to  walk  in  consequence  of  these  crowding  closely  round  the  joints  of 
the  legs  and  thighs.  A  German  writer  states,  that  the  females  of  that 
country  used  formerly  to  employ  the  thighs  of  some  of  the  most 
brilliant  of  these  Beetles,  in  the  ornamental  parts  of  their  head-dress. 


THE   COCK-CHAFER. 

The  eggs  of  the  Cock-chafer  are  deposited  in  the  ground  by  the 
parent  insect,  whose  fore-legs  are  very  short,  and  are  well  calculated 
for  burrowing.  From  each  of  these  eggs  proceeds,  after  a  short  time, 
a  whitish  worm  with  six  legs,  a  red  head,  and  strong  claws,  and 
about  an  inch  and  a  half  long,  which  is  destined  to  live  in  the  earth 
under  that  form  for  four  years,  and  there  to  undergo  various  changes 
of  its  skin,  until  it  assumes  its  chrysalid  form.  It  subsists,  during  its 
subterraneous  abode,  on  the  roots  of  trees  and  plants,  committing 
ravages  often  of  the  most  deplorable  nature. 

The  larva?,  continue  four  years  in  the  ground ;  and  when,  at  the 
end  of  this  period,  they  are  about  to  undergo  their  change,  they  dig 
deep  into  the  earth,  sometimes  five  or  six  feet,  and  there  spin  a  smooth 
case,  in  which  they  change  into  a  pupa  or  chrysalis.  They  remain 
under  this  form  all  the  winter,  until  the  month  of  February,  when 
they  become  perfect  Beetles,  but  with  their  bodies  quite  soft  and 
white.  In  May  the  parts  are  hardened,  and  they  then  come  forth  out 
of  the  earth.  This  accounts  for  our  often  finding  the  perfect  insects 
in  the  ground. 

Cock-chafers  fly  in  the  evening  towards  sunset,  and  particularly 
about  places  where  there  are  trees.  They  eat  the  leaves  of  the 
sycamore,  the  lime,  the  beech,  the  willow,  and  those  of  all  kinds  of 
fruit-trees.  In  its  winged  state  this  insect  exhibits  not  less  voracity 
on  the  leaves  of  trees,  than  it  before  did  in  its  grub  state  in  the  earth ; 
for,  such  is  the  avidity  with  which  it  devours  its  food,  and  so  immense 
are  sometimes  the  numbers,  that,  in  particular  districts,  they  have 
become  an  oppressive  scourge,  which  has  produced  much  calamity 
among  the  people. 

In  the  year  1688,  the  Cock-chafers  appeared  on  the  hedges  and  trees 
of  the  south-west  coast  of  the  county  of  Galway,  Ireland,  in  clusters 
of  thousands,  clinging  to  each  other's  backs,  in  the  manner  of  bees 
when  they  swarm.  During  the  day  they  continued  quiet,  but  towards 
sunset  the  whole  were  in  motion ;  and  the  humming  noise  of  their 
wings  sounded  like  distant  drums.  Their  numbers  were  so  great, 
that,  for  the  space  of  two  or  three  square  miles,  they  entirely  darkened 
the  air.  Persons  travelling  on  the  roads,  or  who  were  abroad  in  the 
fields,  found  it  difficult  to  make  their  way  home,  as  the  insects  were 
continually  beating  against  their  faces,  and  occasioned  great  pain.  In 
a  very  short  time,  the  leaves  of  all  the  trees,  for  several  miles  round, 
were  destroyed,  leaving  the  whole  country,  though  it  was  near  mid- 
summer as  naked  and  desolate  as  it  would  have  been  in  the  middle 


THE  COCK-CHAFER.  921 

of  winter.  The  noise  which  these  enormous  swarms  made  in  seizing 
and  devouring  the  leaves,  was  so  loud  as  to  have  been  compared  to 
the  distant  sawing  of  timber.  Swine  and  poultry  destroyed  them  in 
vast  numbers.  These  waited  under  the  trees  for  the  clusters  dropping, 
and  devoured  such  swarms  as  to  become  fat  upon  them  alone.  Even 
the  native  Irish,  from  the  insects  having  eaten  up  the  whole  produce 
of  the  ground,  adopted  a  mode  of  cooking  them,  and  used  them  as 
food.  Towards  the  end  of  summer  they  disappeared  so  suddenly, 
that,  in  a  few  days,  there  was  not  a  single  one  left. 

About  sixty  years  ago  a  farm  near  Norwich,  England,  was  so  infested 
with  Cock-chafers,  that  the  farmer  and  his  servants  affirmed  that  they 
gathered  eighty  bushels  of  them  ;  and  the  grubs  had  done  so  much 
injury,  that  the  court  of  that  city,  in  compassion  tp  the  poor  man's 
misfortune,  allowed  him  25 1. 

Books  and  Gulls  devour  immense  numbers  of  the  grubs  of  this  de- 
structive insect,  by  which  they  render  a  most  essential  service  to 
mankind,  and  great  care  ought  to  be  taken  to  cherish  and  protect  them. 
The  chief  employment  of  Books,  during  nearly  three  months  in  the 
spring  of  the  year,  is  to  search  for  insects  of  this  sort  as  food  ;  and  the 
havoc  that  a  numerous  flock  makes  among  them  must  be  very  great. 

A  gentleman,  having  found  a  nest  of  five  young  Jays,  remarked 
that  each  of  these  birds,  while  yet  very  young,  consumed  at  least 
fifteen  full-sized  grubs  of  the  Chafer  in  a  day ;  and  averaging  their 
sizes,  it  may  be  said  that  each  consumed  twenty :  this  for  the  five 
makes  a  hundred ;  and  if  we  suppose  the  parents  to  devour  between 
them  the  same  number,  it  appears  that  the  whole  family  consumed 
about  two  hundred  every  day.  These  in  three  months,  would  amount 
to  twenty  thousand.  But  as  the  grub  continues  in  the  same  state  for 
four  years,  this  single  pair,  with  their  family  alone,  without  reckoning 
their  descendants  after  the  first  year,  would  destroy  as  many  as  eighty 
thousand  grubs.  Now,  supposing  that  forty  thousand  of  these  may  be 
females,  and  that  each  female  lays,  as  is  the  case,  about  two  hundred 
eggs,  it  will  appear  that  no  fewer  than  eight  millions  of  grubs  have 
been  destroyed,  or  at  least  prevented  from  being  hatched,  by  this  sin- 
gle family  of  Jays. 

It  is  true,  that  in  these  labors  of  the  Books,  Jays,  and  some  other 
birds,  they  sometimes  do  mischief  to  man ;  and  yet  there  can  be  little 
doubt,  that  the  damage  they  thus  commit  is  amply  repaid  by  the 
benefits  that  result  from  these  their  unceasing  exertions. 

Some  farmers  plough  the  ground  in  order  to  expose  the  grubs  to 
the  birds  ;  and  others  take  the  pains  to  dig  deeper,  wherever  the  Books 
point  them  out  by  their  attempts  to  reach  them.  When  the  insects  are 
in  their  winged  state,  to  shake  the  trees  at  noon,  during  the  time  that 
they  are  all  either  asleep  or  in  a  state  of  inactive  stupor,  and  to  gather 
or  sweep  them  up  from  the  ground,  seems  the  most  eligible  method. 
One  person  has  been  known  to  kill  in  a  day,  by  this  method,  above  a 
thousand :  by  which,  though  in  so  short  a  space  of  time,  at  a  fair  cal- 
culation, he  prevented  no  fewer  than  a  hundred  thousand  eggs  from 
being  laid. 


922 


THE   ROSE-CHAFER. 


THE    ROSE-  CHAFER. 

There  are  scarcely  any  of  the  Chafers  more  beautiful  than  this. 
The  upper  parts  of  the  female  are  of  a  shining  green  color,  marked 
transversely  on  the  wing-cases  with  a  few  short  white  or  yellowish 
lines.  The  male  is  of  a  burnished  copper-color,  with  a  greenish  cast. 
These  insects  are  somewhat  more  than  an  inch  in  length.  They  are 
found  on  flowers,  particularly  on  those  of  the  rose  and  peony. 

The  grubs  that  produce  this  beetle  feed  underground,  generally  at 

the  roots  of  trees,  and  never 
appear  on  the  surface  unless 
disturbed  by  digging,  or 
some  other  accident.  They 
are  thought  to  be  injurious  to 
the  gardener,  by  devouring 
the  roots  of  his  plants  and 
trees.  The  female  deposits 
her  eggs  in  the  middle  of 
June.  For  this  purpose  she 
burrows  into  soft,  light 
ground,  hollowing  out  and 
forming  for  them  a  proper 
receptacle.  When  the  ope- 
ration is  over,  she  returns  to 
the  surface  and  flies  off,  but 
seldom  lives  more  than  two 
months  afterwards.  The 
grubs  are  produced  in  about 
fourteen  days,  and  immediately  seek  out  for  food,  which  the  parent 
always  takes  care  to  have  near  the  place  where  she  lays  her  eggs. 
As  soon  as  they  have  attained  sufficient  strength,  the  young  grubs 
separate,  each  burrowing  in  a  different  direction,  in  search  of  roots. 
They  remain  four  years  in  this  state,  Annually  changing  their  skin  till 
they  become  of  full  growth,  when  they  are  of  a  cream-color,  with 
brown  head  and  feet.  During  winter  they  eat  but  little,  if  at  all,  and 
they  retire  so  deeply  into  the  ground  as  to  avoid  the  effects  of  the 
frost. 

About  the  month  of  March,  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  year,  the  grub 
forms  a  case  of  earth,  about  the  size  of  a  walnut,  somewhere  near 
the  surface,  within  which  it  changes  into  a  chrysalis.  In  this  state  it 
remains  till  the  beginning  of  May,  when  it  bursts  out  a  perfect 
Chafer.  This  is  at  first  of  a  light  green  color,  and  very  tender;  but 
soon  acquires  its  proper  hardness  and  strength. 

When  the  insect  is  touched  it  emits  a  fetid  moisture,  which,  no 
doubt,  is  a  mode  of  defence  against  the  attacks  of  its  enemies. 


KOSE-CHAFER. 


THE   PILL   CHAFER.  923 


THE     PILL    CHAFER. 

In  its  habits  of  life  the  Pill  Chafer  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
of  the  Beetle  tribe.  It  comes  forth  in  April,  and 
is  to  be  seen  abroad  until  about  September, 
when  it  disappears.  Its  almost  constant  em- 
ployment, in  which  it  is  indefatigable,  is  in  the 
different  operations  necessary  to  continue  its 
species.  It  constructs  a  proper  nidus  for  its 
eggs,  by  forming  round  pellets  of  dung,  in  the 
middle  of  each  of  which  it  deposits  an  egg. 
These,  in  September,  the  insect  conveys  to  the 
depth  of  about  three  feet  into  the  ground.  Here 
they  remain  till  the  approach  of  spring,  when 
the  grubs  burst  their  shells,  and  find  their  way 

.0  _  ,  ,  J  PILL   CHAFF.E. 

to  the  surface  of  the  earth. 

"  I  have  attentively  admired  their  industry,  and  their  mutually 
assisting  each  other  (says  Catesby)  in  rolling  these  globular  bal'ls  from 
the  place  where  they  made  them,  to  that  of  their  interment,  which  is 
usually  at  the  distance  of  some  yards,  more  or  less.  This  they  per- 
form breach  foremost,  by  raising  their  hind  parts,  and  forcing  along 
the  ball  with  their  hind  feet.  Two  or  three  of  them  are  sometimes 
engaged  in  trundling  one  ball,  which  from  meeting  with  impediments, 
on  account  of  the  uneven  ness  of  the  ground,  is  sometimes  deserted 
by  them.  It  is,  however,  attempted  by  others  with  success,  unless  it 
happen  to  roll  into  some  deep  hollow  or  chink,  where  they  are  con- 
strained to  leave  it ;  but  they  continue  their  work  by  rolling  off  the 
next  ball  that  comes  in  their  way.  None  of  them  seem  to  know 
their  own  balls,  but  an  equal  care  for  the  whole  appears  to  affect  all 
the  community.  They  form  these  pellets  while  the  dung  remains 
moist;  and  leave  them  to  harden  in  the  sun  before  they  attempt  to 
roll  them.  In  their  moving  of  them  from  place  to  place,  both  they 
and  the  balls  may  frequently  be  seen  tumbling  about  over  the  little 
eminences  that  are  in  their  way.  They  are  not,  however,  easily  dis- 
couraged ;  and,  by  repeating  their  attempts,  usually  surmount  the 
difficulties." 

Catesby  says  also  that  these  insects  find  out  their  subsistence  by 
the  excellence  of  their  noses,  which  direct  them  in  their  flight  t3 
newly-fallen  dung,  on  which  they  immediately  go  to  work,  temper- 
ing it  with  a  proper  mixture  of  earth.  So  intent  are  they  always 
upon  their  employment,  that,  though  handled  or  otherwise  interrupted 
they  are  not  to  be  deterred,  but  immediately  on  being  freed  per- 
sist in  their  work  without  any  apprehension  of  danger. 

They  are  so  strong  and  active  as  to  move  about,  with  the  greatest 
ease,  things  that  are  many  times  their  own  weight.  Dr.  Brickell 
was  supping  one  evening  in  a  planter's  house  of  North  Carolina, 
when  two  of  these  insects  were  conveyed,  without  his  knowledge, 
under  the  candlesticks.  A  few  blows  were  struck  on  the  table,  and 
to  his  great  surprise  the  candlesticks  began  to  move  about  apparently 


924 


THE    GREAT   STAG-BEETLE. 


without  any  agency ;  and  his  surprise  was  not  much  lessened,  when, 
on  taking  one  of  them  up,  he  discovered  that  it  was  only  a  Chafer 
that  moved  it. 


OF  THE  LUCANUS,  OR  STAG-BEETLE   TRIBE. 

The  antennas  of  the  Stag-beetles  have  a  club-shaped  extremity, 
divided  into  short,  comb-like  leaves.  The  jaws  are  toothed,  and 
extend  so  far  beyond  the  head,  as  to  resemble  horns.  Under  the  lip 
there  are  two  palpi  or  feelers,  so  thickly  covered  with  hair,  as  to  ap- 
pear like  tufts. 

Stag-beetles  are  chiefly  found  in  rotten  and  half- decayed  wood, 
and  under  the  bark  of  trees. 


GREAT   STAG-BEETLE. 


principally 
les,  in  par- 


THE  GEEAT  STAG-BEETLE. 

These  insects  are  very  common  in  oak  and  willow  trees.     In  the 

stumps  or  about  the  branch- 
es of  these  they  remain 
concealed  during  the  day  ; 
flying  abroad  and  feeding 
on  the  leaves  only  in  the 
evening.  The  month  of 
July  is  the  time  during 
which  they  are 
seen.  The  mal 
ticular,  have  great  strength 
in  their  mandibles  or  jaws. 
With  these  they  are  able  to 
pinch  very  severely.  Lin- 
naeus informs  us,  that  they 
feed  on  the  liquor  that 
oozes  from  the  trunks  or 
branches  of  trees;  and  it 
has  been  conjectured  that 
the  jaws  are  used  either  in 
obtaining  their  food,  or  in 
fixing  themselves  firmly 
to  the  spot  while  they 
eat.  It  is  said  that  Stag- 
beetles  may  be  kept  alive 
for  a  considerable  time,  if 
supplied  with  the  fresh 
leaves  of  oak  or  willow,  or 
with  sweetened  water. 

In  Germany  there  is 
a  popular  notion,  that 
these  insects  are  some- 


w.m.  ioi» 


THE   GREAT    STAG-BEETLE. 


925 


HERCULES  BEETLE. 


times  known,  by  means  of  their  jaws,  to  carry  burning  coals  into 

the  houses ; 
and  that,  in 
consequence 
of  this,  dread- 
ful fires  have 
been  occasion- 
ed. 

It  is  a  sing- 
ular  circum- 
stance respect- 
ing  these 
insects,  that 

I  have  frequently  found  several  of  their  heads  near  together,  and 
alive,  while  the  trunks  and  abdomens  were  nowhere  to  be  seen ;  some- 
times only  the  abdomens  were  gone,  and  the  heads  and  trunks  were  left. 
How  this  takes  place,  I  never  could  discover.  An  intimate  and  intelli- 
gent friend  of  mine  supposes,  however,  that  it  must  have  been  in  conse- 

qence  of  severe  battles  which  at  times 
take  place  among  these,  the  fiercest  of 
the  insect  tribes :  but  their  mouths  not 
seeming  formed  for  animal  food,  he  is 
at  a  loss  to  conjecture  what  becomes 
of  the  abdomens.  They  do  not  fly  until 
most  of  the  birds  have  retired  to  rest ; 
and  indeed,  if  we  were  to  suppose  that 
any  of  these  devoured  them,  it  would 
be  difficult  to  say  why  the  heads  or  trunks  should  alone  be  rejected. 

The  females  deposit  their  eggs  in  decayed  or  worm-eaten  trees. 
The  larvae,  which  are  round 
and  whitish,  with  rust-colored 
head  and  legs,  are  nourished 
under  the  bark.  In  this  state 
they  pass  six  years.  When 
about  to  undergo  their  change 
into  a  chrysalis,  each  insect 
forms  a  hard  and  solid  ball, 
of  the  form  of  an  egg,  and 
sometimes  as  large  as  the 
hand.  When  the  perfect  insect  issues  forth,  it  is  at  first  quite  soil 
Its  parts,  however,  soon  harden,  and  in  a  little  while  it  is  able  to  fly 
away.  The  Hercules  Beetle  is  a  variety  of  the  Stag  Beetle.  The 
Rhinoceros  Beetle  is  so  called  from  its  horn  resembling  that  of  the 
Rhinoceros. 


RIUXOCEROUS  BEETLE. 


HERCULES  BEETLE. 


926  THE   DERMESTES — THE   PTINUS. 


•      OF  THE  DERMESTES  TEIBE. 

IN  their  perfect  state,  these  insects  are  generally  extremely  timid. 
The  moment  they  are  threatened  with  danger,  they  stop  in  their 
course,  draw  up  their  antennae  and  feet,  and  continue  in  a  feigned 
state  of  death,  until  the  object  of  their  fear  is  removed. 

The  larvae  or  maggots,  subsist  chiefly  on  the  bodies  of  dead  ani- 
mals, dried  skins,  the  bark  of  trees,  and  old  wood.  Some  of  them 
are  very  destructive  to  books  and  furniture. 


THE   BACON"    DERMESTES.  ' 

These  insects  are  produced  from  maggots  which  are  bred  and 
nourished  in  bacon,  or  in  other  animal  substance.  To  collections 
of  dried  and  preserved  animals,  they  are  sometimes  particulary  in- 
jurious. They  change  their  skins  several  times.  These  skins  continue 
stretched  out,  as  if  blown  up,  and  are  in  appearance  like  the  little 
animals  which  cast  them. 


OF  THE  PTINUS,  OE  BORER  TRIBE. 

IN  a  larva  state,  these  insects  are  chiefly  found  in  the  trunks  of  de- 
cayed trees,  and  in  old  wood,  where  they  make  holes  as  round  as 
though  they  had  been  formed  with  a  gimlet.  They  are  nearly  allied 
to  the  Dermestes,  but  differ  from  those  insects  in  the  form  of  their 
antennae,  mandibles,  and  legs. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year,  we  see  these  insects  issuing  from  wood 
where  the  pupce,  have  been  enclosed ;  and,  attracted  by  the  rays  of  the 
sun,  run  along  upon  the  window-frames,  beams,  or  wainscot.  Like 
the  Dermestes,  they  feign  themselves  to  be  dead  when  touched ;  bury- 
ing their  head  under  the  thorax,  drawing  in  the  legs,  and. concealing 
entirely  their  antennae  between  the  head  and  upper  borders  of  the 
thorax,  they  present  only  the  appearance  of  an  inanimate  substance. 

The  devastations  which  their  larvae  commit  are  very  great.  Old 
moveables  of  wood,  worm-eaten,  and  full  of  cylindrical  holes,  indicate, 
at  the  same  time,  the  work  and  the  habitations  of  these  insects.  By 
means  of  two  strong  and  powerful  jaws,  they  gnaw  the  wood  on 
which  they  feed ;  and  this,  after  passing  through  their  bodies,  is  de- 
posited in  small  grains  of  very  fine  powder,  which  fills  up  the  holes 
behind  them,  as  the  little  creatures  pass  onward.  They  increase  their 
dwellings  as  they  themselves  increase  in  size ;  and  when  they  have 
attained  their  full  dimensions,  they  weave  a  nidus,  of  a  kind  of  silk 
issuing  from  their  body,  in  the  bottom  of  their  hole.  In  this  they 
change  to  a  pupa  state,  and  afterwards  to  perfect  insects. 

There  are  numerous  species.  It  will  not  be  necessary  for  me  to 
speak  of  more  than  one. 


THE   DEATH-WATCH   PTINUS.  927 


THE   DEATH-WATCH  PTINUS. 

Notwithstanding  its  smallness,  this  creature  is  often  the  cause  of 
serious  alarm  among  the  superstitious,  from  the  noise  which  it  makes, 
at  a  certain  season  of  the  year,  resembling  the  ticking  of  a  watch. 
From  this  it  has  its  name;  for,  whenever  this  faculty  is  exerted,  it  is 
esteemed  portentive  of  death  to  some  one  of  the  family  in  the  house 
where  it  is  heard.  The  philosopher  and  the  naturalist  may  sinilc  at 
a  notion  thus  absurd;  yet  Sir  Thomas  Brown  has  remarked,  with 
great  earnestness,  that  the  man,  uwho  could  eradicate  this  error  from 
the  minds  of  the  people,  would  save  from  many  a  cold  sweat  the  me- 
ticulous heads  of  nurses  and  grandmothers." 

It  is  generally  in  the  advanced  state  of  spring,  that  these  insects 
commence  their  noise.  This  is  nothing  more  than  a  call  or  signal, 
by  which  they  are  mutually  attracted  to  each  other ;  and  it  may  be 
considered  as  analogous  to  the  call  of  birds.  It  is  not  occasioned  by 
the  voice,  but  by  the  insect's  beating  on  any  hard  substance  with  the 
shield  or  fore-part  of  its  head.  The  general  number  of  successive 
distinct  strokes,  is  from  seven  to  nine  or  eleven.  These  are  given  in 
tolerably  quick  succession,  and  are  repeated  at  uncertain  intervals ; 
and  in  old  houses,  where  the  insects  are  numerous,  they  may  be  heard 
during  warm  weather  almost  every  hour  in  the  day.  The  noise 
exactly  resembles  that  made  by  beating  with  a  nail  upon  the  table. 

This  insect,  from  its  obscure  grayish  brown  color,  nearly  resem- 
bling that  of  decayed  wood,  is  difficult  to  discover:  it  is  consequently 
not  always  easy  to  say  from  what  exact  spot  the  sound  proceeds. 
Mr.  Stackhouse  observed  carefully  the  manner  of  its  beating.  He 
says,  the  insect  raises  itself  on  its  hind  legs,  and,  with  the  body 
somewhat  inclined,  beats  its  head  with  great  force  and  agility  against 
the  place  on  which  it  stands.  One  of  them,  on  a  sedge-bottomed 
chair,  exerted  so  much  force,  that  its  strokes  were  impressed  and 
visible  in  the  exterior  coat  of  the  sedge,  for  a  space  equal  to  that  of  a 
silver  penny.  Mr.  Stackhouse  took  this  insect  and  put  it  into  a  box. 
On  the  following  day  he  opened  the  box,  and  set  it  in  the  sun.  The 
insect  seemed  very  brisk,  and  crept  about  with  great  activity  on  the 
bits  of  sedge  and  rotten  wood,  till  at  last,  getting  to  the  end  of  the 
pieces,  it  extended  its  wings,  and  was  about  to  take  flight.  He  then 
shut  down  the  lid,  when  it  withdrew  them,  and  remained  quiet.  He 
kept  it  by  him  about  a  fortnight. 

The  idea  of  taming  this  little  animal  may  appear  absurd:  it  has, 
however,  been  so  much  familiarized,  as  to  be  made  to  beat  occasion- 
ally. On  taking  it  out  of  its  confinement,  and  beating  with  the  nail 
or  the  point  of  a  pen  on  a  table  or  board,  it  will  answer  the  beats 
very  readily,  and  will  even  continue  to  repeat  its  efforts  as  long  as  it 
is  required. 

Dr.  Derham  kept  a  male  and  female  together  in  a  box  for  about 
three  weeks ;  and  by  imitating  their  noise,  he  made  them  beat  when- 


928  THE   BURYING   SYLPH. 

ever  he  pleased.    At  the  end  of  this  time  one  of  them  died ;  and  soon 
afterwards  the  other  gnawed  its  way  out  and  escaped. 

This  insect,  which  is  the  real  Death-watch  of  the  vulgar,  emphati- 
cally so  called,  must  not  be  confounded  with  a  wingless  insect,  not 
much  unlike  a  louse,  which  makes  a  ticking  noise  like  a  watch,  but 
which,  instead  of  beating  at  intervals,  continues  its  noise  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time  without  intermission.  The  latter  belongs 
to  a  tribe  very  different  from  this:  it  is  the  Termes  Pulsatorium  of 
Linnaeus,  and  will  be  hereafter  described. 


OF  THE  SILPILE,  OE  CAEKION  BEETLES. 

THESE  insects  are  chiefly  found,  both  in  a  perfect  and  larvae  state, 
in  the  half-decayed  and  putrid  bodies  of  animals.  Their  antennae  are 
clavate,  and  the  club  is  perfoliate.  The  elytra  or  wing-cases  are 
margined;  and  the  head  is  prominent.  The  thorax  is  somewhat 
flattened,  and  also  margined. 


THE   BUKYING  SYLPH. 

The  best  account  that  I  have  seen  of  the  habits  and  economy  of 
these  interesting  insects,  is  that  written  by  M.  Gleditsch,  a  well 
known  writer  on  natural  history.  This  gentleman  had,  at  different 
times,  observed,  that  Moles  which  had  been  left  upon  the  ground 
after  they  had  been  killed,  very  unaccountably  disappeared.  He 
therefore  was  determined,  if  possible,  to  ascertain  by  experiment, 
what  could  be  the  cause  of  this  singular  occurrence. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  of  May,  he  accordingly  obtained  a  dead  mole, 
which  he  placed  on  the  moist,  soft  earth  of  his  garden,  and  in  two  days 
he  found  it  sank  to  the  depth  of  four  fingers'  breadth  into  the  earth  :  it 
was  in  the  same  position  in  which  he  had  placed  it,  and  its  grave  cor- 
responded exactly  with  the  length  and  breadth  of  its  body.  The  day 
following  this  grave  was  half  filled  up ;  and  he  cautiously  drew  out 
the  mole,  (which  exhaled  a  horrible  stench,)  and  found,  directly  under 
it,  little  holes,  in  which  were  four  Beetles  of  the  present  species. 
Discovering  at  this  time,  nothing  but  these  Beetles,  he  put  them  into 
the  hollow,  and  they  quickly  hid  themselves  among  the  earth.  He 
then  replaced  the  mole  as  he  found  it,  and,  having  spread  a  little  soft 
earth  over  it,  left  it  without  looking  at  it  again  for  the  space  of  six 
days.  On  the  twelfth  of  June  he  again  took  up  the  same  carcass,  which 
he  found  in  the  highest  state  of  corruption,  swarming  with  small,  thick, 
whitish  worms,  that  appeared  to  be  the  family  of  the  Beetles.  These 
circumstances  induced  him  to  suppose  that  it  was  the  Beetles  that  had 
thus  buried  the  mole,  and  that  they  had  done  this  for  the  sake  of 
lodging  in  it  their  offspring. 

Mr.  GK  then  took  a  glass  vessel,  and  half  filled  it  with  moist  earth  • 
into  this  he  put  the  four  Beetles  with  their  young-ones,  and  they  im- 


THE   BURYING   SYLPH.  929 

mediately  concealed  themselves.  This  glass,  covered  with  a  cloth,  was 
placed  on  the  open  ground,  and  in  the  course  of  fifty  days,  the  four 
Beetles  interred  the  bodies  of  four  frogs,  three  small  birds,  two  grass- 
hoppers, and  one  mole,  besides  the  entrails  of  a  fish,  and  two  small 
pieces  of  the  lungs  of  an  Ox. 

Of  the  mode  in  which  they  performed  this  very  singular  operation, 
the  following  is  an  account :  A  Linnet  that  had  been  dead  six  hours 
was  placed  in  the  middle  of  the  cucurbit:  in  a  few  moments  the 
Beetles  quitted  their  holes,  and  traversed  the  body.  After  a  few 
hours,  one  pair  of  the  Beetles  only  was  seen  about  the  bird :  the 
largest  of  these  was  suspected  to  be  the  female.  They  began  their 
work  by  hollowing  out  the  earth  from  under  the  bird.  They  arranged 
a  cavity  the  size  of  the  bird,  by  pushing  all  around  the  body  the  earth 
which  they  removed.  To  succeed  in  these  efforts,  they  leaned  them- 
selves strongly  upon  their  collars,  and,  bending  down  their  heads, 
forced  out  the  earth  around  the  bird  like  a  kind  of  rampart.  The 
work  being  finished,  and  the  bird  having  fallen  into  the  hollow,  they 
covered  it,  and  thus  closed  the  grave. 

It  appeared  as  if  the  bird  moved  alternately  its  head,  its  tail,  its 
wings,  or  feet.  Every  time  that  any  of  these  movements  were  obser- 
ved, the  efforts  that  the  Beetles  made  to  draw  the  body  into  the  grave, 
which  was  now  nearly  completed,  might  be  remarked :  in  effecting 
this,  they  jointly  drew  it  by  its  feathers  below.  This  operation  lasted 
full  two  hours,  when  the  smallest  or  male  Beetle  drove  away  the 
female  from  the  grave,  and  would  not  allow  her  to  return,  forcing  her 
to  enter  the  hole  as  often  as  she  attempted  to  come  out  of  it. 

This  Beetle  continued  the  work  alone  for  at  least  five  hours  ;  and  it 
was  truly  astonishing  to  observe  the  great  quantity  of  earth  which  he 
removed  in  that  time  :  but  the  surprise  of  Mr.  G.  was  much  augmented, 
when  he  saw  the  little  animal  stiffening  its  collar,  and  exerting  all  ita 
strength,  lift  up  the  bird,  make  it  change  its  place,  turn,  and,  in  some 
measure,  arrange  it  in  the  grave  that  it  had  prepared  ;  which  was  so 
spacious,  and  so  far  cleared,  that  he  could  perceive  exactly  under  the 
bird,  all  the  movements  and  all  the  actions  of  the  Beetle. 

From  time  to  time,  the  Beetle  coming  out  of  its  hole,  mounted  upon 
the  bird,  and  appeared  to  tread  it  down ;  then,  returning  to  the  charge, 
it  drew  the  bird  more  and  more  into  the  earth,  till  it  was  sunk  to  a 
considerable  depth.  The  Beetle,  in  consequence  of  this  uninterrupted 
labor,  appeared  to  be  tired  :  leaning  its  head  upon  the  earth,  it  contin- 
ued in  that  position  nearly  an  hour,  without  motion ;  and  it  then 
retired  completely  underground. 

Early  in  the  morning  the  body  was  drawn  entirely  underground,  to 
the  depth  of  two  fingers'  breadth,  in  the  same  position  that  it  had 
when  laid  on  the  earth  ;  so  that  this  little  corpse  seemed  as  if  it  were 
laid  out  on  a  bier,  with  a  small  mount  or  rampart  all  round,  for  the 
purpose  of  covering  it.  In  the  evening  the  bird  was  sunk  about  half 
a  fingers'  breadth  deeper  in  the  earth  ;  and  the  operation  was  continued 
for  nearly  two  days  more,  when  the  work  obtained  its  final  com- 
pletion. 

A  single  Beetle  was  put  into  the  glass  cucurbit,  with  the  body  of  a 


930  THE   LADY-BUG. 

mole,  and  covered,  as  before,  with  a  fine  linen  cloth.  About  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Beetle  had  drawn  the  head  of  the  mole 
below ;  and,  in  pushing  the  earth  backward,  had  formed  a  tolerably 
high  rampart  around  it.  The  interment  was  completed  in  this  instance, 
by  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  space  of  time  so  short,  that  one 
could  scarcely  have  imagined  the  operation  possible,  by  so  small  a 
creature,  without  any  assistance,  and  considering  that  the  body  of  the 
mole  must  have  exceeded  the  insect  in  bulk  and  weight  at  least  thirty 
times. 

While  engaged  in  these  experiments,  a  friend,  who  wished  to  dry  a 
Toad  in  the  shade,  fixed  it  to  a  stick  which  he  stuck  into  the  ground. 
When  it  began  to  putrefy,  the  Beetles,  allured  by  the  smell,  having 
loosened  the  end  of  the  stick  that  was  fixed  in  the  earth,  brought  it  to 
the  ground,  and  they  then  interred  both  the  Toad  and  the  stick. 

The  interment  of  these  animals,  which  generally  takes  place  from 
about  the  middle  of  April  to  the  end  of  October,  has  been  sufficiently 
proved  to  be  not  merely  for  food,  but  as  a  proper  nidus  for  the  eggs 
of  the  insects,  and  to  nourish  the  young  family  of  grubs  that  proceeds 
from  them.  If  they  wanted  them  for  food  only,  they  would  no  doubt 
consume  them  above  ground  ;  but  in  the  continuation  of  the  species, 
it  is  necessary  to  have  them  below,  since,  otherwise,  Foxes,  Kavens, 
Kites,  and  other  carnivorous  animals,  would  seize  on  the  bodies,  and, 
along  with  them,  would  swallow  the  grubs  of  the  Beetles. 


OF  THE   COCCINELLA,  OR  LADY-BUG  TRIBE. 

THE  principal  food  of  these  insects  consists  of  aphides  or  plant-lice, 
by  destroying  which,  in  immense  numbers,  they  render  a  most  impor- 
tant service  to  mankind. 

Their  antennae  are  club-shaped,  and  the  club  is  solid.  The  thorax 
and  elytra  are  margined.  The  body  is  hemispherical,  and  the  abdo- 
men flat.  The  larvae  or  grubs  of  some  of  the  species,  have  their  bodies 
covered  with  scaly  plates ;  others  have  hairs  on  the  upper  parts  of  the 
body,  and  on  the  sides  ;  and  there  are  others  still  different. 


THE   SEVEX-SPOTTED   AND   TWO-SPOTTED   LADY-BUG. 

Few  insects  are  either  more  common  or  better  known  than  these. 
They  are  usually  found  on  plants,  where  they  repose  with  the  legs 
concealed  under  their  body,  and  their  antennae  beneath  the  head.  In 
winter  they  hide  themselves  and  become  torpid,  and  they  again  appear 
abroad  in  the  spring. 

The  females  deposit  their  eggs  on  such  plants  as  abound  with  ap- 
hides or  plant-lice.  The  larvae  have  each  six  feet,  and  a  conical  body 
divided  into  twelve  rings.  At  the  extremity  of  the  posterior  ring, 
there  is  a  kind  of  fleshy  teat,  by  which  they  are  able  to  adhere  to  solid 
bodies,  and  firmly  to  support  themselves  while  employed  in  seizing 


THE   CORN-WEEVIL.  931 

and  devouring  their  food.  They  are  so  extremely  voracious,  that 
when  other  food  is  scarce,  they  will  sometimes  eat  even  their  own 
species. 

In  order  to  change  into  the  pupa  state,  they  attach  themselves  by 
their  fleshy  feet,  to  the  leaves  or  branches  of  trees.  Here  they  drop 
a  small  quantity  of  glutinous  liquor,  which  fixes  them  to  the  spot, 
and,  in  a  position  contrary  to  that  of  the  plane  to  which  they  adhere. 
Little  by  little  their  body  contracts,  and  at  the  end  of  two  or  three 
days  they  undergo  their  transformation.  In  freeing  themselves  from 
their  skin,  they  make  it  pass  towards  the  hinder  part  of  their  body, 
where  it  continues  like  a  little  pellet. 

The  pupce  are  beautifully  spotted  with  black  and  other  colors.  The 
only  motion  observable  in  them,  is  that  of  alternately  elevating  and 
depressing  their  body,  particularly  if  touched.  They  finally  quit 
their  envelope  in  about  six  days  after  this  last  change.  "When  they 
first  come  into  the  world  as  perfect  insects,  their  wing-cases  are  of  a 
yellowish  white  color,  soft  and  flexible.  These  soon  harden  by  their 
contact  with  the  external  air;  and  shortly  afterwards  assume  their 
proper  spots  and  colors. 

Lady  Bugs  have  in  France  the  name  of  Bete  a  Dieu,  Vache-d-Dieu, 
and  Bete  de  la  Vierge. 


OF  THE  CUKCULIO,  OR  WEEVIL  TEIBE. 

THE  larvae,  of  the  Weevils,  like  those  of  other  coleopterous  in- 
sects, have  each  six  legs  and  a  scaly  head.  They  have  a  resem- 
blance to  oblong  soft  worms.  Some  of  them  infest  granaries,  where, 
from  their  numbers  and  voracity,  they  often  commit  great  ravages 
among  the  corn:  some  live  in  fruits,  the  iusides  of  artichokes,  thistles, 
and  other  plants;  and  others  devour  the  leaves  of  trees  and  vege- 
tables. 

One  division  of  the  Weevils  feed  on  trees  and  shrubs,  inserting 
their  beaks  into  the  tender  branches,  and  by  this  means  extracting 
their  juices.  The  Curculio  alliarice,  has  been  observed  with  its  beak 
plunged  into  the  twig  of  a  crab-tree,  as  far  as  the  place  whence  the 
antennas  arise.  Another  division  feed  solely  on  plants.  Others  live 
on  grain,  wood,  and  on  some  of  the  species  of  fungi ;  and  a  few  under 
the  surface  of  the  earth. 


THE  CORN  WEEVIL. 

The  Corn  Weevil  is  well  known  to  most  farmers,  from  the  devas- 
tation that  it  makes  in  their  granaries.  The  parent  insect  lays  its 
eggs  in  grains  of  corn,  probably  one  in  each  grain.  Here  the  larvae, 
on  being  hatched,  continue  for  some  time  to  live,  and  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  discover  them,  as  they  lie  concealed  within.  They  increase 
their  size,  and  with  it  their  dwelling,  at  the  expense  of  the  interior  or 
59 


932  THE   CAPRICORN    TRIBE — GLOW-WORM    TRIBE. 

farinacious  parts  of  the  grain  on  which  they  feed.  Corn-lofts  are 
often  laid  waste  by  these  grubs,  whose  numbers  are  sometimes  so 
oreat,  as  to  devour  nearly  the  whole  of  their  contents.  When  the 
grub 'has  attained  its  fall  size,  it  still  remains  within  the  grain,  hidden 
under  the  empty  husk.  There,  being  transformed,  it  becomes  a  chry- 
salis; and,  when  it  has  attained  its  perfect  state,  it  forces  its  way  out. 

It  'is  no  easy  matter  to  discover  by  the  eye  the  grains  that  are  thus 
attacked,  for,  in  external  appearance,  they  are  still  large  and  full.  If, 
however,  they  be  thrown  into  water,  their  lightness  soon  detects 
them. 

To  rid  a  granary  of  these  destructive  insects,  it  has  been  recom- 
mended to  farmers  to  spread  their  corn  in  the  sun,  when  the  Weevils 
will  creep  out  of  their  holes;  and  by  often  stirring  the  corn  while  in 
this  situation,  it  is  supposed  they  may  be  completely  expelled.  It  is 
also  said  that  they  may  be  destroyed  by  strewing  boughs  of  elder,  or 
branches  of  henbane,  among  the  corn.  In  a  late  Paris  paper,  a  gentle- 
man says,  that  about  the  month  of  June,  when  his  granaries  and 
barns,  that  had  been  much  infested  by  Weevils,  were  all  empty, 
he  caused  a  number  of  the  hills  of  the  large  ants  to  be  collected  in 
bags,  and  placed  in  different  parts  about  them.  The  ants  immediately 
attacked  the  Weevils  that  were  on  the  walls  and  other  parts,  and 
destroyed  them  so  completely,  that  in  a  very  short  time  not  a  single 
Weevil  was  to  be  seen;  and  since  that  period,  he  says,  they  never 
appeared  on  his  premises. 


OF  THE   CERAMBIX,  OR   CAPRICORN  TRIBE. 

THE  insects  of  the  present  tribe  are  among  the  most  beautiful  that 
are  known.  Their  antennae  are  frequently  longer  than  the  body. 
Many  of  the  species  diffuse  a  strong  smell,  perceptible  at  a  great 
distance  ;  and  some  of  them,  when  seized,  emit  a  sort  of  cry,  produced 
by  the  friction  of  the  thorax  on  the  upper  part  of  the  abdomen  and 
wing-cases. 

Their  larvce  are  found  in  the  inner  parts  of  trees,  through  which 
they  bore,  feeding  on  and  pulverizing  the  substance  of  the  wood. 
They  are  transformed  into  perfect  insects  in  the  cavities  they  thus 
make,  and  never  issue  from  their  retreats  till  they  have  attained  their 
perfect  state. 


OF  THE  LAMPYRIS,  OR  GLOW-WORM  TRIBE. 

THE  name  of  this  insect  is  derived  from  the  luminous  appearance 
of  the  posterior  part  of  its  abdomen.  The  males  are  all  winged,  but 
most  of  the  females  are  destitute  of  wings.  In  some  of  the  species  the 
males  are  not  luminous.  The  larvae,  which  feed  chiefly  on  plants  and 
leaves,  nearly  resemble  the  females  in  appearance. 

There  are  about  sixty  known  species,  inhabitants  of  different  parts 
of  the  world. 


COMMON  GLOW-WORM. 


THE    COMMON    GLOW   WORM.  933 


THE   COMMON   GLOW-WORM. 

During  the  summer  season  these  insects  are  observed  after  sun-set 
in  meadows,  by  roacl  sides,  and  near  bushes. 

They  are  chiefly  to  be  seen  during  the 
months  of  June  and  July.  In  the  day-time 
they  conceal  themselves  amongst  the  leaves 
of  plants. 

Each  sex  is  luminous,  but  in  the  male  the 
light  is  less  brilliant  than  in  the  female,  and 
is  confined  to  four  points,  two  of  which  are 
situated  on  each  side  of  the  two  last  rings 
of  the  abdomen.  The  utility  of  the  bright 
light  of  the  females  is  supposed  to  consist  in  attracting  the  attention 
of  the  males  during  the  dark,  when,  only,  they  are  able  to  render 
themselves  conspicuous.  They  always  "become  much  more  lucid 
when  they  put  themselves  in  motion.  This  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  their  light  is  owing  to  their  respiration;  in  which  process, 
it  is  probable,  phosphoric  acid  is  produced  by  the  combination  of 
oxygen  gas  with  some  part  of  the  blood,  and  that  a  light  is  given  out 
through  their  transparent  bodies  by  this  slow  internal  combustion.  By 
contracting  themselves,  the  insects  have  a  'power  of  entirely  with- 
drawing it :  when  they  are  at  rest,  very  little  light  is  to  be  seen  M. 
Templer,  who  made  many  observations  on  these  insects,  says  that  he 
never  saw  a  Glow-worm  exhibit  its  light  at  all,  without  some  sensible 
motion  either  in  its  body  or  legs.  This  gentleman,  when  the  light  was 
most  brilliant,  fancied  that  it  emitted  a  sensible  heat. 

If  the  insect  be  crushed,  and  the  hands  or  face  be  rubbed  with  it,  they 
contract  a  luminous  appearance,  similar  to  that  produced  from  phos- 
phorus. When  a  Glow-worm  is  put  into  a  phial,  and  the  phial  is 
immersed  in  water,  a  very  beautiful  irradiation  will  be  found  to  take 
place. 

The  female  Glow-worms  lay  a  great  number  of  eggs  on  the  turf  or 
plants  on  which  they  live.  These  eggs  are  somewhat  large  for  the 
size  of  the  insects,  of  a  round  shape,  and  lemon  color.  When  first 
deposited,  they  are  covered  with  a  yellow,  viscous  matter,  which  serves 
to  fix  them  to  the  plant. 

When  full  grown  the  larvae  are  about  an  inch  long,  and  so  nearly 
resemble  the  female  in  appearance,  that  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  dis- 
tinguish the  sexes.  When  they  change  to  their  pupa  state,  the  skin 
generally  splits  on  the  middle  of  the  head  and  back,  and  leaves  an 
opening  sufficient  to  give  passage  to  the  whole  body. 

As  soon  as  the  larvae  is  completely  disengaged  from  the  skin,  it 
curves  its  body  into  an  arc,  and  is  then  in  a  pupa  state.  It  still  has 
much  resemblance  to  the  larva.  The  only  indication  of  life  now,  is  its 
curvature,  from  time  to  time,  downwards,  and  its  moving  occasionally 
from  side  to  side. 


984  THE   MARGINED   WATER   BEETLE. 


OF  THE  ELATER,  OR  SKIPPER  TRIBE. 

THE  Elaters  fly  with  great  facility,  and  when  thrown  upon  their 
backs,  they  are  able  to  recover  their  position  without  using  their  feet : 
for  this  purpose  the  thorax  terminates  in  a  strong 
elastic  spine,  which  is  placed  in  a  cavity  of  the 
abdomen.  The  insects,  when  upon  their  back, 
raise  up  the  middle  part  of  their  body,  so  as  to 
leave  only  the  head  and  tail  in  contact  with  the 
plane  on  which  they  lie.  The  spine  of  the  thorax 
is  by  this  motion  brought  considerably  out  of  its  lodgment,  and  made 
to  press  against  the  side.  Being  from  this  position  again  slipped  into 
its  groove,  with  all  the  force  the  creatures  are  able  to  exert,  the  thorax 
and  abdomen  come  together  with  so  sudden  a  jerk,  as  to  raise  the 
body  from  the  plane,  and  enable  them  to  spring  round. 

The  larvae  live  and  undergo  their  changes  in  the  trunks  of  decayed 
trees. 


•     OF   THE  DYTISCUS,  OR   WATER  BEETLE   TRIBE 

THE  bodies  of  these  insects  are  admirably  formed  for  passing 
through  the  water  with  as  little  impediment  as  possible,  being  nearly 
boat-shaped,  and  on  the  surface  perfectly  smooth.  They  inhabit  ponds 
and  ditches,  but  occasionally  fly  in  search  of  other  waters.  The 
males  are  distinguished  from  the  females,  by  having  a  horny  concave 
flap  or  shield  on  the  forelegs.  The  hind  legs  in  both  sexes  are  pecu- 
liarly adapted  for  the  aquatic  residence  of  the  insects,  being  fur- 
nished on  the  inner  sides  with  a  series  of  long  and  close-set  filaments, 
so  as  somewhat  to  resemble  fins.  In  the  large  species,  the  elytra  or 
wing-cases  of  the  males  are  smooth,  aud  those  of  the  females  furrowed. 

The  larvae  are  extremely  voracious,  feeding  on  other  aquatic  in- 
sects, on  worms,  and  even  on  young  fish.  They  continue  in  this  state 
about  two  years  and  a  half ;  and  when  about  to  change  into  pupce, 
they  form  a  convenient  cell,  and  secrete  themselves  for  the  purpose  in 
the  banks  or  amongst  the  weeds. 


THE   MARGINED  WATER  BEETLE. 

Although  water  is  the  principal  element  in  which  these  insects  reside, 
they  are  perfectly  amphibious.  They  may  occasionally  be  found  in 
all  fresh  waters ;  but  are  most  frequently  seen  either  in  such  as  are 
stagnant,  or  where  the  stream  is  extremely  low. 

They  are  predatory  and  very  voracious,  devouring,  in  great  num- 
bers, not  only  other  water-insects,  but  also  those  of  the  land.  They 
seize  their  prey  in  their  forelegs,  and  with  these  carry  it  to  the  mouth. 


WATER-BEETLE 


BOMBARDIER,    OR    EXPLODING   BEETLE.  935 

Although  they  are  able  to  continue  immersed  for  a  great  length  or 
time,  yet  it  is  necessary  for  them  to  rise 
occasionally  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  in 
order  to  breathe.  They  swim  with  great 
celerity ;  and,  in  flying,  they  make  a  hum- 
ming or  droning  noise,  like  other  Beetles. 

The  larvae  have  powerful  jaws,  and  six 
long  legs.  At  the  posterior  part  of  their 
body,  which  tapers  towards  the  extremity, 
there  are  two  small,  slender  processes,  situ- 
ated somewhat  obliquely,  and  moveable  at 
the  base.  It  is  by  means  of  these  that  the 
larvas  suspends  itself  at  the  surface  of  the 
water,  for  the  purpose  of  respiring  the  air 
of  the  atmosphere,  which  it  does  through 
two  small  cylindrical  tubes,  situated  at  the  extremity  of  the  tail. 

When  the  larvae  change  their  place  in  the  water,  or  seek  to  escape 
the  attack  of  their  enemies,  they  give  a  prompt  and  vermicular  motion 
to  their  body,  and  strike  the  water  forcibly  with  their  tail.  They  are 
excessively  voracious,  subsisting  chiefly  on  the  larvae  of  dragon-flies, 
ephmerae,"  gnats  and  other  insects.  When  the  time  of  their  transfor- 
mation approaches,  the  larvas  quit  the  water,  and  enter  the  earth  near 
the  banks  of  the  ponds  or  ditches  which  they  frequent.  Here  they 
form  a  cavity  in  the  form  of  an  oval  case,  in  which  they  undergo  their 
change  into  pupce,  and  afterwards  into  winged  insects. 

Thus  these  little  creatures  are  aquatic  animals  in  the  larvae  state, 
become  terrestrial  under  the  form  of  pupce,  and  amphibious  when 
perfect  insects. 


OF  THE   CAKABUS,   OE    GROUND  BEETLE   TEIBE. 

THESE  insects  are  very  active  and  voracious,  devouring  the  larvae 
of  the  other  tribes,  and  indeed  all  the  smaller  animals  they  can  over- 
come. They  conceal  themselves  under  stones,  or  moss,  and  particu- 
larly under  such  as  happen  to  be  near  the  roots  of  old  trees.  Fre- 
quently, however,  they  are  to  be  seen  running  about  on  the  roads 
and  fields.  Some  of  the  species  are  destitute  of  wings. 

The  larvae  are  found  chiefly  in  decayed  wood,  or  under  the  ground, 
where  they  undergo  their  various  changes. 


THE     BOMBARDIER,    OR    EXPLODING    BEETLE. 

This  insect  conceals  itself  among  stones,  and  seems  to  make  little 
use  of  its  wings.  When  it  moves  it  is  by  a  sort  of  jump ;  and, 
when  it  is  touched,  we  are  surprised  with  a  noise  resembling  the 
discharge  of  a  musket  in  miniature,  during  which  a  blue  smoke  may 


936 


BLISTERING    LYTTA,    OR    SPANISH    FLY. 


be  seen  to  proceed  from  its  extremity.  The  insect  may  at  any  time 

be  made  to  play  off  its  artillery,  by 
scratching  its  back  with  a  needle.  If 
we  may  believe  Rolander,  who  first 
made  these  observations,  it  can  give 
twenty  discharges  successively.  A 
bladder  placed  near  its  posterior  ex- 
tremity, is  the  arsenal  that  contains 
its  store.  This  is  its  chief  defence 
against  its  enemies ;  and  the  vapor 
or  liquid  that  proceeds  from  it  is 
of  so  pungent  a  nature,  that  if  it 
happen  to  be  discharged  into  the 
eyes,  it  makes  them  smart  as  though 
brandy  had  been  thrown  into  them. 
The  principal  enemy  of  the  Bombar- 
dier is  another  insect  of  the  same 
tribe,  but  three  or  four  times  its  size. 
When  pursued  and  fatigued,  the 
Bombardier  has  recourse  to  this  strat- 
agem :  he  lies  down  in  the  path  of 
his  enemy,  who  advances  with  open 
mouth  to  seize  him  :  but,  on  the  dis- 
charge of  the  artillery,  the  enemy 
suddenly  draws  back,  and  remains 
for  awhile  confused,  during  which 

the  Bombardier  conceals  himself  in  some  neighboring  crevice;  but,  if 

not  lucky  enough  to  find  one,  the  other  returns  to  the  attack,  takes 

the  insect  by  the  head,  and  tears  it  off. 


BOMBAEDIER,  WITH  HEAD  AND  ANTENNA 
MAGNIFIED. 


OF  THE  LYTTA  TRIBE. 

THE  antennas  of  the  Lyttae  are  of  equal  thickness  throughout;  the 
feelers  are  four  in  number,  unequal  in  size,  and  the  hind  ones  are 
clavate.  The  thorax  is  roundish:  the  head  inflected  and  gibbous. 
The  shells  are  soft,  flexile,  and  as  long  as  the  abdomen. 


THE    BLISTERING   LYTTA,    OR   SPANISH -FLY. 

In  the  south  of  France,  in  Spain,  and  in  Italy,  these  insects  are 

found  in  great  abundance 
about  the  time  of  the  summer 
solstice.  They  feed  on  the 
leaves  of  trees  and  shrubs, 
particularly  on  those  of  the 
privet,  lilac,  woodbine,  elder, 
poplar,  and  ash.  On  the  last 
named  trees  they  are  some- 
times seen  in  such  swarms,  as, 


THE  BLISTERING   LYTTA. 


THE    COMMON    EARWIG.  937 

in  a  little  while  to  deprive  them  entirely  of  their  verdure.  They 
always  prefer  the  young  trees  to  old  ones.  When  collected  in  great 
numbers  their  odor  becomes  very  disagreeable,  and  is  perceptible 
even  to  a  considerable  distance. 

In  order  to  collect  these  insects,  a  cloth  is  extended  round  the  foot 
of  the  tree,  and  they  are  shaken  upon  it.  They  are  then  taken  up, 
tied  in  a  bag,  and  killed  with  the  vapors  of  hot  vinegar.  After  this 
they  are  dried  in  the  sun,  and  placed  in  boxes  for  use.  The  fresher 
the  insects  are,  the  more  stimulating  is  the  action  of  their  blistering 
properties.  It  is  consequently  necessary  to  collect  them  as  shortly 
as  possible  after  they  have  attained  their  perfect  state. 


OF  THE  FOKFICULA,  OK  EARWIG  TKIBE. 

IN  this  tribe  the  aritenna3  are  bristle-shaped;  and  the  feelers 
unequal  and  thread-shaped.  The  wing-cases  are  half  the  length  of 
the  abdomen,  and  have  the  wings  folded  up  under  them,  somewhat 
in  the  manner  of  a  fan.  The  tail  is  armed  with  a  forceps. 

The  Earwigs  undergo  only  a  semi-metamorphosis,  differing  in 
external  appearance  very  little  in  the  three  states 


THE    COMMON   EARWIG. 

It  may  not  perhaps  be  generally  known  that  the  Earwig  possesses 
wings  which  are  both  large  and  elegant, 
and  that  one  of  these,  when  extended, 
will  cover  nearly  the  whole  insect.  The 
elytra  or  wing-cases,  are  short,  and  extend 
not  along  the  whole  body,  but  only  over 
the  breast.  The  wings  are  concealed 
beneath  these,  and  are  somewhat  of  an 
oval  shape.  There  is  great  elegance  in 
the  manner  in  which  the  insect  folds 
them  beneath  its  elytra.  They  are  first 
closed  up  lengthways  from  a  centre  close 
to  the  body,  like  a  fan;  and  afterwards 
refolded  across  in  two  different  places,  one  about  the  middle  of  the 
membrane,  and  the  other  at  the  centre,  from  which  the  first  folds 
proceeded.  By  this  means  the  wing  is  reduced  into  a  small  compass, 
and  proportioned  to  the  size  of  the  case  under  which  it  is  to  lie. 

It  is  a  circumstance  extremely  singular,  that,  unlike  those  of  most 
others  of  the  insect  tribe,  the  eggs  are  hatched  and  the  young  Ear- 
wigs are  fostered  by  the  parent.  At  the  beginning  of  the  month  of- 
June,  M.  de  Geer  found  under  a  stone  a  female  Earwig,  accompanied 
by  many  little  insects,  which  evidently  appeared  to  be  her  own 
young.  They  continued  close  to  her,  and  often  placed  themselves 
under  her  belly,  as  chickens  do  under  a  hen.  He  put  the  whole  into 


938  THE   COMMON    EARWIG. 

a  box  of  fresa  earth :  they  did  not  enter  the  earth,  but  it  was  pleasing 
to  observe  how  they  thrust  themselves  under  the  belly,  and  between 
the  legs  of  the  mother,  who  remained  very  quiet,  and  suffered  them 
to  continue  there  sometimes  for  an  hour  or  two  together.  To  feed 
them  this  gentleman  gave  them  a  piece  of  a  very  ripe  apple:  in  an 
instant  the  old  one  ran  upon  it,  and  ate  with  a  good  appetite;  the 
young-ones  also  seemed  to  eat  a  little,  but  apparently  with  much  le.^s 
relish. 

The  Earwig,  though  in  its  nature  extremely  harmless,  except  to 
fruits  and  vegetables  in  our  gardens,  has  become  a  victim  to  human 
cruelty  and  caprice,  originating  .in  a  notion  that  it  introduces  itself 
into  the  ears,  and  thence  penetrates  to  the  brain,  and  occasions  death. 
It  is  to  be  wished  that  females,  who  but  too  commonly  lay  aside  all 
ideas  of  tenderness  at  the  very  sight  of  it,  would  be  convinced  that 
the  wax  and  membranes  of  the  ears,  are  a  sufficient  defence  against 
all  the  pretended  attacks  of  the  Earwig  upon  this  organ. 

Our  gardeners  have,  it  is  true,  some  room  for  complaint.  It  lives 
among  flowers  and  frequently  destroys  them;  and,  when  fruit  has 
been  wounded  by  flies,  the  Earwigs  also  generally  come  in  for  a  share. 
In  the  night  they  may  occasionally  be  seen  in  amazing  numbers  upon 
lettuces  and  other  esculent  vegetables,  committing  those  depredations 
that  are  often  ascribed  to  snails  or  slugs.  The  best  mode,  therefore, 
of  destroying  them,  seems  to  be,  to  attend  the  garden  now  and  then 
in  the  night,  and  to  seize  them  while  they  are  feeding. 

The  bowl  of  a  tobacco-pipe,  and  the  claws  of  lobsters  stuck  upon 
sticks  that  support  flowers,  are  the  usual  methods  by  which  they  are 
caught,  as,  in  the  day-time,  they  creep  into  holes  and  dark  places. 
Placing  hollow  reeds  behind  the  twigs  of  wall-trees,  is  also  a  good 
mode,  if  they  be  examined  and  cleared  every  morning.  But  at  a 
midnight  visit  more  may  be  done  in  an  hour,  than  by  any  of  the 
other  means  in  a  week. 


HEMIPTEROUS  INSECTS. 


OF  THE  BLATTA,  OR  COCK-ROACH  TRIBE. 

SOME  of  the  species  of  Blatta,  are  destitute  both  of  wings  and 
wing-cases.  Their  larvae  differ  but  little  in  their  general  appearance 
from  the  perfect  insects.  In  a  pupa  state  they  have,  between  the 
thorax  and  the  abdomen,  two  broad  and  flat  rings,  which  cover  much 
of  the  breast,  and  from  which  place  the  wings  afterwards  appear. 

A  few  of  these  insects  live  in  houses,  and  others  conceal  themselves 
in  holes  in  the  ground. 


THE   COMMON,   AND  THE   AMERICAN   COCK-ROACH. 

Both  these  insects  live  in  houses,  where  they  are  sometimes  very 
troublesome,  from  their  kn awing  and  devouring  eatables,  leather, 
cloths,  woolen,  and  other  things  to  which  they  have  access.  The 
common  species  are  extremely  agile,  and  run  very  swiftly.  During 
the  day-time  they  conceal  themselves  in  holes  of  walls  and  clefts  of  the 
floors,  and  issue  forth  only  in  the  dark,  for  the  purposes  of  plunder 
and  devastation.  The  moment  they  perceive  a  light,  they  endeavor  to 
escape  into  the  places  of  their  retreat.  The  smell  of  these  insects  is  so 
powerful  and  unpleasant,  that  if  they  only  run  over  provisions,  they 
frequently  render  them  very  nauseous.  They  are  furnished  with 
wings,  but  their  agility  in  other  respects  is  so  great,  that  they  seldom 
use  them. 

The  Kakkerlac,  or  American  Cock-roach,  is  very  common.  In 
some  parts  of  South  America,  particularly  in  Surinam,  it  causes  great 
devastation  in  the  houses,  by  gnawing  the  stuffs,  cloths,  and  wool, 
and  devouring  and  injuring  the  provisions. 

It  is  asserted  by  Reaumur,  that  the  American  Cock-roaches  have 
for  an  enemy  a  large  species  of  Sphex.  He  says,  that  when  one  of 
these  Spheges  encounters  a  Cock-roach,  it  seizes  it  by  the  head,  pierces 
it  with  its  sting,  and  then  carries  it  to  its  hole,  the  nidus,  where,  no 
doubt,  it  has  deposited  its  egg,  and  where  the  Cock-roach  serves  as 
nourishment  for  the  future  young-one. 


OF  THE  MANTIS  TRIBE. 

MANY  of  the  insects  of  the  present  tribe  have,  at  a  little  distance,  so 
much  the  appearance  of  leaves  of  trees,  that,  in  countries  where  they 

(939) 


940  THE   ORATOR   MANTIS. 

are  common,  travellers  have  been  struck  with  the  singular  phenomenon 
of  what  seemed  to  them  animated  vegetable  substances.  Their  most 
prevailing  color  is  a  fine  green,  but  many  of  them  become  brown 
after  they  are  dead:  some,  however,  are  decorated  with  a  variety  of 
lively  hues.  The  thorax  in  most  of  them  is  very  long  and  narrow, 
and  has  the  appearance  of  a  footstalk  to  the  large  and  rounded 
abdomen.  Their  manners  also,  in  addition  to  their  structure,  are 
very  likely  to  impose  on  the  senses  of  the  -uninformed :  they  often 
remain  on  the  trees  for  hours  without  motion :  then  suddenly  rising, 
they  spring  into  the  air,  and  when  they  settle,  they  again  appear 
lifeless.  These  seem  to  be  stratagems,  in  order  to  deceive  the  cautious 
insects  on  which  they  feed. 


THE   ORATOR  MANTIS. 

This  is  a  very  widely-dispersed  species,  being  found  both  in  Europe, 

Asia,  and  Africa.  From  its 
perpetually  resting  on  its  hind 
legs,  and  erecting  the  fore  paws 
close  together,  with  a  quick 
motion,  as  if  in  the  action  of 
praying,  the  country  people, 
in  various  parts  of  the  conti- 
nent, consider  it  almost  as 
sacred,  and  would  not  on  any 
account  injure  it.  "It  is  so 

THE  ORATOR  MANTI3.  diviuf   *>    creature,    (says    the 

translator  of  Mouffet,)  that  if 

a  child  has  lost  its  way,  and  inquires  of  the  Mantis,  it  will  point  out 
the  right  path  with  its  paw."  Dr.  Smith,  however,  informs  us,  in  his 
tour  on  the  continent,  that,  he  received  an  account  of  this  Mantis  that 
seemed  to  savor  little  of  divinity.  A  gentleman  caught  a  male  and 
female,  and  put  them  together  in  a  glass  vessel.  The  female,  which 
in  this,  as  in  most  other  insects,  is  the  largest,  after  a  while  devoured 
first  the  head  and  upper  parts  of  her  companion,  and  afterwards  all 
the  remainder  of  the  body. 


OF  THE  GRYLLUS,  OR  LOCUST  TRIBE. 

ALL  these  insects  feed  chiefly  on  vegetable  substances.  .  The  larvce 
and  crysalids  nearly  resemble  the  perfect  insects :  they  have  six  legs, 
are  voracious  and  active,  and  reside  principally  in  the  ground. 

Their  heads  are  inflected,  and  armed  with  jaws  that  are  furnished 
with  foliform  palpi,  or  feelers.  The  antennas  in  some  species  are 
taper,  in  others  thread-shaped.  The  wings  are  four,  deflected  and 
convolute:  the  lower  ones  plaited.  The  hind  legs  are  formed  foi 
leaping ;  and  on  each  side  of  the  feet  are  two  claws. 


THE  MOLE  CRICKET — THE  HOUSE  CRICKET.        941 


THE  MOLE  CRICKET. 

This  little  creature,  among  the  insect  tribes,  is  a  complete  represen- 
tative of  the  Mole.  Its  fore-feet  are  broad  and  strong,  and  in  their 
formation  and  position  bear  a  great  resemblance  to  the  fore -feet  of 
that  animal.  They  are  used  for  precisely  the  same  purpose  of  bur- 
rowing under  the  surface  of  the  ground,  where  the  insect  commonly 
resides ;  and  so  expertly  does  it  use  them,  that  it  can  penetrate  the 
earth  with  even  greater  expedition  than  the  Mole. 

The  female  of  this  species  forms  a  cell  of  clammy  eartft,  about  the 
size  of  a  hen's  egg,  closed  up  on  every  side,  and  as  large  in  the  interior 
as  two  hazel  nuts.  The  eggs,  amounting  to  nearly  a  hundred  and 
fifty,  are  white,  and  about  the  size  of  caraway  comfits;  they  are 
carefully  covered,  as  well  to  defend  them  from  the  injuries  of  weather 
as  from  the  attacks  of  a  species  of  black  Beetles,  which  often  destroy 
them.  The  female  places  herself  near  the  entrance  of  the  nest,  and 
whenever  the  Beetle  attempts  to  seize  its  prey,  the  guardian  insect 
catches  it  behind,  and  bites  it  asunder.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  care 
of  these  animals  in  the  preservation  of  their  offspring.  Wherever  a 
nest  is  situated,  fortifications,  avenues,  and  entrenchments  surround 
it:  there  are  also  numerous  meanders  which  lead  to  it,  and  a  ditch 
encompasses  the  whole,  which  few  other  insects  are  capable  of  passing. 

Mole  Crickets  are  troublesome  insects  in  hot-beds,  where  they 
make  great  havoc,  by  hacking  and  gnawing  the  roots  of  plants  with 
their  fore-feet,  the  ends  of  which  are  armed  with  teeth  like  a  saw. 


THE   HOUSE   CRICKET. 

These  busy  little  insects  reside  altogether  in  our  dwellings,  and  in- 
trade  themselves  on  our  notice,  whether 
we  wish  it  or  not.  They  are  partial  to 
houses  newly  built;  for  the  softness  of 
the  mortar  enables  them  without  diffi- 
culty to  form  their  retreats  between  the 
joints  of  the  masonry,  and  immediately  to  open  communications  with 
the  different  rooms.  They  are  particularly  attached  to  kitchens  and 
bakehouses,  as  affording  them  a  constant  warmth. 

"Tender  insects,  that  live  abroad,  (says  Mr.  White,)  either  enjoy 
only  the  short  period  of  one  summer,  or  else  doze  away  the  cold, 
uncomfortable  months  in  profound  slumbers;  but  these, .residing  as  it 
were  in  a  torrid  zone,  are  always  alert  and  merry :  a  good  Christmas 
fire  is  to  them,  what  the  heats  of  the  dog-days  are  to  others. 

"Though  they  are  frequently  heard  by  day,  yet  their  natural  time 
of  motion  is  only  in  the  night.  As  soon  as  it  becomes  dusk  the 
chirping  increases,  and  they  come  running  forth,  and  are  often  to  be 
seen  in  great  numbers,  from  the  size  of  a  flea  to  that  of  their  full 
stature. 


THE  HOUSE  CRICKET. 


942  THE   FIELD   CRICKET. 

"As  one  would  suppose  from  the  burning  atmosphere  which  they 
inhabit,  they  are  a  thirsty  race,  and  show  a  great  propensity  for 
liquids,  being  frequently  found  dead  in  pans  of  water,  milk,  broth,  or 
the  like.  Whatever  is  moist  they  are  fond  of,  and  therefore  they  often 
gnaw  holes  in  wet  woolen  stockings  and  aprons,  that  are  hung  to  the 
fire.  These  Crickets  are  not  only  very  thirsty  but  very  voracious; 
for  they  will  eat  the  scummings  of  pots,  yeast,  salt,  and  crumbs  of 
bread ;  and  kitchen  offal  or  sweepings  of  almost  every  description. 

"In  the  summer  they  have  been  observed  to  fly,  when  it  became 
dusk,  out  of  the  windows,  and  over  the  neigboring  roofs.  This  feat 
of  activity  accounts  for  the  sudden  manner  in  which  they  often  leave 
their  haunts,  as  it  does  also  for  the  method  by  which  they  come  to 
houses,  where  they  were  not  known  before.  It  is  remarkable,  that 
many  sorts  of  insects  seem  never  to  use  their  wings,  but  when  they 
wish  to  shift  their  quarters  and  settle  new  colonies.  When  in  the  air, 
they  move  in  waves  or  curves,  like  woodpeckers,  opening  and  shut- 
ting their  wings  at  every  stroke,  and  thus  are  always  rising  or 
sinking.  When  their  numbers  increase  to  a  great  degree,  they 
become  pests,  flying  into  the  candles,  and  dashing  into  people's  faces. 
In  families,  at  such  times,  they  are,  like  Pharoah's  plague  of  Frogs, 
*  in  their  bed-chambers,  and  upon  their  beds,  and  in  their  ovens,  and 
in  their  kneading  troughs.' 

"Cats  catch  Hearth-crickets,  and  playing  with  them  as  they  do  with 
mice,  devour  them.  Crickets  may  be  destroyed  like  Wasps,  by  phials 
half  filled  with  beer,  or  any  liquid,  and  set  in  their  haunts;  for.  being 
always  eager  to  drink,  they  will  crowd  in  till  the  bottles  are  full." 
A  popular  prejudice,  however,  frequently  prevents  any  attempts 
at  their  destruction;  many  people  imagining  that  their  presence  is 
attended  with  good  luck,  and  that  to  kill  or  drive  them  away  will 
bring  some  misfortune  on  the  family. 

When  these  insects  are  running  about  a  room  in  the  dark,  if  they 
be  surprised  by  a  candle,  they  give  two  or  three  shrill  notes.  These 
seem  a  signal  to  their  fellows  that  they  may  escape  to  their  crannies 
and  lurking  holes,  for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  danger. 

The  organ  that  produces  this  noise,  is  a  membrane,  which  in  con- 
tracting, by  means  of  a  muscle  and  tendon  placed  under  the  wings 
of  the  insect,  folds  down  somewhat  like  a  fan.  This,  as  it  is  always 
dry,  yields,  by  its  motion,  a  sharp  and  piercing  sound.  The  noise 
may  even  be  heard  after  the  insect  is  dead,  if  the  tendon  be  made  to 
move.  We  are  told  that  Crickets  will  live,  and  even  continue  their 
accustomed  noise,  for  some  time  after  their  heads  are  cut  off. 


THE   FIELD   CRICKET. 

Towards  sun-set  is  the  time  when  the  Field  Crickets  begin  to 
appear  out  of  their  subterraneous  habitations.  They  are,  however, 
so  shy  and  cautious,  that  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  get  a  sight  of  them ; 
for  feeling  a  person's  footsteps  as  he  advances,  they  stop  short  in  the 


THE  MIGRATORY  LOCUST.  943 

midst  of  their  song,  and  retire  backward  nimbly  into  their  burrows, 
where  they  lurk  till  all  suspicion  of  danger  is  over. 

It  is  remarkable,  that,  though  these  insects  are  furnished  with  long 
legs  behind,  and  brawny  thighs  adapted  for  leaping,  yet,  when  driven 
from  their  holes,  they  show  no  activity,  but  crawl  along  in  so  lifeless 
a  manner  as  easily  to  be  caught.  And  though  they  are  provided  with 
a  curious  apparatus  of  wings,  yet  they  never  exert  them,  even  when 
there  seems  to  be  the  greatest  occasion.  The  males  only  make  their 
shrill  noise,  perhaps  out  of  rivalry  and  emulation;  as  is  the  case 
with  many  animals,  which  exert  some  sprightly  note  during  their 
breeding-time. 


THE   MIGRATORY  LOCUST. 

Syria,  Egypt,  Persia,  and  almost  all  the  south  of  Asia,  are  subject 
to  a  calamity  as  dreadful  as  volcanoes  and 
earthquakes  are  to  other  countries,  in  being 
ravaged  by  those  clouds  of  Locusts,  so  often 
mentioned  by  travellers.  The  quantity  of 
these  insects  is  incredible  to  all,  who  have 
not  themselves  witnessed  their  astonishing- 
numbers :  the  whole  earth  is  covered  with 
them,  for  the  sp'ace  of  several  leagues.  The 
noise  they  make  in  browsing  on  the  trees  and 
herbage;  may  be  heard  at  a  great  distance, 
and  somewhat  resembles  that  of  an  army 
foraging  in  secret.  The  Tartars  themselves  are  a  less  destructive 
enemy  than  these  animals.  One  would  imagine,  wherever  they  have 
been  seen,  that  fire  had  followed  their  progress.  Wherever  their 
myriads  spread,  the  verdure  of  the  country  disappears,  as  if  a  curtain 
had  been  removed :  trees  and  plants  are  stripped  of  their  leaves,  and 
are  reduced  to  their  naked  boughs  and  stems;  so  that  the  dreary 
image  of  winter  succeeds,  almost  in  an  instant,  to  the  rich  scenery  of 
the  spring.  "When  these  clouds  of  Locusts  take  their  flight,  the 
heavens  may  sometimes  literally  be  said  to  be  obscured  by  them. 
Happily  this  calamity  is  not  frequently  repeated ;  for  it  is  the  inevi- 
table forerunner  of  famine.  The  inhabitants  of  Syria  have  remarked, 
that  Locusts  are  always  increased  by  too  mild  winters,  and  that  they 
contantly  come  from  the  desert  of  Arabia.  From  this  observation  it 
is  easy  to  conceive,  that,  the  cold  not  having  been  rigorous  enough  to 
destroy  their  eggs,  they  multiply  suddenly;  and,  the  herbage  failing 
them  in  the  immense  plains  of  the  desert,  innumerable  legions  issue 
forth.  When  they  make  their  first  appearance  on  the  frontiers  of  the 
Cultivated  country,  the  inhabitants  attempt  to  drive  them  off,  by  rais- 
ing large  clouds  of  smoke ;  but  frequently  their  herbs  and  wet  straw 
fail  them.  They  then  dig  trenches,  where  numbers  of  the  insects  are 
buried :  but  the  most  efficacious  destroyers  are  the  south  and  south- 
easterly winds/ and  the  Locust-eating  Thrushes.  These  birds  follow 
them  in  numerous  flocks  like  Starlings,  and  not  only  greedily  devour 


THE  MIGRATORY  LOCUST. 


944  THE   GREAT    LANTERN-FLY. 

them,  but  kill  as  many  as  they  can:  accordingly  they  are  much 
respected  by  the  peasants,  and  nobody  is  allowed  to  shoot  them.  As 
to  the  southerly  and  south-easterly  winds,  they  drive  with  violence 
these  clouds  of  Locusts  over  the  Mediterranean,  where  such  quantities 
of  them  are  sometimes  drowned,  that,  when  their  bodies  are  thrown 
on  the  shore,  they  infect  the  air  for  several  days,  even  to  a  great 
distance. 

The  female  Locust  when  she  lays  her  eggs,  which  are  generally 
about  forty  in  number,  retires  to  some  solitary  place  underground. 
Here,  by  her  sagacity,  she  secures  them  from  the  intemperance  of  the 
air,  as  well  as  from  the  more  immediate  danger  of  the  plough  or 
fatal  spade,  one  blow  of  which  would  destroy  all  the  hopes  of  a  rising 
generation. 


OF  THE  LANTEKN-FLIES  IN  GENERAL. 

IN  this  tribe  the  head  is  extended  forward,  and  is  hollow  and 
inflated.  The  antennas,  consisting  of  two  joints,  the  outer  one  of  which 
is  globular,  are  seated  below  the  eyes.  The  rostrum  or  beak  is  four- 
jointed,  and  inflected,  or  bent  inwards  under  the  body.  The  legs  are 
not  formed  for  leaping. 


THE   GREAT  LANTERN-FLY. 

This  is  the  most  vivid  of  all  the  luminous  insects.     It  affords  a 

light  so  great,  that  travellers,  walk- 
ing by  night,  are  said  to  be  enabled 
to  pursue  their  journey  with  sufficient 
^— — — -    certainty,  if  they  tie  one  or  two  of 
"~1555  them  to  a  stick,  and  carry  this  before 
them  in  the  manner  of  a  torch.     This 
insect  is  common  in  many  parts  of 
South  America. 

THE  GREAT   LANTERN-FLY.  m,  ,.      .  .  ,     .  .    .        n 

The  light  emitted  by  this  fly,  pro- 
ceeds entirely  from  the  hollow  part  or  lantern,  of  the  head ;  no  other 
part  being  luminous.  Its  most  essential  use  is,  no  doubt,  as  in  the 
other  luminous  tribes,  to  point  out  the  sexes  to  each  other,  serving 
in  them  the  same  purpose,  in  this  respect,  as  the  voice  in  larger 
animals. 


THE   AMERICAN    LOCUST.  945 


OF  THE  CICADA  IN  GENEKAL. 

THESE  insects  are  found  in  various  parts  both  of  the  New  and  Old 
Continent,  where  they  subsist 
almost  wholly  on  the  leaves 
of  trees  and  on  other  vege- 
table substances.  They  are 
furnished  with  a  hard  and 
horny  proboscis  or  tube,  in 
which  is  contained  a  very 
slender  sucking-pipe.  The 
former  is  not  much  unlike  a 

gimlet  in  form,  and  is  used  by  them  in  boring  through  the  bark  of 
trees,  for  the  purpose  of  extracting  their  juices.  With  this  proboscis 
they  also  bore  holes  in  the  small  and  tender  twigs  of  the  exterior 
branches,  in  which  they  deposit  their  eggs,  sometimes  to  the  amount 
of  six  or  seven  hundred.  Each  cell  does  not  contain  more  than  from 
twelve  to  twenty,  so  that  by  this  means  they  often  do  much  damage 
to  the  trees  which  they  frequent. 

The  chry solids  of  these  insects  are  not  torpid,  like  those  of  many 
others ;  but  have  six  legs,  and  differ  from  the  parent,  in  having  only 
the  rudiments  of  wings.  They  are  exceedingly  active,  and  in  general 
run  and  leap  about  upon  the  trees  with  great  sprightliness. 

The  Cicadae  of  the  hottest  climates  make  the  loudest  noise.  From 
the  papers  of  Mr.  Smeathman,  who  resided  a  considerable  time  in 
Africa,  it  appears  that  some  are  so  loud,  as  to  be  heard  to  the  distance 
of  half  a  mile ;  and  that  the  singing  of  one  of  them  in  a  room,  will 
immediately  silence  a  whole  company.  Professor  Thunburg  says, 
that  one  of  the  Javanese  species  makes  a  noise  as  shrill  and  piercing, 
as  if  it  proceeded  from  a  trumpet. 


THE  AMERICAN  LOCUST. 

This  species  of  Cicada  is  at  all  times  common  in  Pennsylvania, 
but  at  certain  periods  (generally  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  years)  the 
numbers  are  so  immense,  that  it  has  obtained  the  general  appellation 
of  Locust. 

Towards  the  end  of  April  these  insects  emerge  from  the  ground, 
and  their  appearance  is  always  to  be  predicted  by  the  swine  searching 
for  them.  The  swarms  are  sometimes  so  great,  that  in  the  places  from 
which  they  have  arisen,  the  earth  appears  nearly  as  full  of  holes  as  a 
honey-comb.  They  always  leave  the  ground  during  the  night.  On 
their  first  coming  out  they  are  in  the  chrysalid  state :  but  soon  after- 
wards, the  back  bursts,  and  the  flying  insects  disengage  themselves 
from  their  case.  For  a  little  while  they  are  entirely  white,  with  red 
eyes,  and  seem  very  weak  and  tender ;  but,  by  the  next  day,  they 


946  THE    BED-BUG. 

attain  their  full  strength  and  perfection,  being  of  a  dark  brown  color, 
with  four  finely  variegated  transparent  wings. 

Shortly  after  they  have  attained  their  perfect  state,  these  insects 
always  spread  themselves  over  the  country  for  many  miles  round. 
They  are  excessively  voracious,  and  do  infinite  damage,  in  their 
periodical  swarmings,  to  both  orchard  and  forest  trees:  and  were  it 
not  for  the  number  and  variety  of  their  enemies,  and  the  naturally 
short  duration  of  their  lives,  the  inhabitants  would  often. suffer  from 
them  all  the  horrors  of  famine. 


OF  THE  CIMECES,  OR  BUGS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  rostrum  or  beak  of  the  Cimeces  or  Bugs  is  inflected;  and  the 
antennas  are  longer  than  the  thorax.  These  insects  have  four  wings, 
folded  cross-wise,  the  upper  ones  coriaceous  on  the  upper  part.  The 
back  is  flat,  and  the  legs  are  formed  for  running. 

The  larvae  differ  from  the  perfect  insects  in  little  else  than  the  want 
of  wings.  Many  of  them  infest  plaxts,  on  which  they  live,  and  on 
which  they  lay  their  eggs.  Several  of  the  species  are  voracious,  and 
spare  scarcely  any  other  insects  that  they  can  conquer.  They  glut 
themselves  with  the  blood  of  animals ;  destroy  caterpillars,  flies,  and 
even  beetles,  the  hardness  of  whose  elytra  would  seem  to  be  proof 
against  all  their  attacks ;  the  incautious  naturalist  may  also  himself 
sometimes  experience  the  severity  of  their  nature. 


THE   BED-BUG. 

The  Bed-bug,  which  is  a  nauseous  and  troublesome  inhabitant  of 
most  of  the  houses  in  large  towns,  is  singular  in  having  neither  wings 
nor  wing-cases.  It  runs  about  with  considerable  activity  in  the  night, 
to  suck  the  blood  of  persons  that  are  asleep,  hiding  itself  by  day  in 
crevices  and  other  retired  places. 

Their  most  favorite  food  is  blood,  dried  paste,  size,  deal,  beech, 
osier,  and  some  other  kinds  of  timber,  the  sap  of  which  they  suck ; 
and  on  any  of  these  they  are  able  to  exist.  They  will  not  feed  on  oak, 
walnut,  cedar,  or  mahogany ;  for  several  pairs,  which,  for  the  sake  of 
experiment,  were  confined  with  these  kinds  of  wood,  soon  died,  whilst 
those  kept  with  the  others  continued  to  live  through  the  whole  year. 

The  female  generally  lays  about  fifty  eggs  at  a  time.  These  are 
white,  and,  when  protruded,  are  covered  with  a  viscous  matter,  which, 
afterwards  hardening,  sticks  them  firmly  to  the  place  where  they  are 
deposited.  These  eggs  are  usually  hatched  in  about  three  weeks. 
The  general  times  of  laying  are  March.  May,  July,  and  September : 
so  that  from  every  female  Bug  that  out- lives  the  season,  as  many  as 
two  hundred  young-ones  may  be  produced.  Thus  is  the  excessive 
increase  of  these  nauseous  animals  to  be  accounted  for,  where  proper 
care  is  not  taken  to  destroy  them. 


OF   THE   APHIDES,   OR   PLANT-LICE.  947 

The  young-ones,  for  sometime  after  they  first  escape  from  the  egg, 
are  perfectly  white,  but  they  generally  become  brown  in  the  course 
of  about  three  weeks.  In  eleven  weeks  they  #re  at  full  growth. 
They  are  then  very  watchful  and  cunning  creatures ;  and  so  fierce, 
among  their  own  species,  that  they  will  sometimes  contend  with  the 
utmost  fury ;  and  in  their  combats  they  seldom  leave  off  till  either 
one  or  both  of  the  animals  are  killed.  Spiders  are  very  fond  of  them 
for  food. 

In  order  to  clear  a  house  of  Bugs,  the  leading  point  is  cleanliness 
in  every  respect;  for  this  is  their  greatest  annoyance,  and  by  this 
alone  their  increase  is  to  be  checked.  The  first  young-ones  begin  to 
burst  from  the  eggs  early  in  spring,  frequently  even  in  February. 
At  this  season  it  is,  that  the  greatest  attention  is  required.  The  bed 
infested  by  them,  ought  to  be  stripped  of  all  its  furniture,  which 
should  be  washed:  if  linen,  it  should  be  boiled;  and  if  stuff,  it  should 
be  hotpressed.  The  bedstead  should  be  taken  in  pieces,  dusted,  and 
washed  with  spirit  of  wine,  or  corrosive  sublimate,  in  all  the  joints  and 
crevices ;  for  it  is  in  these  parts,  principally,  that  the  females  deposit 
their  eggs.  This  done,  all  the  cavities  should  be  well  filled  with  the 
best  soft  soap,  mixed  up  with  verdigrease  and  Scotch  snuff.  On  this 
composition  the  young  will  immediately  feed  after  leaving  the  egg, 
(if  any  escape  the  cleansing,)  and  will  be  destroyed,  as  will  also  such 
of  the  old  ones  as  happen  to  be  left. 

Bugs  abound  in  the  countries  of  nearly  all  hot  climates,  whence 
most  of  our  merchant- vessels  are  over-run  with  them.  This  accounts 
for  their  extreme  numbers  in  all  the  seaport  cities  and  towns,  being 
conveyed  thither  in  clothes,  packages,  &c.  Hence  appears  the  great 
necessity  of  examining  carefully  every  thing  brought  from  such  ves- 
sels into  the  houses. 

Deal  and  beech  boards  should  be  removed,  as  should  also  every 
thing  that  is  fixed  to  a  bed  by  means  of  paste,  as  these  afford  them 
both  shelter  and  food.  Oak  and  mahogany  are  probably  the  best 
kinds  of  wood  to  use,  as  the  closeness  of  their  texture  allows  the  ani- 
mals but  an  uncomfortable  situation. 

It  is  supposed  that  Bugs  do  not  altogether  lie  torpid  during  the 
winter,  but  that  in  the  cold  weather  they  require  less  nutriment ;  and 
therefore  that  they  are  not  tempted  to  come  so  often  out  of  their 
retreats,  as  they  do  in  the  warmer  seasons  of  the  year. 


OF  THE  APHIDES,  OK  PLANT-LICE. 

THE  minute  animals  which  compose  this  singular  tribe,  live  entirely 
on  vegetables,  and  the  loftiest  tree  is  as  liable  to  their  attacks  as  the 
most  humble  plant.  Their  numbers  are  often  incalculably  great.  They 
prefer  the  young  shoots,  on  account  of  their  tenderness,  and  frequently 
insinuate  themselves  into  the  very  hearts  of  the  plants,  doing  irre- 
parable mischief  even  before  they  are  discovered.  But,  for  the  most 
part,  they  beset  the  foliage,  and  are  always  found  on  the  underside  of 
the  leaf.  This  they  prefer,  not  only  on  account  of  its  being  the  most 
60 


948  THE   APHIS   OF    THE   ROSE-TREE. 

tender  part,  but  because  it  affords  them  protection  from  the  weather, 
and  from  various  injuries  to  which  they  would  otherwise  be  exposed. 
Sometimes,  though  rarely,  the  root  is  the  object  of  their  choice ;  and 
the  roots  of  lettuces  have  been  observed  so  thickly  beset  with  one  of 
the  species,  that  a  whole  crop  has  been  rendered  sickly  and  of  little 
value.  They  are  rarely  to  be  found  on  the  bark  of  trees. 

The  Aphides  afford  another  surprising  deviation  from  the  general 
laws  of  nature  ;  one  impregnation  of  the  female  is  sufficient  for  nine 
generations. 


THE  APHIS  OF  THE   ROSE-TREE. 

This  insect,  which  is  well  known  by  the  name  of  Rose  Louse,  is 
generally  of  a  green  color,  with  the  tip  of  the  antennae  and  horns  black. 
The  tail  is  pointed,  and  without  a  style. 

Towards  the  beginning  of  February,  if  the  weather  be  sufficiently 
warm  to  make  the  buds  of  the  rose-tree  swell  and  appear  green,  this 
species  of  Aphis  will  be  found  on  them  in  considerable  abundance. 
They  are  produced  from  small,  black,  oval  eggs,  which  were  deposited 
in  autumn  on  the  last  year's  shoots.  If,  after  their  appearance,  the 
season  become  cold,  almost  the  whole  of  them  suffer,  and  the  trees, 
for  that  year,  are  in  a  great  measure  freed  from  them. 

Those  that  withstand  the  severity  of  the  weather,  seldom  arrive  at 
their  full  growth  before  April,  when,  after,  twice  casting  their  skins, 
they  begin  to  breed.  It  then  appears  that  they  are  all  females  ;  each 
of  them  produces  a  numerous  progeny,  and  that  without  any  inter- 
course with  a  male  insect. 

If  the  Aphides  had  not  many  enemies,  their  increase  in  summer 
would  sometimes  be  destructively  great. 

After  a  mild  spring,  most  of  the  species  of  Aphis  become  so  numer- 
ous as  to  do  considerable  injury  to  the  plants  on  which  they  are  found. 
The  best  mode  of  remedying  this  evil,  is  to  lop  off  the  infected  shoots 
before  the  insects  are  greatly  multiplied,  repeating  the  same  operation 
before  the  time  that  the  eggs  are  deposited.  By  the  first  pruning,  a 
very  numerous  present  increase  will  be  prevented ;  and  by  the  second", 
the  following  year's  supply  may,  in  a  great  measure,  be  cut  off. 


OF  THE  COCCUS,  OR  COCHINEAL  INSECTS. 


THESE  are  an  extremely  fertile  race,  and  many  of  them  are  very 
troublesome  in  stores  and  green-houses.  The  females  fix  themselves, 
and  adhere  almost  immovably,  to  the  roots,  and  sometimes  to  the 
branches,  of  plants.  Some  of  them,  having  thus  fixed  themselves,  lose 
entirely  the  form  and  appearance  of  insects :  their  bodies  swell,  their 
skin  stretches  and  becomes  smooth,  and  they  so  much  resemble  some 
of  the  galls  or  excrescences,  found  on  plants,  as  by  inexperienced 
persons  to  be  mistaken  for  such.  After  this  change,  the  abdomen 


THE   LAC   COCHINEAL — THE   AMERICAN   COCHINEAL.         949 

serves  only  as  a  kind  of  shell  or  covering,  under  Avhich  the  eggs  are 
concealed.  Others,  though  they  are  likewise  thus  fixed,  preserve  the 
form  of  insects,  till  they  have  laid  their  eggs  and  perish.  A  kind  of 
down  or  cotton  grows  on  their  belly,  which  serves  for  the  formation 
of  the  nest,  in  which  they  deposit  their  eggs. 

The  males  are  very  different  in  their  appearance  from  the  females. 
They  are  furnished  with  wings,  and  are  small  but  active  insects. 

Most  of  the  species  of  Coccus,  which  infect  our  green-houses  and 
conservatories,  have  been  brought  over,  with  exotic  plants,  from  other 
climates. 


THE  LAC   COCHINEAL. 

Around  the  edges  of  their  body  they  are  environed  with  a  sub- 
pellucid  gelatinous  liquid,  which  seems  to  glue  them  to  the  branch. 
The  gradual  accumulation  of  this  liquid  at  length  forms  a  complete 
cell  for  the  insect.  The  insect  is  now,  in  appearance,  an  oval,  smooth, 
red  bag,  without  life,  about  the  size  of  a  small  American  Cochineal 
insect,  emarginated  at.  the  obtuse  end,  and  full  of  a  beautifully  red 
liquid. 

These  insects,  which  in  the  East  Indies  have  the  name  of  Gum  Lac, 
are  principally  found  on  the  trees  of  tjie  uncultivated  mountains  on 
both  sides  of  the  Ganges,  where  nature  has  been  so  bountiful,  that, 
were  the  consumption  many  times  greater  than  it  now  is,  the  markets 
would  be  fully  suppled.  The  only  trouble  is  in  breaking  down  the 
branches  and  carrying  them  to  market. 

Stick  Lac  is  the  natural  state  of  this  production.  When  the  cells 
are  separated  from  the  sticks,  broken  into  small  pieces,  and  appear  in 
a  granulated  form,  they  are  called  Seed  Lac.  This,  liquified  by  fire 
and  formed  into  cakes,  is  Lump  Lac.  When  the  cells  are  liquified, 
strained,  and  formed  into  thin,  transparent  laminae,  the  substance  has 
the  name  of  Shell,  Lac. 

Of  Shell  Lac  the  natives  of  Eastern  countries  make  ornamental 
rings,  to  decorate  the  arms  of  females.  They  also  form  it  into  beads, 
necklaces,  and  other  female  ornaments.  This  substance  was  formerly 
used  in  medicine,  but  it  is  now  confined  principally  to  the  making  of 
sealing-wax,  and  to  japanning,  painting,  and  dyeing 


THE   AMERICAN  .  COCHINEAL, 

This  Cochineal,  so  useful  to  painters  and  dyers,  is  a  native  of  South 
America,  where  it  is  found  on  several  species  of  Cactus,  particularly 
the  Cactus  Opuntia  or  Prickly  Pear-tree.  In  Jamaica  these  insects  are 
also  now  tolerably  common,  but  they  are  generally  understood  to*  have 
been  introduced  from  America.  The  heavy  rains,  however,  to  which 
the  West  India  islands  are  subject,  often  render  the  industry  of  the 
natives  in  breeding  and  rearing  them  entirely  fruitless. 


LEPIDOPTEROUS  INSECTS. 


THE  present  order  contains  only  three  tribes;  the  Butterflies, 
Sphinges  and  Moths.  These  are  all  produced  from  caterpillars,  by  a 
change  that  is  common  to  all  the  insect  species.  The  caterpillars  pro- 
ceed from  eggs ;  and  the  eggs  of  Butterflies  are  sometimes  so  numerous, 
that,  in  the  spring  of  the  year,  the  leaves  and  tenderest  stems  of  plants 
are  nearly  covered  with  them. 

Caterpillars  are,  in  general,  extremely  voracious.  Some  of  them 
eat  more  than  double  their  own  weight  in  a  day^  and  this  without 
suffering  any  inconvenience;  for  the  digestive  powers  of  all  animals 
are  proportioned  not  so  much  to  their  size,  as  to  the  duration  of  their 
lives. 

They  often  change  their  skin  without  much  altering  their  shape, 
till  at  last  they  assume  a  shape  very  different  from  that  which  they 
before  possessed.  They  have  now  the  name  of  Aurelia  or  Chrysalis  ; 
and  in  this  state  all  the  parts  of  their  future  form  are  visible,  but 
under  a  thick  shell:  and  these  are  so  very  soft  and  delicate,  that  the 
least  touch  discomposes  them. 

The  production  and  manners  of  these  animals,  afford  subject  both 
of  amusement  and  instruction. 

About  the  middle  of  summer  a  butterfly  deposits  from  three  to  four 
hundred  eggs  on  the  leaf  of  a  tree ;  from  each  of  these,  in  a  few  days, 
a  young  caterpillar  proceeds.  The  eggs  of  one  of  the  species  are  no 
sooner  hatched,  than  the  young-ones  begin  to  form  a  common  habita- 
tion. They  spin  silken  threads,  which  they  attach  to  one  edge  of  the 
leaf  and  extend  to  the  other.  By  this  operation  they  make  the  two 
edges  of  the  leaf  approach  each  other,  and  form  a  cavity  resembling  a 
hammock.  In  a  short  time  the  concave  leaf  is  completely  roofed  with 
a  covering  of  silk.  Under  this  teot  the  animals  live  together. 
'  About  the  beginning  of  October,  or  when  the  frost  commences,  the 
whole  community  shut  themselves  up  in  the  nest.  During  the  winter 
they  remain  immovable,  and  seemingly  dead;  but,  when  exposed  to 
heat,  they  soon  discover  symptoms  of  life,  and  begin  to  creep.  They 
seldom  go  out  of  the  nest  till  the  middle  or  end  of  April.  "When  they 
shut  themselves  up  for  the  winter,  they  are  very  small;  but,  after  they 
have  fed  for  some  days  in  spring,  upon  the  young  and  tender  leaves, 
they  find  the  nest  itself,  and  all  the  entrances  to  it,  too  small  for  the 
increased  size  of  their  bodies.  To  remedy  this  inconvenience,  these 
creatures  know  how  to  enlarge  both  the  nest  and  its  passages,  by 
additional  operations  accommodated  to  their  present  state.  Into  these 
new  lodgings  they  retire,  in  order  to  screen  themselves  from  the 
injuries  of  the  weather,  or  to  cast  their  skins.  In  fine,  after  having 
cast  their  skins  several  times,  the  Deriod  of  their  dispersion  arrives. 
(950) 


THE   LARGE   WHITE   BUTTERFLY.  951 

From  the  beginning  to  nearly  the  end  of  June,  they  lead  a  solitary 
life.  Their  social  disposition  is  no  longer  felt.  Each  of  them,  spins 
a  pod  of  coarse  brownish  silk.  In  a  few  days  they  are  changed  into 
chrysalids,  and  in  eighteen  or  twenty  days  more  they  are  transformed 
into  butterflies. 


OF  THE  BUTTEKFLIES  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  antennae  of  these  insects  are  thicker  towards  the  tip  than  in 
any  other  part,  and  generally 
end  in  a  knob.  The  wings, 
when  at  rest,  are  erect,  the 
upper  edges  meeting  together 
over  the  body.  They  are 
all  diurnal  animals. 

These  elegant  insects  feed 
on  the  nectar  of  flowers,  and 
on  the  moisture  which  exudes 
from  plants  and  trees,  which 
they  extract  by  means  of 
their  long  proboscis  or  ton- 
gue. Their  caterpillars  are 
sometimes  smooth,  and  some- 
times thickly  covered  with 
hair;  and  their  chrysalids 
are  naked,  and  attached, 
apparently  in  a  lifeless  state, 
to  trees,  or  other  substances,  by  filaments  proceeding  either  from  the 
tip  or  the  midle  of  their  bodies. 


THE   LARGE  WHITE   BUTTERFLY. 

This  is  a  common  species,  and,  in  its  caterpillar  state,  is  often  very 
destructive  to  our  cabbage  and  cauliflower 
plants.  The  caterpillars  seem  almost  con- 
fined to  these  vegetables,  on  which  they 
are  generally  to  be  found  in  great  numbers 
from  June  to  October.  The  Butterflies  first 
appear  on  wing  in  the  middle  of  May,  and, 
about  the  end  of  the  same  month,  they  lay 
their  eggs  in  clusters  on  the  under  sides  of 
cabbage-leaves.  In  a  few  days  the  caterpil- 
lars come  forth,  and  continue  to  feed  together  till  the  end  of  June,  wnen 
they  are  at  their  full  growth.  They  then  traverse  about  in  search  of 
some  convenient  place  to  fix  themselves,  where,  after  their  change, 
the  chrysalids  may  be  sheltered.  When  such  are  found,  they  each 
fasten  their  tail  by  a  web,  and  carry  a  strong  thread  of  the  same  round 


THE  CHRYSALIDS   OF   BUTTERFLIES. 


THE   LARGE   WHITE   BUTTERFLY. 


952  THE   PURPLE   EMPEROR — PEACOCK   BUTTERFLY. 

their  body  near  the  head  ;  and  thus  firmly  secured,  they  hang  a  few 
hours,  when  the  chrysalis  becomes  perfectly  formed,  and  divested  of 
the  caterpillar's  skin.  In  fourteen  days  after  this,  the  Butterfly  is 
produced.  The  caterpillars  of  this  latter  brood  attain  their  growth, 
and  change  to  chrysalids  in  September,  in  which  state  they  remain 
through  the  winter,  till  the  beginning  of  the  following  May.  During 
this  time  we  often  see  them  hanging  under  the  copings,  of  garden 
walls,  under  pales,  and  in  other  places,  where  they  can  have  tolerable 
shelter  from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather. 

The  most  effectual  way  of  clearing  cabbage  and  cauliflower  plants 
of  caterpillers,  is  to  send  children  into  the  gardens,  to  pick  them  off' 
and  destroy  them.  This  may  seem  a  troublesome  and  expensive 
mode ;  but  it  has  been  found  to  answer,  even  to  the  extent  of  clearing 
many  acres  of  field  cabbages. 

THE   PURPLE   EMPEROR. 

The  wings  are  indented  and  of  a  rich  brown  color,  with  a  blue 
gloss,  and  have  a  whitish  interrupted  band  on  each  side.  On  the 
upper  part  of  the  under  wing  there  is  an  eye-like  spot. 

This  is  the  most  beautiful  and  most  interesting  of  all  the  British 
butterflies.  In  its  manners,  as  well  as  in  the  varying  lustre  of  its 
purple  plumes,  it  possesses  the  strongest  claim  to  our  attention. 

It  makes  its  appearance  about  the  month  of  July,  fixes  its  residence 
upon  the»summit  of  some  lofty  oak,  from  the  utmost  sprigs  of  which, 
in  sunny  days,  it  performs  its  aerial  excursions.  "In  these,"  continues 
this  writer,  "  he  ascends  to  a  much  greater  elevation  than  any  insect 
I  have  ever  seen;  sometimes  mounting  even  higher  than  the  eye  can 
follow,  especially  if  he  happen  to  quarrel  with  another  Emperor,  the 
monarch  of  some  neighboring  oak.  These  insects  never  meet  without 
a  battle,  flying  upward  all  the  while,  and  combating  furiously  with 
each  other:  after  which  they  frequently  return  to  the  identical  sprigs 
from  which  they  each  ascended. 

The  caterpillar  is  green,  with  oblique  white  lines.  It  is  rough  on 
the  upper  part  of  the  body ;  and  on  the  head  th8re  are  two  spines.  It 
feeds  on  the  oak.  The  chrysalis  is  green,  has  two  horns,  and  is  some- 
what compressed. 

THE   PEACOCK   BUTTERFLY. 

The  caterpillars  of  this  butterfly  are  produced  from  eggs,  which 
have  been  deposited  in  the  spring  of  the  year 
on  the  nettle.  They  live  in  society,  and  are 
to  be  found,  throughout  the  early  part  of  the 
summer,  feeding  on  this  plant.  They  are 
black,  and  their  bodies  are  covered  with 
spines,  and  marked  with  numerous  small 
white  specks. 
»HE  PEACOCK  BUTTWFLT.  Shortly  after  the  little  animals  first  see  the 


THE  MAK8H  FRITILLARY. 


THE  MARSH   FRITILLARY.  053 

light,  they  begin  to  spin  for  themselves  a  large  and  commodious  web, 
into  which  they  flee  for  shelter  during  rainy  weather,  and  in  the 
night ;  and  under  the  protection  of  which  they  change  their  skins. 

When  they  have  attained  their  full  growth,  they  seek  out  some 
proper  place  where  they  can  safely  take  their  chrysalid  form.  In 
doing  this  they  suspend  themselves  vertically,  with  the  head  down- 
ward ;  and  the  chrysalis,  thus  suspended,  continues  for  about  twenty 
days,  about  the  end  of  which  time  the  insect  becomes  perfected, 
breaks  out  from  its  shell  and  flies  away. 


THE   MAESH  FRITILLARY. 

The  Marsh  Fritillary  is  a  small  butterfly,  not  measuring  more  than 
an  inch  and  a  half  across  the  broadest  part 
of  its  expanded  wings.  Its  color  is  a  brown- ' 
ish  orange,  variegated  with  yellow  and 
black,  in  a  small  pattern.  The  under  sides 
of  the  wings  are  lighter,  and  chiefly  orange 
and  yellow. 

The  caterpillars  of  this  insect  are  to 
be  seen,  in  some  particular  situations,  in 
September,  in  great  abundance.  As  they 
increase  in  size,  they  go  abroad  in  search 
of  food ;  but  their  local  attachment  is  very  remarkable,  for  neither  the 
caterpillar,  nor  even  the  butterfly  will  stray  far  from  the  place  where 
it  was  bred.  Numbers  of  the  latter  may  sometimes  be  observed  on 
wing,  in  a  small  spot  of  swampy  or  marsh  land,  when  not  one  of  them 
is  to  be  met  with  in  any  of  the  adjacent  places.  As  they  fly  very  low, 
and  frequently  settle,  the  naturalist  has  no  difficulty  in  catching  them. 
The  caterpillars  are  generally  at  their  full  growth  about  the  last  week 
in  April.  They  now  suspend  themselves  by  the  tail  to  change  into 
chrysalids,  and  in  this  state  they  remain  about  fourteen  days.  Their 
mode  of  suspension  is  a  singular  instance  of  the  extraordinary  power 
of  instinct.  They  first  draw  two  or  three  small  -blades  of  grass  across 
towards  their  top,  and  fasten  them  together  by  means  of  their  silk ; 
then  hang  themselves  beneath  the  centre  of  these,  each  having  his 
own  little  canopy.  By  this  means  they  are  not  only  hidden  from  the 
sight  of  birds,  but  in  a  great  measure  defended  from  the  injury,  which 
they  might  otherwise  sustain  from  windy  and  boisterous  weather. 


OF  THE  SPHINGES,  OK  HAWKMOTHS. 

THE  bodies  of  these  insects  are  usually  thick  and  heavy,  and  their 
wings  long  and  admirably  calculated  for  rapid  flight.  Some  of  then> 
are  among  the  largest  of  the  Lepidopterous  Insects.  They  fly  for  the 
most  part,  early  in  the  morning,  and  late  in  the  evening.  They  hover 


954 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  HATFKMOTH 


over  flowers,  and,  without  settling  upon  them,  suck  out  the  nectarious 
juices  by  means  of  their  long  and  spiral  tongue. 

Their  caterpillars  are  large,  smcfoth,  and  without  hairs,  and  fur- 
nished with  a  single  erect  horn  near  their  posterior  extremity.  The 
greater  number  of  the  species  change  into  chrysalids  under  the  surface 
of  the  ground. 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  HAWKMOTH. 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  HAWKMOTH. 

The  name  of  this  moth  has  been  obtained  from  its  having  upon  the 

thorax  somewhat  the  appearance 
of  a  human  skull.  It  is  the 
largest  of  all  the  British  species, 
the  wings  of  the  females  measur- 
ing sometimes  more  than  five 
inches  in  extent. 

When  taken  into  the  hand, 
this  moth  makes  a  singular  kind 
of  noise,  by  striking  its  palpi 
against  the  tongue.  This,  by 
some  persons  has  been  compared  to  the  plaintive  squeaking  of  a 
mouse. 

Several  persons  have  attempted  to  feed  the  caterpillars,  for  the 

purpose  of  obtaining  speci- 
mens of  the  insect  in  its 
perfect  state.  But  although 
they  have  diligently  attended 
to  them,  and  the  insects  have 
completed  their  transforma- 
tion into  chrysalids,  I  have 
not  yet  heard  of  any  one,  who 
was  able  to  rear  them  up  to 
the  winged  state.  I  have 
myself  made  numerous  at- 


THE  DEATH'S  HEAD  MOTH. 


tempts,  but  have  invariably  failed. 


OF  THE  MOTHS  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  Moths  are  only  to  be  seen  flying  abroad  in  the  evening  and 
during  the  night,  which  are  their  times  of  feeding.  The  larvae  or 
caterpillars  are  in  general  smooth,  and  more  or  less  cylindrical :  they 
are  active  creatures,  and  prey  with  great  voracity  •  on  the  leaves  of 
plants.  Their  chrysalids  are  either  concealed  in  the  ground,  or  pro- 
tected from  the  inclemency  of  the  weather  by  a  silky  covering,  spun 
by  the  larvae  around  their  bodies.  In  this  state  they  are  either  simple, 
or  have  a  kind  of  hook  at  their  extremity. 


THE   SILKWORM. 


9-5-5 


THE   SILKWORM,   EGGS  AND  SILK. 


THE   SILKWORM. 

The  Silkworm  is  found,  in  a  native  state,  on  mulberry -trees,  in 
China  and  some  other  eastern 
countries,  whence  in  the  reign 
of  the  emperor  Justinian,  it 
was  originally  introduced  into 
Europe.  It  is,  however,  at  this 
time  become,  in  a  commercial 
.view,  one  of  the  most  valuable 
of  all  insects;  affording  those 
delicate  and  beautiful  threads, 
that  are  afterwards  woven  into 
silk  and  manufactured  into  gar- 
ments in  almost  all  parts  of  the 
world. 

In  the  warmer  climates  of 
the  east,  the  Silkworms  are 
left  at  liberty  upon  the  trees; 
where  they  are  hatched,  and  on  which  they  form  their  cocoons:  but 
in  cooler  countries,  where  these  animals  have  been  introduced,  they 
are  kept  in  a  room  with  a  south  aspect,  built  for  the  purpose,  and  are 
fed  every  day  with  fresh  leaves. 

The  eggs  are  of  a  straw-color,  and  each  about  the  size  of  a  pin's 
heai  At  its  birth  the  larva  or  worm  is  entirely  black,  and  about  as 
long  as  a  small  ant ;  and  it  retains  this  color  eight  or  nine  days.  The 
worms  are  put  on  wicker  shelves,  covered  first  with  paper,  and  on  this 
with  a  bed  of  the  most  tender  of  the  mulberry-leaves.  Several  ranges 
are  placed  in  the  same  chamber,  one  above  another,  about  a  foot  and  a 
half  apart.  The  scaffolding  for  these  ranges  should,  however,  be  in 
the  middle  of  the  room,  and  the  shelves  not  too  deep.  The  worm  con- 
tinues feeding  during  eight  days  after  its  birth,  when  it  becomes  about 
the  fourth  of  an  inch  in  length :  it  then  experiences  a  kind  of  lethargic 
sleep  for  three  days,  during  which  it  casts  its  skin.  It  now  feeds  for 
about  five  days,  and  is  considerably  increased  in  size,  when  a  second 
sickness  comes  on.  In  the  next  ten  days  it  experiences  two  other 
attacks ;  by  which  time  it  has  attained  its  full  growth,  and  is  some- 
what more  than  an  inch  in  length,  and  two  lines  in  thickness.  It  then 
feeds  during  five  days,  with  a  most  voracious  appetite ;  after  which  it 
refuses  food,  becomes  transparent,  with  a  tinge  of  yellow,  and  leaves 
its  silky  traces  on  the  leaves  that  it  passes  over.  These  signs  denote 
that  it  is  ready  to  begin  the  cocoon,  in  which  it  is  to  undergo  its  change 
into  a  chrysalis.  The  animals  are  then  furnished  with  little  bushes 
of  heath  or  broom,  stuck  upright  between  the  shelves ;  they  climb  up 
the  twigs,  where,  after  a  little  while,  they  begin  the  foundation  of 
their  lodge,  and  are  five  days  in  spinning  the  cocoon.  They  generally 
remain  in  this  state  about  forty-seven  days. 


THE   SILKWORM 


The  exterior  of  the  cocoon  is  composed  of  a  kind  of  rough  cotton- 

like  substance,  called  floss  ; 
within  this  the  thread  is  more 
distinct  and  even  ;  and  next  to 
the  body  of  the  aurelia,  the 
apartment  seems  lined  with  a 
substance  of  the  hardness  of 
paper,  but  of  a  much  stronger 
consistence.  The  thread,  which 
composes  the  cocoon,  is  not 
rolled  regularly  round,  but  lies 
upon  it  in  a  very  irregular 
manner,  and  winds  off  first 
from  one  side,  and  then  from 
the  other. 

In  the  course  of  six  or  seven 
days,  all  the  cocoons  are  gen- 
erally formed  :  they  are  then  taken  from  places  where  they  had  been 
deposited,  and  divided  into  classes.  The  best  are  strong,  and  of  a 
pure,  unspotted  color.  Some  are  white,  and  others  yellow.  The  good 

ones  are  firm  and  sound, 
of  a  fine  grain,  and  have 
both  ends  round  and 
strong.  Those  of  a  bright 
yellow  yield  more  silk 
than  the  others. 

But  the  pale  ones  are 
preferred,  because  they 
take  certain  colors  better. 
and  because,  since  they 
contain  less  gum  than  the 
others,  they  lose  less  than 
those  in  boiling. 

Five  or  six  days  after 
the  cocoon  has  been  de- 
tached, the  birth  of  the 
moth  is  prevented,  as  the 
insect  would  otherwise 
pierce  the  shell,  and 
thereby  render  the  co- 
coon useless.  To  prevent 
this,  the  cocoons  are  put 
into  long,  shallow  bas 

-KCtS,        COVCrCd        Up,        aUCl 

baked  for  about  an  hour, 
in  a  heat  equal  to  that  of  an  oven  from  which  the  bread  is  just  drawn. 

After  the  baking,  they  are  disposed  in  a  proper  manner  on  osier 
shelves,  distributed  into  stories,  two  or  three  feet  distant  from  each 
other. 

The  whole  thread,  if  measured,  will  be  found  about  three  hundred 


a.   ft  b.  BUTTERFLIES.     C.  THE  EGOS.     d.  THE  PUPA.     6.   SILKWORM. 


SILKWORM  OX   A   MULBERRY  LEAF. 


THE    CLOTHES   MOTH.  957 

yards  long ;  and  it  is  so  fine,  that  eight  or  ten  threads  are  generally 
rolled  off  into  one.  For  this  purpose  the  cocoons  are  put  into  small 
coppers  or  basins  of  water,  each  over 
a  small  fire.  The  ends  of  the  threads 
are  found  by  brushing  them  over 
gently  with  a  whisk  made  for  the  pur- 
pose ;  and  in  the  winding  they  are 
each  passed  through  a  hole,  in  an 
horizontal  bar  of  iron  placed  at  the 
edge  of  the  basin,  which  prevents  them 
from  becoming  entangled. 

A  fortnight  or  three  weeks  generally 
elapse  before  the  insect  within  the 
cocoon  is  changed  into  a  moth;'  but 
no  sooner  is  it  completely  formed,  than,  having  divested  itself  of  its 
aurelia  skin,  it  prepares  to  burst  through  its  prison.  For  this  purpose 
it  extends  its  head  towards  the  point  of  the  cocoon,  and  gnaws  a 
passage  through  its  cell,  small. at  first,  but  enlarging  as  the  animal 
increases  its  efforts  for  emancipation.  The  tattered  remnants  of  its 
aurelia  skin  are  left  in  confusion  within  the  cocoon,  like  a  little 
bundle,  of  dirty  linen. 

The  animal  thus  set  free,  appears  exhausted  with  fatigue,  and  seems 
produced  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  transmit  a  future  brood.  The 
male  dies  immediately  after  its  conjunction  with  the  female ;  and  she 
only  survives  him,  till  she  has  laid  her  eggs,  which  are  to  be  hatched 
into  worms  in  the  ensuing  spring. 

In  many  parts  of  Italy,  the  inhabitants  contrive  to  have  two  silk- 
harvests  in  the  year.  They  keep  the  eggs  in  very  cool  places ;  and, 
when  the  mulberry-trees  (after  having  been  stripped  entirely  of  their 
leaves  for  former  worms)  begin  to  bud  a  second  time,  they  expose  the 
eggs  to  be  hatched. 

During  the  whole  time  in  which  the  animals  continue  in  a  worm 
state,  the  utmost  care  and  attention  are  requisite,  as  they  are  ex- 
tremely susceptible  of  cold,  dampness,  and  unpleasant  smells. 


THE   CLOTHES   MOTIT. 

The  larva  of  this  little  Moth  is  well  known  from  the  damage  it 
commits  in  woolen  cloth  and  furs.  These  substances  constitute  the 
principal  support  of  the  caterpillar,  and  therefore  the  parent  is,  by  its 
natural  instinct,  directed  to  deposit  its  eggs  in  them.  The  caterpillar, 
as  soon  as  it  quits  the  egg,  begins  to  form  for  itself  a  nest :  for  this 
purpose,  after  having  spun  a  fine  coating  of  silk  immediately  around 
its  body,  it  cuts  the  filaments,  of  the  wool  or  fur,  close  to  the  thread 
of  the  cloth,  or  to  the  skin.  This  operation  is  performed  by  its  jaws, 
which  act  in  the  manner  of  scissors.  The  pieces  are  cut  into  conve- 
nient lengths,  and  applied,  with  great  dexterity,  one  by  one,  to  the 
outside  of  its  case ;  and  to  this  it  fastens  them  by  means  of  its  silk. 
Its  covering  being  thus  formed^-the  little  caterpillar  never  quits  it  but 


958  THE   MAY   FLY. 

in  the  most  urgent  necessity.  When  it  wants  to  feed,  it  puts  out  its 
head  at  either  end  of  its  case,  as  bests  suits  its  convenience.  When  it 
wishes  to  change  its  place,  it  puts  out  its  head,  and  its  six  fore-legs,  by 
means  of  which  it  moves  forward,  taking  care  first  to  fix  its  hind  legs 
into  the  inside  of  the  case,  so  as  to  drag  it  along. 

It  lives  in  this  manner,  until  by  the  augmentation  of  its  size,  its  case 
becomes  too  small  for  the  body.  When  this  is  felt,  it  begins  by 
making  a  small  addition  to  one  end ;  then,  turning  itself  within  the 
case,  which,  in  the  middle,  is  always  wide  enough  for  that  purpose,  it 
makes  a  little  addition  to  the  other  end,  so  as  still  to  preserve  the 
widest  part  exactly  in  the  middle  ;  and  in  a  similar  manner  it  makes 
every  successive  addition. 

The  progress  of  its  operations  may  be  easily  remarked,  by  trans- 
ferring it  from  cloth  of  one  color  to  that  of  another.  In  this  case 
every  fresh  addition  will  become  conspicuous,  by  forming  a  small  ring 
of  their  respective  colors  at  each  end,  as  they  are  used. 

When  the  case  wants  widening,  the  insect,  with  its  scissor-like  teeth, 
begins  by  making  a  slit  lengthways,  from  the  centre  to  one  of  the 
extremities.  This  opening  it  instantly  fills  up  with  a  thin  stripe  of 
wool  externally,  and  silk  internally,  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the 
other  parts.  It  afterwards,  at  a  little  distance  from  this,  makes  another 
slit  at  the  same  end,  which  it  also  fills  up ;  then  turning  itself  within, 
it  repeats  the  same  process  from  the  centre  to  the  other  end. 

After  having  changed  within  its  case  into  a  chrysalis,  it  issues,  in 
about  three  weeks,  a  small  winged  nocturnal  Moth,  of  silvery -gray 
color,  well  known  to  almost  every  mistress  of  a  family. 

It  may  be  useful  to  point  out  the  best  modes  of  preventing  the 
havoc,  which  these  insects  commit  in  our  wardrobes  and  furniture. 
The  smell  of  oil  of  turpentine  is  instantaneous  death  to  them ;  if, 
therefore,  the  goods  affected  by  them  be  put  into  a  close  place,  along 
with  a  saucer  or  other  open  vessel  containing  oil  of  turpentine,  the 
warm  air  raising  the  vapor  will  immediately  destroy  them.  Sometimes, 
if  the  caterpillars  be  old  and  strong,  it  may  be  necessary  to  brush  the 
clothes  with  a  brush,  the  points  of  which  have  been  dipped  in  the 
turpentine.  The  smoke  of  tobacco  also  kills  them ;  and  cloth  that 
has  been  steeped  in  a  decoction  of  tobacco-leaves,  will  never  afterwards 
be  affected  by  them. 


THE   MAY   FLY. 

The  May  Fly  is  the  largest  of  the  British  species.  In  the  month 
of  June  it  assembles  in  myriads  under  trees  near  waters,  and  dances 
away  the  few  hours  allotted  to  it,  ascending  and  descending  in  the  air, 
forming  mazy  circles,  and  giving  life  and  animation  to  the  loveliness 
of  a  balmy  summer  evening.  Their  larvae  are  the  favorite  food  of  the 
fresh-water  fishes,  as  are  also  the  flies  themselves.  They  are  more 
numerous  in  running  streams  than  in  standing  waters. 


NEUROPTEROUS  INSECTS. 


THE  insects  of  the  Linnean  order  Neuroptera  have  four  membrana- 
ceous,  transparent,  naked  wings,  in  which  the  membranes  cross  each 
other  so  as  to  appear  like  net-work.  The  tail  has  no  sting,  but,  in 
the  males  of  many  individuals,  is  furnished  with  appendices  like 
pincers. 


OF  THE  LIBELLULJ3,  OR  DRAGOJST-FLIES. 

The  mouth  of  the  Dragon-fly  is  armed  with  jaws,  generally  more 
than  two  in  number.  The  antennae  are  very  thin,  of  equal  thickness 
throughout,  and  shorter  than  the  thorax.  The  wings  are  expanded, 
and  the  tail  of  the  male  insect  is  furnished  with  a  forked  process. 

Few  of  the  insect  tribes  are  more  beautiful  than  these.  Their  colors 
are  various  and  brilliant :  we  observe  in  them  green,  blue,  crimson, 
scarlet,  and  white ;  and  even  in  some  individuals,  most,  if  not  all,  of 
these  colors  are  blended.  In  addition  to  the  beauty  of  their  colors, 
the  brilliancy  of  their  eyes,  and  the  delicate  texture  and  wide  expan- 
sion of  their  wings,  are  highly  deserving  of  notice  and  admiration. 

The  parent  insects  deposit  their  eggs  on  the  surface  of  the  water. 
Thence  they  sink  to  the  bottom,  where,  in  due  time,  they  are  hatched. 
The  larvae,  which  proceed  from  these  eggs,  are  active  inhabitants  of 
the  water ;  and,  furnished  with  forcipated  jaws,  they  prey  with  the 
most  rapacious  ferocity  on  aquatic  insects.  The  chrysalis  resembles 
the  larvae  in  every  respect,  except  in  having  the  rudiments  of  wings. 

In  both  these  primary  states  the  insects  respire  water,  by  receiving 
and  ejecting  it  at  an  aperture  at  the  termination  of  their  bodies.  They 
are  occasionally  observed  to  throw  water  with  such  force,  that  the 
stream  is  perceptible  to  the  distance  of  two  or  three  inches  from  their 
bodies.  But  though  the  insect  thus  respires  the  water,  air  seems  to 
be  not  the  less  necessary  to  its  existence :  for,  like  other  insects,  the 
whole  interior  part  of  its  body  is  amply  furnished  with  large  and 
convuluted  breathing-pipes;  and,  externally,  there  are  several  small 
openings  destined  for  the  introduction  of  air. 


OF  THE  EPHEMERA,  OR  DAY-FLIES. 

THE  mouth  of  the  Ephemera  has  no  jaws,  but  is  furnished  with  four 
verv  short  thread-shaped  feelers.     The  antennae  are  short  and  thread- 

(959) 


960  THE   CADEW   FLIES. 

shaped ;  and  above  the  eyes  there  are  two  or  three  large  stemmata. 
The  wings  are  erect,  (the  lower  ones  much  the  shortest,)  and  the  tail 
is  terminated  by  long  hairs  or  bristles. 

The  Ephemeras  differ  in  many  respects  from  all  other  insects.  Their 
larvce  live  in  water  for  three  years,  the  time  they  consume  in  preparing 
for  their  change,  which  is  performed  in  a  few  moments.  The  larva, 
when  ready  to  quit  that  state,  rises  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and, 
instantaneously  freeing  itself  from  its  skin,  becomes  a  chrysalis.  This 
chrysalis  is  furnished  with  wings :  it  flies  to  the  nearest  tree  or  wall, 
and,  there  settling,  it  at  the  same  moment  quits  a  second  skin,  and 
becomes  a  perfect  Ephemera.  In  this  state  all  the  species  live  but  a 
very  short  time,  some  of  them  scarcely  half  an  hour ;  having  no  other 
business  to  perform  than  that  of  continuing  the  race.  They  are 
called  the  insects  of  a  day  ;  but  few  of  them  ever  see  the  light  of  the 
sun ;  being  produced  after  sunset,  during  the  short  nights  of  summer, 
and  dying  long  before  the  dawn.  All  their  enjoyments,  therefore, 
seem  confined  entirely  to  their  larva  state. 

The  Ephemera  are  very  frequent  near  waters,  and  in  some  places 
they  multiply  enormously.  About  Laz,  in  Carniola,  a  province  in 
Germany,  we  are  informed  by  Scopoli,  that  they  are  so  numerous  in 
the  month  of  June,  that  they  are  used  as  manure ;  and  if  each  farmer 
cannot  obtain  more  than  twenty  cart-loads,  the  harvest  is  considered  a 
bad  one. 

The  larvae  scoop  out  dwellings  in  the  banks  of  rivers.  These 
consist  of  small  tubes,  made  like  syphons,  with  two  holes,  the  one 
serving  for  an  entrance,  and  the  other  as  an  outlet ;  and  these  are  so 
numerous,  that  the  banks  of  some  rivers  are  observed  to  be  full  of 
them.  When  the  waters  decrease,  they  dig  fresh  holes  lower  down. 
The  flies  are  produced  nearly  all  at  the  same  instant,  and  in  such 
numbers,  as  even  to  darken  the  air. 

The  females,  aided  by  the  threads  of  their  tails,  and  the  flapping  of 
their  wings,  support  themselves  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and,  in 
an  almost  upright  position,  drop  their  eggs  in  little  clusters  into  the 
water.  A  single  insect  will  sometimes  lay  seven  or  eight  hundred 
eggs. 

OF  THE  PHRYGANE^E,  OR  CADEW  FLIES. 

THE  mouth  is  furnished  with  a  horny,  short,  curved  mandible,  and 
four  feelers.  The  antennas  are  setaceous,  and  longer  than  the  thorax. 
The  wings  are  equal,  and  incumbent ;  and  the  lower  ones  are  folded. 

The  Phryganeae  are  to  be  observed,  during  the  spring  and  summer 
months,  flying  about,  or  resting  upon  the  grass  and  ^eeds  near  the 
borders  of  rivers,  streams,  and  ponds.  They  deposit  their  eggs  on 
aquatic  plants.  These  are  enclosed  in  a  glairy  matter,  as  transparent 
as  water,  and  of  the  consistence  of  jelly,  by  means  of  which  they 
firmly  adhere  to  the  place  where  they  have  been  deposited. 

The  larvas,  when  hatched,  form  for  themselves  tubes  of  silk,  the 
interior  of  which  is  smooth  and  polished,  and  to  the  exterior  of  which 


THE   AMAZON-ANT.  961 

they  attach  fragments  of  different  substances ;  thus  constituting  a 
strong  defence  against  the  attempts  of  their  enemies.  Some  of  the 
species  employ,  for  this  purpose,  bits  of  leaves,  straw,  grass,  or  rushes ; 
others  adopt  the  shells  of  small  aquatic  snails  ;  others,  grains  of  sand  ; 
and  others  employ  several  different  kinds  mixed  together.  They 
contrive  to  make  their  habitations  nearly  in  equilibrium  with  the  water, 
by  adding  a  bit  of  wood  when  too  heavy,  and  some  heavier  substance 
when  too  light. 


OF  THE  MYRMELEON,  OK  ANT-EATER  TRIBE. 

THE  antenna  of  these  insects  are  about  the  length  of  the  thorax,  and 
thickest  at  the  tip.  The  mouth  is  armed  with  jaws,  teeth,  and  six 
feelers.  The  wings  are  deflected ;  and  the  abdomen  of  the  male 
terminates  in  a  forceps  composed  of  two  straight  filaments. 

The  Myrmeleons  constitute  a  tribe  of  insects,  which,  from  their 
extremely  singular  habits,  whilst  in  a  larva  state,  are  highly  inter- 
esting. 

The  larvce,  are  hairy,  with  six  feet ;  and  have  strong,  exserted,  and 
toothed  jaws.  They  prey  with  savage  ferocity  on  ants,  and  some  of 
the  smaller  insects ;  and,  for  the  purpose  of  ensnaring  their  prey,  they 
form  a  kind  of  funnel  or  pit  in  light  earth,  at  the  bottom  of  which 
they  lie  buried.  ' 

The  chrysalis  is  enclosed  in  a  little  ball  of  sand  or  earth,  the  particles 
of  which  are  agglutinated  together  by  a  viscid  matter,  which  the  larva 
mixes  with  it  previously  to  its  change. 


THE   AMAZON-ANT. 

The  Amazon-ant,  however,  deviates  from  others  in  this  respect : — 
their  neuters  procure  auxiliaries  by  open  violence,  of  their  own  caste 
but  of  different  species.  When  the-  heat  of  the  day  begins  to  lessen, 
and  exactly  at  the  same  hour  for  several  days,  they  quit  their  nest, 
and  advance  in  a  solid  column,  more  or  less  numerous  according  to 
their  population,  upon  the  ant-hill  they  mean  to  attack.  Into  it  they 
soon  penetrate,  notwithstanding  the  opposition  of  the  inhabitants, 
seize  the  larvas  and  nymphs  of  the  neuters  peculiar  to  the  invaded 
community,  and  transport  them  in  the  same  warlike  order  to  their 
own  garrison,  where  they  are  attended  to  by  other  neuters  of  their 
own  species,  who  have  been  either  metamorphosed  there,  or  brought 
as  captives  from  their  original  dwelling.  These  constitute  what  are 
called  mixed  ant-hills. 

Our  northern  species  differ  from  those  of  the  torrid  zone,  in  re- 
maining torpid  during  winter,  so  that  they  require  no  sustenance,  and 
accordingly  lay  up  no  store;  but  the  others,  which  continue  active, 
make  provision  for  the  evil  day.  Their  food  consists  of  fruit,  insects 
or  their  larvas,  dead  bodies  of  small  quadrupeds  or  birds,  and  sweets 
of  every  description  within  their  reach. 


IIYMENOPTEROUS  INSECTS. 


OF  THE  CYNIPS,  OR  GALL-INSECT  TRIBE. 

THE  insects  of  the  Linnean  order  Hymenoptera  have  generally  four 
membranaceous,  naked  wings.  In  some  of  the  tribes  the  neuters,  and 
in  others,  the  males  or  females,  are  destitute  of  wings.  The  tail,  in  the 
females  and  neuters,  is  armed  with  a  sting. 

The  mouth  is  furnished  with  a  short,  single-toothed,  membranaceous 
jaw.  The  mandibles  are  horny  and  cleft,  and  the  lip  is  entire.  The 
feelers  are  four  in  number.  The  sting  is  spiral,  and  often  concealed 
within  the  body. 

Most  of  the  Gall-insects  are  produced  from  eggs  deposited  by  the 
parents  in  the  tender  branches,  or  upon  the  leaves  of  trees  in  the 
spring  of  the  year ;  others  live  concealed  among  the  leaves,  and  others 
are  bred  in  the  bodies  of  other  insects. 

Those  which  deposit  their  eggs^in  the  branches  or  leaves  of  trees, 
place  them  in  a  small  hollow,  which  they  form  by  means  of  an 
instrument  at  the  posterior  part  of  their  body.  Each  egg  is  fixed  to 
the  spot  by  a  kind  of  gluey  matter,  with  which  it  is  covered. 

The  juices  of  the  leaf  or  stern  overflow  by -the  small  vessels,  which 
are  opened  in  this  operation,  and  thus  form  a  gall  or  excrescence,  in 
which  the  egg  becomes  enclosed.  When  the  larva  is  hatched,  it  finds 
around  it  the  food,  that  is  necessary  for  its  subsistence.  It  gnaws  and 
lives  upon  the  substance  of  the  gall,  which  increases  in  bulk  and  con- 
sistence, in  proportion  as  its  interior  is  thus  destroyed. 

Some  of  these  galls  have,  in  their  interior,  either  only  one  cavity, 
in  which  many  larvae  are  enclosed  together,  or  many  small  cavities, 
having  a  communication  with  each  other;  some  have  many  separate 
cavities;  and  others  have  only  one  cavity,  which  is  occupied  by  a 
solitary  insect. 

When  the  larvae  have  attained  their  full  growth,  some  of  the  species 
eat  their  way  out,  and  drop  upon  the  earth,  in  which  they  bury 
themselves,  and  there  undergo  their  metamorphosis;  and  others  are 
transformed  within  the  galls,  and  leave  them  only  as  perfect  insects. 


OF  THE  TENTHREDO,  OR  SAW-FLY  TRIBE. 

THE  mouth  has  a  horny  curved  mandible,  toothed  within.   The  jaw 
is  straight  and  obtuse  at  the  tip,  and  the  lip  is  cjdindrical  and  bifid. 
The  feelers  are  four  in  number,  and  filiform.     The  whiffs  are  tumid, 
(962). 


THE   ICHNEUMON   FLIES.  963 

the  lower  ones  shorter  than  the  others.  The  sting  is  composed  of  two 
serrated  laminae,  and  is  almost  concealed  in  the  body. 

This  insect  is  small,  of  a  yellowish  tinge,  and,  in  its  general 
appearance,  is  not  much  unlike  a  common  house-fly. 

By  means  of  the  saw  with  which  these  insects  are  supplied,  some 
of  the  species  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  buds  of  flowers,  and  others  in 
the  twigs  of  trees  or  shrubs.  This  implement,  which  is  situated  in  the 
posterior  part  of  their  body,  is  formidable  only  in  appearance,  and 
seems  destined  solely  to  the  purpose  of  depositing  their  eggs. 

The  larvae  have  from  eighteen  to  twenty-eight  legs.  They  subsist 
on  the  leaves  of  plants;  and,  when  full  grown,  some  of  them  bury 
themselves  in  the  ground,  and  others  form  a  nidus  between  the  leaves 
of  the  plant  on  which  they  feed,  and  within  it  change  to  a  pupa. 
Those  which  undergo  their  change  under  the  earth,  usually  remain 
there  during  the  winter,  the  perfect  insect  issuino-  forth  in  the  ensuing 
spring. 


OF  THE  ICHNEUMONS. 

THE  antennae  of  the  Ichneumon-flies  taper  towards  their  extremity 
and  consist  of 
more  than  thirty 
joints  or  articu- 
1  a  t  i  o  n  s  .  The 
mouth  is  armed 
with  jaws,  and 
has  four  unequal 
thread-shaped 
feelers.  At  the 
extremity  of  the 

abdomen  there  is  „  ICHraraoH  FtT. 

a     long     sting, 

having,  however,  no  pungent  property,  enclosed  in  a  cylindrical  sheath 
composed  of  two  valves. 

The  larvaa  of  all  the  Ichneumons  derive  nutriment  from  other 
insects.  The  female,  when  about  to  lay  her  eggs,  perforates  with  her 
sting  either  the  body  or  the  nidus  of  some  other  insect  or  caterpillar 
and  deposits  them  there.  The  stiag  of  one  of  the  species,  though 
extremely  fine,  is  so  strong  as  to  penetrate  through  mortar  and  plaster. 
The  food  of  the  family  to  be  produced  from  the  eggs  of  this  fly,  is  the 
larvae  of  wasps  or  mason-bees ;  for  the  parent  Ichneumon  no  sooner 
discovers  one  of  the  nests  of  these  insects,  than  it  fixes  on  it  and  in  a 
moment  bores  through  the  mortar,  of  whicfe  it  is  built. 

Some  species  agglutinate  their  eggs  upon  caterpillars;  others  pene- 
trate the  bodies  of  caterpillars,  and  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  inside 
When  the  larvce  are  hatched,  their  heads  are  so  situated  that  they 
pierce  the  caterpillars,  and  penetrate  to  their  very  entrails.  These 
larvae  suck  the  nutritious  juices  of  the  creatures  without  attacking 
their  vitals;  for  they  seem  to  be  all  the  time  perfectly  healthy,  and. 


964  THE   SPHEGES — SAND-WASP. 

even  sometimes  are  enabled  to  transform  themselves  into  chrysalids. 
"A  friend  of  mine,"  says  Dr.  Derham,  uput  about  forty  large  caterpil- 
lars, collected  from  cabbages,  on  some  bran  and  a  few  leaves,  into  a 
box  and  covered  it  with  gauze  to  prevent  their  escape.  After  a  few 
days  we  saw  from  more  than  three-fourths  of  them,  about  eight  or  ten 
little  caterpillars  of  the  Ichneumon  fly  come  out  of  their  backs,  and 
spin  each  a  small  cocoon  of  silk,  and  in  a  few  days  the  large  caterpil- 
lars died."  The  Ichneumons  performed  singular  service,  in  the  years 
1731  and  1732,  by  multiplying  in  the  same  proportion  as  the  cater- 
pillars. Their  larvae  consequently  destroyed  infinitely  more  of  these 
voracious  creatures  than  could  possibly  have  been  done  by  all  the 
efforts  of  human  industry.  Aphides,  or  Plant-lice,  and  the  Iarva3 
of  various  other  insects,  are  also  made  the  nidus  of  the  Ichneumon. 


OF  THE  SPHEGES. 

THE  antennae  in  this  tribe  consist  of  ten  joints  or  articulations ;  and 
the  mouth  is  armed  with  jaws.  The  wings  in  both  sexes  are  extended, 
and  do  not  fold  together.  The  sting  is  pungent,  and  concealed  within 
the  abdomen. 

Many  species  of  Sphex  are  common  in  England.  They  are  chiefly 
found  in  woods  and  hedges;  and  their  larvae  feed  on  dead  insects,  in 
the  bodies  of  which  the  parent  Spheges  lay  their  eggs. 

Some  of  the  species,  like  Dogs,  dig  holes  in  the  earth  with  their 
fore-feet,  and  in  each  of  these,  after  having  deposited  their  eggs  in  its 
body,  they  bury  an  insect,  and  then  carefully  close  it  up  with  earth. 

There  are  no  insects,  which  display  greater  affection  for  their  off- 
spring than  these ;  nor  are  any  more  rapacious.  They  are  excessively 
fierce,  and,  without  hesitation,  attack  insects  much  larger  than  them- 
selves. Their  strength  is  very  great ;  their  jaws  are  hard  and  sharp, 
and  their  stings  are  armed  with  poison,  which  suddenly  proves  fatal 
to  most  of  the  creatures  with  which  they  engage.  The  Sphex  seizes, 
with  the  greatest  boldness,  on  the  creature  it  attacks,  giving  a  stroke 
with  amazing  force,  then  falling  off,  to  rest  from  the  fatigue  of  the 
exertion,  and  to  enjoy  the  victory.  It  keeps,  however,  a  steady 
eye  on  the  object  it  has  struck,  until  it  dies,  and  then  drags  it  to  its 
nest  for  the  use  of  its  young.  The  number  of  insects,  which  this 
creature  destroys,  is  almost  beyond  conception,  fifty  scarcely  serving 
it  for  a  meal.  The  mangled  remains  of  its  prey,  scattered  round  the 
mouth  of  its  retreat,  sufficiently  betray  the  sanguinary  inhabitant. 
The  eyes,  the  filament  that  serves  as  a  brain,  and  a  small  part  of  the 
contents  of  the  body,  are  all  that  the  Sphex  devours. 


OF  THE  SAND-WASP  TRIBE. 

THE  beak  is  conical,  inflected,  and  contains  a  retractile,  tubular 
tongue,  that  is  cleft  at  the  end.  The  jaws  form  a  kind  of  forceps,  and 
aje  three-toothed  at  the  tip ;  and  the  antennae  in  each  sex  are  thread 


THE   WASP   TRIBE THE   HORNET  965 

shaped,  with  about  fourteen  joints  or  articulations.  Tne  eyes  are  ovaj, 
and  the  wings  plain.  The  sting  is  pungent,  and  concealed  in  the 
abdomen. 

The  Sand- wasps  were  separated,  by  the  Eev.  Mr.  Kirby,  from  the 
last  tribe,  though,  in  their  manners  and  economy,  the  insects  of  each 
have  a  near  resemblance.  In  their  external  appearance,  however, 
there  are  characteristics  sufficient  to  admit,  with  great  propriety,  of 
two  genera. 


OF  THE  WASP  TEIBE. 

THE  mouth  is  horny,  and  furnished  with  a  compressive  jaw,  and 
four  unequal,  thread-shaped  feelers. 
The  antennae  are  filiform,  the  first 
joint  longer  than  the  rest,  and 
cylindrical.  The  sting  is  pungent, 
and  concealed  within  the  abdomen. 

The  Wasps,  like  Bees,  are  in 
general  found  in  large  societies; 
and  they  construct  curious  combs 
or  nests,  in  which  they  deposit 
their  eggs.  Some,  however,  are 
solitary,  and  form  for  each  young- 
one  a  separate  nest.  Their  larvce 
are  soft,  without  feet,  and  are  fed 
with  the  nectar  of  flowers  or  honey, 

but   of  a  kind  very  inferior   to  that  collected  by  the  Bees.     The 
chrysalis  is  without  motion,  and  has  the  rudiments  of  wings. 

A  distinguishing  character  of  this  tribe  is  their  having  smooth 
bodies,  apparently  without  hairs,  and  their  upper  wings,  when  at  rest, 
folded  through  their  whole  length.  At  the  base  of  each  of  these  there 
is  a  scaly  process,  that  performs  the  office  of  a  spring,  in  preventing 
the  wings  from  rising  too  high ;  a  caution  of  some  importance  to  these 
carnivorous  insects,  which  pursue  their  prey  at  full  stretch  of  wing. 


THE   HORNET. 

It  is  chiefly  in  the  hollow  trunks  of  decayed  trees  that  the  Hornets 
form  their  nest.  They  live  collected  together  in  communities,  which 
consist  of  males,  females,  and  neuters  or  laborers.  Their  nest  is  of  a 
dirty  yellowish  color,  and  usually  constructed  under  the  shelter  of 
some  outhouse,  in  the  hole  of  an  old  wall,  or  more  frequently  in  the 
hollow  trunk  of  some  decayed  tree.  The  hole  of  entrance  to  this  nest 
is  often  not  more  than  an  inch  in  diameter. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year,  those  of  the  females  which  have  survived 
the  winter,  are  reanimated  by  the  warmth  of  the  season,  issue  from 
their  hiding-places,  and  search  out  a  convenient  place  in  which  they 
can  establish  their  nest.  When  this  is  found,  they  commence  their 


966  THE   COMMON   WASP. 

first  operation  by  forming  a  column,  of  the  same  materials  as  those 
which  are  afterwards  employed  in  the  other  parts  of  the  fabric,  but 
much  more  compact  and  solid.  This  column  the  female  fixes  in  the 
most  elevated  part  of  the  vault,  which  is  intended  to  contain  the  nest. 
A  kind  of  cover  is  next  formed,  and  then  a  small  comb  of  hexagonal 
cells,  with  their  openings  downward,  for  the  purpose  of  containing 
her  eggs  and  the  grubs  which  issue  from  them. 

The  eggs  are  soon  hatched,  and  the  mother  nourishes  her  offspring 
with  food  which  she  brings  to  them  from  abroad.  When  the  grubs 
have  attained  their  full  size,  they  each  spin  a  silken  bed,  in  which 
they  undergo  their  metamorphoses  into  pupce,  and  afterwards  into 
perfect  or  winged  insects. 

The  insects  first  produced  are  the  neuters.  These  are  the  working 
insects,  or  laborers.  From  their  first  entrance  into  life  they  are 
occupied  in  the  work  of  constructing  cells,  and  in  the  duty  of  nour- 
ishing the  remaining  grubs. 

As  the  females  still  continue  to  lay  their  eggs,  the  family  is  conse- 
quently augmented;  and  the  nest  becoming  at  length  too  small, 
necessity  requires  it  to  be  enlarged.  This  operation  also  falls  upon 
the  laborers. 

In  the  month  of  September  and  the  beginning  of  October,  the  brood 
of  males  and  females  quit  their  pupce  state.  All  that  are  left,  whether 
males,  females,  or  neuters,  are  generally  put  to  death  before  the  end 
of  October,  particularly  if  the  frosts  have  at  all  begun  to  be  felt.  The 
Hornets,  in  place  of  continuing  to  nourish  the  remaining  grubs,  are 
now  occupied  only  in  tearing  in  pieces  the  cells,  and  throwing  them 
out  of  the  nest.  After  this  period  both  the  males  and  the  neuters 
daily  perish  in  great  numbers;  so  that,  by  the  end  of  winter,  the 
females,  which  are  enabled  to  pass  that  season  in  a  torpid  state,  are 
the  only  ones  that  remain  alive. 

Thus  terminates  this  society,  of  which  the  greatest  population 
does  not  often  exceed  the  number  of  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  fifty 
individuals. 

The  combs  are  composed  of  a  substance  which  somewhat  resembles 
coarse  paper  or  old  parchment. 

These  insects  are  extremely  voracious.  They  seize  upon  and 
devour,  with  great  eagerness,  other  insects,  and  frequently  even 
bees.  Their  size  gives  them  a  superiority  over  almost  all  the  flies 
which  they  attack ;  but  as  they  are  somewhat  slow  and  heavy  in  their 
flight,  these  are  frequently  able,  by  their  greater  agility,  to  escape. 


THE    COMMON    WASP 

The  nest  of  the  common  Wasp  is  always  formed  under  the  surface 
of  the  earth,  and  these  insects  not  unfrequently  occupy  with  it  the  for- 
saken dwelling  of  a  mole.  The  entrance  to  the  nest  is  a  passage 
usually  about  an  inch  in  diameter,  from  half  a  foot  to  two  feet  deep, 
and  generally  in  a  zigzag  direction. 

When  exposed  to  the  view,  the  whole  nest  appears  to  be  of  a  round- 


THE   COMMON    WASP,  967 

ish  form,  and  is  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  in  diameter.  It  is  strongly 
fortified  all  round  with  walls,  in  layers,  formed  of  a  substance  some- 
what like  paper,  the  surface  of  which  is  rough  and  irregular.  In  these 
walls,  or  rather  in  this  external  covering,  two  holes  are  left  for 
passages  to  the  combs,  one  of  which  is  uniformly  adopted  for  entrance, 
and  the  other  as  a  passage  out.  The  interior  of  the  nest  consists  of 
several  stories,  or  floors  of  combs,  which  are  parallel  to  each  other, 
and  nearly  in  an  horizontal  position.  Every  story  is  composed  of  a 
numerous  assemblage  of  hexagonal  cells.  These  contain  neither  wax 
nor  honey,  but  are  solely  destined  for  containing  the  eggs,  the  worms 
which  are  hatched  from  them,  the  chrysalids,  and  the  young  Wasps 
until  they  are  able  to  fly.  The  combs  are  from  eleven  to  twelve  in 
number.  Keaumur  computed  the  number  of  cells  in  the  combs  of  a 
middle-sized  nest  to  be  at  least  ten  thousand  ;  and  as  every  cell  serves 
for  three  generations,  a  nest  of  this  description  would  annually  give 
birth  to  thirty  thousand  Wasps. 

The  different  stories  of  combs  are  always  about  half  an  inch  distant. 
By  this  arrangement,  free  passages  are  left  to  the  Wasps  from  one  part 
of  the  nest  to  another.  Each  of  the  larger  combs  is  supported  by  about 
fifty  pillars,  which  at  the  same  time  that  they  give  solidity  to  the 
fabric,  greatly  ornament  the  whole  nest.  The  lesser  combs  are  sup- 
ported by  a  similar  contrivance.  The  Wasps  always  begin  at  the  top 
and  work  downward. 

In  the  republic  of  Wasps,  like  that  of  Bees,  there  are  three  different 
kinds  of  flies;  males,  females,  and  neuters.  The  greatest  share  of 
labor  devolves  upon  the  neuters :  but  they  are  not,  like  the  neuter 
bees,  the  only  workers ;  for  there  is  no  part  of  the  different  operations 
which  the  females,  at  certain  times,  do  not  execute.  Nor  do  the  males 
remain  entirely  idle.  The  neuters,  however,  build  the  nest,  feed  the 
males,  the  females,  and  even  the  young-ones.  But,  while  these  are 
occupied  in  different  employments  at  home,  the  others  are  abroad  in 
hunting-parties.  Some  of  them  attack  with  intrepidity  live  insects, 
which  they  sometimes  carry  entire  to  the  nest ;  but  if  these  be  at  all 
large  they  transport  only  the  abdomen.  Others  make  war  on  the 
bees,  killing  them  for  the  honey  they  have  in  their  bodies,  or  plunder- 
ing their  hives  for  the  fruits  of  their  labor.  Some  resort  to  the 
gardens,  and  suck  the  juices  of  fruit ;  and  others  pillage  butchers'  stalls, 
from  which  they  often  arrive  with  a  piece  of  meat  larger  than  even 
half  of  their  own  bodies. 

When  they  return  to  their  nest,  they  distribute  a  portion  of  their 
plunder  to  the  females,  to  the  males,  and  to  such  neuters  as  have  been 
usefully  occupied  at  home.  As  soon  as  a  neuter  enters  the  nest,  it  is 
surrounded  by  several  Wasps,  to  each  of  which  it  freely  gives  a  por- 
tion of  the  food  it  has  brought.  Those  that  have  not  been  hunting 
for  prey  but  have  been  sucking  the  juices  of  fruits,  though  they  seem 
to  return  empty,  fail  not  to  regale  their  companions ;  for,  after  their 
arrival,  they  station  themselves  at  the  upper  part  of  the  nest,  and  dis- 
charge from  their  mouths  two  or  three  drops  of  clear  liquid,  which  are 
immediately  swallowed  by  the  domestics. 

The  neuter  Wasps  are  the  smallest,  the  females  are  much  larger  and 


968  THE   COMMON   WASP. 

heavier  than  these,  and  the  males  are  of  an  intermediate  size  between 
the  two.  In  the  hive  of  the  Honey-bee  the  number  of  females  is  ex- 
tremely small;  but  in  a  Wasp's  nest  they  often  amount  to  more  than 
three  hundred. 

The  eggs  are  white,  transparent,  and  of  an  oblong  shape  ;  but  they 
differ  in  size,  according  to  the  kind  of  Wasps  that  are  to  proceed  from 
them.  At  the  end  of  eight  days  after  they  are  deposited  in  the  cells, 
the  grubs  are  hatched.  These  demand  the  principal  care  of  such 
Wasps  as  continue  always  in  the  nest.  They  are  fed  in  the  same 
manner  as  birds,  by  receiving,  from  time  to  time,  a  mouthful  of  food 
from  the  insects  which  have  the  care  of  them.  It  is  astonishing  to  see 
with  what  industry  and  rapidity  a  female  runs  along  the  cells  of  a 
comb,  and  distributes  to  each  worm  a  portion  of  nutriment.  In  pro- 
portion to  the  ages  and  condition  of  the  worms,  they  are  fed  with 
liquid  substance,  or  with  solid  food. 

When  a  worm  is  so  large  as  to  occupy  its  whole  cell,  it  is  ready  to 
be  metamorphosed  into  a  chrysalis.  It  then  refuses  all  nourishment, 
and  ceases  to  have  any  connexion  with  the  Wasps  in  the  nest.  It 
closes  the  mouth  of  its  cell  with  a  fine  silken  cover.  This  operation 
is  completed  in  three  or  four  hours,  and  the  animal  remains  a  chrysalis 
nine  or  ten  days.  After  this  it  destroys,  with  its  teeth,  the  external 
cover  of  the  cell,  and  issues  forth  a  winged  insect,  which  is  either  male, 
female,  or  neuter,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  egg  from  which  it  was 
hatched.  In  a  short  time  the  Wasps  newly  transformed  receive  the 
food  that  is  brought  to  them  by  the  foragers  from  the  fields.  What  is 
still  more  wonderful  is,  that  in  the  course  of  even  the  first  day  after 
their  transformation,  the  young  Wasps  have  been  observed  to  go  into 
the  fields,  bring  in  provisions,  and  distribute  them  to  the  worms  in  the 
cells.  A  cell  is  no  sooner  abandoned  by  a  young  Wasp,  than  it  is 
cleaned,  trimmed,  repaired  by  the  old  ones,  and  rendered  in  every 
respect  proper  for  the  reception  of  another  egg. 

Cells  are  constructed  of  different  dimensions  for  the  neuters,  males, 
and  females ;  and  it  is  very  remarkable,  that  those  of  the  neuters  are 
never  intermixed  with  the  cells  destined  for  others. 

About  the  beginning  of  October,  every  nest  presents  a  strange  scene 
of  cruelty.  At  this  season,  the  Wasps  not  only  cease  to  bring  nour- 
ishment to  their  young-ones,  but  they  drag  the  grubs  from  their  cells, 
and  carry  them  out  of  the  nest,  where  they  are  either  killed  by  the 
Wasps,  or  perish  from  exposure  to  the  weather  and  deprivation  of 
food.  This  procedure  would  at  first  seem  a  strange  violation  of 
parental  affection ;  but  the  intentions  of  Providence,  though  they  often, 
elude  our  researches,  are  never  wrong.  What  appears  to  us  cruel  and 
unnatural,  in  this  instinctive  devastation  committed  annually  by  the 
Wasps,  is  perhaps  an  act  of  the  greatest  mercy  that  could  have  taken 
place.  Wasps  are  not,  like  the  Honey-bees,  endowed  with  the  instinct 
of  laying  up  a  store  of  provisions  for  winter  If  not  prematurely 
destroyed  by  their  parents,  the  young-ones  must  necessarily  die  a  cruel 
and  lingering  death,  occasioned  by  hunger.  Hence  this  seemingly 
harsh  conduct  in  the  economy  of  Wasps,  instead  of  affording  an 


THE   WOOD-PIERCING   BEE.  969 

exception  to  the  universal  benevolence  and  wisdom  of  nature,  is,  in 
reality,  a  most  merciful  effort  of  instinct. 

Like  the  male  Ploney-bees,  the  male  Wasps  are  destitute  of  stings ; 
but  the  females  and  neuters  have  stings,  the  poisonous  liquor  of  which, 
when  introduced  into  any  part  of  the  human  body,  excites  inflamma- 
tion, and  creates  a  considerable  degree  of  pain.  Their  sting  consists 
of  a  hollow  and  very  sharp-pointed  tube,  having  at  its  root  a  bag  of 
pungent  juice,  which,  in  the  act  of  stinging,  is  pressed  out,  and 
conveyed  through  the  tube  into  the  flesh.  There  are  also  two  small, 
sharp,  and  bearded  spears,  lying,  as  in  a  sheath,  within  the  tube.  Dr. 
Derham  counted,  on  the  side  of  each  spear,  eight  beards,  which,  he 
says,  were  formed  somewhat  like  the  beards  of  fish-hooks.  These 
spears  lie  one  with  its  points  a  little  before  the  other  in  the  sheath,  to 
be  ready,  in  all  probability,  to  be  first  darted  into  the  flesh ;  where, 
being  once  fixed,  by  means  of  its  foremost  beard,  the  other  then 
strikes  in  also ;  and,  in  this  manner,  they  alternately  pierce  deeper  and 
deeper,  their  beards  taking  more  and  more  hold  in  the  flesh ;  after 
which  the  sting  or  sheath  follows,  in  order  to  convey  the  poison  into 
the  wound. 


OF  THE  BEES  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  insects  are  very  numerous,  and  differ  considerably  in  their 
habits.  Some  of  the  species  are  found  in  extensive  communities, 
which  construct,  with  the  utmost  art,  cells  for  their  offspring,  and 
repositories  for  their  food ;  while  others  both  dwell  and  work  in  soli- 
tude. The  whole  tribe  live  on  the  nectar  of  flowers,  and  on  ripe 
fruit. 

Their  larvce  are  soft  and  without  feet,  and  the  chrysalis  resembles 
the  perfect  insect. 


THE   WOOD-PIERCING   BEE. 

The  operations  of  the  "Wood- piercers  merit  our  careful  attention. 
In  the  spring  of  the  year  they  frequent  gardens,  and  search  for  rotten, 
or  at  least  for  dead  wood,  in  order  to  make  a  habitation  for  their 
young-ones.  They  usually  choose  the  decaying  uprights  of  arbors, 
espaliers,  or  the  props  of  vines;  but  they  will  sometime  attack  garden- 
seats,  thick  doors  and  window-shutters. 

When  the  female  of  this  species,  (for  in  her  operation  she  receives 
no  assistance  from  the  male,)  has  selected  some  old  wooden  post  suited 
to  her  purpose,  she  begins  her  work  by  boring  perpendicularly  into 
it;  when  she  has  advanced  about  half  an  inch,  she  changes  her  direc- 
tion, and  then  proceeds  nearly  parallel  with  its  sides,  for  twelve  or 
fifteen  inches,  making  the  hollow  about  half  an  inch  in  diameter.  If 
the  wood  be  sufficiently  thick,  she  sometimes  forms  three  or  four  of 
these  long  holes  in  its  interior;  a  labor,  which,  for  a  single  insect, 


970  THE    HIVE    BEE. 

seems  prodigious;  and  in  the  execution  of  it  some  weeks  are  often 
employed.  On  the  ground,  for  about  a  foot  from  the  place  in  which 
one  of  these  Bees  is  working,  little  heaps  of  timber-dust  are  to  be 
seen.  These  heaps  daily  increase  in  size,  and  the  particles  that  com- 
pose them  are  almost  as  large  as  those  produced  by  a  hand-saw.  The 
strong  jaws  of  this  insect  are  the  only  instruments  of  perforation 
which  she  employs.  After  the  holes  are  prepared,  they  are  divided 
into  ten  or  twelve  separate  apartments,  each  about  an  inch  deep,  the 
roof  of  one  serving  for  the  bottom  of  another.  The  divisions  are  com- 
posed of  particles  of  wood,  cemented  together  by  a  glutinous  substance 
from  the  animal's  body.  In  making  one  of  these  she  commences  by 
gluing  an  annular  plate  of  wood-dust,  about  the  thickness  of  half-a- 
crown,  round  the  internal  circumference  of  the  cavity :  to  this  plate  she 
attaches  a  second,  to  the  second  a  third,  and  so  on  till  the  whole  floor 
is  completed.  Before  each  cell  is  closed,  it  is  filled  with  a  paste 
composed  of  the  farina  of  flowers  mixed  with  honey,  and  an  egg  is 
deposited  in  it.  When  the  larva  is  hatched,  it  has  scarcely  room 
sufficient  to  turn  itself  in  the  cell ;  but  as  the  paste  is  devoured,  the 
space  is  enlarged  so  as  to  allow  the  animal  to  perform  every  necessary 
operation  towards  changing  its  state. 

In  a  range  of  cells,  the  worms  are  necessarily  of  different  ages,  and 
of  course  of  different  sizes.  Those  in  the  lower  cells  are  older  than 
those  in  the  upper ;  because,  after  the  Bee  has  filled  with  paste,  and 
-enclosed  the  first  cell,  a  considerable  time  is  requisite  to  collect  pro- 
visions, and  to  form  partitions  for  every  successive  and  superior  cell. 
The  former,  therefore,  must  be  transformed  into  nymphs  and  flies 
before  the  latter.  These  circumstances  would  almost  appear  to  be 
foreseen  by  the  mother;  for  if  the  undermost  worm,  which  is  the 
oldest,  and  soon  transformed,  were  to  force  its  way  upward,  which  it 
could  easily  do,  it  would  not  only  disturb,  but  would  infallibly  destroy 
all  those  lodged  in  the  superior  cells.  But  Providence  has  wisely 
prevented  this  devastation ;  for  the  head  of  the  nymph,  and  conse- 
quently of  the  fly,  is  always  placed  in  a  downward  direction.  Its 
first  instinctive  movements  must,  consequently,  be  in  that  direction. 
That  the  young  Bees  may  escape  from  their  respective  cells,  the 
mother  digs  a  hole  at  the  bottom  of  the  long  tube,  which  makes  a 
communication  between  the  undermost  cell  and  the  open  air.  Some- 
times a  similar  passage  is  made  near  the  middle  of  the  tube.  By  this 
contrivance  as  all  the  Bees  instinctively  endeavor  to  cut  their  way 
downward,  they  find  an  easy  and  convenient  passage;  for  they  have 
only  to  pierce  the  floor  of  their  cells  in  order  to  make  their  escape, 
and  this  they  do  with  their  teeth  very  readily. 


THE   HIVE   BEE. 

In  the  formation  of  their  combs,  the  present  insects  seem  to  resolve 
a  problem  which  would  not  be  a  little  puzzling  to  some  geometri- 
cians, namely :  "  A  quantity  of  wax  being  given,  to  make  of  it  equal 
and  aimi.lar  cells  of  a  determined  capacity,  but  of  the  largest  size  in 


TUB   HIVE  BEES. 


THE   HIYE    BEE.  971 

proportion  to  the  quantity  of  matter  employed,  and  disposed  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  occupy  in  the  hive  the  least  possible  space."  Every 
part  of  this  problem  is  completely  executed  by  the  Bees.  By  applying 
hexagonal  cells  to  the  sides  of  each  other,  no  void  spaces  are  left 
between  them ;  and,  though  the  same  end  may  be  accomplished  by 
other  figures,  yet  such  would  necessarily  require  a  greater  quantity 
of  wax  than  these.  Besides, 
hexagonal  cells  are  best  fitted 
to  receive  the  cylindrical 
bodies  of  the  larvse.  A  comb 
consists  of  two  strata  of  cells, 
applied  to  each  other's  ends. 
This  arrangement  both  saves 
room  in  the  hive,  and  gives 
a  double  entry  into  the  cells 
of  which  the  comb  is  composed.  As  a  further  saving  of  wax,  and  for 
preventing  void  spaces,  the  bases  of  the  cells  in  one  stratum  of  a 
comb,  serve  also  for  bases  to  the  opposite  stratum.  In  short,  the 
more  minutely  the  construction  is  examined,  the  more  will  the 
admiration  of  the  observer  be  excited.  The  walls  of  the  cells  are 
so  extremely  thin,  that  their  mouths  might  be  thought  in  danger  of 
suffering  by  the  frequent  entering  and  issuing  of  the  Bees.  To  prevent 
this,  the  Bees  make  a  kind  of  rim  round  th.e  margin  of  each  cell,  and 
this  rim  is  three  or  four  times  thicker  than  the  walls. 

It  is  difficult  to  perceive,  even  with  the  assistance  of  glass  hives, 
the  manner  in  which  Bees  operate  when  constructing  their  cells. 
They  are  so  eager  to  afford  mutual  assistance,  and  for  this  purpose  so 
many  of  them  crowd  together,  and  are  perpetually  succeeding  each 
other,  that  their  individual  operations  can  seldom  be  distinctly  ob- 
served. It  has,  however,  been  discovered  that  their  two  jaws  are  the 
only  instruments  they  employ  in  modelling  and  polishing  the  wax. 
With  a  little  patience  and  attention,  we  perceive  cells  just  began: 
we  likewise  remark  the  quickness  with  which  a  Bee  moves  its  teeth 
against  a  small  portion  of  the  cell.  This  portion  the  animal,  by  re- 
peated strokes  on  each  side,  smooths,  renders  compact,  and  reduces  to 
a  proper  thinness.  While  some  individuals  of  the  hive  are  lengthen- 
ing their  hexagonal  tubes,  others  are  laying  the  foundation  of  new 
ones.  In  certain  circumstances,  when  extremely  hurried,  they  do  not 
complete  their  new  cells,  but  leave  them  imperfect  until  they  have 
begun  a  number  sufficient  for  their  present  exigencies.  When  a  Bee 
puts  its  head  a  little  way  into  a  cell,  we  easily  perceive  it,  with  the 
points  of  its  teeth,  scraping  the  walls,  in  order  to  detach  such  useless 
and  irregular  fragments,  as  may  have  been  left  in  the  work.  Of  these 
fragments  the  Bee  forms  a  ball,  about  the  size  of  a  pin's  head.  It 
issues  from  the  cell,  and  carries  this  wax  to  another  part  of  the  work, 
where  it  is  wanted :  it  no  sooner  leaves  the  cell  than  it  is  succeeded 
by  another  Bee,  which  -performs  a  similar  office :  and  in  this  manner 
the  work  is  successively  carried  on,  till  the  cell  is  completely  polished. 

Their  mode  of  working,  and  the  disposition  and  division  of  their 
labor,  when  put  into  an  empty  hive,  are  very  wonderful.  They 


972  THE   HIVE    BEE. 

immediately  begin  to  lay  the  foundations  of  their  combs.  This  is  au 
operation,  which  they  execute  with  surprising  quickness  and  alacrit}^ 
Soon  after  they  have  begun  to  construct  one  comb,  they  divide  into 
two  or  three  companies,  each  of  which,  in  different  parts  of  the  hive, 
is  occupied  in  similar  operations.  By  this  division  of  labor,  a  great 
number  of  Bees  have  an  opportunity  of  being  employed  at  the  same 
time,  and  consequently,  the  common  work  is  sooner  finished.  The 
combs  are  generally  arranged  in  a  direction  parallel  to  each  other. 
An  interval  or  street  between  them  is  always  left,  that  the  Bees  may 
have  a  free  passage,  and  an  easy  communication  with  the  different 
combs  in  the  hive.  These  streets  are  just  wide  enough  to  allow  two 
Bees  to  pass  one  another.  Besides  these  parallel  streets,  the  Bees  to 
shorten  their  journey  when  working,  leave  several  cross  passages, 
which  are  always  covered. 

They  are  extremely  solicitous  to  prevent  insects  of  any  kind  from 
getting  admittance  into  their  hives.  To  accomplish  this  purpose,  and 
to  shut  out  the  cold,  they  carefully  examine  every  part  of  their  hive; 
and  if  they  discover  any  holes  or  chinks,  they  immediately  paste  them 
firmly  up  with  a  resinous  substance,  which  differs  considerably  from 
wax.  This  substance  was  known  to  the  ancients  by  the  name  of 
propolis,  or  bee-glue.  Bees  use  the  propolis  for  rendering  their  hives 
more  close  and  perfect,  in  preference  to  wax,  because  it  is  more  dur- 
able, and  because  it  more  powerfully  resists  the  vicissitudes  of  weather 
than  that.  This  glue  is  not,  like  the  wax,  formed  by  an  animal 
process.  The  Bees  collect  it  from  different  trees,  such  as  the  poplar, 
birch,  and  willow.  It  is  a  complete  production  of  nature,  and  requires 
no  additional  manufacture  from  the  animals  by  which  it  is  employed. 
After  a  Bee  has  procured  a  quantity  sufficient  to  fill  the  cavities  of  its 
two  hind  legs,  it  repairs  to  the  hive.  Two  of  its  companions  instantly 
draw  out  the  propolis,  and  apply  it  to  fill  up  such  chinks,  holes,  or 
other  deficiencies,  as  they  find  in  their  habitation.  But  this  is  not 
the  only  use  to  which  Bees  apply  the  propolis.  They  are  extremely 
solicitous  to  remove  such  insects  or  foreign  bodies,  as  happen  to  get 
admission  into  the  hive.  When  these  are  so  light  as  not  to  exceed 
their  powers,  they  first  kill  the  insect  with  their  stings,  and  then  drag 
it  out  with  their  teeth.  But  it  sometimes  happens,  that  an  ill-fated 
snail  creeps  into  the  hive.  This  is  no  sooner  perceived,  than  it  is 
attacked  on  all  sides,  and  stung  to  death.  But  how  are  the  Bees  to 
carry  out  so  heavy  a  burden?  Such  a  labor  would  be  in  vain.  To 
prevent  the  noxious  odors  consequent  on  its  putrefaction,  they  imme- 
diately embalm  it,  by  covering  every  part  of  its  body  with  propolis, 
through  which  no  effluvia  can  escape. 

But  propolis,  and  the  materials  for  making  wax,  are  not  the  only 
substances,  which  these  industrious  animals  have  to  collect.  As, 
during  the  whole  winter,  and  even  during  many  days  in  summer,  the 
Bees  are  prevented  by  the  weather  from  going  abroad  in  quest  of 
provisions,  they  are  under  the  necessity  of  collecting  and  amassing,  in 
cells  destined  for  the  purpose,  large  quantities  of  honey.  This,  by 
means  of  their  trunk,  they  extract  from  the  nectariferous  glands  of 
flowers.  The  trunk  of  the  Bee  is  a  kind  of  rough,  cartilaginous  tongue. 


THE    HIVE    BEE. 


97 


THE  QUEEN  BEE. 


After  collecting  a  few  small  .drops  of  honey  with  this,  the  animal 
carries  them  to  its  mouth,  and  swallows  them.  From  the  gullet  they 
pass  into  the  first  stomach.  This  when  filled  with  honey,  assumes  the 
figure  of  an  oblong  bladder,  the  membrane  of  which  is  so  thin  and 
transparent,  that  it  allows  the  color  of  the  liquid  it  contains  to  be  dis- 
tinctly seen.  As  soon  as  their  stomach  is  full,  the  Bees  return  directly 
to  the  hive,  and  disgorge  into  a  cell  the  whole  of  the  honey  they  have 
collected.  It,  however,  not  unfrequently  happens,  that  on  its  way  to 
the  hive  the  Bee  is  accosted  by  a  hungry  companion.  How  the  one 
manages  to  communicate  its  wants  to  the  other,  is  not  known.  But 
the  fact  is  certain,  that  when  two  Bees  meet  in  this  situation,  they 
mutually  stop,  and  the  one  whose  stomach  is  full  of  honey,  extends 
its  trunk,  opens  its  month,  and  like  a  ruminating  animal,  forces  up 
the  honey.  The  hungry  Bee,  with  the  point  of  its  trunk,  sucks  the 
honey  from  the  other's  mouth.  When  not 
stopped  on  the  road,  the  Bee,  as  before  stated, 
proceeds  to  the  hive,  and  in  the  same  manner 
offers  its  honey  to  those  who  are  at  work,  as  if 
it  meant  to  prevent  the  necessity  of  their  quit- 
ting their  labor  in  order  to  go  in  quest  of  food. 
In  bad  weather,  the  Bees  feed  on  the  honey  laid 
up  in  open  cells;  but  they  never  touch  their 
reservoirs,  while  their  companions  are  enabled  to  supply  them  with 
fresh  honey  from  the  fields.  The  mouths  of  those  cells,  which  are 
destined  .for  preserving  honey  during  the  winter,  they  always  cover 
with  a  lid  or  thin  plate  of  wax. 

How  numerous  soever  the  Bees  in  one  swarm  may  appear  to  be 
they  all  originate 
from  a  single  pa- 
rent. It  is  indeed 
surprising,  that  one 
small  insect  should, 
in  a  few  months, 
give  birth  to  so 
many  young-ones; 
but,  on  opening 
her  body  at  a  cer- 
tain season  of  the 
year,  eggs  to  the 
number  of  many 
thousands  may  be 
found  contained  in  it. 

The  queen  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  rest  by  the  size  and 
shape  of  her  body.  On  her  depends  the  welfare  of  the  whole  com- 
munity :  and,  by  the  attention  that  is  paid  to  all  her  movements,  it  is 
evident  how  much  they  depend  on  her  security.  At  times,  attended 
by  a  numerous  retinue  she  is  seen  in  the  act  of  marching  from  cell 
to  cell,  plunging  the  extremity  of  her  body  into  each  of  them,  and 
leaving  in  each  an  egg. 

A  day  or  two  after  this  egg  is  deposited,  the  grub  is  excluded  from 


THE  QUEEN  BEE  AND  PREGNANT  QUEEN  BEE. 


974  THE    CARDING   BEE. 

the  shell,  having  the  shape  of  a  maggot  rolled  up  in  a  ring,  and  lying 
softly  on  a  bed  of  a  whitish-colored  jelly,  on  which  it  begins  to  feed. 
The  common  Bees  then  attend  with  astonishing 
tenderness  and  anxiety :  they  furnish  it  with 
food,  and  watch  over  it  with  unremitting  assid- 
uity. In  about  six  days  the  grub  attains  its 
full  growth,  when  its  affectionate  attendants 
shut  up  the  mouth  of  its  apartment  with  wax, 
in  order  to  secure  it  from  injury.  Thus  en- 

THE  DRONE   BEE.  ,  ,        .  ,  T  *l  n  n     • 

closed,  it  soon  begins  to  line  the  walls  of  its 

cell  with  a  silken  tapestry,  in  which  it  undergoes  its  last  transforma- 
tion. 

When  it  first  crawls  forth  a  winged  insect,  it  is  very  weak  and 
inactive;  but  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  it  acquires  strength  enough 
to  fly  off  to  its  labor.  On  its  emerging  from  the  cell,  the  officious 
Bees  flock  round  it,  and  lick  up  its  moisture  with  their  tongues. 
One  party  brings  honey  for  it  to  feed  upon ;  and  another  is  employed 
in  cleansing  the  cell,  and  carrying  out  the  filth,  for  the  purpose  of 
preparing  it  for  a  new  inhabitant. 

The  neuter  Bees  in  a  hive  amount  to  the  number  of  sixteen  or 
eighteen  thousand.  These  are  all  armed  with  stings.  The  males  are 
called  Drones:  they  are  unarmed,  and  are  always  killed  by  the 
neuters,  about  the  month  of  September. 


THE   CARDING   BEE. 

This  Bee  is  yellow,  with  the  hair  of  the  thorax  somewhat  fawn- 
colored. 

Nearly  all  the  Carding  Bees  perish  in  the  win- 
ter: a  few  of  the  females  only  survive.  These 
usually  make  their  appearance  early  in  the  spring, 
as  soon  as  the  catkins  of  the  willows  are  in  blos- 
som ;  upon  which,  at  this  time,  they  may  be  seen 
.  THE  CARWSO  BEE.  collecting  honey  from  the  female,  and  pollen  from 

the  male  catkins. 

When  these  animals,  of  any  sex,  are  walking  on  the  ground,  if  a 
finger  be  moved  to  them,  they  lift  up  three  legs  on  one  side,  by  way 
of  defence;  which  gives  them  a  very  grotesque  appearance. 

Their  nests  are  usually  formed  in  meadows  and  pastures,  sometimes 
in  groves  and  hedge-rows,  where  the  soil  is  entangled  with  roots;  but 
now  and  then  these  are  found  in  heaps  of  stones.  When  they  do  not 
meet  with  an  accidental  cavity  ready  made,  the  Carding  Bees,  with 
great  labor,  excavate  one.  This  they  cover  with  a  thick  convex  vault 
of  moss,  sometimes  casing  the  interior  with  a  kind  of  coarse  wax,  to 
keep  out  the  wet.  At  the  lower  part  of  the  nest  there  is  an  opening 
for  the  inhabitants  to  go  in  and  out  at.  This  entrance  is  often  through 
a  long  gallery,  or  covered  way,  a  foot  or  upwards  in  length,  by  which 
the  nest  is  concealed  from  observation. 

The  mode  in  which  they  transport  the  moss  employed  in  the  for- 


THE  HORSE   EMMET,   OR  GREAT   HILL-ANT.  975 

mation  of  their  nest,  is  singular.  When  they  have  discovered  a  parcel 
fitted  to  their  purpose,  and  conveniently  situated,  they  place  them- 
selves in  a  line,  with  their  backs  turned  towards  the  nest.  The 
foremost  lays  hold  of  some  with  her  jaws,  and  clears  it,  bit  by  bit, 
with  her  fore-feet.  When  this  is  sufficiently  disentangled,  she  drives 
it  with  her  feet  under  her  body,  and  as  far  as  possible  beyond,  to  the 
second  Bee.  The  second  pushes  it  on  to  the  third  and  so  on.  Thus 
small  heaps  of  prepared  moss  are  conveyed,  by  a  file  of  four  or  five 
insects,  to  the  nest,  where  they  are  wrought  and  interwoven  with  the 
greatest  dexterity  by  those  that  remain  within. 


OF  THE  ANTS  IN  GENERAL. 

ALL  the  species  of  Ants  known  in  this  country  are  gregarious  ;  and, 
like  the  bees,  consist  of  males,  females,  and  neuters  ;  the  latter  alone 
are  the  laborers.  These  build  in  the  ground  an  oblong  nest,  in  which 
there  are  various  passages  and  apartments.  In  the  formation  of  the 
nest  every  individual  is  occupied:  some  are  employed  in  securing 
a  firm  and  durable  groundwork,  by  mixing  the  earth  with  a  sort  of 
glue  produced  in  their  bodies,  others  collect  little  bits  of  twigs  to 
serve  as  rafters,  placing  them  over  their  passages  to  support  the  cov- 
ering ;  others  again  lay  pieces  across  these,  and  place  on  them  rushes, 
weeds  and  dried  grass.  The  latter  they  secure  so  firmly,  as  completely 
to  turn  off  the  water  from  their  magazines. 

From  the  eggs  of  these  insects  proceed  the  larvae,  a  small  kind  of 
maggots  without  legs,  which  soon  transform  into  white  chrysalids. 
The  latter  are  generally  called  Ants'  eggs,  and  are  frequently  used  for 
the  feeding  of  young  Pheasants,  Partridges,  and  Nightingales. 

The  males  are  much  smaller  than  the  females,  and  seldom  frequent 
the  common  habitation.  All  the  labor  which  the  'females  undergo,  is 
the  laying  of  eggs ;  and  the  cold  weather  of  winter  always  destroys 
them.  The  neuters,  or  laboring  Ants,  which  alone  are  able  to  struggle 
through  the  winter,  pass  this  season  in  a  torpid  state.  The  females 
and  neuters  are  each  armed  with  stings. 

It  is  said  that  the  Ants  of  tropical  climates  are  never  torpid ;  that 
tney  build  their  nests  with  a  dexterity,  lay  up  provisions,  and  submit 
to  regulations,  that  are  entirely  unknown  among  those  of  Europe. 
They  are,  in  every  respect,  a  more  formidable  race.  Their  stings 
produce  insupportable  pain,  and  their  depredations  do  infinite  mis- 
chief. Sheep,  hens,  and  even  rats,  by  loitering  too  near  their  habita- 
tions, are  often  destroyed  by  them. 


THE    HORSE   EMMET,  OR  GREAT   HILL-ANT. 

It  is  chiefly  near  the  old  and  decayed  trunks  of  trees  that  the  Hill- 
ants  form  their  settlements.  Their  nest  consists  of  a  great  number  of 
apartments.  In  these  they  have  their  magazines,  and  bring  forth  and 
rear  their  offspring. 


976 


THE   RED-ANT. 


It  is  the  peculiar  habit  of  the  Hill-ants  to  collect  a  vast  quantity  of 
pieces  of  dry  sticks,  chips,  bits  of  straw,  and  other  rubbish,  which 
they  carry  to  the  surface  of  their  colonies,  and  there  place  together  in 
heaps,  which  sometimes  become  immensely  large.  This  employment 
they  renew  every  spring,  and  continue  through  the  whole  summer. 
It  is  not  a  little  curious  to  observe  from  what  distances  they  will  bring, 
and  with  what  dexterity  they  manage,  sticks  an  inch  or  two  in  length. 


THE   RED   ANT. 

The  lodgments  of  this  species  are  often  found  under  flat  stones  and 
rubbish ;  and  not  unfrequently  in  the  forsaken  habitations  of  Moles. 
In  the  latter  of  these  situations,  the  process  of  forming  their  nest  is 
curious.  They  cut  the  earth  into  small  parcels,  and  incrust  these  with 
the  blades  of  grass.  As  the  blades,  towards  the  month  of  June  (when 
this  work  is  in  progress)  grow  every  day,  so  the  Ants  advance  their 
labors  in  proportion,  By  this  contrivance,  in  somewhat  more  than  a 
month  they  have  a  number  of  little  mounts,  each  about  six  inches 
high.  The  architecture  of  these  is  slight,  and  the  demolition  easy ; 
but,  without  any  serious  accident,  they  last  long  enough  to  answer 
every  purpose  for  which  they  were  formed.  The  nests  of  such  Red 
Ants  as  reside  under  stones  or  pavements,  in  old  walls,  or  under  rub- 
bish, do  not  require  out-works,  and  consequently  the  insects  do  not 
here  form  them,  but  are  content  with  the  covering  they  find. 

In  collecting  their  stores,  these  creatures  may  often  be  observed  in 
full  employment ;  one  of  them  loaded  with  a  grain  of  wheat,  another 
with  a  dead  fly,  and  several  together  hauling  along  the  body  of  some 
larger  insect.  Whenever  they  meet  with  any  food  too  large  to  admit 
of  being  dragged  away,  they  devour  so  much  of  it  upon  the  spot,  as 
to  reduce  it  to  a  bulk  sufficiently  small  for  them  to  carry. 


DIPTEROUS  INSECTS. 


THE  Linnean  order  .Diptera,  comprises  those  insects  that  have  only 
two  wings,  each  furnished  at  its  base  with  a  poise  or  balancer. 


OF  THE  OESTEI,  OE  GAD-FLIES. 

FROM  the  posterior  part  of  the  body  of  the  Gad-flies  issues  a  wimble 
of  wonderful  structure.  It  is  a  scaly  cylinder,  composed  of  four 
tubes,  which  draw  out  like  the  pieces  of  a  spying-glass.  The  last  of 
these  is  armed  with  three  hooks,  and  is  the  gimlet  with  which  the  in- 
sect bores  through  the  tough  hide  of  horned  cattle,  for  the  purpose  of 
depositing  there  her  egg.  When  this  is  hatched,  the  grub  feeds  on 
the  matter  issuing  from  the  wound ;  and  the  nidus  forms  upon  the 
body  of  cattle  a  lump,  sometimes  above  an  inch  high.  Some  of  the 
species  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  nostrils  of  sheep,  and  others  in  places 
from  which  the  larvae,  as  soon  as  hatched,  can  be  conveyed  into  the 
intestines  of  horses. 

The  larvse  are  without  feet,  short,  thick,  soft,  and  annulate.  When 
full  grown,  they  let  themselves  fall  to  the-  earth,  and  they  generally 
pass  their  chrysalid  state  under  cover  of  the  first  stone  they  meet  with. 


OF  THE   TIPUL.E,   OE    CEANE-FLIES. 

IN  their  general  form,  the  Tipulae  have  a  general  resemblance  to  the 
Gnats,  but  they  are  easily  distinguished  from  those  insects,  by  having 
expanded  wings,  and  being  destitute  of  the  long  proboscis  which  is  so 
conspicuous  in  the  Gnats.  From  the  commencement  of  spring  until 
the  beginning  of  autumn,  the  larger  kinds  of  Tipulae  are  to  be  seen 
in  great  numbers  in  pastures  and  meadows.  Some  of  the  species  lay 
their  eggs  upon  the  ground  amongst  the  grass,  and  others  in  the  hol- 
lows of  decayed  trees.  The  larvce  are  without  feet,  soft,  and  cylindrical. 

Both  the  larvce  and  chrysalids  of  the  smaller  Tipulse  are  found  in 
water,  and  are  very  various,  both  in  size  and  color.  Some  are  fur- 
nished with  a  pair  of  arms ;  and  others  are  enclosed  in  cylindrical 
tubes,  open  at  the  ends.  The  latter  swim  nimbly,  but  the  former 
always  remain  in  holes  which  they  have  formed  in  the  banks  of  rivu- 
lets. Some  of  the  species  spin  a  silken  case  round  part  of  their  body. 
Their  whole  frame  is,  in  general,  so  very  tender,  that,  in  some  of  the 
species,  a  touch  only  is  sufficient  to  crush  them. 

(977) 


978  OF   THE   FLIES   IN   GENERAL. 


OF  THE  FLIES  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  mouth  of  these  insects  has  a  soft,  fleshy  proboscis,  with  two 
equal  lips ;  and  the  sucker  is  furnished  with  bristles.  The  antenna? 
are  generally  very  short. 

The  appellation  of  Fly  has  been  given  almost  exclusively  to  these 
insects,  probably  from  their  being  much  more  common  than  any 
others.  The  larvae  of  some  of  the  species  live  in  water;  those  of 
others  are  found  on  trees,  where  they  devour  aphides  or  plant-lice ; 
and  others  in  putrid  flesh,  cheese,  &c.  Most  of  the  flies  are  torpid 
during  the  winter,  and  therefore  lay  up  no  provision  for  their  nour- 
ishment, in  the  cold  season.  At  the  decline  of  the  year,  when  the 
mornings  and  evenings  become  chilly,  many  of  them  come  for  warmth 
into  houses,  and  swarm  in  the  windows.  At  first  they  appear  very 
brisk  and  alert ;  but  as  they  become  torpid  they  seem  to  move  with 
difficulty,  and  at  last  are  scarcely  able  to  lift  their  legs.  These  seem 
as  if  they  were  glued  to  the  glass  ;  and  by  degrees  many  of  the  insects 
do  actually  stick  on  the  glass  till  they  die.  It  has  been  observed  that 
some  of  the  flies,  besides  sharp,  hooked  nails,  have  skinny  palms  or 
flaps  to  their  feet,  by  which  -they  adhere  to  glass  and  other  smooth 
bodies,  and  walk  on  ceilings  with  their  backs  downward.  They  are 
enabled  to  do  this,  by  the  pressure  upon  those  flaps  by  the  atmosphere ; 
the  weight  of  which  they  easily  overcome  in  warm  weather,  when  they 
are  brisk  and  alert.  But  towards  the  end  of  the  year  this  resistance 
becomes  too  mighty  for  their  diminished  strength ;  and  we  see  flies 
laboring  along,  and  lugging  their  feet  on  windows  as  if  they  stuck  fast 
to  the  glass;  and  it  is  with  the  utmost  difficulty  they  can  draw  one 
foot  after  another,  and  disengage  their  hollow  caps  from  the  slippery 
surface.  On  a  principle  exactly  similar  to  this  it  is,  that  boys,  by  way 
of  amusement,  carry  heavy  weights,  by  only  a  piece  of  wet  leather  at 
the  end  of  a  string,  clapped  close  to  the*  surface  of  a  stone. 

It  is  a  very  extraordinary  fact,  that  flies  have  been  known  to  remain 
immersed  in  strong  liquors,  even  for  several  months,  and  afterwards, 
on  being  taken  out,  and  exposed  to  the  air,  have  again  revived. 
Some,  we  are  told  by  Dr.  Franklin,  were  drowned  in  Madeira  wine, 
when  bottled  in  Virginia  to  be  sent  to  England.  At  the  opening  of 
a  bottle  of  this  wine  at  a  friend's  house  in  London,  many  months  after- 
wards, three  drowned  flies  fell  into  the  first  glass  that  was  filled.  The 
Doctor  says,  that  having  heard  it  remarked  that  drowned  flies  were 
capable  of  being  revived  by  the  rays  of  the  sun,  he  proposed  making 
the  experiment.  They  were  therefore  exposed  to  the  sun,  upon  the 
seive  which  had  been  employed  to  strain  them  from  the  wine.  In 
less  than  three  hours  two  of  them,  by  degrees,  began  to  exhibit  signs 
of  life.  Some  convulsive  motions  were  first  observed  in  the  thighs  ; 
and  at  length  they  raised  themselves  upon  their  legs,  wiped  their  eyes 
with  their  fore-feet,  and,  soon  afterwards,  flew  away.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Kirby  informs  me,  that  he  has  made  the  same  observation  on  flies 


THE   COMMON-FLESH   FLY — HESSIAN   FLY CHEESE-FLY.      979 

taken  out  of  home-made  wines.     He  says  that  many  have  recovered, 
after  having  been  twelve  months  immersed. 


THE    COMMON    FLESH-FLY. 


It  is  a  fact  not  generally  known,  that  this  is  a  viviparous  insect,  de- 
positing its  offspring,  in  a  living  state,  on  the  meat  in  our  shambles 
and  larders.  The  young-ones  appear  under  the  same  worm-like  form, 
as  the  grubs  produced  from  the  Blue  Flesh-fly.  They  feed  as  those  do, 
increase  in  size,  undergo  all  their  transformations  in  the  same  manner, 
and  even  in  the  fly-state  appear  but  little  different. 


THE    HESSIAN    FLY. 


Among  the  various  causes  of  alarm  experienced  by  the  farmer  in 
the  course  of  his  rural  labors,  few  are  more  powerful,  though  many 
more  justly  so,  than  the  larvae  or  grubs  of  this  little  fly.  These  are 
lodged  and  nourished  within  the  stems  of  wheat  and  rye,  just  above 
the  root,  which  they  entirely  destroy. 


THE    CHEESE-FLY. 

The  larvae  of  these  flies  are  the  troublesome  maggots  found  in 
cheese,  and  so  well  known  to  housewives  under  the  name  of  Hoppers. 
They  proceed  from  eggs  deposited  in  the  crevices  or  holes  of  the 
cheese  by  the  parent  fly. 

This  maggot  is  surprisingly  strong  and  vigorous,  and,  when  disturbed 
leaps  to  a  considerable  distance.  To  do  this,  it  erects  .itself  on  its  tail, 
and,  bending  its  head  into  a  circle,  fixes  two  black  claws,  which  are 
situated  at  the  end  of  the  tail  into  two  cavities  formed  for  their  recep- 
tion at  the  back  of  the  head.  It  then  exerts  its  muscular  powers,  and, 
in  suddenly  extending  its  body,  throws  itself,  for  its  size,  to  a  vast  dis- 
tance. One  of  these  insects,  which  was  not  the  fourth  of  an  inch  long, 
has  been  known  to  leap  thus,  out. of  a  box  six  inches  deep,  or  to 
twenty -four  times  its  own  length. 


OF   THE   TABANUS,   OK  WHAME-FLY  TKIBE. 

THE  insects  of  the  present  tribe  subsist  on  the  blood  of  animals, 
which  they  suck  with  great  avidity,  by  means  of  their  proboscis. 
They  are  chiefly  active  during  the  hottest  weather  of  summer.  In 
most  of  the  species  the  eyes  are  beautifully  colored.  "Wet  meadows 
and  moist  woods  are  the  places  in  which  they  principally  abound.. 
The  larvae  of  some  of  the  suecies  live  underground. 
62 


980  THE   HORSE-FLY,  AND   GREEN-EYED   WHAME-FLY. 


THE   HORSE-FLY,  AND   GREEN-EYED  WHAME-FLY. 

The  puncture  of  both  these  insects  is  extremely  keen  and  painful. 
During  the  summer-time,  the  former  torment  horses  and  cattle  in 
such  a  degree,  as  sometimes  to  throw  them  into  a  state  of  the  utmost 
agitation  and  alarm.  They  are  more  abundant  in  wet  meadows  and 
pastures  than  in  other  places.  Mankind  are  also  not  unfrequently 
attacked  by  them. 

The  Green-eyed  species  often  torment  mankind.  Those  persons 
who  are  accustomed  to  walk  in  shady  lanes,  and  in  woods,  during 
the  hot  weather  of  Jiatie  and  July,  know  well  what  it  is  to  suffer  from 
their  attacks. 


OF  THE   GNATS. 

THESE  insects  principally  frequent  woods  and  watery  places,  and, 
in  many  parts,  are  known  to  the  country  people  by  the  name  of 
Midges.  They  live  by  sucking  the  blood  and  juices  of  the  larger 
animals. 

Their  larvae,  are  very  common  in  stagnant  waters.  The  bodies  of 
these  are  composed  of  nine  segments,  the  last  of  which  is  furnished 
with  a  small  cylindrical  tube,  through  which  they  breathe  ;  and  they 
frequently  rise  to  the  surface  of  the  water  for  that  purpose.  The 
head  of  the  chrysalis  is  bent  towards  the  breast,  so  as  to  throw  the 
thorax  in  front:  in  this  the  respiratory  tubes  are  situated,  near  the 
head.  The  last  segment  of  the  abdomen  terminates  in  a  kind  of  flat 
fin,  by  means  of  which  the  creature  performs  all  its  motions  in  the 
water. 


THE   COMMON   GNAT. 

Few  insects  are  better  known  than  this  species  of  Gnat,  and  there 
are  not  many  that  afford  a  more  interesting  history. 

The  female  deposits  her  eggs  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  sur- 
rounds them  with  a  kind  of  unctious  matter,  which  prevents  them 
from  sinking ;  and  she  at  the  same  time  fastens  them  with  a  thread 
to  the  bottom,  to  prevent  them  from  being  floated  away  from  a  place, 
the  warmth  of  which  is  proper  for  their  production,  to  any  other 
where  the  water  may  be  too  cold,  or  the  animals  their  enemies,  too 
numerous.  In  this  state,  therefore,  they  resemble  a  buoy  that  is  fixed 
by  an  anchor.  As  they  come  to  maturity  they  sink  deeper  ;  and  at 
last,  when  they  leave  the  egg,  they  creep,  in  the  form  of  grubs,  at  the 
bottom. 

It  is  impossible  to  behold  and  not  admire  the  beautiful  structure  of 
the  proboscis,  through  which  the  Gnat  draws  the  juices  that  afford  it 


THE   MUSQUITO-FLY — THE   SPIDER   FLIES.  981 

nourish ment.  The  naked  eye  is  only  able  to  discover  a  long  and 
slender  tube,  containing  five  or  six  spiculae  of  exquisite  fineness. 
These  spiculae,  introduced  into  the  veins  of  animals,  act  like  the 
suckers  of  a  pump,  and  cause  the  blood  to  ascend.  The  insect  injects 
a  small  quantity  of  liquid  into  the  wound,  by  which  the  blood  is 
made  more  fluid.  The  Gnat,  as  it  sucks,  swells,  grows  red,  and  does 
not  quit  its  hold  till  it  has  gorged  itself.  The  liquor  it  has  injected 
causes  a  disagreeable  itching,  which  may  in  some  degree  be  removed 
by  volatile  alkali,  01  by  immediately  rubbing  and  washing  the  place 
with  cold  water. 


THE   MUSQUITO-FLY.    • 

The  Musquito-flyis  nothing  more  than  a  large  variety  of  the  Com- 
mon Gnat.  These  insects  are  found  in  great  abundance  in  the  woody 
and  marshy  parts  of  all  hot  climates;  and,  during  the  short  summer 
throughout  Lapland,  Norway,  and  Finland,  and  other  countries 
equally  near  the  Pole. 

It  is  the  female  only  that  bites  and  sucks  the  blood  ;  and  this  oper- 
ation is  so  severe,  as  to  swell  and  blister  the  skin  in  a  violent  manner 
and  sometimes  even  to  leave  obstinate  sores. 

The  lowest  class  of  people,  in  all  the  climates  where  Musquitoes 
abound,  keep  them  out  of  their  huts,  during  the  day-time,  by  burning 
there  a  continual  fire :  the  Laplander,  when  in  bed,  has  a  better  con- 
trivance to  defend  himself  from  their  stings.  He  fixes  a  leather  thong 
to  the  poles  of  his  tent,  this  raises  his  canvass  quilt  to  a  proper  height, 
so  that  its  sides  or  edges  touch  the  ground.  Under  this  he  creeps  and, 
passes  the  night  in  security.  When  Mr.  Acerbi  and  his  friends  arrived 
in  a  cottage  in  the  village  of  Killare,  in  Lapland,  the  first  favor  the 
women  conferred  on  them,  was  to  light  a  fire,  and  fill  the  room  so  fall 
of  smoke,  that  it  brought  tears  from  their  eyes.  This  was  clone  to 
deliver  them  from  the  molestation  of  the  Musquitoes;  and,  as  a  means 
of  effectual  prevention,  they  made  a  second  fire,  near  the  entrance  of 
the  apartment,  to  stop  the  fresh  myriads,  which  would  otherwise  have 
rushed  in  upon  them  from  without.  The  buzzing  of  Musquitoes  is 
so  loud,  as  to  disturb  the  rest  of  persons  in  the  night,  almost  as  much 
as  would  be  done  by  their  bite. 


OF  THE  HIPPOBOSOE,  OE  SPIDER-FLIES. 

THE  Hippoboscse  form  a  connecting  link  between  the  two-winged 
and  the  apterous  insects.  By  some  authors  they  have  been  denomi- 
nated mouches  araignees,  or  spider-flies,  from  a  distant  resemblance 
which  some  of  them  have  to  Spiders. 

A  few  of  the  species  are  found  in  woods  and  marshy  places ;  but 
the  greater  number  of  them  infest  the  bodies  either  of  quadrupeds  or 
birds. 


APTEROUS  INSECTS; 


THE  Linnean  order  Aptera,  comprises  all  such  insects  as  are  desti- 
tute  of  wings  in  both  sexes. 


OF  THE  TERMES  TRIBE. 

THE  present  tribe  is  arranged  by  Linnaeus  among  the  Apterous 
Insects :  but  it  might  with  equal  propriety  have  been  inserted  with  the 
Neuroptera  or  Ilymenoptera ;  for  the  males  of  most  of  the  species,  in 
a  perfect  state,  have  either  two  or  four  wings. 


THE     DEATH-WATCH  TERMES. 

In  old  wood,  decayed  furniture,  museums,  and  neglected  books, 
these  insects  are  almost  always  to  be  found ;  and  both  the  male  and 
female,  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  each  other,  have  the  power  of 
making  a  ticking  noise,  not  unlike  that  of  a  watch. 

The  Death-watch  Termes  seem  to  have  very  little  alliance  to  the 
following  species. 


THE   WHITE  ANTS. 

The  animals  of  this  extraordinary  community  are  found  in  the 

East  Indies,  and  in  many  parts 
of  Africa  and  South  America, 
where  their  depredations  are 
greatly  dreaded  by  the  inhabi- 
tants. They  are  naturally  di- 
vided into  three  orders  .  1.  The 
working  insects,  2.  The  fighter  •, 
or  soldiers,  which  perform  no 
other  labor  than  such  as  is  ne- 
cessary in  defence  of  the  nests; 
and  3.  The  winged  or  perfect 
insects,  which  are  male  and 
female,  and  capable  of  multi- 
plying the  species. 

The  nests,  or  rather  lulls,  of  these  Ants,  (for  they  are  often  elevated 
(982) 


WPfiTE  AST. 


THE    COMMON    LOUSE.  983 

ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  ground,)  are  nearly  of  a 
conical  shape;  and  sometimes  so  numerous,  as  at  a  little  distance  to 
appear  like  villages  of  the  negroes.  Jobson  in  his  history  of  Gambia, 
says,  that  some  of  them  are  twenty  feet  high,  and  that  he  and  his 
companions  have  often  hidden  themselves  behind  them,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  shooting  Deer  and  other  wild  animals.  Each  hill  is  com- 
posed of  an  exterior  and  an  interior  part.  The  exterior  cover  is  a  large 
clay  shell,  shaped  like  a  dome,  of  strength  and  magnitude  sufficient 
to  enclose  and  protect  the  interior  building  from  the  injuries  of  the 
weather,  and  to  defend  its  numerous  inhabitants  from  the  attacks  of 
natural  or  accidental  enemies. 

When  a  breach  is  made,  by  an  axe  or  other  instrument,  in  any  of 
the  walls,  the  first  object  that  attracts  attention,  is  the  behaviour  of 
the  soldiers  or  fighting  insects.  Immediately  after  the  blow  is  given, 
a  soldier  comes  out,  walks  about  the  breach,  and  seems,  to  examine 
the  nature  of  the  enemy,  or  the  cause  of  the  attack.  He  then  goes 
into  the  hill,  gives  the  alarm,  and,  in  a  short  time,  large  bodies  of 
soldiers  rush  out  as  fast  as  the  breach  will  permit.  It  is  not  easy  to 
describe  the  fury  that  actuates  these  fighting  insects.  In  their  eager- 
ness to  repel  the  enemy,  they  frequently  tumble  down  the  sides  of  the 
hill,  but  quickly  recover  themselves,  and  bite  every  thing  they 
encounter. 


OF  THE  LOUSE  TKIBE. 

LICE  live  on  animal  juices,  which  they  extract  from  living  bodies 
by  means  of  their  sucker.  The  larva  and  pupa  resemble  the  perfect' 
insect. 

The  mouth  in  these  animals  is  formed  by  a  retractile  recurved 
sucker,  without  a  proboscis.  There  are  no  feelers,  and  the  antenna3 
are  about  the  length  of  the  thorax.  The  abdomen  is  somewhat  flat- 
tened; and  the  legs,  which  are  six  in  number,  are  formed  not  for 
leaping,  but  for  running  and  climbing. 


THE   COMMON  LOUSE. 

When  we  examine  the  human  Louse  with  the  microscope,  its 
external  deformity  excites  disgust.  The  forepart  of  its  head  is  some- 
what oblong,  while  the  hind  part  is  rounded.  The  skin  is  hard  and 
transparent,  with  here  and  there  a  few  bristly  hairs.  On  each  side 
of  its  head  are  two  antennae  or  horns,  jointed,  and  covered  with 
bristly  hair;  and  behind  these  are  the  eyes,  which  are  large  and 
black.  The  neck  is  short,  and  the  breast  divided  into  three  parts; 
on  each  side  of  which  are  three  legs,  armed  at  the  end  with  small 
claws,  by  which  the  animal  is  enabled  to  lay  hold  of  different  objects. 
The  trunk,  or  proboscis,  is  generally  concealed  in  its  tube:  this  is 
very  sharp,  and  furnished  towards  its  upper  part,  with  a  few  reversed 


984  THE   COMMON   FLEA. 

prickles.  By  means  of  this  the  Louse  feeds;  and,  when  it  is  engaged 
in  sucking  any  animal,  the  blood  may  be  seen,  through  the  trans- 
parency of  its  external  covering,  to  rush  like  a  torrent  into  the, 
stomach.  Through  the  skin  its  stomach  and  intestines  are  visible,  as 
well  as  the  ramifications  of  the  trachea  or  respiratory  tubes,  which 
appear  dispersed,  in  a  beautiful  manner,  throughout  various  parts 
of  the  animal. 

Scarcely  any  creature  multiplies  so  quickly  as  this  unwelcome 
intruder.  It  has  been  asserted  that  a  Louse  becomes  a  grandfather 
in  the  space  of  twenty-four  hours.  This  fact  cannot  be  ascertained; 
but  nothing  is  more  true  than  that  the  moment  the  nit,  which  is  no 
other  than  the  egg  of  the  Louse,  gets  rid  of  its  superfluous  moisture, 
and  throws  off  its  shell,  it  begins  in  its  turn  to  breed.  Nothing  so 
much  prevents  the  increase  of  this  nauseous  animal,  as  cold,  and 
want  of  humidity. 


OF  THE  FLEAS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  mouth  of  these  insects  is  without  either  jaws  or  feelers:  it  has 
only  a  long,  inflected  proboscis,  which  conceals  a  single  bristle.  The 
antennas  are  beaded;  the  abdomen  is  compressed  sideways;  and  the 
legs  are  six  in  number,  and  formed  for  leaping. 

The  larvce  are  white,  cylindrical,  and  without  feet,  but  are  very 
active  little  creatures.  Under  the  tail  there  are  two  small  spines. 
The  chrysalis  is  motionless,  but  in  appearance  is  not  unlike  the  pel- 
feet  insect.  The  two  following  species  are  all  that  have  been  yet 
discovered. 


THE   COMMON"  FLEA, 

Notwithstanding  the  general  disapprobation  of  this  insect,  it  has 

certainly  something  pleasing  in  its  ap- 
pearance. When  examined  with  a  micro- 
scope, it  will  be  seen  to  have  a  small  head, 
large  eyes,  and  two  short,  four-jointed 
antennae,  between  which  is  situated  the 
trunk,  or  proboscis.  The  body  appears 
enveloped  in  a  shelly  armor,  which  is 
always  clean  and  bright:  this  is  beset  at 
the  segments  with  many  sharp  bristles. 
All  the  motions  of  this  insect  indicate  agility  and  elegance;  and  its 
muscular  power  is  so  extraordinary  as  justly  to  excite  our  wonder. 
We  know  no  ajiimal  whose  muscular  strength  can  be  put  in  compe- 
tition with  that  of  a  Flea;  for,  on  a  moderate  computation,  it  is  known 
to  leap  to  a  distance  of  at  least  two  hundred  times  its  own  length. 

There  is  no  proportion  between  the  power  and  the  size  of  the 
insect  tribes.  Had  man  an  equal  degree  of  strength,  bulk  for  bulk, 
with  a  Louse  or  a  Flea,  the  history  of  Samson  would  no  longer  be 


THE  COMMON  FLEA. 


THE   PENETRATING   FLEA,    OR   CHIGOE.  985 

miraculous.  A  Flea  will  drag  after  it  a  chain  a  hundred  times 
heavier  than  itself;  and,  to  compensate  for  this  power,  will  eat  ten 
times  its  own  weight  of  provisions  in  a  day.  Mr.  Boverich,  an 
ingenious  watchmaker,  who  some  years  ago  lived  in  London,  ex- 
hibited to  the  public  a  little  ivory  chaise,  with  four  wheels,  and  all 
its  proper  apparatus,  and  a  man  sitting  on  the  box,  all  of  which  were 
drawn  by  a  single  Flea. 

This  little  animal  is  produced  from  eggs  which  the  females  stick 
fast,  by  a  kind  of  glutinous  matter,  to  the  roots  of  the  hairs  of  cats, 
dogs,  and  other  animals;  or  to  the  wool  in  blankets,  rugs,  or  other 
similar  furniture.  Of  these  eggs  the  females  lay  ten  or  twelve  a  day, 
for  several  days  successively;  and  they  are  hatched  in  the  same 
order,  five  or  six  days  after  being  laid. 

From  the  eggs  come  forth,  not  perfect  Fleas,  but  little  whitish 
worms,  or  maggots,  .whose  bodies  have  annular  divisions,  and  are 
thinly  covered  with  long  hairs. 

In  eleven  days  from  their  being  hatched,  they  cease  to  eat,  and  lie 
as  though  they  were  dying;  but,  if  viewed  in  this  state  with  a  micro- 
scope, they  will  be  found  weaving  a  silken  covering  around  them,  in 
which  they  are  to  change  into  a  chrysalid  form.  They  continue  nine 
days  in  this  shape,  at  first  white,  and  afterwards  by  degrees  darken- 
ing their  color  as  they  acquire  firmness  and  strength.  As  soon  as 
they  issue  from  their  bag,  they  become  perfect  Fleas,  and  are  able 
to  leap  away. 


THE   PENETRATING   FLEA,    OR   CHIGOE. 

This  is  a  troublesome  insect,  too  well  known  in  many  parts  of  this 
country.  It  is  so  small  as  to  be  almost  imper- 
ceptible. Its  legs  have  not  the  elasticity  of 
those  of  Fleas ;  for,  if  the  Chigoes  had  as  great 
powers  of  leaping  as  Fleas,  few  creatures  could 
escape  their  attack.  They  are  always  found 
among  dust,  and  particularly  in  filthy  places; 
they  fix  themselves  on  the  legs,  to  the  soles  of 
the  feet,  and  even  to  the  fingers. 

This  .creature  pierces  the  skin  so  subtilely  that  the  person  is  not 
sensible  of  the  attack;  nor  is  this  to  be  perceived  till  the  insect  begins 
to  extend  itself.  At  first,  it  is  not  difficult  to  extract  it;  but,  although 
it  may  only  have  introduced  its  head,  it  makes  so  firm  a  lodgment 
that  a  part  of  the  skin  must  be  sacrificed  before  it  will  quit  its  hold. 

"The  Chigoe,"  says  Stedman,  "is  a  kind  of  small  Sand-flea,  common 
in  Surinam,  which  gets  in  between  the  skin  and  the  flesh  without  its 
being  felt,  and  generally  under  the  nails  of  the  toes:  where,  while  it 
feeds,  it  keeps  growing  till  it  becomes  of  the  size  of  a  large  pea, 
causing  no  further  pain  than  a  disagreeable  itching.  In  process  of 
time  its  operation  appears  in  the  form  of  a  small  bladder,  in  which 
are  deposited  thousands  of  eggs  or  nits,  and  which,  if  it  breaks,  pro- 
duce so  many  young  Chigoes,  that  in  course  of  time  create  running 


THE   CHIQOE. 


986  THE   CHEESE-MITE — THE   DOG-TICK. 

ulcers,  which  are  often  of  very  dangerous  consequence  to  the  patient; 
so  much  so,  indeed,  that  he  knew  a  soldier,  the  soles  of  whose  feet 
were  obliged  to  be  cut  away  before  he  could  recover;  and  some  men 
have  lost  their  limbs  by  amputation;  nay,  even  their  lives,  by  having 
neglected,  in  time  to  root  out  these  abominable  vermin.  The  moment, 
therefore,  that  a  redness  and  itching,  more  than  usual,  are  perceived, 
it  is  time  to  extract  the  Chigoe  that  occasions  them.  This  is  done 
with  a  sharp-pointed  needle,  taking  care  not  to  occasion  unnecessary 
pain,  and  to  prevent  the  Chigoe,  or  bladder,  from  breaking  in  the 
wound.  Tobacco  ashes  are  put  into  the  orifice,  by  which,  in  a  little 
time,  the  sore  is  perfectly  healed." 


OF  THE  TICKS  IN"  GENERAL. 

THESE  troublesome  insects  live  chiefly  on  other  animals:  some  of 
them,  however,  inhabit  the  water,  and  others  subsist  on  various 
vegetable  substances.  They  are  to  be  found  every  where,  and  in 
immense  numbers.  The  larvce  and  chrysalids  have  each  six  feet. 

Their  mouth  is  not  furnished  with  a  proboscis,  but  the  sucker  has 
a  two-valved,  cylindrical  sheath.  They  have  two  compressed  feelers, 
as  long  a.s  the  sucker;  two  eyes,  one  on  each  side  of  the  head;  and 
eight  legs. 


THE   CHEESE-MITE. 

To  the  naked  eye,  these  minute  creatures  appear  little  more  than 
moving  particles  of  dust;  but  on  the  application  of 
the  microscope  they  are  found  to  be  perfect  insects, 
performing  all  the  regular  animal  functions. 

The  females,  which  are  easily  distinguished  from 
the  males,  are  oviparous.     The  eggs  are  so  minute, 
that  on  a  tolerably  accurate  calculation   it.   appears, 
that  ninety  millions  of  them  would  not  fill  the  shell  of 
a  pfgeon's  egg. 

Mites  are  very  quick-sighted ;  and  when  once  they  have  been 
touched  with  a  pin,  it  is  easy  to  perceive  a  great  degree  of  cunning 
exerted  to  avoid  a  second  touch.  They  are  extremely  voracious  ani- 
mals, and  are  often  observed  even  to  devour  each  other;  and  so  very 
tenacious  are  they  of  life,  that  they  have  been  kept  alive  many  months 
between  two  concave  glasses,  by  which  they  were  applied  to  a  micro- 
scope. 

THE   DOG-TICK. 

In  thickets  and  heaths  these  Ticks  'are  sometimes  very  abundant. 
Hence  it  is  that  animals  which  frequent  such  places,  and  particularly 
dogs  of  the  chase,  are  much  exposed  to  their  attacks. 


IE  CHEESB-MITE. 


THE   HOUSE-SPIDER.  987 

Tlieir  abdomen  is  quite  flat  and  thin  when  they  have  been  long 
without  nourishment ;  but,  when  adhering  to  the  body  of  an  animal, 
they  soon  fill  themselves  with  blood,  and  their  size  then  becomes  so 
much  enlarged,  that  any  one  unacquainted  with  their  habits  and 
appearance,  would  scarcely  recognise  them. 

Their  motions  are  extremely  slow  and  heavy,  but,  in  compensation 
for  this  apparent  defect,  they  are  able  to  adhere  closely  and  strongly 
even  to  the  most  solid  bodies.  They  are  very  tenacious  of  life  ;  and 
their  skin  is  so  hard  and  tough,  that  they  are  not  easily  susceptible 
of  injury.  Long  after  they  are  deprived  of  their  head,  they  give 
indications  of  remaining  life. 

In  the  destruction  of  these  insects,  mercurial  preparations  have 
been  employed  with  success. 


OF  THE  SPIDERS  IN  GENERAL. 

THESE  insects,  which  are  so  remarkable,  on  account  of  their  indus- 
try and  manners  of  life,  are  generally  viewed  with  an  aversion 'only 
to  be  accounted  for  by  the  unpleasing  impressions  that  are  made  upon 
us  in  early  life.  These  impressions  are,  in  general,  communicated  by 
persons  ill-qualified  to  give  the  mind  that  direction  which  is  necessary 
for  the  purposes  of  life.  Even  many  naturalists  have  complained 
that  this  aversion  has  deterred  them  from  observing  and  accurately 
examining  the  habits  of  these  insects;  and  those  who  have  under- 
taken to  do  so,  have  generally  been  at  much  trouble  to  overcome 
their  antipathy. 

Spiders  prey  on  other  insects,  and  do  not,  in  all  cases,  spare  even 
their  own  species.  There  is  little  doubt  but  their  bite  is  venomous: 
and  it  is  said  that  a  fly  which  has  once  felt  it  can  never  be  recovered, 
but  soon  dies  in  convulsions.  Many  of  the  species  have  been  swal- 
lowed, without  any  subsequent  inconvenience. 

Some  of  the  Spiders  spin  webs  for  the  purpose  of  catching  their 
prey ;  but  others  seize  it  by  surprise.  They  are  all  able  to  sustain  an 
abstinence  from  food  for  a  great  length  of  time  ;  some  for  even  six 
months  or  upwards. 

They  frequently  change  their  skins.  The  larvce  and  pupce  have 
each  eight  legs,  and  differ  in  no  respect  from  the  perfect  insect. 


THE   HOUSE-SPIDER. 

The  abdomen  of  these  insects  is  nearly  oval,  of  a  brown  color,  and 
marked  with  five  black  and  almost  contiguous  spots. 

House  spiders  feed  principally  on  flies;  and  the  web  by  which  they 
are  enabled  to  entangle  these  insects  is  a  surprising  part  of  the  animal 
economy.  For  the  purpose  of  forming  this  web,  they  are  supplied 
with  a  quantity  of  glutinous  matter  contained  in  a  receptacle  near  the 
extremity  of  their  bodies;  and,  for  spinning  it  into  thread,  they  have 


988  THE   HOUSE-SPIDER. 

five  teats,  the  orifices  of  which  the  insects  have  the  power  of  con- 
tracting and  dilating  at  pleasure.  When  they  enter  on  the  construc- 
tion of  this  curious  fabric,  they  fix  on  a  spot  apparently  calculated 
both  for  plunder  and  security.  The  animal  then  distils  one  little 
drop  of  glutinous  liquor,  which  is  very  tenacious ;  and  creeping 
along  the  wall,  and  joining  its  thread  as  it  proceeds,  it  darts  itself  to 
the  opposite  side,  where  the  other  end  is  to  be  fastened.  The  first 
thread  thus  formed,  being  drawn  tight  and  fixed  at  each  end,  the 
Spider  runs  on  it  backward  and  forward,  still  doubling  and  strength- 
ening it,  as  on  this  depends  the 
stability  of  the  whole.  The  scaf- 
folding thus  completed,  it  makes 
a  number  of  threads  parallel  to 
the  first,  and  then  crosses  them 
with  others :  the  clammy  sub- 
stance of  which  they  are  formed 
serves,  when  first  made,  to  bind 
them  to  each  other.  At  the 
bottom  of  the  web  a  kind  of 
funnel  is  constructed,  in  which 
the  little  creature  lies  concealed. 

HODSE-SPIDER.  p        , 

In  this  den  of  destruction  it 

watches  with  un remitted  assiduity  till  its  prey  is  entangled;  when 
this  is  the  case  it  instantly  darts  upon  its  victim  and  deprives  it  of 
life. 

The  webs  of  Spiders  differ  from  those  woven  by  any  human  artist 
in  this  circumstance :  in  our  work,  the  threads  extended  in  length 
are  interlaced  with  those  that  are  carried  on  transversely ;  whereas, 
the  threads  of  a  Spider's  woof  only  cross  the  threads  of  the  warp, 
and  are  glued  to  them  in  the  points  where  they  mutually  touch,  and 
are  not  either  inserted  or  interwoven. 

The  threads  along  the  border  of  the  work  are  doubled  or  trebled, 
by  the  Spider's  opening  all  her  teats  at  once,  and  gluing  several 
threads  one  over  another;  sensible  that  the  extremity  of  the  web 
ought  to  be  hemmed  and  fortified,  in  order  to  preserve  it  from  being 
torn.  She  likewise  further  secures  and  supports  it  with  strong  loops, 
or  double  threads,  which  she  fixes  all  around  it,  and  which  hinder  it 
from  being  the  sport  of  the  winds. 

From  time  to  time  she  finds  it  necessary  to  clear  away  the  dust, 
which  would  otherwise  incommode  her  web,  and  she  sweeps  the 
whole  by  giving  it  a  shake  with  her  paw  ;  but  in  doing  this  she  so 
nicely  proportions  the  force  of  the  blow  to  the  strength  of  the  work, 
that  nothing  is  ever  broken. 

From  all  parts  of  the  web  are  drawn  several  threads,  which  termi- 
nate, like  rays  in  a  centre,  at  the  place  of  her  concealment.  The 
vibration  of  any  of  these  threads  is  communicated  to  her,  and  gives 
her  notice  whenever  there  is  game  in  the  net,  and  accordingly  she 
springs  upon  it  in  an  instant.  She  derives  another  advantage  from 
this  retreat  under  her  web  ;  she  there  feasts  on  her  prey  in  full  security. 
It  also  gives  her  the  power  of  concealing  the  carcasses,  and  not  leav- 


THE   GARDEN-SPIDER.  989 

ing  in  the  purlieus  any  traces  of  her  barbarity,  capable  of  intimating 
the  place  of  her  retreat,  and  inspiring  other  insects  with  a  dread  of 
approaching  it. 

This  Spider  is  furnished  with  a  pair  of  sharp  hooked  fangs,  enclosed, 
when  at  rest,  in  cases  in  the  fore-part  of  her  head.  With  these  wea- 
pons, (which  a  good  glass  will  discover  to  have  a  small  slit  or  orifice 
in  each  point,)  she  seizes  and  pierces  such  insects  as  entangle  them- 
selves in  her  web ;  and  infuses  a  poisonous  liquid  into  the  wound. 
This  poison  must  be  very  deleterious  ;  for  flies,  and  many  other  insects, 
may  be  mutilated  by  depriving  them  of  their  legs,  wings,  and  even 
cutting  their  bodies  through  the  very  middle  of  the  abdomen,  and  in 
that  condition  they  will  survive  several  days;  but  this  liquid  in  a 
moment  kills  them. 

When  two  Spiders  of  the  same  size  meet  in  combat,  neither  of 
them  will  yield :  they  hold  each  other  by  their  fangs  so  fast,  that,  in 
general,  one  of  the  two  must  die  before  they  are  separated. 

The  Spider,  the  Ptinus,  and  many  insects  of  the  beetle  kind,  exhi- 
bit an  instinct  of  very  extraordinary  nature.  When  put  in  terror  by 
a  touch  of  the  finger,  the  Spider  runs  off  with  great  swiftness;  but 
if  he  find  that,  whatever  direction  he  takes,  he  is  opposed  by  another 
finger,  he  then  seems  to  despair  of  being  able  to  escape,  contracts  his 
limbs  and  body,  lies  motionless,  and  counterfeits  every  symptom  of 
death.  "  In  this  situation,"  says  Mr.  Smellie,  "  I  have  pierced  Spiders 
with  pins,  and  torn  them  to  pieces,  without  their  indicating  the  slightest 
marks  of  pain.  Some  Beetles,  when  counterfeiting  death,  will  suffer 
themselves  to  be  gradually  roasted,  without  moving  a  single  joint." 

When  the  House-spider  changes  its  skin,  which  it  does  at  certain 
seasons,  an  opening  may  be  seen  in  the  belly.  Through  this  it  draws 
all  its  limbs,  and  leaves  the  old  covering  hanging  to  the  cord  that 
sustained  it  during  the  operation. 

The  eyes  of  all  the  Spiders  are  placed  on  the  upper  part  of  their  head, 
but  in  various  positions.  These  have  no  muscles,  and  are  therefore 
immovable.  They  also  consist  of  only  one  lens  each,  and  do  not,  as 
in  other  insects,  possess  the  faculty  of  multiplying  objects  ;  but  their 
number  and  situation  enable  the  animals  to  see  perfectly  well  in  all 
necessary  directions. 


THE    GARDEN-SPIDER. 

The  body  of  this  Spider  is  brown  and  somewhat  aowny.  On  the 
thorax  are  four  furrows,  of  which  the  two  middle  ones  diverge 
towards  the  head.  The  abdomen,  which  is  nearly  spherical,  has,  from 
the  middle  to  the  extremity,  three  white  lines. 

The  labor  of  the  Garden-spider,  is  very  different  from  that  of  the 
former  species  ;  yet  it  is  not  performed  with  less  art.  When  desirous 
of  flitting  from  one  place  to  another,  this  animal  fixes  one  end  of  a 
thread  to  the  place  where  she  stands,  and  then  with  her  hind  paws, 
draws  out  several  other  threads  from  the  nipples,  which  being  length- 
ened, and  driven  by  the  wind  to  some  neighboring  tree,  or  other 


990  THE   WANDERING    SPIDER. 

object,  are  by  their  natural  clamminess,  fixed  to  it.  As  soon  as  the 
Spider  finds  that  these  are  fastened,  she  makes  of  them  a  bridge,  on 
which  she  can  pass  and  repass  at  pleasure. 
This  done,  she  renders  the  thread  thicker,  by 
spinning  others  to  it.  From  this  thread  she 
often  descends,  by  spinning  downward  to 
the  ground.  The  thread  formed  by  the  latter 
operation  she  fixes  to  some  stone,  plant,  or 
other  substance.  She  reascends  to  the  first 
thread,  and  at  a  little  distance  from  the  second 
begins  a  third,  which  she  fixes  in  a  similar 
manner.  She  now  strengthens  all  the  three 
threads,  and,  beginning  at  one  of  the  corners, 
THE  GARDEN  spiD£R.  weaves  across,  and  at  last  forms  a  strong 
and  durable  net,  in  the  centre  of  which  she 
places  herself,  with  her  head  downward,  to  wait  for  her  prey. 

From  its  having  been  frequently  remarked  that  Spiders  spread 
their  webs  in  solitary  and  confined  places,  to  which  it  is  sometimes 
difficult  for  flies  to  penetrate,  M.  de  Vaillant  concluded  that  these 
creatures  must  often  remain  long  without  food,  and  that,  conse- 
quently, they  were  capable  of  enduring  considerable  abstinence. 
To  ascertain  the  truth  of  this  circumstance,  he  took  a  large  Garden- 
spider,  whose  belly  was  about, the  size  of  a  nut,  enclosed  it  under  a 
glass  bell,  which  he  secured  with  cement  round  its  bottom,  and  left  it 
in  this  situation  ten  months.  Notwithstanding  this  deprivation  of 
food,  the  insect  appeared  during  the  whole  time  equally  vigorous  and 
alert ;  but  its  belly  decreased,  till  at  last  it  was  scarcely  larger  than 
the  head  of  a  pin  He  then  put  under  the  bell  to  it  another  Spider 
of  the  same  species.  For  a  little  while  they  kept  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance from  each  other,  and  remained  motionless;  but  presently  the 
meagre  one,  pressed  by  hunger,  approached  and  attacked  the  stranger. 
It  returned  several  times  to  the  charge  ;  and,  in  these  different  conflicts, 
deprived  the  stranger  of  almost  all  its  claws:  these  it  carried  away  to 
its  former  situation,  to  devour.  The  meagre  Spider  had  likewise  lost 
three  of  its  own  claws,  on  which  also  it  fed,  and  M.  Le  Vaillant  per- 
ceived that,  by  this  repast,  its  plumpness  was  in  some  degree  restored. 
On  the  following  day,  the  new  comer,  deprived  of  all  its  means  of 
defence,  fell  a  complete  sacrifice.  It  was  speedily  devoured  ;  and  in 
less  than  twenty -four  hours,  the  old  inhabitant  of  the  bell  became  as 
plump  as  it  was  at  the  first  moment  of  its  confinement. 


THE   WANDERING   SPIDER. 

The  color  of  the  Wandering  Spider  is  reddish  brown,  aarKer  on  the 
thorax  than  the  abdomen.  This  part  has,  on  each  side,  towards  the 
top,  a  blackish  line,  or  a  brown  spot.  The  two  anterior  legs,  which 
are  long,  have  blackish  rings.  The  four  hind  legs  are  very  short. 

The  Wandering  Spider,  which  is  very  common  on  plants,  does  not 


THE   WATER-SPIDER. 


991 


lie  in  wait  for  its  prey,  like  several  others:  it  is  a  lively  and  active 
hunter.  Its  head  is  furnished,  as 
in  the  rest,  with  immovable  eyes. 
Without  any  motion  of  the  head, 
it  perceives  all  the  flies  that  hover 
around:  it  does  not  alarm,  but 
stretches  over  them  its  arms,  fur- 
nished with  feathers,  which  prove 
nets  that  entangle  their  wings.  The 
Spider  seizes  them  between  its  mer- 
ciless claws,  and  instantly  sucks 
their  blood. 

In  its  general  form,  as  well  as  in 
its  manner  of  running,  the  Wander- 
ing Spider  has  much  the  appearance 
of  a  small  crab.  It  carries  its  eggs 
enveloped  in  a  small  bag  of  whitish 
silk. 


THE   WANDERING    SPIDER. 


THE   WATER-SPIDER. 

This  singular  little  creature  is  a  very  common  inhabitant  of  our 
fresh  waters.  When  in  the  water,  its  belly  appears  as  if  covered 
with  a  silver  varnish.  This,  however,  is  nothing  more  than  a  bubble 
of  air,  attached  to  the  abdomen  by  the  oily  humors  which  transpire 
from  the  body,  and  prevent  the  immediate  contact  of  the  water.  By 
means  of  this  kind  of  bubble,  the  insect  forms  its  dwelling  under  the 
vater.  It  fixes  several  silky  threads  to  the  stalks  of  water-plants,  and 
then,  ascending  to  the  surface,  thrusts  the  hinder  part  of  its  body 
above  the  water,  drawing  it  back  with  so  much  rapidity,  as  to  attach 
beneath  a  bubble  of  air,  which  it  has  the  art  of  detaining  below,  by 
placing  it  under  the  threads  above  mentioned,  and  which  it  bends, 
like  a  covering,  almost  round  it.  It  then  again  ascends  for  another 
air-bubble,  and  thus  proceeds  till  it  has  constructed  an  aerial  apart- 
ment  under  the  water,  which  it  enters  into  or  quits  at  pleasure.  The 
male  constructs  for  himself  one  near  that  of  the  female,  and  afterwards 
breaks  through  the  thread  walls  of  the  female's  dwelling;  and  the 
two  bubbles,  attached  to  the  bellies  of  both,  unite  into  one,  forming 
one  large  chamber. 

The  female  takes  care  of  the  young-ones,  and  constructs  similar 
apartments  for  them. 

The  figure  of  this  Spider  has  in  it  nothing  remarkable;  and  the 
insect  may  be  overlooked  among  a  crowd  of  curiosities,  if  the  specta- 
tor be  unacquainted  with  its  singular  art  of  constructing  an  aerial 
habitation  under  water,  and  thus  availing  itself  of  the  properties  of 
both  elements.  It  lodges,  during  the  winter,  in  empty  shells,  which 
it  dexterously  closes  with  a  web. 


992 


THE   TARANTULA THE    COMMON    SCORPION. 


THE   TARANTULA. 


This  spider  is  somewhat  more  than, an  inch  in  length.     The  breast 

and  belly  are  of  an  ash-color.  The  legs 
are  likewise  ash-colored,  with  blackish 
rings  on  the  under  part.  The  fangs  are 
red  within. 

The  Tarantula  Spider  is  a  native  of 
Italy,  Cyprus,  Barbary,  and  the  East 
Indies.  This  animal  lives  in  fields,  and 
its  dwelling  is  in  the  ground,  about  four 
inches  deep,  half  an  inch  wide,  and 
closed  at  the  mouth  with  a  net.  These 
spiders  do  not  live  quite  a  year.  They  lay  about  seven  hundred  and 
thirty  eggs,  which  are  hatched  in  the  spring.  The  parents  never 
survive  the  winter.  Inflammation,  difficulty  of  breathing,  and  sick- 
ness, are  said  to  be  the  invariable  consequences  of  the  bite  of  this 
insect. 


THE  TARANTULA. 


OF  THE  SCORPION  TRIBE. 

SCORPIONS  may  be  considered  as  the  most  malignant  and  poisonous 
of  all  known  insects.  Their  poison  is  emitted  through  three  very 
small  holes  in  the  sting,  one  on  each  side  of  the  tip,  and  the  other  on 
the  upper  part.  In  California  there  is  a  species,  the  Scorpio  Americanus, 
which  is  eaten  by  the  inhabitants. 

These  animals  prey  on  worms  and  insects,  and  frequently  even  on 
one  another.  Their  offspring  are  produced  from  eggs,  of  which  one 
female  lays  a  considerable  number,  After  their  appearance,  they 
seem  to  undergo  no  further  change  than  perhaps  casting  their  skin 
from  time  to  time,  in  the  same  manner  as  spiders. 


THE   COMMON  SCORPION. 

This  like  other  Scorpions,  has  a  distant  resemblance  in  shape  to 
the  Lobster,  but  it  is  infinitely  more  ugly. 
The  head  appears,  as  it  were,  jointed  to  the 
breast;  and  the  mouth  is  furnished  with 
two  jaws;  the  under  one  of  which  is  divided 
into  two,  and  the  parts,  notched  into  each 
other,  answer  the  purpose  of  teeth  in  break- 
ing the  food.  On  each  side  of  the  head 
there  is  a  four-jointed  arm,  terminated  by 
a  claw,  somewhat  like  that  of  a  Lobster. 
The  belly  is  divided  into  seven  segments, 
from  the  lowest  of  which  the  tail  commences:  this,  in  the  present 


THl  SCORPIO*. 


OF   THE   CRAB    TRIBE.  993 

species,  is  armed  with  a  hard,  pointed,  and  crooked  sting,  the  poison 
of  which  is  very  powerful. 

In  some  parts  of  Italy  and  France  these  animals  are  among  the 
greatest  pests  that  can  plague  mankind ;  but  in  those  countries  of  the 
East,  where  they  grow  to  a  foot  in  length,  there  is  no  removing  a 
piece  of  furniture,  without  danger  of  being  stung  by  them.  There, 
we  are  told,  they  are  nearly  as  large  as  small  Lobsters. 

Many  experiments  have  been  made  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  their 
poison ;  and,  in  warm  climates,  it  has  uniformly  been  found  fatal  to 
small  animals.  To  man  the  wound  is  extremely  painful.  The  place 
becomes  inflamed,  and  the  surrounding  parts  often  turn  livid,  an'd  re- 
quire to  be  carefully  dressed  in  order  to  prevent  mortification. 


OF  THE   CKAB  TEIBE. 

ALL  the  animals  of  this  tribe  have  their  bodies  covered  with  a  hard 
and  strong  shell.  The  head  is  united  to  the  thorax  or  breast  without 
any  joint. 

These  animals  live  chiefly  in  the  sea;  some,  however,  inhabit  the 
fresh  waters,  and  a  few  live  on  land.  They  feed  variously,  on  aquatic 
or  marine  plants,  small  fish,  molluscae,  or  dead  bodies.  The  females 
carry  their  ova  under  their  tail,  which,  for  that  purpose,  is  in  general, 
much  broader  than  that  of  the  males. 

The  animals  emphatically  denominated  Crabs,  have  a  short,  flat  tail, 
bent  close  to  the  body  in  n  hollow  between  the  legs.  The  Hermit-crabs 
have  a  soft  tail,  without  any  crustaceous  covering :  this  they  fit  into 
empty  shells,  or  hollow  stones.  In  the  Lobsters  the  tail  is  the  princi- 
pal part  of  the  body,  being  a  very  strong  member,  and  employed  with 
great  advantage  both  in  swimming  and  leaping.  This  is  formed  of 
six  convex  segments,  which  lie  over  each  other,  somewhat  like  the  tiles 
of  a  house,  and  are  terminated  by  five  laminae,  or  thin  plates.  The 
former  are  united  by  loose  membranes,  which  admit  of  much  motion. 
At  the  angle  where  the  upper  and  lower  parts  join,  these  segments  are 
furnished  with  a  kind  of  crustaceous  fins,  bordered  with  hair,  and 
consisting  of  several  articulations,  called  by  naturalists  pedes  natatorii. 
The  fins  are  moved,  backward  and  forward,  and  a  little  outward  and 
inward,  by  small  muscles,  contained  within  each  articulation.  By 
means  of  these  it  is  that  the  animals  have  their  progressive  motion 
at  different  depths  in  the  water. 

Most  of  the  Crabs  have  eight  legs,  (a  few,  however,  have  six,  or  ten,) 
besides  two  large  claws,  which  serve  the  purposes  of  hands.  They 
have  two  eyes,  situated  on  tubercles  projecting  from  the  head,  and 
movable  in  any  direction.  When  the  extremities  of  these  are  viewed 
with  a  glass,  they  are  found  to  be  composed  of  a  multitude  of  lenses, 
like  the  eyes  of  insects.  For  a  sense  of  touch,  these  animals  are  fur- 
nished with  antenna3,  and  palpi,  or  feelers.  They  have  likewise  a 
heart,  with  arterial  and  venous  vessels,  and  branchia3  or  gills  for  re- 
spiration. Their  jaws  are  transverse,  strong,  and  numerous;  and  the 
stomach  is  furnished  with  internal  teeth. 


994          THE  LAND  CRAB — THE  COMMON  CRAB. 


THE  LAND-CRAB. 

Land-crabs  are  natives  of  the  Bahamas,  and  of  most  of  the  other 
islands  between  the  tropics.  They  live  in  the 
clefts  of  rocks,  the  hollows  of  trees,  or  in  holes 
which  they  dig  for  themselves  in  the  mountains. 
About  the  months  of  April  and  May  in  every  year 
they  descend  in  a  body  of  some  millions  at  a  time, 
to  the  sea-coast,  to  deposit  their  spawn,  and  at  this 
season  the  whole  ground  seems  alive  with  them. 
_  They  march  in  a  direct  line  to  their  place  of  des- 

tination, and  are  said  seldom  to  turn  out  of  their 
way  on  account  of  intervening  obstacles.  Even  if  they  encounter  a 
lofty  wall,  or  a  house,  they  will  attempt  to  scale  it.  If  they  arrive  at 
a  river,  they  wind  along  the  course  of  the  stream.  They  march  very 
slowly,  being  sometimes  three  months  or  upward  in  gaining  the  shore. 
When  arrived  at  the  coast,  they  prepare  to  cast  their  spawn ;  for 
this  purpose  they  go  to  the  edge  of  the  water,  and  suffer  the  waves  to 
wash  twice  or  thrice  over  their  bodies.  They  then  withdraw,  in 
order  to  seek  a  lodging  upon  land.  In  the  mean  time  the  spawn 
is  extruded  in  a  bunch  from  the  body,  and  adheres  to  the  under  parts 
of  the  tail.  This  bunch  becomes  as  large  as  a  hen's  egg,  and  exactly 
resembles  the  roe  of  a  Herring.  In  this  stsfte  they  again,  for  the  last 
time,  seek  the  shore,  and  shaking  off  the  spawn  into  the  water,  leave 
it  to  the  heat  of  the  sun,  to  be  brought  to  maturity.  About  two- 
thirds  of  the  eggs  are  devoured  by  the  fish  which  annually  frequent 
the  shores  in  expectation  of  this  prey.  Those  that  escape  are  hatched 
under  the  sand;  and,  not  long  after  this,  millions  of  the  little  Crabs 
may  be  seen  quitting  the  shore,  and  slowly  travelling  towards  the 
mountains. 

The  old  ones,  in  their  return,  are  feeble,  lean,  and  so  inactive,  that 
they  are  scarcely  able  to  crawl  along ;  and  their  flesh  at  this  time 
changes  its  color.  Many  of  them  are  obliged  to  continue  in  the  level 
parts  of  the  country  till  they  recover,  making  holes  in  the  earth, 
which  they  block  up  with  leaves  and  dirt.  In  these  they  cast  their 
old  shells,  and  continue  nearly  motionless  for  six  or  seven  days,  when 
they  become  so  fat  as  to  be  delicious  food.  After  this  they  march 
slowly  back  to  the  mountains. 


THE    COMMON,    OR   BLACK-CLAWED    CRAB. 

The  most  remarkable  circumstance  in  the  history  of  these  animals, 
is  the  changing  of  their  shells  and  broken  claws.  The  former,  is  done 
once  a  year,  and  usually  between  Christmas  and  Easter.  During  the 
operation  they  retire  among  the  cavities  of  the  rocks  and  under  great 
stones ;  and  Dr.  Darwin  (from  the  authority  of  a  friend  who  had  been 


THE   COMMON    OR    BLACK-CLAWED    CRAB. 


995 


engaged  in  surveying  the  sea-coasts)  says,  that  a  hard-shelled  Crab, 
always  stands  sentinel, 
to  prevent  the  sea- 
insects  from  injuring 
the  rest  in  their  de- 
fenceless state ;  and 
that,  from  his  appear- 
ance, the  fishermen 
know  where  to  find 
the  soft  ones,  which 
they  use  for  baits  in 
catching  fish;  adding 
that,  though  the  hard- 
shelled  Crab,  when  he 
is  on  duty,  advances 
boldly  to  meet  the  foe, 
and  will  with  difficulty 

.  ,  ,  COMMON   CRAB. 

quit  the  field,  yet   at 

other  times  he  shows  great  timidity,  and  is  very  expeditious  in  effect- 
ing his  escape  :  if,  however,  he  be  often  interrupted,  he  will,  like  the 

_       _    „    -     :.  • '-  • '  .  •-   :  :          :  . 


CRAB  FISHING.— FISHERMEN  EXAMIMNG  THE  CRABS  OR  CRAB  POTS. 

Spider,  pretend  to  be  dead,  and  will  watch  an  opportunity  to  sink 
himself  into  the  sand,  keeping  only  his  eyes  above. 

When  the  claw  of  a  Crab  is  bruised,  it  bleeds,  and  the  animal  seems. 
63 


996 


THE   COMMON   OR  BLACK-CLAWED   CRAB. 


by  its  motions,  to  experience  much  pain.  For  a  while  it  moves  it 
from  side  to  side;  then  holding  it  perfectly  steady  in  a  direct  position, 
the  claw  on  a  sudden  gives  a  gentle  crack,  and  the  wounded  part 
drops  off;  not  at  the  joint,  as  might  be  imagined,  but  in  the  smoothest 
part  of  the  limb. 

Crabs  are  naturally  quarrelsome,  and  frequently  have  serious  con- 
tests, by  means  of  those  formidable  weapons,  their  great  claws.  With 
these  they  lay  hold  of  their  adversary's  legs;  and  wherever  they  seize, 
it  is  not  easy  to  make  them  forego  their  hold.  The  animal  seized  has, 


IMPLEMENTS  EMPLOYED  IN  CRAB-FISHIH<J.     fl.  OKAB  POT.     6.  LOBSTER  POT.     C.  WELL  BOX. 


therefore,  no  alternative  but  to  leave  part  of  the  leg  behind  in  token 
of  victory. 

A  fisherman,  by  irritation,  made  a  Crab  seize  one  of  its  own  small 
claws  with  a  large  one.  The  animal  did  not  distinguish  that  it  was 
itself  the  aggressor,  but  exerted  its  strength,  and  soon  cracked  the 
shell  of  the  small  claw.  Feeling  itself  wounded,  it  cast  off  the  piece 
in  the  usual  place,  but  continued  with  the  great  claw  for  a  long  time 
afterward. 

Fishermen  say  that  Crabs  will  live  confined  in  a  pot  or  basket  for 
several  months,  without  any  other  food  than  what  is  collected  from 
the  sea- water,  and  that  even  in  this  situation  they  will  not  decrease  in 
weight. 


THE  HERMIT  CRAB. 


THE  HERMIT  CRAB — THE  LOBSTER.  097 


THE  HERMIT  CRAB. 

Having  no  shell  to  any  part  but  its  nippers,  the  Hermit  Crab 
supplies  by  art  what  is  denied  to  it  by 
nature:  for,  taking  possession  of  the 
deserted  shell  of  some  other  animal,  it 
occupies  that,  till,  by  becoming  too 
large  for  its  habitation,  it  is  under  the 
necessity  of  changing  it. 

It  is  curious  enough,  in  some  coun- 
tries, vto  observe  this  animal  busily 
parading  the  sea-shore,  along  that  line 
of  pebbles  and  shells,  which  is  formed 
by  the  furthest  wave;  still,  however, 
dragging  its  old  incommodious  habita- 
tion at  its  tail,  unwilling  to  part  with 
one  shell,  even  though  a  troublesome 
appendage,  till  it  can  meet  with  another  more  convenient.  .it  stops 
first  at  one  shell,  turns  it,  passes  by ;  then  goes  to  another,  contem- 
plates that  for  a  while,  and,  slipping  its  tail  from  the  old  habitation, 
tries,  on  the  new  one.  If  this  be  found  inconvenient,  it  quickly 
resumes  the  old  one.  It  thus  frequently  changes,  till  at  length  it 
finds  one  that  is  light,  roomy  and  commodious.  To  this  it  adheres, 
though  the  shell  be  sometimes  so  large  as  to  hide  both  the  body  and 
claws  of  the  animal. 

But  many  trials  and  many  combats  are  sometimes  to  be  sustained 
by  the  Hermit  Crab,  before  he  is  thus  equipped :  for  there  is  often  a 
contest  between  two  of  these  animals  for  some  favorite  shell.  They 
both  endeavor  to  take  possession.  They  strike  with  their  claws,  and 
bite  each  other,  till  the  weakest  is  compelled  to  yield.  The  victor 
then  takes  possession,  and,  in  his  new  acquisition,  parades  backward 
and  forward  on  the  strand,  before  his  envious  antagonist.  These 
Crabs  feed  on  small  marine  animals  of  various  kinds. 


THE   LOBSTER. 

These  animals  are  extremely  prolific.  Dr.  Baster  says  he  counted 
twelve  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-four  eggs  under  the  tail  of  a 
female  Lobster,  besides  those  that  remained  in  the  body  unprotruded. 
They  deposit  these  eggs  in  the  sand,  where  they  are  soon  hatched. 

Like  the  rest  of  their  tribe,  they  are  said  annually  to  cast  their 
shells.  Previously  to  putting  off  their  old  shell,  they  appear  sick, 
languid,  and  restless.  They  acquire  an  entirely  new  covering  in  a 
few  days ;  but  during  the  time  that  they  remain  defenceless,-  they 
seek  some  lonely  place,  lest  they  should  be  attacked  and  devoured  by 
such  of  their  brethren  as  are  not  in  the  same  weak  condition. 

At  the  same  time  that  they  cast  their  shell,  they  change  also  their 


998 


THE    PRAWN,    AND    SHRIMP. 


THE  L033TER. 


stomach  and  intestines.     The  animal,  while  it  is  moulting,  is  said  to 

feed  upon  its  former  sto- 
mach, which  wastes  by 
degrees,  and  is  at  length 
replaced  by  a  new  one. 

Like  some  of  the  Crabs, 
these  animals  are  said  to 
be  attached  to  particular 
parts  of  the  sea. 

The  pincers  of  one  of 
the  Lobster's  large  clawa 
are  furnished  with  knobs, 
and  those  of  the  other  are 
always  serrated.  With 
the  former  it  keeps  firm 
hold  of  the  stalks  of  sub- 
marine plants,  and  with  the  latter  it  cuts  and  minces  its  food  very 
dexterously.  The  knobbed  or  numb  claw,  as  the  fishermen  call  it,  is 
sometimes  on  the  right,  and  sometimes  on  the  left  side,  indifferently. 
It  is  more  dangerous  for  a  person  to  be  seized  by  the  cutting  claw 
than  the  other;  but,  in  either  case,  the  quickest  way  of  getting  dis- 
engaged from  the  creature,  is  to  pluck  off  its  claw. 

In  the  water  these  animals  are  able  to  run  nimbly  upon  their  legs 
or  small  claws;  and,  if  alarmed,  they  can  spring,  tail  foremost,  to  a 
surprising  distance,  almost  as  swiftly  as  a  bird  can  fly.  The  fishermen 
can  see  them  pass  about  thirty  feet,  and,  by  the  swiftness  of  their 
motion,  it  is  supposed  that  they  may  go  much  further.  When 
frightened,  they  will  spring  from  a  considerable  distance  to  their  hold 
in  the  rock;  and,  what  is  not  less  surprising  than  true,  will  throw 
themselves  into  their  hold  in  that  manner,  through  an  entrance 
scarcely  sufficient  for  their  bodies  to  pass. 

The  circumstance  of  Lobsters  losing  their  claws  at  thunder-claps, 
or  the  sound  of  cannon,  is  well  authenticated ;  and  the  fishermen  are 
often  jestingly  threatened  with  a  salute  by  the  sailors.  The  restoration 
of  claws  thus  lost  may  always  be  observed ;  for  these  never  again 
grow  to  their  former  size.  When  the  claws  of  Lobsters  become  incon- 
venient to  the  animals,  from  being  injured,  they  always  break  them  off 


THE   PRAWN,   AND  SHRIMP. 

Prawns  are  chiefly  found  among  sea- weed,  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
rocks  at  a  little  distance  from  the  shore.  They  seldom  enter*  the 
mouths  of  rivers.  Their  usual  mode  of  swimming  is  on  their  backs  ; 
but  when  threatened  with  danger,  they  throw  themselves  on  one  side, 
and  spring  backward  to  very  consderable  distances.  They  feed  on  all 
the  smaller  kinds  of  marine  animals,  which  they  seize  and  devour 
with  great  voracity.  In  their  turn,  they  are  the  prey  of  numerous 
species  of  fish ;  although  the  sharp  and  serrated  horn  in  front  of  their 
head  constitutes  a  very  powerful  weapon  of  defence  against  the 
attacks  of  all  the  smaller  kinds. 


THE   PRAWN,   AND    SHRIMP. 


999 


lar   to    those 
catching  Lobsters,   or 


Being  in  great  request  for  the  table,  these  are  eagerly  sought  for  by 
fishermen,  who  catch  them 
either  in  osier  baskets,  simi- 
to    those    employed 


in 
n  a 

kind  of  nets,  called  putting 
nets.  These,  which  are  well 
known  to  all  frequenters  of 
the  sea-coasts,  are  five  or  six  " 
feet  in  width,  and  flat  at  the 
bottom;  and  are  pushed 
along  in  the  shallow  water, 
upon  the  sandy  shores,  by 
a  man  who  walks  behind. 
When  fresh  the  color  of  the 

-Pj  , 

Prawn    is   somewhat    cine- 

rous;  but,  when  boiled,  it  changes  to  a  beautiful 


TH£  PRAWN,  AKD  SHRIMP. 


light 


red. 


A  SHRIMPER. 


1000 


THE   CRAW-FISH CENTIPEDES. 


At  the  side  of  the  head  there  is  frequently  to  be  observed  a  large 
and  apparently  unnatural  lump.  This,  if  examined,  will  be  found  to 
contain,  under  the  thoracic  plate,  a  species  of  crustaceous  animal, 
which  occupies  the  whole  cavity,  and  there  feeds,  and  perfects  its 
growth. 

The  Shrimp  is  much  smaller  than  the  Prawn,  and  is  by  no  means 

so  much  esteemed  for  the  table  as 
this.  It  frequents  sandy  sea-shores 
in  great  abundance,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  enters  harbors,  and  even  the 
ditches  and  ponds  of  salt-marshes. 
Its  habits  and  economy  are,  in  most 
respects,  similar  to  those  of  the 
Prawn. 


THE   SHRIMP. 


THE   COMMON",   OR  FRESH-WATER   CRAW-FISH. 

Craw-fish  are  found  in  many  rivers,  odged  in  holes  wnich  they 

form  in  the  clayey  banks ; 
and  their  presence  is  gener- 
ally esteemed  an  evidence 
of  the  goodness  of  the 
water.  They  are  frequently 
caught  by  sticks  split  at  the 
end,  with  a  bait  inserted  in 
the  cleft,  and  stuck  in  the 
mud  at  the  distance  of  a 
few  feet  from  each  other. 
These  sticks  after  remain- 
ing some  time,  are  taken 
up,  and  generally  with  an 
animal  adhering  to  each. 
They  are  gently  drawn  out 
of  the  mud,  and  a  basket  ia 
put  under  them  to  receive 

the  animals,  which  always  drop  off  when  brought  to  the  surface  of 

the  water. 


THE  CRAW-FISH; 


OF  THE  SCOLOPENDK^E,  OB  CENTIPEDES. 

CENTIPEDES  live  chiefly  on  insects,  and  inhabit  decayed  wood,  or 
hollows  under  stones.  Those  that  frequent  hot  climates  are  large, 
and  many  of  them  are  very  venomous. 

All  the  species  have  tapering  antennae,  and  two  thread-shaped 
feelers  united  between  the  jaws.  The  body  is  long,  depressed,  and 
consists  of  numerous  transverse  segments,  each  of  which  is  furnished 
with  a  pair  of  legs. 


THE   GREAT   CENTIPEDE.  1001 


THE   GREAT  CENTIPEDE. 

The  Great  Centipedes  vary  much  both  in  size  and  color.  Some  of 
them  are  of  a  deep  reddish  brown,  others  of  a  yellow  ochre  color, 
livid  yellow,  or  tinged  with  red  ;  and  they  are  sometimes  seen  more 
than  a  foot  in  length.  Their  legs  terminate  in  very  sharp  hooks,  or 
nails  of  a  shining  black  color. 

None  of  the  insect  tribe,  the  Scorpions  excepted,  are  so  formidable 
in  appearance  as 
the  Centipede. 
It  is  found  in 
the  East  and 
West  Indies,  and 
in  various  parts 
of  Africa,  inhab- 
iting chiefly  the 
woods,  where  it 
is  preyed  upon 
by  the  different 
species  of  snakes. 

It     IS,      nOWeVer,  THE  CENTIPEDE  AND  MILLEPEDE. 

sometimes  found 

in  houses,  and  is  said  to  be  so  common  in  particular  districts,  that  the 
inhabitants  are  obliged  to  have  the  feet  of  their  beds  placed  in  vessels 
of  water,  in  order  to  prevent  their  being  annoyed 'during  the  night  by 
these  horrible  reptiles. 

Gronovius  says,  that  all  the  legs  of  this  animal  are  venomous ;  but 
its  most  formidable  weapons  are  the  two  sharp  and  hooked  instru- 
ments, that  are  placed  under  the  mouth,  with  which  it  destroys  its 
prey.  At  the  extremity  of  each  of  these  there  is  a  small  opening, 
through  which  it  is  supposed  the  Centipede  emits  the  poisonous  fluid 
into  the  wound  inflicted  by  the  fangs. 

Leeuwenhoek,  desirous  of  ascertaining  some  facts  relative  to  the 
poison  emitted  by  the  Centipede,  placed  a  large  fly  within  the  reach 
of  one  of  these  animals.  He  seized  it  between  a  pair  of  the  middle 
feet,  then  passed  it  from  one  pair  to  the  next,  till  it  was  brought  under 
the  fangs  ;  which  were  plunged  into  its  body,  and  it  died  instantly. 
M.  St.  Piere  says,  that,  in  the  Isle  of  France,  his  dog  was  bitten  by  a 
Centipede  upwards  of  six  inches  in  length,  and  that  the  wound  became 
ulcerous,  and  was  three  weeks  in  healing.  He  was  highly  diverted 
in  observing  one  of  these  animals  overcome  by  a  vast  number  of  Ants, 
that  attacked  it  in  conjunction,  and,  after  having  seized  it  by  all  its 
legs,  bore  it  along,  as  workmen  would  have  done  a  large  piece  of 
timber.  The  poison  of  the  Centipede  is  not  more  injurious  than  that 
of  the  Scorpion,  and  seldom  proves  fatal  to  the  larger  animals. 

Some  of  the  American  Indians- eat  Centipedes. 


WORMS. 


INTESTINAL  WORMS. 

IN  the  Lirmean  order  of  Intestina,  the  animals  are  simple,  naked, 
and  without  limbs. 


OF  THE   ASCARIDES. 

THE  bodies  of  these  worms  are  cylindrical,  semi-transparent,  and 
slender  at  each  extremity.  The  head  is  furnished  with  three  small 
vesicles.  The  intestines  are  generally  spiral,  and  of  a  whitish  color. 

Although  these  worms  have  long  been  known  to  inhabit  the 
stomach  and  intestines  of  men  and  animals,  their  origin  and  history 
seem  enveloped  in  great  obscurity.  The  difficulty  of  making  satisfac- 
tory observations,  and  the  want  of  favorable  circumstances  under 
which  to  attend  to  them,  have  hitherto  presented  insuperable  obstacles 
to  an  intimate  knowledge  of  their  habits  and  economy. 

In  structure  they  are  very  simple,  for  being  intended  to  subsist  on 
already  digested  food,  they  are  not  furnished  with  any  complicated 
organs.  The  denomination  of  Ascaris  has  been  given  to  them  from 
the  circumstance  of  their  being  almost  constantly  in  motion. 

Some  of  the  species  are  oviparous,  and  others  produce  living  off- 
spring. 0 

They  are  most  abundant  about  the  ileum,  but  they  sometimes  ascend 
into  the  stomach,  and  even  creep  out  at  the  mouth  and  nostrils. 

The  motion  of  these  worms  is  serpentine,  and  in  no  respect  resembles 
that  of  the  Earth-worm,  with  which  they  have  sometimes  been  igno- 
rantly  confounded.  The  latter  has  the  power  of  contracting  and  ex- 
tending its  body,  whilst  the  length  of  the  Ascaris  is  never  diminished. 
The  head  is  always  thrown  forward,  by  the  worm  curling  itself  into 
circles,  and  suddenly  extending  its  head  with  considerable  force. 

They  are  very  common  in  the  intestines  of  children  ;  and  are  some- 
times found  in  the  stomach.  Their  number  exceeds  all  calculation, 
and  they  cause  a  most  unpleasant  sensation  of  itching,  by  piercing  the 
skin  in  a  slight  degree,  with  their  awl-shaped  tails.  Even  newly-born 
children  are  not  always  free  from  them. 


(1002) 


THE   FLUKE- WORMS — TAPE-WORMS.  1003 


OF  THE  FASCIOL^E,  OR  FLUKE-WORMS. 

FLUKE-WORMS  are  often  very  numerous  in  the  viscera  of  quadru- 
peds, birds,  fishes,  and  reptiles.  They  are  found  in  the  stomach,  the 
intestines,  and  the  liver.  Each  individual  has  both  the  sexes  united 
in  itself.  They  are  oviparous,  and  the  ovaries  are  lateral. 

Their  body  is  oblong  and  flattish,  and  is  furnished  with  two  orifices, 
one  of  which  is  situated  at  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  body,  and 
the  other  at  a  little  distance  beneath  it.  The  interior  represents  an  in- 
testinal canal,  which,  after  passing  round  the  body,  folds  upon  itself, 
and  terminates  at  the  second  orifice. 

The  livers  of  sheep  which  have  fed  in  wet  and  marshy  grounds,  gene- 
rally abound  with  these  worms.  The  disease  called  the  rot,  is  sup- 
posed to  be  occasioned  by  them. 


OF  THE  TJ3NLE,  OR  TAPE- WORMS. 

are  worms  that  inhabit  the  bodies  of  different  animals, 
where  they  are  destined  to  feed  upon  juices  already  animalized.  They 
are  generally  found  in  the  alimentary  canal,  and  usually  about  the 
upper  part  of  it,  where  there  is  the  greatest  abundance  of  chyle, 
which  seems  to  be  their  natural  food. 

We  are  not  to  suppose  that  these  Worms  are  created  for  the  purpose 
of  producing  disease  in  the  animals  they  inhabit :  but  rather,  that 
Nature  has  directed  that  no  situation  should  be  vacant,  where  the  work 
of  multiplying  the  species  of  living  beings  could  be  carried  on.  By 
thus  allowing  them  to  exist  in  each  other,  the  sphere  of  increase  is  con- 
siderably enlarged.  There  is,  however,  little  doubt,  that  worms,  and 
more  especially  those  of  the  present  tribe,  do  sometimes  produce  dis- 
eases in  the  bodies  they  inhabit ;  but  we  are  at  the  same  time  very 
certain,  that  worms  do  exist  abundantly  in  many  animals,  without 
disturbing  their  functions,  or  annoying  them  in  the  slightest  degree  ; 
and  we  ought  to  consider  all  these  creatures  rather  as  the  concomi- 
tants than  the  causes  of  disease. 

The  species  of  TasniaB  are  not  confined  singly  to  particular  animals  ; 
men  are  subject  to  several  different  species,  and  even  the  people  of 
particular  countries  and  climates  are  subject  to  particular  species  of 
them.  The  people  of  England  have  the  Twniw  solium,  or  Common 
Tape-worm,  and  rarely  any  other :  the  inhabitants  of  Switzerland  the 
Tcenio&  lata,  &c. 

These  creatures  are  apparently  possessed  of  few  senses.  Nothing 
resembling  brain  or  nerves  has  been  discovered  in  them  ;  but,  as  they 
are  highly  sensible  to  stimuli,  it  is  most  reasonable  to  conclude,  that 
they  have  a  considerable  portion  of  nervous  matter  in  the  composition 
of  their  bodies ;  that  is,  of  such  matter  as  is  susceptible  of  stimuli. 
Indeed,  we  can  scarcely  imagine  how  any  animal  can  even  exist  with 
out  such  matter  in  its  composition.  Having  no  particular  organs  .of 


1004       THREAD-WORMS — FURY   TRIBE — HAIR-TTORM    TRIBE. 

sense,  the  touch  is  therefore  the  only  evident  source  of  intelligence 
which  they  possess. 

The  mode  of  increase  or  propagation  of  Taeniae,  appears  to  be 
principally  by  ova ;  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  these  ova,  as 
well  as  those  of  other  intestinal  worms,  are  so  constructed,  as  not 
easily  to  be  destroyed.  From  this  circumstance,  we  may  suppose  them 
to  pass  along  the  circulating  vessels  of  other  animals.  We  cannot 
easily  explain  the  phenomena  of  worms  being  found  in  the  eggs  of 
fowls,  and  in  the  intestines  of  a  foetus  before  birth,  except  by  sup- 
posing their  ova  to  have  passed  through  the  circulating  vessels  of  the 
mother,  and  to  have  been  by  this  means  conveyed  to  the  offspring. 


OF  THE  FILAE^E,  OB  THREAD-WORMS. 

THESE  troublesome  animals  are  found  in  the  bodies  of  several  kinds 
of  quadrupeds,  birds,  and  insects.  Most  of  the  species  perforate  the 
skin,  immediately  under  which  they  lodge  themselves ;  a  few,  how- 
ever, have  been  discovered  in  the  intestines.  None  of  them  have  yet 
been  found  to  infest  the  bodies  of  reptiles  or  fish. 


THE  FURY  TRIBE. 

OF  this  tribe  only  one  species  has  hitherto  been  discovered.  The 
body  is  linear,  and  of  equal  thickness  throughout.  It  has  on  each 
side  a  single  row  of  close-pressed  reflected  prickles. 

In  Finland,  Bothnia,  and  the  northern  provinces  of  Sweden,  says 
Linna3us,  the  people  were  often  seized  with  an  acute  pain,  confined  to 
a  mere  point,  in  the  face,  or  other  exposed  part  of  the  body,  which 
afterwards  increased  to  a  most  excruciating  degree,  and  sometimes, 
even  within  a  few  hours  after  its  commencement,  proved  fatal.  This 
disorder  was  more  particularly  observed  in  Finland,  especially  about 
marshy  places,  and  always  in  the  autumn.  At  length  it  was  discovered, 
that  the  pain  instantly  succeeded  something  which  dropped  out  of  the 
air,  and  almost  in  a  moment  penetrated  and  buried  itself  in  the  flesh. 
On  more  acute  examination,  the  Fury  was  detected  as  the  cause. 
This  little  worm  creeps  up  the  stalks  of  sedge-grass  and  shrubs  in  the 
marshes,  whence  it  is  often  carried  off  by  the  wind  ;  and,  if  the  naked 
parts  of  the  skin  of  any  person  happen  to  be  directly  in  its  course,  it 
immediately  adheres  and  buries  itself  within. 


OF  THE  GORDIUS,  OR  HAIR-WORM  TRIBE. 

THESE  animals  are  inhabitants  chiefly  of  stagnant  waters.  In  their 
organization  and  structure  they  are  extremely  simple.  Their  bodies 
are  round,  thread-shaped,  equal  in  thickness  throughout,  and  smooth ; 
and  their  interior  consists  of  a  canal,  which  extends  from  one  ex- 
tremity of  the  body  to  the  other. 


COMMON   HAIR-WORM — SEA   LONG-WORM — EARTH-WORM.    1005 


THE   COMMON   HAIR-WORM. 

The  popular  name  of  this  worm  originated  in  the  notion  that  it  was 
produced  from  the  hair  of  horses  and  other  animals  ;  a  notion  that  is 
even  yet  prevalent  among  the  common  people.  Its  Linnean  name  of 
Gordius  originated  in  the  habit  that  it  has  of  twisting  itself  into  such 
peculiar  contortions  as  to  resemble  a  complicated  Gordian  knot.  In 
this  state  it  often  continues  for  a  considerable  time,  and  then,  slowly 
disengaging  itself,  extends  its  body  to  the  full  length. 

It  is  common  in  our  fresh  waters,  and  particularly  in  such  where 
the  bottom  is  composed  of  soft  clay,  through  which  it  is  able  to  pass 
with  great  facility. 

The  Abbe  Fontana  kept  a  Hair-worm  in  a  drawer  for  three  years,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  time  it  was  perfectly  dry  and  hard,  and  exhibited 
no  signs  of  life ;  but,  on  putting  it  into  water,  it  soon  recovered  its 
former  vigor. 

THE    SEA   LONG-WORM. 

Such  is  the  extreme  length  of  these  very  extraordinary  worms,  that 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  fix 
any  bounds  to  it. 

Some  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent of  the  fishermen,  how- 
ever, assert,  that  they  are 
upwards  of  thirty  yards  in 
length ;  but  Colonel  Mon- 
tagu is  of  opinion,  that  as 
many  feet  must  be  the  utmost.  None  of  the  specimens  which  he  saw 
appeared  to  exceed  twenty  feet. 

The  expansion  and  contraction  of  the  Long- worms  are  very  sur- 
prising. One  of  them,  supposed  to  be  nearly  eight  feet  in  length,  was 
put  alive  into  spirits,  and  it  instantly  contracted  to  about  twelve  inches, 
at  the  same  time  increasing  to  double  its  preceding  bulk. 

OF  THE  LUMBRICUS,  OK  EARTH-WORM  TRIBE. 

THE  Earth-worms  have  a  round,  annulated  body,  with  generally  an 
elevated  fleshy  belt  near  the  head.  Most  of  the  species  are  rough, 
with  minute  concealed  prickles,  situated  longitudinally,  and  have  in 
the  body  a  lateral  aperture  or  pore. 

Some  of  these  worms  bore  into  the  earth,  others  live  in  mud,  and 
others  in  the  sand  of  the  sea-shores.  They  are  furnished  with  numer- 
ous prickles,  which  are  short,  and  curved  backward.  These  aid  their 
movements  in  the  ground.  Their  bodies,  likewise,  are  covered  with  a 
viscid  matter,  which  transudes  through  numerous  pores,  and  assists 
their  progress. 

The  most  insignificant  insects  and  reptiles  are  of  much  more  impor- 
tance, and  have  much  more  influence  in  the  economy  of  Nature,  than 
the  incurious  are  aware  of;  and,  notwithstanding  their  minuteness, 


SEA   LOXO-tVORM. 


1006  OF    THE    LEECHES   IN  GENERAL. 

they  are  mighty  in  their  effects,  from  their  numbers  and  fecundity. 
Dew-worms,  in  appearance,  constitute  a  small  and  despicable  link  in 
the  chain  of  Nature ;  yet,  if  this  link  were  destroyed,  it  would  make  a 
lamentable  chasm.  For,  to  say  nothing  of  the  many  species  of  birds 
and  quadrupeds  that  are  supported  by  them,  worms  seem  to  be  the 
great  promoters  of  vegetation.  They  bore,  perforate,  and  loosen  the 
soil,  and  render  it  pervious  to  rains  and  the  fibres  of  plants,  by  draw- 
ing straws  and  stalks  of  leaves  and  twigs  into  it ;  and  chiefly,  by 
throwing  up  infinite  numbers  of  lumps  called  worm  casts,  which  form 
a  fine  manure  for  grass  and  corn. 

Gardeners  and  farmers  express  their  detestation  of  worms,  the 
former,  because  they  render  the  walks  unsightly,  and  make  them 
much  work ;  and  the  latter,  because  they  imagine  that  worms  eat 
their  green  corn.  But  these  men  would  find  that  the  earth  without 
worms  would  soon  become  cold,  hard-bound,  and  void  of  fermentation  ; 
and  consequently  sterile.  It  should  also  be  observed,  that  green  corn, 
plants,  and  flowers,  are  not  so  much  injured  by  worms,  as  by  many 
species  of  insects  in  a  larva  state ;  and  by  unnoticed  myriads  of  those 
small  shell-less  snails  called  slugs,  which  silently  and  imperceptibly 
make  amazing  havoc  in  the  field  and  garden.  Lands  that  are  subject 
to  frequent  inundations  are  always  poor  ;  one  great  reason  of  this  may 
be,  because  all  the  worms  are  drowned. 

The  body  of  the  Dew-worm  is  formed  of  small  rings,  furnished 
with  a  set  of  muscles,  which  act  in  a  spiral  direction,  and  enable  it,  in 
the  most  complete  manner  possible,  to  penetrate  into,  or  creep  upon 
the  earth.  The  motion  of  these  creatures  may  be  explained  by  a  wire 
wound  on  a  cylinder ;  where,  when  one  end  is  drawn  on  and  held  fast, 
the  other,  if  loosed,  will  immediately  follow.  These  muscles  enable 
them  with  great  strength  to  dilate  or  contract  their  bodies.  The  an- 
nuli  or  rings  are  also  each  armed  with  small,  stiff  and  sharp  beards  or 
prickles,  which  they  have  the  power  of  opening  out,  or  closing  to  their 
body.  And  under  the  skin  is  secreted  a  slimy  matter,  which  they 
emit  at  the  perforations  between  the  rings,  to  lubricate  the  body,  and 
facilitate  their  passage  into  the  ground. 

In  winter  these  worms  retire  very  deep  into  the  earth,  to  secure 
themselves  from  being  frozen.  They  do  not  become  torpid  during 
this  season  ;  for  often,  in  the  intervals  of  mild  weather,  they  are  ob- 
served to  throw  up  their  casts,  in  the  same  manner  as  at  other  times  of 
the  year. 

OF  THE  LEECHES  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  body  of  the  Leech  is  oblong  and  truncate,  or  appears  as  if  it 
were  cut  off  at  both  ends.  These  animals  are  cartilaginous,  and  move 
by  dilating  the  head  and  tail,  and  contracting  themselves  into  the  form 
of  an  arch. 

Some  species  are  viviparous ;  others  are  oviparous,  and  lay  their 
eggs  on  aquatic  plants  or  carry  them  under  their  belly.  Each  egg 
contains  many  young  ones.  Several  of  the  smaller  kinds  may  be 
multiplied  by  cutting. 


THE   MEDICINAL   LEECH — HORSE   LEECH.  1007 

THE   MEDICINAL  LEECH,   AND   HOUSE  -LEECH. 

This  species  of  Leech  is  of  an  olive  black  color,  with  six  yellowish 
lines  above,  and  spotted  with  yellow  beneath.  It  is  generally  two  or 
three  inches  in  length. 

In  stagnant  ponds  and  ditches  these  animals  are  most  commonly 
found.  Their  body  is  formed  with  numerous  annular  wrinkles,  which 
they  have  the  power  of  expanding  or  contracting  at  pleasure.  The 
tail  ends  in  a  circular  muscle  or  sucker,  which,  when  applied  to  any 
substance,  readily  adheres,  by  the  animals  drawing  up  the  middle,  so 
as  to  have  it  pressed  firmly  .down  by  the  external  air.  By  this  it 
fastens  itself  with  ease  and 
security,  while  it  extends  the 
other  part  of  its  body  in  any 
direction ;  and  it  is  so  firmly 
fixed,  that  it  can  move  its  head 
about  to  seek  for  nourishment, 
without  any  danger  of  being 
carried  away  by  the  strength 
of  the  current.  When  the 

T  1  •  T  P  •  LJX.VU. 

Leech   is  desirous  of  moving 

onward,  it  extends  its  body,  fixes  its  head  in  the  same  manner  that  it 
did  its  tail ;  then  loosens  and  draws  that  up ;  and  again  fastens  it  near 
its  head,  as  a  fresh  point  to  proceed  from. 

The  head  of  the  Leech  is  armed  with  three  teeth,  of  a  slightly  car- 
tilaginous substance,  which  are  so  situated  as  to  converge  when  the 
animal  bites,  and  leave  a  somewhat  triangular  mark  on  the  skin.  These 
teeth  are  sufficiently  strong  to  pierce  the  skin  of  an  ox  or  a  horse. 
Through  the  holes  it  forms  with  them,  it  sucks  the  blood  ;  this  is  done 
by  contracting  the  muscles  of  the  throat,  so  as  to  make  the  blood  rush 
through  the  vacuum  above  the  wound  into  the  stomach,  a  kind  of 
membranaceous  receptacle,  divided  into  twenty -four  small  cells.  Here 
the  blood  remains,  sometimes  for  months,  and  affords  support  to  the 
animal  during  the  whole  time.  It  passes  off  by  transpiration,  the 
matter  fixing  on  the  surface  of  the  body,  and  afterwards  coming  off* 
in  small  threads.  In  proof  of  this,  if  a  Leech  be  immersed  in  oil, 
(where  it  may  be  kept  alive  for  several  days,)  and  afterward  put  into 
water,  a  kind  of  slough  will  be  seen  to  loosen  from  its  skin,  exactly 
of  the  shape  of  the  body. 

It  is  stated,  that  a  large-sized  Leech  will  generally  draw  about  an 
ounce  of  blood.  These  animals  will  sometimes  adhere  so  long,  and 
become  so  much  distended,  as  afterwards  to  die  in  consequence.  They 
are,  at  any  time,  easily  loosened  from  the  skin,  by  putting  upon  them 
salt,  pepper,  or  acids. 

Horse-leeches  are  equally,  if  not  more,  abundant  in  ditches  and  stag- 
nant waters,  than  the  former  species.  They  are  so  greedy  of  blood,  that  a 
vulgar  notion  is  prevalent,  that  nine  of  them  are  able  to  destroy  a  horse. 
Medical  men,  in  general,  are  cautious  not  to  use  them,  from  an  opinion, 
though  probably  a  groundless  one,  that  their  bite  is  noxious. 


MOLLUSCOUS  WORMS. 


OF  THE  SLUGS  IN  GENEKAL. 

THE  Linnean  order  Mollusea  consists  of  all  those  simple  animals 
which  are  without  shells,  and  are  furnished  with  tentacula  or  arms. 
The  greater  number  of  them  ere  inhabitants  of  the  sea. 

Few  animals,  for  their  size,  are  more  voracious  than  these.  They 
would  do  serious  injury  to  our  fields  and  gardens,  were  not  their 
numbers  abridged  by  several  of  the  smaller  quadrupeds,  and  by  various 
species  of  birds. 

They  have  so  strong  a  tendency  to  reproduction,  that,  if  the  head  or 
tail  be  cut  off,  these  parts  will  grow  again.  Most  of  the  species  can 
exist  for  a  great  length  of  time,  even  for  several  months  successively, 
without  food. 


THE   SMALL   GRAY  SLUG,  AND  BLACK  SLUG. 

In  moist  gardens,  meadows,  fields,  and  woods,  the  former  of  these 

Slugs  is   but  too   common.      Its 
time  of  going  abroad  in  search  of 

either  among  the  leaves  of  vege- 
tables or  under  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  Its  progress  on  the 
ground  may  be  easily  traced  by 
the  slime  which  it  leaves  in  its 
track.  Few  animals  are  more  de- 
structive to  vegetation  than  these. 
These  Slugs  sometimes  suspend 
themselves  by  a  kind  of  thread,  formed  from  the  viscid  substance 
which  covers  their  bodies. 

The  Black  Slug,  or  Snail,  is  a  well-known  inhabitant  of  our  fields 
and  meadows,  during  the  summer  season.  The  country  people  consider 
the  appearance  of  this  Slug  as  an  indication  of  approaching  rain  ;  but 
this  is  rather  to  be  accounted  for  by  the  moisture  of  the  ground  and 
of  the  plants.  It  is  seldom  indeed  to  be  observed  abroad  during  dry 
weather,  for  this  would  deprive  the  external  parts  of  its  body  of  the 
moisture  which  is  requisite  for  its  subsistence.  The  Black  Slug  feeds 
on  the  roots  and  leaves  of  different  kinds  of  plants. 


(1003) 


THE  BLACK   SLUG. 


THE   APLYSIA,   AMPHITRITE   AND   NERES   TRIBES.         1009 


OF  THE  APLYSIA  TKIBE. 

THE  species  of  Aplysia,  are  only  three  in  number.  One  of  them 
inhabits  the  European  seas,  another  the  shores  of  Barbary,  and  the 
third  the  coasts  of  America. 

These  animals  respire  water  by  means  of  branchiae,  which  form  a 
kind  of  tuft  on  the  back,  and  which  are  covered  with  an  operculum 
or  lid. 


OF  THE  AMPHITKITES. 

THERE  is  no  tribe  of  marine  animals  that  exceed  these  in  beauty. 
They  inhabit  tubes  of  a  horny  or  tendinous  substance,  the  greater  part 
of  which  is  buried  in  the  sand,  or  mud,  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  From 
the  upper  extremity  of  these  tubes,  they  push  out  a  great  number  of 
elegant  tentacula,  which  are  arranged  about  the  mouth  like  rays 
from  the  centre  of  a  circle. 

The  species  are  numerous ;  and  several  beautiful  kinds  have,  of  late 
years,  been  discovered  to  inhabit  the  English  coasts. 

OF  THE  NEREIS  TRIBE. 

THESE  are  all  marine  animals.  They  are  very  various  in  size ;  some 
are  invisibly  minute,  and  others  are  several  inches  in  length.  They 
have  been  denominated  Marine  Scolopendrae  or  Centipedes ;  and,  in 
some  respects,  they  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  these  animals. 

By  numerous  legs  with  which  they  are  furnished,  they  are  enabled 
to  move  about  among  submarine  rocks  and  stones,  with  considerable 
agility.  Under  these  they  conceal  themselves,  and  lie  in  ambush  for 
their  prey,  which  chiefly  consists  of  minute  worms  of  different  kinds. 

The  Night-shining  Nereis. — These  minute  creatures  inhabit  every 
sea ;  and  are  one  of  the  causes  of  the  luminous  shining  of  the  water  in 
the  night.  They  are  found  on  all  kinds  of  marine  plants  ;  but  often 
leave  them,  and  swim  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  They  are  frequent 
at  every  season  of  the  year,  but  particularly  in  summer,  before  stormy 
weather,  when  they  become  more  agitated  and  more  luminous  than  at 
at  other  times.  So  minute  are  they,  that  myriads  of  them  may  be 
contained  in  a  small  cup  full  of  sea- water.  Innumerable  quantities  of 
them  lodge  in  the  cavities  of  the  scales  of  fishes;  and  to  them,  probably, 
the  fish  may,  in  some  measure  be  indebted  for  their  luminous  quality. 


OF  THE  ACTINIA,  OR  SEA-ANEMONES. 

THESE  animals  are  of  a  somewhat  oblong  form,  and,  when  closed, 
resemble  a  truncated  cone.     They  are  fixed  by  the  base ;  and  from  the 


1010  THE   COMMON,    OR   PURPLE    SEA-ANEMONE. 

upper  part  of  their  body  occasionally  extend  several  tentacula,  which 
are  disposed  in  regular  circles.  The  mouth  is  situated  at  the  top,  in 
the  centre  of  the  tentacula,  and  is  furnished  with  crooked  teeth. 

They  are  all  capable  of  varying  their  figure ;  but,  when  their  tentacula 
are  fully  expanded,  they  have  the  appearance  of  full-blown  flowers. 
Many  of  them  are  of  very  beautiful  and  brilliant  colors.  They  feed 
on  shell-fish,  and  other  marine  animals,  which  they  draw  into  their 
mouth  by  means  of  their  arms ;  and  they  eject  the  shells  and  other 
indigestible  parts  through  the  same  opening.  It,  however,  sometimes 
happens,  that  a  shell  presents  itself  in  a  wrong  position,  and  the 
animal  is  not  able  to  discharge  it  in  the  usual  manner :  in  this  case,  we 
are  told  that  the  shell  is  forced  through  the  body,  making  a  wound,  as 
if  with  a  knife,  near  the  base.  The  arms  of  the  Sea-anemones  seem  to 
lay  hold  of  objects  by  making  a  vacuum  ;  for  on  touching  them  with 
the  fingers,  they  readily  adhere,  but  no  viscous  matter  is  deposited  by 
them.  The  mouth  of  these  animals  is  capable  of  great  extension,  so 
as  to  allow  them,  without  injury,  to  swallow  very  large  shells.  The 
whole  interior  of  their  body  is  one  cavity  or  stomach.  They  have  the 
power  of  progressive  motion  :  but  this  is  extremely  slow,  and  is  said 
to  be  performed  by  loosing  their  base  from  the  rock,  reversing  their 
body,  and  employing  their  tentacula  as  legs. 

Nearly  all  the  animals  of  this  tribe  may  be  separated  from  the  rocks 
by  a  card  carefully  introduced  beneath,  so  as  not  materially  to  injure 
them ;  and,  if  put  into  glass  vessels  with  sea- water,  which  must  be 
changed  about  once  a  week,  they  will  there  fix  themselves,  and  may 
be  kept  alive  and  in  full  vigor  for  a  great  length  of  time,  even  in  places 
far  distant  from  the  sea-coasts. 

All  the  species  are  viviparous. 


THE   COMMON,   OR   PURPLE   SEA-ANEMONE. 

On  the  submarine  rocks  of  several  of  the  European  coasts,  and  on 

those  of  the  British  is- 
lands in  particular,  these 
animals  are  extreme- 
ly abundant.  They  ad- 
here by  their  base  so 
firmly  to  the  rocks,  as 
frequently  to  be  left 
above  water  at  the  ebb- 
ing of  the  sea  :  but  they 
are  generally  found  at 
a  little  depth  below  the 
surface.  When  closed, 
their  form  is  that  of  a 
rounded  cone,  with  an 
orifice  at  the  top. 

If  kept  in  a  vessel  of  salt-water,  they  will  continue  to  live  and  flourish 
for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  It  is,  however,  remarkable,  that 


ANEMONE   SEEN  FROM 


THE   ROSE-COLORED   SEA-ANEMONE.  1011 

when  from  want  of  the  water  being  changed,  they  become  unhealthy, 
they  protrude  their  intestines  at  the  mouth,  and  at  length  turn  inside 
out,  their  mouth  closing  round  the  base.  On  renewing  the  water  they 
will  sometimes  recover,  and  assume  their  natural  shape  and  appearance. 


THE    ROSE-COLORED  SEA-ANEMONE. 

On  this  species  the  Abbe  Dicquemaire  made  several  experiments 
to  ascertain  its  power  of  production,  and  other  remark- 
able properties.  He  first  cut  off  all  the  tentacula :  these 
grew  again  in  less  than  a  month ;  and,  on  repeating 
this  apparently  cruel  operation  a  second  and  a  third 
time,  he  had  equal  success.  One  of  the  animals  had 
its  upper  part  cut  off:  the  base  was  found,  a  few  days, 
afterward,  to  have  fallen  from  its  place,  but  it  soon 
entirely  recovered  its  limbs.  After  cutting  one  of 
these  Anemones  in  two,  the  Abbd  offered  a  piece  of  a  muscle  to  the 
detached  part,  and  the  limbs  seemed  eager  to  take  it.  They  drew  it 
into  the  mouth,  and  it  was  swallowed ;  but,  as  the  body  was  wanting 
to  receive  it,  the  piece  came  out  at  the  opposite  end  ;  "just  (says  the 
Abbd)  as  a  man's  head,  being  cut  off,  would  let  out  at  the  neck  the 
bit  taken  in  at  the  mouth."  It  was  offered  a  second  time,  and  again 
.received  and  retained  till  the  following  day,  when  it  was  thrown  up. 
In  this  manner  it  was  fed  for  some  time,  the  bits,  when  they  did  not 
pass  through,  appearing  considerably  altered  on  their  re- appearance  at 
the  mouth.  If  the  base  of  any  of  the  Anemones  happened  to  be  in- 
jured \)y  the  incision,  the  wound  generally  proved  mortal. 

On  being  put  under  the  receiver  of  an  air-pump,  and  having  the  air 
exhausted,  these  animals  did  not  seem  to  exper- 
ience any  ill-effects,  nor  to  perceive  any  differ- 
ence between  this  and  their  being  in  the  open 
air  :  if  their  tentacula  happened  to  be  expanded, 
they  remained  so,  and  not  the  least  shrinking 
could  be  perceived. 

These  animals  are  destitute  of  eyes,  yet  they 
are  very  evidently  affected  by  light.  If  a  candle 
be  held  over  the  glasses  in  which  they  are  kept, 
and  at  such  a  distance  as  not  to  communicate 
any  heat,  they  regularly  close,  and  do  not  again  expand  until  the  light 
is  removed. 


OF  THE  SEPIA,  OR  CUTTLE-FISH  TRIBE. 

THE  structure  of  these  animals  is  very  remarkable.  Their  body  is 
cylindrical,  and,  in  some  of  this  species,  entirely  covered  with  a  fleshy 
sheath ;  in  others,  the  sheath  reaches  only  to  the  middle  of  the  body. 
They  have  eight  tentacula  or  arms,  and  in  general  two  feelers  as  they 
are  called,  which  are  much  longer  than  the  arms.  Both  the  feelers-. 
64 


1012         THE   OFFICINAL   AND   EIGHT-ARMED   CUTTLE-FISH. 

and  arms  are  furnished  with  strong  circular  cups  or  suckers.  The 
mouth  of  these  animals  is  hard,  strong,  and  horny,  resembling,  both  in 
texture  and  substance,  the  beak  of  a  parrot. 

In  the  back  under  the  skin,  there  is  a  kind  of  bone,  composed  of 
thin  parallel  plates,  one  above  another,  and  separated  by  little  columns, 
arranged  in  quincunx  order.  This  bone  is  oval,  thick  toward  the 
middle,  and  thin  at  the  edge.  It  is  extremely  light,  generally  elastic, 
and,  in  the  living  animal,  is  transparent,  like  glass :  the  surface,  in 
some  species,  is  marked  with  longitudinal  furrows. 


THE   OFFICINAL  AND   EIGHT-ARMED   CUTTLE-FISH. 

By  means  of  the  numerous  circular  cups  or  suckers  with  which  the 

arms  of  both  these  species  are  furnished, 
they  seize  their  prey,  and  firmly  attach 
themselves  to  rocks  or  other  hard  sub- 
stances. In  order  to  do  this,  they 
apply  the  surface  of  the  suckers,  ex- 
tended and  plain,  to  the  surface  of  the 
body  to  which  they  are  about  to  adhere : 
then,  drawing  them  up  in  the  centre,  by 
the  muscles  contrived  for  that  purpose, 
a  vacuum  is  formed,  and  they  are  fixed 
by  the  pressure  of  the  external  air. 
Their  adhesive  power  is  so  great,  that  it  is  generally  more  easy  to  tear 
off  the  arms,  than  separate  them  from  the  substance  to  which  they  are 
fixed.  If  the  arms  happen  to  be  broken  off,  they  are  soon  afterwards 
re-produced. 

The  beak  of  these  animals  is  so  strong  and  powerful,  that  they  are 
enabled,  by  means  of  it,  to  break  in  pieces  the  shells  of  limpets,  and 
of  other  marine  testaceous  animals,  on  which  they  feed. 

In  the  belly  not  only  of  these,  but  of  all  other  species  of  Cuttle-fish, 
there  is. a  vessel  that  contains  a  quantity  of  dark  or  inky  fluid,  which 
the  animal  emits,  on  contraction,  when  alarmed.  This  not  only  tinges 
the  water  so  as  to  conceal  its  retreat,  but  is  at  the  same  time  so  bitter, 
as  immediately  to  drive  off  its  enemies. 

Swammerdam  was  of  opinion,  that  Indian  ink  was  this  black  fluid 
in  an  inspissated  state,  with  the  addition  of  perfumes.  If  Indian  ink 
be,  in  any  considerable  quantity,  dissolved  in  water,  it  acquires,  in  a 
few  days,  a  very  high  degree  of  putridity,  clearly  indicating  its  being 
formed  of  some  animal  substance ;  and  no  other  seems  so  well  calcu- 
lated to  compose  it  as  this. 

The  Officinal  Cuttle-fish  has  in  its  body  a  bone,  which,  when  dried 
and  pulverized,  is  employed  by  silversmiths  for  moulds,  in  which.they 
cast  their  small  work,  such  as  spoons,  rings,  &c.  It  is  also  converted 
into  that  useful  article  of  stationery,  called  pounce.  This  bone,  on 
account  of  its  lightness,  is  sometimes  called  sea-foam,  or  sea-biscuit. 
This  species  was  held  in  great  esteem  by  the  ancients  as  food,  and 


THE   CUTTtE-FISH. 


THE   STAE-FISH. 


THE   COMMON,    OR   FIVE-RAYED    STAR-FISH.  1013 

it  is  even  yet  used  as  such  by  the  Italians,  and  the  inhabitants  of 
other  countries  on  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean. 

The  Eight-armed  Cuttle-fish,  in  hot  climates,  sometimes  becomes  of 
such  size,  as  to  measure  twelve  feet  across  its  centre,  and  to  have  each 
of  its  arms  between  forty  and  fifty  feet  long.  When  the  Indians  go 
out  in  their  canoes,  in  places  frequented  by  these  animals,  they  are 
always  in  dread  of  their  flinging  their  arms  over  and  sinking  them ; 
on  which  account  they  are  careful  to  take  with  them  an  axe,  to  cut 
them  off. 


OF  THE  ASTERIAS,  OR  STAR-FISH  TRIBE. 

THESE  are  inhabitants  of  the  sea,  and  are  usually?  found  on  the 
sand,  or  among  the  rocks  on  the  sea-shore,  consider- 
ably below  high-water  mark.  Their  covering  is  a 
coriaceous  crust,  which  defends  them  from  the  attacks 
of  the  smaller  animals;  and  they  have  five  or  more 
rays  proceeding  from  a  centre,  in  which  their  mouth 
is  situated.  Every  ray  is  furnished  with  a  prodigious 
number  of  tentacula,  or  short,  soft,  and  fleshy  tubes, 
which  appear  to  be  of  use  not  only  in  taking 
prey,  and  in  aiding  the  motion  of  the  animal,  but  also  in  enabling  it 
to  adhere  to  rocks  and  other  substances,  by  which  it  withstands  the 
force  of  the  waves.  In  a  single  animal  the  tentacula  have  been  found 
several  hundred  in  number;  and,  when  the  Star-fish  are  thrown  on 
their  backs,  these  are  frequently  pushed  out  and  withdrawn,  in  tho 
same  manner  as  snails  do  their  horns.  The  progressive  motion  of  the 
Star-fish,  which  is  performed  by  the  undulation  of  their  rays,  is  very 
slow.  They  possess  considerable  powers  of  reproduction;  for,  if  a 
ray  happens  to  be  broken  off,  a  new  one,  in  the  course  of  a  short  time, 
will  appear.  The  mouth  is  armed  with  bony  teeth,  that  are  used  in 
seizing  and  breaking  the  shells  on  which  the  animals  feed ;  and  from 
the  mouth  a  canal  extends  to  each  of  the  rays,  runs  through  the  whole 
length,  and  becomes  gradually  narrower  as  it  approaches  the  ex- 
tremity. 

If  a  Star-fish  be  drowned  in  brandy  or  spirits  of  wine,  and  the  rays 
be  kept  flat  and  expanded,  it  is  easy  afterwards  to  extract,  by  a  pair  of 
forceps,  the  stomach  and  intestines  through  the  mouth.  This  infor- 
mation may  be  of  use  to  persons  who  wish  to  preserve  specimens  of 
these  animals. 


THE   COMMON",   OR   FIVE-RAYED   STAR-FISH. 

In  a  large  animal  of  this  species,  which  I  kept  by  me  for  some  time 
alive,  there  were  more  than  four  thousand  tentacula  on  the  under  sides 
of  the  rays.  These  the  creature  frequently  retracted,  and  again  pushed 
out,  as  a  snail  does  its  horns;  and  by  means  of  them,  it  was  enabled 
firmly  to  adhere  to  the  dish  of  salt-water  in  which  it  was  kept. 
"Whenever  I  touched  the  tentacula  with  my  finger,  all  those  of  that 


THE  COMMON  STAR-FISH. 


:1014  THE  ARBORESCENT   STAR-FISH. 

ray  or  limb  were  gradually  withdrawn,  but  those  of  the  other  rays 

were  not  in  the  least  affected  by  it. 

It  is  stated,  that  these  animals,  which  are  extremely  common  in 

some  seas,  feed  on  oysters,  and  are  conse- 
quently very  destructive  to  them.  This, 
however,  if  it  relate  to  full-grown  oysters, 
must  be  •  incorrect,  as,  when  alive,  the 
Star-fish  are  so  soft  and  tender,  that  an 
oyster,  in  closing  upon  them,  would 
either  cut  off  their  limb,  or,  at  least, 
would  injure  it  to  such  a  degree,  that 
when  it  next  opened  its  shell,  the  animal 
would  be  glad  to  make  its  escape.  Be- 
sides, the  mouth  of  the  Star-fish  being  in 

the  centre  of  the  under  part  of  its  body,  I  know  not  in  what  manner 

this  could  possibly  come  in  contact  with  food  defended  by  two  such 

large  and  powerful  shells  as  those  with  which  the  oyster  is  furnished. 

It  has  been  said,  that  the  tentacula  are  of  use  in  taking  this  prey ;  but 

this,  from  their  nature,  must  be  entirely  fabulous. 


THE   ARBORESCENT   STAR-FISH. 

This  extremely  singular  species  is  occasionally  found  in  most  seas, 

but  never  in  great  numbers. 
It  has  five  equi-distant, 
thickly -jointed  processes, 
which  proceed  from  its 
centre,  each  divided  into 
two  small  ones,  and  each 
of  these  into  two  others 
still  smaller;  and  this  re- 
gular subdivision  is  con- 
tinued to  a  vast  extent,  and, 

VUUSA,  OE  ARBORESCENT  STA^SH.    „.  USD»  8CKFACK.     6.  SIDE     ^        ^       ^^        fc  g  fl  u  t  J  f  „  J 

gradation     of     minuteness, 

till  at  length  the  number  of  extreme  ramifications  sometimes  amounts 
to  several  thousands.  One  specimen,  that  measured  three  feet  across, 
had  five  hundred  and  twelve  extremities  to  each  ray ;  so  that  the 
whole  number  was  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty.  By  this 
most  curious  structure,  the  Arborescent  Star-fish  becomes  as  it  were 
a  living  net,  and  by  the  sudden  contraction  of  its  innumerable  ramifi- 
cations, it  is  capable  of  catching  such  creatures  as  are  destined  for  its 
prey;  and  the  unfortunate  object  of  attack  is  secured  by  these,  beyond 
all  possibility  of  escape. 

When  it  is  alive,  or  but  just  dead,  the  color  of  the  Arborescent 
Star-fish  is  reddish  or  deep  carnation ;  but,  on  being  dried,  it  becomes 
somewhat  gray.  It  should  be  dried  in  the  shade,  in  some  open  place, 
where  the  wind  has  free  access  to  it:  for  in  the  sun  it  is  apt'  to  dissolve, 
and  if  placed  to  much  in  the  shade  it  will  become  putrid. 


THE   COMMON,   OR   EATABLE   ECHINUS. 


1015 


OF  THE  ECHINUS,  OK  SEA-UKCHIN  TKIBE. 

THE  Sea-urchins  are  generally  round,  and  shaped  like  a  somewhat 
flattened  ball.  Their  exterior  is  a  bony  crust,  usually  furnished  with 
movable  spines,  by  which  they  are  defended  from  injury,  and  by 
means  of  which  they  have  their  progressive  motion :  these  are  often 
very  numerous,  amounting,  in  some  species,  to  upwards  of  two  thou- 
sand. The  mouth  is  placed  beneath,  and,  in  most  of  the  species,  has 
five  valves.  They  are  all  inhabitants  of  the  sea. 


THE  SEA-URCHIN. 


THE   COMMON-,    OR  EATABLE  ECHINUS. 

The  spines  with  which  the  shell  of  this  animal  is  covered,  are  the 
instruments  by  which  it  conveys  itself  at 
pleasure  from  one  place  to  another ;  and  by 
means  of  these  it  is  enabled  to  move  at  the 
bottom  of  the  water  with  great  swiftness. 
It  generally  employs  those  about  the  mouth 
for  this  purpose,  keeping  that  opening 
downward;  but  it  is  also  asserted  to  have 
the  power  of  moving  forward,  by  turning  on 
itself  like  a  wheel.  When  any  thing  alarms 
these  animals,  they  immediately  move  all 
their  spines  toward  the  object,  and  wait  an 
attack,  as  an  army  of  pikemen  would  with  their  weapons.  The  num- 
ber of  muscles,  fibres,  and  other  apparatus  necessary 
to  the  proper  management  of  these,  are  very  great, 
and  exceedingly  wonderful.  So  tenacious  are  the 
Sea-urchins  of  the  vital  principle,  that,  on  opening 
one  of  ,them,  it  is  no  uncommon  circumstance  to 
observe  the  several  parts  of  the  broken  shell  move 
off  in  different  directions.  The  Ancients,  according 
to  Oppian",  gave  credence  to  a  circumstance  much 
more  wonderful  than  this. 

In  Marseilles,  and  some  other  towns  on  the  conti- 
nent of  Europe,  this  species  of  Echinus  is  exposed  for 
sale  in  the  markets,  as  oysters  are  with  us,  and  is 
eaten  boiled  like  an  egg.  It  forms  an  article  of  food  among  the  lower 
class  of  people  who  reside  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  sea-coasts  of 
many  parts  of  France,  but  does  not  seem  to  have  made  its  way  to  the 
tables  of  the  opulent.  The  Romans  adopted  it  as  food,  and  dressed 
it  with  vinegar,  mead,  parsley,  and  mint. 


THE   SEA-LTICUIN. 


TESTACEOUS  WORMS,  OR  SHELL-FISH. 

THE  Linnean  order  Testacea,  comprises  all  those  Molluscous  Worms 
which  are  covered  with  calcareous  shells. 


MULTIVALVES, 
OF  THE  LEPAS,  OK  BERNACLE  TRIBE. 

THE  shells  are  fixed  at  the  base  by  a  long  and  flexible  kind  of 

neck,  and  consist  of  more 
than  two  unequal  and 
erect  valves.  The  ani- 
mal that  inhabits  them  is 
similar  to  one  which  in- 
habits submarine  rocks, 
and  which  LinnaBus  haa 
placed  among  the  Mollusca 
under  the  name  of  Triton. 


BERNACLES. 


THE   GOOSE-BEARING  BEKNACLE. 

There  was  formerly  a  strange  notion  prevalent  concerning  these 

shells,  that  from  them  was  bred  a 
species  of  goose,  common  in  some 
parts  of  England,  called  the  Ber 
nacle  Goose. 

To  the  bottoms  of  ships,  and  to 
pieces  of  floating  timber,  these 
Bernacles  are  sometimes  seen 
adhering  in  countless  numbers. 
Colonel  Montagu  observed  a  piece 
of  fir  timber,  more  than  twenty 
feet  long,  which  was  drifted  on  the 
coast  of  Devonshire,  and  which, 
from  end  to  end,  was  completely 
covered  with  them.  They  appear 
particularly  to  attach  themselves 
to  wood,  where  they  cluster  toge- 
ther of  all  sizes,  the  smaller  ad- 
hering, by  short  pedicles,  to  the 
larger  ones. 

The  animals  contained  in  these 

GOOSE-BEARING  BERNACLE.  shells  as  well  as  in  those  of  all 

(1016) 


THE   SHIP- WORM.  1017 

the  other  species,  have  each  twenty-four  claws  or  tentacula,  all  joined 
in  pairs  near  the  bottom,  and  inserted  into  one  common  base.  The 
twelve  longest  stand  somewhat  erect  and  arched,  and  arise  from  the 
back  part  of  the  animal.  They  appear  like  so  many  yellow  curled 
feathers,  clear,  horny,  and  articulated.  Every  joint  is  furnished  with 
two  rows  of  hairs  on  the  concave  side.  They  are  of  use  in  catching 
prey,  and  the  animals  are  continually  employed  in  extending  and 
contracting  them  for  this  purpose. 

The  twelve  smallest  tentacula  are  placed,  six  on  each  side,  in  front 
of  these.  They  are  more  pliable  and  more  thickly  set  with  hairs  than 
the  others,  and  seem  to  perform  the  office  of  hands.  The  mouth, 
formed  not  unlike  a  contracted  purse,  is  in  front,  between  the  smaller 
tentacula;  and  within  its  folds  are  situated  six  or  eight  horny  laminae 
or  erect  teeth.  Under  this  lie  the  stomach  and  intestines,  and  the 
tendons,  by  which  the  animal  adheres  to  the  shell. 

OF  THE  TEREDO  TKIBE. 

THERE  are  not  more  than  four  known  species  of  Teredo.  Of  these, 
two  are  found  in  holes,  which  they  perforate  in  wood ;  a  third,  in  the 
seed-vessels  of  a  plant  which  grows  in  the  East  Indies,  and  called, 
by  Linnseus,  Xylocarpum  Granatum;  and  the  fourth,  (the  Gigantic 
Teredo,)  in  mud  at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean,  on  the  coast  of  the 
island  of  Battoo,  near  Sumatra.  The  shells  of  the  latter  are  some- 
times between  five  and  six  feet  in  length. 

These  animals  were  formerly  arranged  with  the  more  simple  of  the 
univalve  shells,  but  their  proper  place  is  certainly  among  the  multi- 
valves. 


THE   SHIP-WORM 

Great  numbers  of  these  destructive  worms,  which  are  supposed  to 
have  been  introduced  from  India  into  Europe,  are  sometimes  found 
in  the  sides  and  bottoms  of  ships.  By  means  of  their  hard  and 
cutting  jaws,  they  are  able  to  penetrate  into  any  timber,  except  such 
as  is  of  an  extremely  hard  and  compact  substance.  They,  however, 
bore  as  seldom  as  possible  across  the  grain ;  for,  after  they  have  pene- 
trated a  little  way,  they  turn,  and  continue  with  the  grain  tolerably 
straight,  until  they  meet  with  another  shell,  or  knot.  Their  course 
then  depends  on  the  nature  of  the  obstruction :  if  this  be  considerable, 
they  prefer  making  a  short  turn  back,  in  form  of  a  syphon,  rather  than 
to  continue  for  any  distance  across. 

OF  THE  PHOLAS  TRIBE. 

THE  animals  of  this  tribe,  while  very  young,  perforate  clay,  spongy 
stones,  and  wood;  and,  as  they  increase  in  size,  they  enlarge  their 
habitation  within,  and  thus  become  imprisoned.  They  are  always 


1018  THE   DACTYLE   PHOLAS. 

found  below  high  water  mark,  and  a  mass  of  rock  may  sometimes  be 
seen  wholly  perforated  by  them.  They  have  two  orifices,  or  openings, 
capable  of  elongation  in  the  manner  of  a  proboscis :  one  of  these  is 
supposed  to  be  the  mouth,  and  has  the  faculty  of  spouting  water. 
Most  of  them  contain  a  phosphorescent  liquor,  of  great  brilliancy  in 
the  dark,  which  also  illuminates  whatever  it  touches  or  happens  to  fall 
upon. 

From  the  following  species,  the  character  of  nearly  the  whole  tribe 
may  be  collected. 


THE   DACTYLE   PHOLAS. 

The  very  extraordinary  powers  possessed  by  these  animals,  of 
penetrating  into  solid  bodies,  when  compared  with  their  apparent 
imbecility,  have  justly  excited  the  astonishment  of  philosophers  and 
naturalists  in  all  ages.  When  divested  of  their  shells  they  are 
roundish  and  soft,  and  seem  destitute  of  any  instrument  fitted  for 
boring  into  stones.  They  are,  indeed,  each  furnished  with  two  teeth ; 
but  these  are  placed  in  such  a  situation  as  to  be  incapable  of  touching 
the  hollow  surface  of  their  stony  dwellings.  They  have  also  two 
corners  to  their  shells,  that  open  and  shut  at  either  end;  but  these  are 
totally  unserviceable  to  them  as  miners.  The  instrument  with  which 
they  perform  all  their  operations,  and  by  means  of  which  they  bury 
themselves  in  the  hardest  rocks,  is  a  broad  fleshy  substance,  somewhat 
resembling  a  tongue.  With  this  soft,  yielding  instrument,  while  yet 
young  and  small,  they  work  their  way  into  the  substance  of  the  stone, 
and  enlarge  their  apartment  as  their  increasing  size  requires. 

Furnished  with  the  bluntest  and  softest  augur  imaginable,  it  effects, 
by  slow  successive  applications,  what  other  animals  are  incapable  of 
performing  by  force,  and  penetrates  the  hardest  bodies  with  only  its 
tongue.  When,  while  yet  small,  it  has  effected  an  entrance  and 
buried  its  body  in  the  stone,  it  there  continues,  for  life,  at  its  ease ;  the 
sea- water  that  enters  at  the  little  aperture,  supplying  it  with  luxurious 
plenty.  On  this  seemingly  thin  diet  it  by  degrees  grows  larger,  and 
soon  finds  itself  under  the  necessity  of  increasing  the  dimensions  of 
its  habitation  and  its  shell. 

The  motion  of  the  Pholas  is  slow,  almost  beyond  conception,  its 
progress  keeps  pace  with  the  growth  of  its  body ;  and,  in  proportion 
as  it  becomes  larger,  it  makes  its  way  further  into  the  rock.  When 
it  has  penetrated  to  a  certain  depth,  it  turns  from  its  former  direction 
and  hollows  downward ;  till  at  last,  when  its  habitation  is  completed, 
the  whole  apartment  resembles  the  bowl  of  a  tobacco-pipe;  the  hole  in 
the  shank  being  that  by  which  the  animal  entered. 

Thus  immured,  the  Pholas  lives  in  darkness,  indolence,  and  plenty: 
it  never  removes  from  the  narrow  mansion  into  which  it  has  pene- 
trated ;  and  seems  perfectly  content  with  being  enclosed  in  its  own 
sepulchre.  The  influx  of  the  sea-water  that  enters  by  its  little 
gallery  satisfies  all  its  wants.  These  animals  are  found  in  immense 
cumbers  at  Ancona,  in  Italy. 


BIVALVES. 


OF  THE  MYA  TRIBE. 

THE  shell,  in  most  of  the  species,  is  gaping  at  the  end.  The  hinge 
is  furnished  with  a  strong,  thick,  and  broad  tooth,  not  inserted  into 
the  opposite  valve. 

Most  of  these  animals  are  inhabitants  of  the  ocean,  but  some  of 
them  are  found  in  fresh  water.  They  perforate  the  sand  or  mud  at 
the  bottom,  where  many  of  the  species  are  caught  for  food,  and  others 
for  the  pearls  which  are  formed  within  their  shells.  Some  few  of  the 
species  perforate  and  live  in  limestone,  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
pholades. 


OF  THE  SOLEN,  OR  RAZOR-SHELL  TRIBE. 

THESE  animals  in  general  reside  in  holes,  which  they  form  in  the 
sand  at  the  bottom  of  the  ocean.  Their  position  in  these  holes  is 
always  upright.  In  situations  where  they  are  exposed  to  the  air  by 
the  ebbing  of  the  tide,  their  place  is  easily  known  to  fishermen,  by  a 
small  dimple  which  they  leave  on  the  surface.  Some  of  the  species 
live  in  stone.  Nearly  all  of  them  are  used  as  food. 


THE    COMMON,  AND   THE   SCABBARD   KAZOR-SHELL. 

Many  of  the  bivalved  shell-fishes  have  the  power  of  progressive  or 
retrograde  motion,  by  an 
instrument  that  has  some 
resemblance  to  a  leg  or 
foot,  and  called  the 
tongue.  But  these  ani- 
mals  can,  at  pleasure, 

make  this  tongue  assume  almost  every  form  which  their  exigencies 
require. 

Like  all  the  other  species  of  Razor-shells,  they  are  incapable  of 
progressive  motion  on  the  surface ;  but  they  dig  a  hole  or  cell  in  the 
sand,  sometimes  two  feet  in  depth,  in  which  they  can  ascend  or  descend 
at  pleasure.  The  instrument  by  which  their  motions  are  performed, 
is  fleshy,  cylindrical,  and  situated  near  the  centre  of  their  body. 
When  necessary,  the  animals  can^make  the  termination  of  the  tongue 
assume  the  form  of  a  ball.  The  Razor-fish,  when  lying  on  the  surface 
of  the  sand,  and  about  to  sink  into  it,  extends  its  tongue  from  the 

(1019) 


1020  OF    THE   CARDIUM,  OR   COCKLE   TRIBE. 

inferior  end  of  the  shell,  and  makes  the  extremity  of  it  take  the  form 
of  a  shovel,  sharpen  each  side,  and  terminating  in  a  point.  With 
this  instrument  the  animal  cuts  a  hole  in  the  sand.  After  the  hole  is 
made,  it  advances  the  tongue  still  further  into  the  sand,  makes  it 
assume  the  form  of  a  hook,  and  with  this  hook,  as  a  fulcrum,  it  obliges 
the  shell  to  descend  into  the  hole.  In  this  manner  the  animal  operates 
until  the  shell  totally  disappears.  When  it  chooses  to  regain  the  sur- 
face, it  forms  the  termination  of  the  tongue  into  the  shape  of  a  ball, 
and  makes  an  effort  to  extend  the  whole  tongue ;  but  the  ball  prevents 
any  further  descent,  and  the  muscular  effort  necessarily  pushes  the 
shell  upward,  until  it  reaches  the  surface.  It  is  amazing  with  what 
quickness  and  dexterity  these  seemingly  awkward  motions  are  per- 
formed. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Eazor-fish,  though  it  lives  in  salt  water, 
seems  to  abhor  salt.  When  a  little  salt  is  thrown  into  the  hole,  the 
animal  instantly  quits  its  habitation.  But  it  is  still  more  remarkable, 
that,  if  the  animal  be  once  seized  with  the  hand,  and  afterwards  allowed 
to  retire  into  its  cell,  salt  will  then  be  strewed  in  vain,  for  the  fish 
will  never  again  make  its  appearance.  If  it  be  not  handled,  the 
animal,  by  an  application  of  salt,  may  be  made  to  come  to  the  surface 
as  often  as  a  person  pleases ;  and  fishermen  sometimes  make  use  of 
this  stratagem  as  a  means  of  catching  it. 


OF  THE  CAEDIUM,  OK  COCKLE  TEIBE. 

ON  sandy  shores  of  almost  all  the  known  seas,  some  of  the  species 

of  Cockle  are  to  be  observed. 
Most  of  them  are  found  im- 
mersed in  the  sand,  at  the 
depth  of  a  few  inches.  Their 
size  is  various,  from  five  or  six 
inches  to  half  an  inch  in  diam- 
eter. In  a  fossil  state  these  shells 
are  by  no  means  uncommon ; 
and  species  corresponding  with 
some  of  them  inhabit  the 
Indian  Ocean. 

The  shell  is  bivalve,  equi- 
valve,  convex,  and  in  most  of 
the  species,  longitudinally  rib- 
bed. The  hinge  has  two  teeth 
near  the  beak,  and  a  larger  one 
placed  remote  on  each  side, 
OAJO.IUM  GLOBED.  locking  into  the  opposite  valve. 


THE   COMMON   COCKLE — OYSTER. 


1021 


THE   COMMON   COCKLE. 

All  the  locomotive  powers  of  these  well-known  animals  are  concen- 
trated in  the  triangular  yellow 
loot,  which  is  so  conspicuous 
\v  hen  we  open  the  shells.  This 
foot  is  not  only  capable  of 
great  inflection,  but  also  of 
seizing  with  its  point  the 
glutinous  matter  which  pro- 
ceeds from  it,  drawing  this 
into  threads,  and  thereby,  in 
some  measure,  securing  the 
animals  within  the  sand  which 
they  inhabit. 

Few  of  our  shell-fish  are 
more  common,  in  inlets  and 
bays  near  the  mouths  of  rivers, 
than  these.  In  such  situations 
they  are  usually  found  im- 
mersed at  the  depth  of  two  or  three  inches  in  the  sand,  the  place  of 
each  being  marked  by  a  small,  circular,  depressed  spot. 


CARDIUM   OPENED. 


OF   THE   OYSTER  TKIBE. 

OYSTERS  are  bivalve  shell -fish,  having  the  valves  generally  unequal. 
The  hinge  is  without  teeth,  but  furnished  with  a  somewhat  oval  cav- 
ity, and  mostly  with  lateral  transverse  grooves. 

There  are  few  tribes  of  shell-fish  more  numerous  or  more  generally 
dispersed  over  submarine  rocks  and  sands,  in  all  parts  of  the  world, 
than  these.  The  greater  number  of  them  are  wholesome  and  ex- 
tremely palatable  food. 

From  a  similarity  in  the  structure  of  the  hinge,  the  Oysters  and 
Scallops  have  been  united  into  one  tribe.  But  they  differ  very  essen- 
tially, both  in  their  habits  and  external  appearance.  The  oysters 
adhere  to  rocks,  or,  as  in  two  or  three  species,  to  roots  of  trees  on  the 
shore ;  while  the  Scallops  are  always  detached,  and  usually  lurk  ir 
the  sand. 


THE   COMMON   OYSTER,    AND   GREAT  SCALLOP 

It  is  the  nature  of  Oysters  in  general  to  have  their  lower  valve  fix- 
ed to  rocks  or  loose  stones,  and  frequently  even  to  each  other.  Some 
of  them,  however,  are  loose ;  these  have  very  thin  shells,  and  are  more 
regularly  shaped  than  the  others. 


1022 


THE   COMMON    OYSTER. 


The  principal  breeding-time  of  Oysters  is  in  the  months  of  April 
and  May,  when  they  cast  their  spawn,  or  spats  as  the  fishermen  call 
them,  upon  rocks,  stones,  shells,  or  any  other  hard  substance  that 
happens  to  be  near  the  place  where  they  lie ;  and  to  these  the  spats 
immediately  adhere.  From  the  spawning-time  till  about  the  end  of 
July,  the  Oysters  are  said  to  be  sick  ;  but  by  the  end  of  August  they 
become  perfectly  recovered.  During  these  months  they  are  out  of 
season,  and  are  bad  eating. 

The  Oyster  has  been  represented,  by  many  authors,  as  an  animal 
destitute  not  only  of  motion,  but  of  every  species  of  sensation.  It  is 


FLEET   OF  OYSTER  BOATS. 


able,  however,  to  perform  movements  which  are  perfectly  consonant 
to  its  wants,  to  the  dangers  it  apprehends,  and  to  the  enemies  by 
which  it  is  attacked.  Instead  of  being  destitute  of  sensation,  Oysters 
are  even  capable  of  deriving  some  knowledge  from  experience. 
"When  removed  from  situations  that  are  constantly  covered  with  the 
sea,  they  open  their  shells,  lose  their  water,  and  die  in  a  few  clays. 
But,  when  taken  from  similar  situations,  and  laid  down  in  places  from 
which  the  sea  occasionally  retires,  they  feel  the  effect  of  the  sun's  rays, 
or  of  the  cold  air,  or  perhaps  apprehend  the  attacks  of  enemies,  and 
accordingly  learn  to  keep  their  shells  close  till  the  tide  returns.  Oys- 
ters breathe  by  means  of  gills.  They  draw  the  water  in  at  their  mouth, 
a  small  opening  in  the  upper  part  of  their  body,  drive  it  down  a  long 
canal  that  constitutes  the  base  of  the  gills,  and  so  out  again,  retaining 
the  air  that  is  requisite  for  the  functions  of  the  body. 


THE   COMMON,    OR   EDIBLE    MUSCLE.  1023 

The  Great,  Scallop. — The  Scallop  has  the  power  of  progressive 
motion  upon  land,  and  likewise  of  swimming  on  the  surface  of  the 
water.  When  this  animal  happens  to  be  deserted  by  the  tide,  it 
opens  its  shell  to  the  full  extent,  then 
shuts  it  with  a  sudden  jerk,  often  rising 
five  or  six  inches  from  the  ground.  In 
this  manner  it  tumbles  forward,  until  it 
regains  the  water.  When  the  sea  is 
calm,  it  is  said  that  troops  or  little  fleets 
of  Scallops  are  sometimes  to  be  observed 
swimming  on  the  surface.  They  raise 
one  valve  of  their  shell  above  the  surface, 
which  becomes  a  kind  of  sail,  while  the 
other  remains  on  the  water,  and,  by 
steadying  the  animal,  and  thus  prevent- 
ing its  being  overset,  answers  the  pur- 
pose of  a  keel.  When  an  enemy  ap- 
proaches, these  animals  instantly  close  their  shells,  plunge  to  the 
bottom,  and  the  whole  fleet  disappears.  By  what  means  they  are 
enabled  to  regain  the  surface,  we  are  totally  ignorant. 

Scallops  are  frequently  sold  for  the  table ;  and,  in  some  parts  of 
Europe,  are  much  esteemed. 


OF  THE   MUSCLES  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Muscle  tribe  is  distinguished  by  the  shell  being  bivalve,  with- 
out any  tooth  in  the  hinge,  but  in  having  the  hinge  marked  with  a 
longitudinal  hollow  line ;  and  by  the  animal's  being  generally  fixed 
to  some  substance  by  a  byssus  or  silky  beard. 

Some  of  the  Muscles  penetrate  into  the  interior  of  calcareous  rocks, 
where  they  reside  out  of  the  reach  of  danger.  Others  adhere  by  their 
beards  to  the  exterior  of  rocks  or  stones ;  and  so  tenacious  is  their 
hold,  that,  in  the  larger  species,  they  cannot  be  separated  without 
considerable  exertion.  One  species  is  gathered  from  the  depths  of 
the  sea,  on  account  of  the  pearls  which  are  found  within  its  shells. 


THE   COMMON-,    OR   EDIBLE    MUSCLE. 

By  the  silky  threads  which  it  forms  from  its  body,  this  species 
adheres  to  rociks,  both  in  the  European  and  Indian  seas  ;  but  it  grows 
to  a  much  larger  size  between  the  Tropics  than  in  the  northern  cli- 
mates. 

All  the  muscles  have,  for  an  instrument  of  motion,  a  tongue  or  foot, 
capable  of  considerable  elongation,  and  also  of  being  shortened  into 
the  form  of  a  heart.  This  is  marked  with  a  longitudinal  furrow,  and 
is  completely  enveloped  in  a  sheath  formed  of  transverse  and  circular 
fibres,  of  an  obscure  purple  color.  When  the  animal  is  inclined  to 


1024  THE   PEARL   MUSCLE. 

change  its  place,  it. thrusts  the  foot  out  of  the  shell,  and  raises  itself 
on  its  edge ;  then,  by  extending  this  forward,  it  uses  it  as  a  kind  of 

arm,  drawing  the  body  up  to  it,  and 
thus  it  proceeds  until  it  has  found  a 
convenient  situation.  If  the  Muscle 
be  inclined  to  continue  at  the  spot 
to  which  it  has  removed,  the  instru- 
ment of  its  motion  is  put  to  a  very 
different  employment;  it  is  now 
employed  in  spinning  those  silky 
threads  which  fix  it  firmly  to  the 
spot,  and  which,  like  a  ship  at  an- 
chor, enable  it  to  brave  all  the 
agitations  of  the  water.  All  this  it 
accomplishes  by  seizing  with  its 

MUSCLE*  .  •*•_  _  *^     _  .t-J  I'll 

point  the  gluten  that  is  supplied  by 

a  gland  situated  under  its  base,  and  drawing  it  out,  through  the 
furrow,  into  threads.  When  the  Muscle  is  thus  fixed,  it  lives  upon 
the  little  earthy  particles,  or  upon  the  bodies  of  such  smaller  animals 
as  the  water  transports  to  its  shells. 

These  Muscles  are  generally  esteemed  a  rich  and  wholesome  food ; 
but  to  some  constitutions  they  occasion  disorders,  the  symptoms  of 
which  are  great  swellings,  eruptions  of  blotches  or  pimples,  shortness 
of  breath,  convulsive  motions,  and  sometimes  even  delirium.  A 
remedy  that  has  been  recommended  is  two  spoonsfull  of  oil  and  one 
of  lemon-juice,  (or  about  two  of  vinegar,)  shaken  well  together,  and 
swallowed  as  soon  as  any  of  the  symptoms  take  place.  This  unwhole- 
some' quality  has  been  attributed  to  a  small  species  of  crab,  the  Cancer 
pisum  of  Linnaeus,  that  is  sometimes  found  within  the  shells.  It  seems, 
however,  not  to  have  its  seat  in  anything  essential  to  the  Muscle  ;  for, 
when  illness  of  this  kind  has  been  occasioned,  some  persons  have  been 
affected,  and  others  have  not,  who  have  eaten  at  the  same  time,  and 
at  least  in  equal  quantity. 


THE   PEARL   MUSCLE. 

The  Pearl  is  a  calculus  or  morbid  concretion,  which  is  produced 
not  only  in  these,  but  sometimes  even  in  the  common  oysters,  muscles, 
and  other  shells.  It  is  found  both  in  the  body  of  the  animal,  and 
within  the  shells,  on  the  outside  of  the  body. 

The  principal  fishery  for  pearls  is  on  the  coast  of  Tinneveley  in 
Eastern  Hindostan,  where  the  natives  find  them  of  such  commercial 
importance,  as  to  employ  in  the  fishery  several  hundreds  of  small 
vessels.  The  pearls  are  taken  at  two  seasons  of  the  year,  in  March 
and  April,  and  again  in  August  and  September.  They  do  not,  how- 
ever, fish  every  year ;  for  if,  upon  trial,  they  do  not  find  the  pearls 
sufficiently  valuable,  they  abstain  until  the  ensuing  season,  in  order 
to  allow  them  time  to  increase  their  size. 

A  cord  is  fastened  round  the  arms  of  the  divers,  and  held  by  the 


THE   PEARL   MUSCLE. 


1025 


persons  in  the  boat;  and,  to  accelerate  their  descent,  the  divers  have  a 

perforated   stone,    of    eighteen 

or  twenty  pounds  weight,  tied 

by  a  cord  to  their  great   toe. 

Each  of  them  is  also  furnished 

with   a  sack,   which    has    the 

mouth   distended   by   a   hoop. 

They   then    descend,    and,   on 

reaching   the  bottom,  slip  off 

the.  stone,  which  is  drawn  up, 

and  fill  their  sack  with  shells. 

When  this  is  full,  they  give  a 

signal,  by  pulling  the  rope,  and 

they  are  then  drawn  up  by  the 

men  in  the  boats. 

The  depth  of  water  in  which 
this  fishery  is  carried  on.  is 
twenty  or  thirty  yards,  and  the 

distance   from    the   shore  four  PKARL  OTST£Rj  OB  MU8CLE 

or    five    leagues.     When    the 

men  are  drawn  up,  they  rest  eight  or  ten  minutes,  to  recover  their 
breath,  and  then  plunge  in  again  ;  and  a  succession  of  men  continue  this 
slavish  employment 
for  ten  or  twelve 
hours  every  dav. 
The  shells  are  left 
in  vast  heaps  to 
putrefy,  until  the 
season  is  over.  The 
gains  of  the  adven- 
turers are  often 
small,  as  the  suc- 
cess is  very  preca- 
rious. Great  pearls 
are  seldom  found ; 
and  the  generality  of 
what  are  taken,  are 
of  the  smaller  kind, 
called  Seed  Pearls, 
which  are  sold  by  ^ 
the  ounce,  to  be  con- 
verted into  powder. 

The  shells  are 
found  adhering  to 
the  coral  banks. 
Numbers  of  Sharks 
lurk  about  the 
diving-places,  and 
often  devour  the 
poor  adventurers.  PEARL  DIVER. 


1026  THE   SEA- WING. 


OF  THE  PINNA  TEIBE. 

FEW  tribes  of  shell-fish,  have  been  more  celebrated,  even  from  the 
remotest  periods  of  antiquity,  than  these.  They  are  usually  found  in 
the  sand  or  mud,  in  an  erect  position,  with  their  larger  end  a  little 
open.  In  this  position  they  are  firmly  fixed,  by  means  of  a  fine  and 
strong  byssus  or  silk,  the  fibres  of  which  are  agglutinated  to  the 
gravel,  sand,  roots  of  marine  plants,  broken  shells,  and  other  extraneous 
substances. 

The  animals  of  many  of  the  species  are  used  as  food,  and  are  in 
great  request  for  the  table. 


THE   SEA-WING. 

They  inhabit  a  gravely  bottom,  covered  with  mud  and  long  sea- 
weeds, and  are  only  to  be  approached  at  particular  times,  when  the 
sea  recedes  further  than  usual. 

They  stand  upright,  with  their  broad  end  about  an  inch  above  the 
surface,  and  the  lower  end  fixed  by  a  large  and  strong  byssus,  which 
,is  so  firmly  attached  to  the  gravel,  that  it  requires  some  force  to 
draw  them;  up  and,  even  when  dragged  out,  the  byssus  is  usually 
left  behind.  This  beard  is  composed  of  numerous  fine,  silk-like 
fibres,  of  a  dark  purplish  brown  color,  and  two  or  three  inches  in 
length. 

Many  of  these  shells  are  caught  annually,  the  animals  being  ac- 
counted a  very  palatable  food;  but  they  require  at  least  five  or  six 
hours  stewing,  in  order  to  render  them  eatable;  if  this  be  properly 
attended  to,  they  are  nearly  as  good  as  Scallops,  but  they  are  never 
so  tender. 

According  to  Aristotle,  the  byssus  of  the  ancients  was  the  beard 
of  one  of  the  species  of  Pinna ;  but  the  name  seems  to  have  been 
used  indiscriminately  by  other  writers,  for  any  spun  material  that 
was  esteemed  finer  or  more  valuable  than  wool.  Reaumur  remarked 
that  the  threads  of  the  byssus  are  as  fine  and  beautiful  as  silk.  The 
Pinna  on  the  coasts  of  Italy  and  Provence,  (where  it  is  fished  up  by 
means  of  iron  hooks  fixed  on  long  poles,),  is  called  the  silk-worm  of 
the  sea.  The  stockings  and  gloves  that  are  manufactured  from  the 
byssus  which  is  there  collected,  are  of  exquisite  finenes,  but  are  too 
warm  for  common  wear. 

The  Pinna,  observes  Col.  Montagu,  has  long  been  celebrated  for 
giving  protection  to  a  small  species  of  crab,  which  was  supposed  to 
be  of  use  to  it,  by  giving  it  notice  either  of  approaching  danger,  or 
of  the  presence  of  its  prey.  Eespecting  this  circumstance,  many 
stories  have  been  handed  down  to  us  from  the  earliest  times  These, 
although  not  wholly  unfounded,  are  mixed  with  too  much  fable  to  be 
fully  credited  in  this  enlightened  age. 


UNIVALVES, 


OF   THE  ARGONAUTS  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  animals  of  the  Argonaut  tribe,  have  a  near  alliance  to  the 
Sepiae  or  Cuttle-fishes.  The  shells  are  spiral,  involute,  of  a  white  sub- 
stance, and  so  thin,  as  almost  to  resemble  paper.  They  have  each 
only  a  single  cell,  and  are  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  Chambered 
or  Pearly  Nautili,  which  belong  to  a  different  class,  and  bear  very 
little  resemblance  to  the  shells  of  the  present,  either  in  their  structure 
or  habits. 


THE   PAPER  NAUTILUS,    OK  ARGONAUT. 

This  was  the  famous  Nautilus  of  the  ancients ;  and,  in  the  early 
ages  of  society,  it  is  supposed  to  have  furnished  the  original  idea  of 
navigation.  When  this  little  animal 
means  to  sail,  it  discharges  a  quantity 
of  water  from  its  shell,  by  which  it 
is  rendered  lighter  than  the  sur- 
rounding medium,  and  of  course 
rises  to  the  surface.  Here  it  extends 
two  of  its  arms  upward.  These  are 
each  furnished  at  their  extremity 
with  an  oval  membrane,  which 
serves  as  a  sail.  The  other  six  arms 
hang  over  the  sides  of  the  shell,  and  '( 
supply  the  place  of  oars  and  rudder,  j^ 

In  some  places,  when  the  sea  is  not  [§• 
agitated  by  winds,  great  numbers  of 
these  singular  creatures  may  occa- 
sionally be  seen  diverting  themselves 
by  sailing  about  in  this  manner ;  but 
as  soon  as  a  storm  arises,  or  any 
thing  gives  them  disturbance,  they  retract  their  arms,  take  in  as  much 
water  as,  with  the  weight  of  their  body,  renders  them  heavier  than  the 
medium  in  which  they  swim,  and  sink  to  the  bottom. 

These  animals  are  found  in  the  Mediterranean,  the  Indian  Ocean, 
and  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 


65 


(1027)' 


1028  THE   TIGER,  AND   MONEY   COWRY. 


OF  THE   CYPR^EAS,  OR  COWRIES. 

THESE  shells  are  univalve,,  involuted,  of  a  somewhat  ovate  shape, 
obtuse,  and  smooth.  The  aperture  is  linear,  extended  through  the 
whole  length  of  the  shell,  and  dentated  on  both  sides.  The  animal  is 
a  Limax,  or  Slug. 

There  is  no  tribe  of  shells  which,  on  the  whole,  are  more  beautiful 
than  these.  From  their  high  polish  and  brilliant  colors,  they  have 
derived  the  name  by  which  they  are  most  commonly  known  in  France, 
of  Porcelaines.  The  species  are  very  numerous.  In  uncivilized 
countries,  several  of  them  are  worn  as  ornaments,  both  by  men  and 
women;  and  some  of  them  are  worn  as  amulets  or  charms  against 
disease. 

They  reside  in  the  sand  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  are  furnished 
with  a  membrane,  which  is  so  extensive,  that  they  are  able  to  throw 
it  over  their  whole  shells,  and  thus  to  preserve  them  always  pure  and 
polished.  These  animals  have  two  horns;  and  the  canal  by  which 
they  respire  is  situated  on  the  top  of  their  head. 


THE   TIGEE,    AND   MONEY    COWRY. 

There  are  few  shells  of  the  present  tribe  more  common  in  collections, 
and  at  the  same  time  more  beautiful,  than  the  former 
of  these  species.  It  is  found  both  in  the  Indian  and 
Adriatic  seas.  The  latter  are  well  known  on  almost  all 
the  coasts  of  Africa  and  India,  where  they  are  employed 
by  the  natives  in  commerce,  instead  of  money,  about 
two  thousand  of  them  being  esteemed  equal  in  value  to 
a  rupee.  The  negro  women,  it  is  stated,  fish  for  them 
usually  three  days  before  or  after  the  full  moon;  and, 
at  the  Maldivian  Islands,  thirty  or  forty  vessels  are 
annually  laden  with  them,  for  exportation  into  Africa, 
Bengal,  Siam,  and  other  countries,  for  the  purposes  of  commerce. 

Of  the  Cowries,  a  very  remarkable  fact  has  been  stated  by  M.  Bru- 
gui.&re,  that  when  the  animals  find  their  shells  too  small  for  the  in- 
creased dimension  of  their  body,  they  quit  them,  and  proceed  to  the 
formation  of  new  ones  of  larger  size,  and  consequently  better  adapted 
to  their  wants. 


OF  THE  BUCCINUM,  OR  WHELK  TRIBE. 

THE  shell  is  univalve,  spiral,  and  gibbous.  The  aperture  is  ovate, 
and  ends  in  a  short  canal  or  gutter,  which  bends  to  the  right.  The 
animal  is  a  Limavc,  or  Slug. 


THE   GARDEN-SNAIL — HEDGE-SNAIL — GROVE-SNAIL.       1029 

The  situations  in  which  the  animals  of  the  present  tribe  are  chiefly 
found,  are  submarine  rocks,  stones,  and 
weeds.  To  these  they  adhere  so  firmly, 
as  not  easily  to  be  loosened,  either  by 
the  waves  or  the  currents  of  the  ocearu 
A  few  of  them  are  of  large  size.  Their 
shells  are  peculiarly  thick  and  strong ; 
and  some  of  the  larger  kinds  were  an- 
ciently emplo}red  as  trumpets,  by  the 
sound  of  which  armies  were  summoned 
to  battle. 


OF  THE   HELICES,  OR  SNAILS. 

THE  All- wise  Author  of  Nature  has  denied  to  these  animals  the 
use  of  feet  and  claws,  to  enable  them  to  move  from  place  to  place  ; 
but  he  has  made  them  ample  amends,  in  a  way  more  commodious  to 
their  habits  and  mode  of  life,  by  a  broad  skin  along  each  side  of  the 
belly,  and  the  power  of  motion  which  this  skin  possesses.  By  this 
motion  they  are  enabled  to  creep,  and  by  the  skin,  assisted  by  the 
glutinous  slime  emitted  from  their  body,  they  -adhere  securely  even 
to  the  smoothest  surfaces. 

When  the  Snail  is  in  motion,  four  horns  are  distinctly  seen  on  its 
head  ;  but  the  two  uppermost  and  longest  of  these  deserve  peculiar 
consideration,  both  on  account  of  the  various  motions  with  which 
they  are  endued,  and  also  from  their  having  eyes  at  their  summits. 
These  eyes  appear  like  two  blackish  points,  and  when  taken  from  the 
body  are  of  a  bulbous  figure.  They  have  but  one  coat ;  and  the 
vitreous,  the  aqueous,  and  the  crystalline  humors,  may  be  discovered 
in  them.  Snails  are  able. to  direct  these  eyes  towards  different  objects 
at  pleasure,  by  a  regular  motion  out  of  the  body  ;  and  sometimes 
they  hide  them,  by  a  very  swift  contraction  into  the  belly.  Under 
the  smaller  horns,  is  the  animal's  mouth,  and,  though  the  substance 
of  this  may  appear  too  soft  to  be  furnished  with  teeth,  yet  it  has  no 
fewer  than  eight.  With  these  it  chews  leaves  and  other  substances, 
seemingly  harder  than  any  part  of  its  own  body  ;  and  with  them  it 
sometimes  bites  off  even  pieces  of  its  own  shell, 

From  various  experiments  that  have  been  made  on  Snails,  it  ap- 
pears that  they  are  possessed  of  considerable  powers  of  reproduction. 
Spallanzani  found  that  their  heads  might  be  cut  off,  and  that,  in  a 
certain  time,  other  heads  would  be  formed. 


THE    GARDEN-SNAIL,    HEDGE-SNAIL,    AND    GROVE-SNAIL. 

The  mode  of  breeding,  in  this  and  a  few  other  species  of  Snails, 
is  extremely  curious.  At  a  certain  time  <*>f  the  year,  they  meet  in 
pairs,  and  stationing  themselves  an  inch  or  two  apart,  they  launch  at 
each  other  several  little  darts,  not  quite  half  an  inch  long.  These 


1030       THE   GARDEN-SNAIL — HEDGE-SNAIL — GROYE-SNAIL 

are  of  a  horny  substance,  and  sharply  pointed  at  one  end.  The  ani- 
mals, during  the  breeding  season,  are  furnished  with  a  little  reservoir 
for  them,  situated  in  the  neck,  and  opening  on  the  right  side.  After 
the  discharge  of  the  first  dart,  the  wounded  Snail  immediately 
retaliates  on  its  aggressor  by  ejecting  at  it  a  similar  one  :  the  other 
renews  the  battle,  and  in  turn  again  is  wounded.  Thus  are  the 
darts  of  Cupid,  metaphorical  with  all  the  rest  of  creation,  completely 
realized  in  snails.  After  the  combat  they  come  together.  Each  of 
them  lays  its  eggs  in  some  sheltered  and  moist  situation,  generally 
under  a  little  clod  of  earth,  or  in  some  cool  cavity.  The  eggs  are 
about  the  size  of  small  peas,  semi-transparent,  and  of  a  soft  substance. 
From  these  the  young  ones  are  hatched  completely  formed  with  shells 


SNAIL.     O.  ADCLT  AN'IMAL  IS  MOTION.     6.  A  TOO'Q  SHELL.     C.  EGO   SHELL  JUST  BROKE,     d.  EGG  UNBROK 

on  their  backs ;  and  they  undergo  no  further  change  than  what  neces- 
sarily takes  place  in  the  gradual  increase  of  their  size. 

The  depredations  which  these  animals  commit  in  gardens  and 
orchards  are  very  considerable;  and  it  is  remarkable,  that  in  defect 
of  moist  and  succulent  food,  such  as  fruit  and  tender  leaves,  they  will 
attack  even  substances  of  a  dry  and  hard  nature.  A  common  Gar- 
den-snail, when  confined  for  a  single  night,  under  a  glass  more  than 
four  inches  in  diameter,  and  placed  on  a  sheet  of  common  blue  paper, 
has  been  known  to  devour  the  whole  paper  contained  within  the  in- 
cluded space,  to  the  very  edge  of  the  glass,  so  that  a  circular  piece 
seemed  almost  as  neatly  taken  out,  as  if  it  had  been  marked  by  a 
pair  of  compasses. 

The  Snail,  if  its  shell  be  broken,  has  a  power  of  mending  it.  Even 
when  apparently  crushed  to  pieces,  these  animals  will  set  to  work : 
and,  with  the  slimy  substance  which  they  force  from  their  bodies,  and 
which  soon  hardens,  they  in  a  few  days  close  up  all  the  numerous 
chasms.  The  junctures,  however,  are  easily  distinguishable  ;  and  the 


THE   GARDEN-SNAIL — HEDGE-SNAIL — GROVE-SNAIL.       1031 

whole  shell,  in  some  measure,  resembles  an  old  coat  patched  with 
new  pieces.  But,  although  the  animal  has  the  power  of  repairing  its 
shell,  it  is  not  able  to  form  a  new  one. 

The  following  instances  of  tenacity  of  life  in  Snails,  are  well 
authenticated,  and  are  probably  without  parallel  in  any  other  indivi- 
duals of  the  animal  creation. 

Mr.  Simon,  a  merchant  of  Dublin,  whose  father,  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Society,  and  a  lover  of  natural  history,  left  him  a  small  collec- 
tion of  fossils  and  other  curiosities,  had,  among  them,  the  shells  of 
some  Snails.  About  fifteen  years  after  his  father's  death,  (in  whose 
possession  they  had  continued  many  years,)  he  gave  to  his  son,  a  child 
about  ten  years  old,  some  of  these  snail-shells  to  play  with.  The  boy 
placed  them  in  a  flower-pot,  which  he  filled  with  water,  and  the  next 
day  he  put  them  into  a  basin.  Having  occasion  to  use  this,  Mr.  Simon 
observed  that  the  animals  had  come  out  of  their  shells.  He  examined 
the  child  respecting  them ;  and  was  assured  that  they  were  the  same 
which  had  been  in  the  cabinet.  The  boy  said  he  had  a  few  more,  and 
brought  them.  Mr.  S.  put  one  of  these  into  water,  and  in  an  hour 
and  a  half  afterwards,  he  observed  that  it  had  put  out  its  horns  and 
body,  which  it  moved  but  slowly,  probably  from  weakness.  Major 
Valiancy,  Dr.  Span,  and  other  gentlemen,  were  afterwards  present, 
and  saw  one  of  the  Snails  crawl  out,  the  remainder  being  dead,  prob- 
ably from  their  having  remained  some  days  in  the  water. 

This  shell  was  sent  to  Sir  John  Pringle,  who  exhibited  it  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Royal  Society  ;  but  some  of  the  members  imagining  that 
Mr.  Simon  must  have  been  imposed  upon,  by  his  son  having  substi- 
tuted fresh  shells  for  those  that  had  been  given  to  him,  the  boy  was 
examined  by  Dr.  Macbride  on  the  subject,  and  the  Doctor  declared 
that  he  could  find  no  reason  to  believe  that  the  child  either  did  or 
could  impose  upon  his  father.  Mr.  Simon  living  in  the  heart  of  the 
city,  rendered  it  almost  impossible  for  the  boy  (if  he  had  been  so 
disposed)  to  collect  fresh  shells  ;  for  he  was  at  that  time  confined  to 
the  house  with  a  cold.  Mr.  Simon,  moreover,  declared,  that  he  was 
positive  those  were  the  shells  he  gave  to  him,  for  he  had  in  his  cabinet 
many  more  of  the  same  sort,  and  nearly  of  the  same  size. 

After  this  account  had  been  made  public,  there  appeared  in  the 
Annual  Register  the  following  very  singular  narration.  It  was  sent 
to  the  editors  by  a  Mr.  Rowe,  and  is  stated  to  have  been  written  by  a 
lady,  whose  name  he  was  not  at  liberty  to  mention. 

"I  was  at  Mr.  Haddock's  at  Wrotham  in  Kent,  and  was  making  a 
little  shell-work  tower,  to  stand  on  a  cabinet  in  a  long  gallery.  After 
having  repaired  two  small  amber  temples  to  grace  the  corners,  I  was 
desirous  of  having  some  ornament  for  the  front ;  and  sea-shells  run- , 
ning  short  before  I  had  finished,  I  recollected  having  seen  some 
pretty  little  snails  on  the  chalk-hills  there :  we  consequently  all  went 
one  evening  to  pick  up  some.  On  our  return  I  procured  a  large 
china-basin,  and  putting  a  handful  or  two  of  shells  into  it,  filled  it  up 
with  boiling  water.  I  poured  off  the  first  water,  and  filled  the  bowl 
again.  I  then  carried  it  into  a  summer-house  in  the  garden  where  I 
loved  to  work  early  in  the  morning,  before  my  friends  were  stirring. 


1032  THE   ESCULENT   SNAIL. 

Next  morning,  how  great  was  my  surprise,  on  entering  the  summer- 
house,  to  find  my  poor  snails  crawling  about,  some  on  the  edge  of 
the  basin,  some  tumbling  over,  some  on  the  table,  and  one  or  two 
actually  eating  the  paste  that  was  to  stick  them  on !  I  was  perfectly 
shocked,  burst  into  tears,  and  carefully  picking  up  every  snail,  carried 
them  into  a  field  beyond  the  garden,  where  I  make  no  doubt  they 
perfectly  recovered  from  their  scalding." 


THE   ESCULENT  SNAIL, 

Is  large  and  fleshy,  and,  when  properly  cooked,  is  not  unpleasant  to 
the  taste.  , 

At  the  commencement  of  winter,  it  carefully  closes  its  shell  with  a 
thick  white  cover  or  operculum,  attached  to  its  body,  that  just  fills 
up  the  opening,  and  in  this  enclosed  state,  it  remains  until  the  com- 
mencement of  warm  weather,  seldom  appearing  abroad  till  about  the 
beginning  of  April. 

These  Snails  are  at  this  day  much  admired  in  some  parts  of  the 
Continent,  and  are  not  always  used  from  economical  motives ;  for  at 
Vienna,  but  a  few  years  ago,  seven  of  them  were  charged  the  same 
price  in  the  inns,  as  a  plate  of  veal  or  beef.  The  usual  modes  of  pre- 
paring them  for  the  table,  are  by  boiling,  frying  them  in  butter,  or 
sometimes  stuffing  them  with  force-meat :  but,  in  what  manner  soever 
they  are  dressed,  their  sliminess  always  remains.  The  greatest  num- 
bers, and  the  finest  snails,  are  brought  from  Suabia. 

Dr.  Browne,  who  travelled  to  Vienna  somewhat  more  than  a 
century  ago,  remarks,  that  since  the  markets  were  so  well  supplied 
with  other  provisions,  "he  was  surprised  to  meet  with  some  odd 
dishes  at  their  tables,  such  as  Guinea-pigs,  and  divers  sorts  of  snails 
and  tortoises." 

Dr.  Townson  was  shown  at  Erlau,  a  snailery,  which,  the  proprietor 
informed  him,  was  constructed  on  an  improved  plan.  In  our  island, 
he  says,  this  might  have  had  the  denomination  of  a  Patent  Snailery, 
or  Philosophical  Snail-sty.  It  consisted  only  of  a  large  hole,  two  or 
three  feet  deep,  dug  in  the  ground,  having  a  wooden  house  as  a  cover. 
The  animals  were  fed  on  the  refuse  of  the  garden,  which  was  thrown 
to  them. 

There  seems  some  doubt  as  to  the  original  introduction  of  these 
snails  into  England.  Mr.  Pennant  says,  that  we  are  indebted  for 
them  to  Sir  Kenelm  Digby;  and  Da  Costa,  that  in  the  last  century,  a 
Charles  Howard,  Esq.,  of  the  Arundel  family,  brought  some  of  them 
from  Italy,  in  the  hope  of  rendering  them  an  article  of  food  in 
England ;  and,  for  this  purpose,  dispersed  them  about  the  woods  and 
downs  of  Albury,  an  ancient  seat  of  the  family,  near  Boxhill  in 
Surrey.  They  are  now  to  be  found  in  considerable  numbers,  not 
only  there,  but  also  in  several  parts  of  the  confines  of  Sussex. 


ZOOPHITES. 


THE  creatures  that  are  ranked  under  the  Linnean  order  Zoophyta, 
seem  to  hold  a  middle  station  between  animals  and  vegetables.  Most 
of  them,  deprived  altogether  of  the  powers  of  locomotion,  are  fixed 
by  stems  that  take  root  in  crevices  of  rocks,  among  sand,  or  in  such 
other  situations  as  nature  has  destined  for  their  abode;  these,  by 
degrees,  send  off  branches,  till  at  length  some  of  them  attain  the  size 
and  extent  of  large  shrubs.  The  Zoophytes  are  usually  considered 
under  two  divisions.  The  stony  branches  of  the  first  division,  which 
has  the  general  appellation  of  Coral,  are  hollow,  and  full  of  cells,  which 
are  the  habitations  of  animals  resembling  Polypes,  Medusae,  &c.,  ac- 
cording to  their  respective  genera.  The  next  division  consists  of  such 
animals  as  have  softer  stems,  and  are,  in  general,  not  merely  inhabi- 
tants of  a  stem  or  branches,  but  are  themselves  in  the  form  of  a  plant. 
Those  of  this  division  which  are  best  known,  are  the  Corallines,  the 
Sponges,  and  the  Polypes. 


OF  THE   MADREPORES. 

THE  animals  which  inhabit  the  Madrepores  are  Medusae.  The  coral 
which  contains  them  is  fixed  and  simple,  or  branched,  with  cavities 
composed  of  lamella  in  a  star-like  form. 

The  great  variety  of  Madrepores,  their  conspicuous  appearance  in 
the  water,  and  their  astonishing  q'uantity  on  some  coasts,  have  caused 
them  to  be  remarked  by  navigators  and  travellers,  from  the  earliest 
periods.  They  are  all  composed  of  calcareous  matter,  united  with  a 
portion  of  animal  substance.  By  calcination  they  yield  an  excellent 
lime. 

In  certain  species,  their  substance  is  extremely  hard  and  solid ;  and 
in  others,  cellular  and  friable.  Their  form  also  varies  much.  Some 
are  spherical,  others  semi-globose,  and  others  flat:  many  are  branched  ; 
and  the  branches  of  some  are  smooth,  and  of  others  hairy,  furrowed, 
or  striated.  With  respect  to  color,  they  are  red,  yellow,  brown,  &c., 
but  their  most  prevalent  color  is  yellowish-white. 

It  is  principally  in  hot  climates,  between  the  Tropics,  that  they  are 
in  greatest  abundance.  Few. of  them  have  been  observed  in  any  of 
the  European  seas,  except  the  Mediterranean.  Many  species  are  found 
in  a  fossil  state. 


^1033) 


1034 


THE   RED   CORAL. 


THE    PRICKLY   MADREPORE. 

This  Madrepore  is  in  such  extraordinary  abundance,  as  occasionally 
to  form  immense  beds  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  In  height  it  increases, 
without  limit,  until  it  is  arrested  by  the  line  of  low  water ;  and  in 
width  it  is  boundless.  Captain  Cook,  and  other  navigators,  have 
spoken  of  banks  of  reefs  of  coral,  or  Madrepore,  so  extensive  as  to  have 
prevented  their  approach  to  land,  sometimes  even  for  several  leagues. 
Many  voyagers  have  mentioned  the  dangers  to  which  they  have  been 
exposed,  during  stormy  weather,  upon  these  reefs,  not  only  from  their 
liability  to  be  wrecked,  by  the  ships  driving  against  such  as  rose  nearly 
to  the  surface  of  the  water,  but  also  from  the  cables  to  which  their 
anchors  were  fixed  having  been  cut  in  pieces  by  chafing  against  them. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  several  kinds  of  Madrepore  concur  in 
the  formation  of  these  reefs ;  but  that  which,  in  general,  constitutes 
by  far  the  greatest  portion,  is  the  species  here  mentioned. 


OF  THE  CORAL  TRIBE. 

ALL  the  different  species  of  coral  are  branched,  and  the  branches 
are  not  articulated.  Their  interior  is  stony  and  solid.  The  surface 
is  striated,  and  covered  by  a  bark-like  envelope,  which  is  fleshy  and 
porous ;  and  from  which  there  issue  numerous  animals,  resembling 
Polypes  both  in  appearance  and  structure. 


THE    RED    CORAL. 


Few  persons  are  unacquainted  with 
this  production,  at  least  in  a  wrought 
state,  as  forming  necklaces  or  brace- 
lets, for  the  ornament  of  the  female 
figure.  It  is,  perhaps,  the  most  valu- 
able of  all  the  productions  of  the  sea, 
except  pearls ;  and  constitutes  a  very 
important  article  of  commerce. 

When  Coral  is  taken  from  the 
water,  or  even  touched  whilst  under 
water,  all  the  polypes  suddenly  con- 
tract. 

The  fishing  for  Coral  is,  at  this 
day,  an  object  of  great  importance  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Marseilles,  Cata- 
lonia, and  Corsica;  the  principal 
parts  of  the  Mediterranean  from 
which  coral  is  obtained,  are  the 
coasts  of  Tunis  and  Sardinia,  and 
the  mouth  of  the  Adriatic. 


THE   OFFICINAL,   AND  DOWNY   SPONGE. 


1035 


OF  THE  SPONGES  IN  GENERAL. 

THE  Sponges  consist  of  an  entirely  ramified  mass  of  capillary  tubes, 
supposed,  by  many  persons,  to  be  the  production  of  a  species  of  worms 
which  are  often  found  straying  about  the  cavities.  Others  have  im- 
agined them  vegetables.  But  that  they  are  possessed  of  a  living  prin- 
ciple seems  evident,  from  their  alternately  contracting  and  dilating 
their  pores ;  and  shrinking,  in  some  degree,  from  the  touch,  when  ex- 
amined in  the  water.  They  are  capable  of  absorbing  nutriment  from 
the  fluid  in  which  they  subsist.  The  species  differ  much  from  each 
other,  both  in  shape  and  structure.  Some  are  composed  of  reticulated 
fibres,  or  masses,  of  small  spines ;  some,  as  the  common  or  Officinal 
Sponge,  a^e  of  no  regular  shape ;  others  are  cup-shaped,  and  others 
tubular. 


THE   OFFICINAL,   AND   DOWNY   SPONGE. 

The  Officinal  Sponge  is  well  known,  from  its  utility  for  various  do- 
mestic purposes.  It  is  an  elastic  substance,  and  in  every  part  is  full 
of  holes.  It  grows  into  irregular  lobes  of  a  woolly  consistence,  and 
generally  adheres,  by  a  broad  base,  to  the  rocks.  A  variety  of  small 
marine  animals  pierce  and  gnaw  into  its  irregular  winding  cavities. 
These  appear  on  the  outside,  by  large  holes,  raised  higher  than  the 
rest.  When  Sponge  is  cut 
perpendicularly,  the  interior 
parts  are  seen  to  consist  of 
small  tubes,  which  divide  into 
branches  as  they  appear  on 
the  surface.  These  tubes,  which 
are  composed  of  reticulated 
fibres,  extend  themselves  every 
way ;  by  this  means  increasing 
the  surface  of  the  Sponge,  and 
ending  at  the  outside  in  an 
infinite  number  of  small  holes, 
which  are  the  proper  mouths 
of  the  animal.  Each  of  these  holes  is  surrounded  by  a  few  erect 
pointed  fibres,  that  appear  as  if  they  were  woven  in  the  form  of  little 
spines.  The  tubes,  with  their  ramifications,  in  the  living  state  of  the 
Sponge,  are  clothed  with  a  gelatinous  substance,  properly  called  the 
flesh  of  the  animal. 

Sponge  is  an  object  of  commerce  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  in  several 
of  the  islands  in  the  Grecian  Archipelago.  Here,  on  the  submarine 
rocks,  it  is  found,  of  large  size  and  in  great  abundance.  As  it  is  chiefly 
found  on  rocks,  at  the  depth  of  five  or  six  fathoms,  it  has  been  the 
cause  of  many  of  the  inhabitants  of  these  islands  having  become 
excellent  divers.  Yet  this  fatiguing  and  dangerous  employment  does 


SECTION  OF  LIVING  SPONGE. 


1036  THE  VESICULAR   CORALLINES — POLYPE   TRIBE. 

not  at  all  enrich  them ;  for  M.  Olivier,  in  his  account  of  Greece,  reports 
that  they  are  in  a  state  of  the  most  lamentable  poverty  and  wretched- 
ness. 

When  first  taken  out  of  the  sea,  Sponges  have  a  strong  fishy  smell, 
which  the  fishermen  get  rid  of  by  washing  them  perfectly  clean  in 
fresh  water.  This  is  all  the  preparation  which  is  necessary,  previously 
to  their  being  packed  together  for  sale;  but,  without  it,  they  would 
soon  become  putrid,  and  perish. 

The  reproduction  of  Sponge  is  more  rapid  than  would,  perhaps,  be 
imagined  :  it  is  to  be  found,  in  perfection,  in  places  from  which,  only 
two  years  before  it  had  been  entirelv  cleared.  , 


OF  THE  SERTULABLE,  OR  VESICULAE  CORALLINES. 

THE  general  appearance  of  all  the  species  of  Vesicular  Corallines, 
is  exceedingly  delicate  and  beautiful.  They  have  the  form  of  plants, 
being  fixed  by  a  base  to  submarine  rocks,  to  shells,  sea-weeds,  or 
other  solid  bodies,  and  usually  branching  upward  in  a  peculiarly 
elegant  manner.  Their  stems  are  composed  of  a  horny  or  elastic  and 
semi-transparent  substance,  which  does  not  effervesce  with  acids. 
These  stems  are  tubulous,  and  beset  throughout  with  numerous  cup- 
shaped  denticles,  from  which  there  issue  little  heads,  in  the  form  of 
polypes.  In  some  of  the  species  the  polypes  are  on  one  side  only  of 
the  branches ;  in  others,  on  both  sides;  and  in  others  they  are  verti- 
culate.  The  color  varies  ;  but  the  greatest  number  of  them  are  either 
white,  or  of  a  transparent  brown ;  and  nearly  all  of  them  become 
brownish  when  dried. 

The  Vesicular  Corallines  form  a  very  numerous  tribe.  They  are 
common  on  all  the  coasts  of  Europe.  By  the  ancient  naturalists,  they 
were  considered  to  be  vegetable  productions  ;  but  they  are  now  trans- 
ferred to  their  proper  place,  in  the  animal  kingdom. 

Some  of  the  species  are  oviparous,  and  others  produce  living  off- 
spring. 


OF  THE   HYDRA,  OR   POLYPE   TRIBE. 

POLYPES  are  gelatinous  animals,  which  consist  of  a  long  tubular 
body  fixed  at  the  base,  and  surrounded  at  the  mouth  by  arms  or  ten- 
tacula.  They  are  chiefly  inhabitants  of  fresh  water,  and  are  among 
the  most  wonderful  productions  of  nature  The  particulars  of  their 
life,  their  mode  of  propagation,  and  powers  of  reproduction,  after  being 
cut  to  pieces,  are  truly  astonishing.  Long  after  experiments  had  been 
made,  did  scepticism  involve  the  philosophic  world;  and  the  history 
of  the  animals  did  not  obtain  complete  credit,  till  these  had  not  only 
been  often  repeated,  but  had  been  varied  in  every  possible  manner. 


THE  LONG-ARMED  AND  GREEN  POLYPE.        1037 


THE  LONG-AKHED  AND  GKEEN  POLYPE. 

These  are  two  species  which  will  fully  illustrate  the  nature  of  the 
whole  tribe.  They  are  found  in  clear  waters,  and 
may  generally  be  seen  in  small  ditches  and  trenches 
of  fields,  especially  in  the  months  of  April  and 
May.  They  affix  themselves  to  the  under  parts  of 
leaves,  and  to  the  stalks  of  such  vegetables  as 
happen  to  grow  immersed  in  the  same  water ;  and 
they  feed  on  the  various  species  of  small  worms, 
and  other  aquatic  animals  that  happen  to  approach. 
When  any  animal  of  this  kind  passes  near  a  Polype, 
the  Polype  suddenly  catches  it  with  its  arms,  and 
dragging  it  to  its  mouth,  swallows  it  by  degrees, 
much  in  the  same  manner  as  a  snake  swallows  a  frog.  Two  Polypes, 
may  occasionally  be  seen  in  the  act  of  seizing  the  same  worm  at  diff- 
erent ends,  and  dragging  it,  in  opposite  directions,  with  great  force. 
It  sometimes  happens,  that,  while  one  is  swallowing  its  respective 
end,  the  other  is  also  employed  in  the  same  manner ;  and  thus  they 
continue  swallowing,  each  his  part,  until  their  mouths  meet.  They 
then  rest  for  some  time  in  this  situation,  till  the  worm  breaks  between 
them,  and  each  goes  off  with  his  share.  But  when  the  mouths  of  both 
are  thus  joined  together  upon  one  common  prey,  a  more  dangerous 
combat  now  and  then  ensues.  The  largest  Polype  gapes  and  swallows 
his  antagonist;  but  what  is  extremely  wonderful,  the  animal  thus 
swallowed  seems  to  be  a  gainer  by  the  misfortune.  After  it  has  lain 
in  the  conqueror's  body  for  about  an  hour,  it  issues  unhurt,  and  often 
in  possession  of  the  prey  that  had  been  the  original  cause  of  conten- 
tion. The  remains  of  the  animal  on  which  the  Polype  feeds  are 
evacuated  at  the  mouth,  the  only  opening  in  the  body.  The  Polype 
is  capable  of  swallowing  a  worm  thrice  its  own  size :  this,  though  it 
may  at  first  appear  incredible,  is  easily  understood,  when  we  consider 
that  the  body  of  the  Polype  is  extremely  extensile,  and  is  dilated 
on  such  occasions  to  a  surprising  degree. 

The  species  are  multiplied,  for  the  most  part,  by  a  kind  of  vegeta- 
tion, one  or  two,  or  even  more  young-ones,  emerging  gradually  from 
the  sides  of  the  parent  animal ;  and  these  young-ones  are  frequently 
again  prolific  before  they  drop  off:  so  that  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to 
see  two  or  three  generations  at  once  on  the  same  Polype. 

But  the  most  astonishing  particular  respecting  this  animal  is  that, 
if  a  Polype  be  cut  in  pieces,  it  is  not  destroyed,  but  is  multiplied  by 
dissection ;  it  is  thus  literally 

Rich  from  its  loss,  and  fruitful  from  its  wound. 

It  may  be  cut  in  every  direction  that  fancy  can  suggest,  and  even 
into  very  minute  divisions,  and  not  only  the  parent  stock  will  remain 
uninjured,  but  every  section  will  become  an  animal.  Even  .when 
turned  inside-out,  it  suffers  no  material  injury  ;  for  in  this  state  it 


1038  OF    THE   VORTICELLA    TRIBE. 

will  soon  begin  to  take  food,  and  to  perform  all  its  other  natural 
functions. 

M.  Trembley,  of  Geneva,  ascertained  that  different  portions  of  one 
Polype  could  be  engrafted  on  another.  Two  transverse  sections 
brought  into  contact  will  quickly  unite,  and  form  one  animal,  though 
each  section  belong  to  a  different  species.  The  head  of  one  species 
may  be  engrafted  on  the  body  of  another.  When  one  Polype  is  in- 
troduced by  the  tail  into  another's  bDdy,  the  two  heads  unite,  and 
form  one  individual.  Pursuing  these  strange  operations,  M.  Trembly 
gave  scope  to  his  fancy,  and,  by  repeatedly  splitting  the  head  and 
part  of  the  body,  he  formed  hydras  more  complicated  than  ever  struck 
the  imagination  of  the  most  romantic  fabulists. 

These  creatures  continue  active  during  the  greatest  part  of  the  year, 
and  it  is  only  when  the  cold  is  most  intense  that  they  feel  the  general 
torpor  of  nature.  All  their  faculties  are  then,  for  two  or  three  months, 
suspended.  But  if  they  abstain  at  one  time,  they  make  ample  amends 
in  their  voracity  at  another;  and,  like  all  those  animals  which 
becomes  torpid  in  winter,  the  meal  of  one  day  suffices  them  for 
several  months. 


ANIMALCULES. 


THE  animals  of  the  Linnean  order  Infusoria  are  extremely  simple 
in  their  form,  and  generally  invisible  without  a  magnifying  power. 
They  are  chiefly  found  in  infusions  of  animal  and  vegetable  substances. 


OF   THE  YOETICELLA   TKIBE. 

THE  Vorticellse,  or  Wheel  Animals,  are  the  most  remarkable  of  all 
animalcules,  not  only  in  their  structure,  but  also  in  their  habits  and 
production.  In  general  form  they  bear  great  affinity  to  the  polypes, 
having  a  contractile,  naked  body,  furnished  with  rotatory  organs 
round  the  mouth ;  and  indeed  many  microscopical  writers  have  de- 
nominated them  Cluster -polypes.  They  are  almost  invisibly  minute, 
and,  during  the  summer  months,  are  generally  found  in  clear, 
stagnant  waters,  attached  to  the  stalks  of  the  lesser  water-plants,  where 
they  feed  on  animalcules  still  smaller  than  themselves.  Many  of  the 
species  are  found  in  groups,  sometimes  formed  by  the  mere  approxi- 
mation of  several  individuals,  and  at  other  times  by  the  ramified  or 
aggregate  manner  in  which  they  grow.  Their  various  motions,  like 
like  those  of  the  polypes,  are  generally  exerted  only  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  prey.  The  rotatory  motion  of  their  tentacula  causes  an 


THE   COMMON   WHEEL    ANIMALCULE,    ETC.  1039 

eddy  in  the  water,  around  each  individual,  sufficient  to  attract  into  its 
vortex  such  animalcules  as  happen  to  swim  near ;  these  the  little 
creature  seizes,  by  suddenly 'contracting  its  tentacula  and  enclosing 
them  in  the  midst.  In  several  of  the  species  the  stems,  into  which 
they  occasionly  withdraw  themselves,  are  somewhat  rigid  or  scaly. 
The  young-ones  are  carried  in  oval  integuments  on  the  outside  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  stems  ;  and,  when  ready  to  issue  forth,  the  parents 
aid  their  extrusion,  where  such  is  necessary,  by  writhing  their  bodies, 
or  striking  the  little  vesicle.  As  soon  as  the  young-one  is  liberated 
from  its  prison,  it  fixes  itself,  and  commences  the  necessary  operation* 
to  procure  its  food.  x 


THE    COMMON   WHEEL    ANIMALCULE    AND   THE    CONVALLARIAN 

VOKTICELLA. 

If  the  water  that  is  found  standing  in  gutters  of  lead,  or  the  sedi- 
ment it  has  left  behind,  has  any  appearance  of  a  red  or  dark  brown 
color,  it  will  almost  always  be  found  to  contain  these  animalcules. 
And,  in  the  summer-time,  if  a  small  quantity  of  this  dust  be  put  into 
water,  and  placed  under  the  microscope,  it  seldom  fails  to  yield  them 
in  considerable  numbers.  They  are  denominated  Wheel  Animals, 
from  their  being  furnished  with  a  pair  of  instruments  on  the  anterior 
part  of  their  body,  which,  in  figure  and  motion,  somewhat  resemble 
wheels. 

These  animalcules  may  be  kept  for  several  months  out  of  water, 
and  in  a  state  of  perfect  dryness,  without  losing  the  principle  of  life. 
When  dry,  they  are  of  a  globular  form,  and  about  the  size  of  a  grain 
of  sand.  If  put  into  water,  after  the  space  of  about  half  an  hour  a 
languid  motion  begins.  The  globule  turns  itself  about,  lengthens  by- 
degrees,  and  soon  afterwards  becomes  very  lively.  In  a  short  time  it 
protrudes  its  wheel,  and  swims  about  in  search  of  food ;  or  fixing 
itself  by  the  tail,  brings  the  food  to  it  by  its  rotatory  organs,  which 
throw  the  whole  circumjacent  fluid  into  a  violent  commotion.  After 
its  hunger  is  satisfied,  it  generally  becomes  quiescent ;  and  sometimes 
resumes  even  its  globular  form. 

During  the  time  it  is  in  action,  it  frequently  changes  its  shape  and 
appearance:  this,  and  the  sudden  transformation  of  the  head,  are 
equally  surprising  and  singular.  From  being  very  taper,  the  head 
sometimes  becomes,  almost  instantaneously,  as  broad  as  any  part  of 
the  body,  and  protrudes  its  curious  machinery.  The  circular  bodies 
projecting  from  the  animal  in  this  state,  whirl  round  with  considerable 
velocity.  As  they  are  very  transparent,  the  edges  excepted,  which 
are  set  with  numerous  fibrillas,  it  is  difficult  to  distinguish  how  the 
rotatory  motions  are  performed ;  or  whether  their  figure  be  flat,  concave, 
or  conical.  They  are,  however,  projected  from  tubular  cases,  into 
which  the  animal  can  withdraw  them  at  pleasure.  They  sometimes 
turn  the  same  way,  and  sometimes  different  ways  at  the  same  time. 

All  the  actions  of  this  creature  indicate  great  sagacity  and  quick- 
ness -of  sensation. 


1040  EELS   IN   PASTE   AND   BLIGHTED   WHEAT. 


OF  THE  YIBBIO  TEIBE. 

IN  this  numerous  tribe,  the  animals  (nearly  invisible  to  the  naked 
eye)  are  of  a  simple,  round,  and  elongated  form.  Several  of  them  are 
found  in  vegetable  infusions,  and  some  in  stagnant  water:  a  few  have 
been  discovered  in  putrid  sea- water,  one  in  vinegar,  and  two  in  paste 
and  infusions  of  grain.  v 

THE   EELS  IN  PASTE,  AND  IN   BLIGHTED  WHEAT. 

From  the  general  round  and  elongated  form  of  these  animalculae, 
all  the  microscopical  writers  have  been  led  to  distinguish  them  by  the 
appellation  of  Eels,  although  even  the  most  gigantic  individuals  are 
seldom  the  tenth  of  an  inch  in  length. 

In  order  to  procure  those  which  are  found  in  paste,  the  following 
simple  process  is  recommended :  boil  some  flour  in  water,  adding  to  it 
a  few  drops  of  vinegar ;  put  this  into  a  coarse  cloth,  and  bury  it  in  an' 
earthen  pot,  which  has  a  hole  in  the  bottom,  and  which  is  partly  filled 
with  earth,  the  pot  is  then  to  be  exposed  to  the  heat  of  the  sun  in 
summer,  or  kept  in  a  warm  place  in  the  winter,  for  ten  or  twelve  days, 
at  the  end  of  which  time,  if  examined  with  a  glass,  it  will  be  seen  to 
contain  a  great  abundance  of  these  animalcules,  which  move  about  in 
every  direction,  with  wonderful  strength  and  rapidity. 

If,  from  a  small  quantity  of  the  paste  diluted  with  water,  one  of  the 
Eels  be  separated,  and  removed  into  a  drop  of  water  ready  prepared 
on  a  separate  glass,  and  there  be  cut  asunder  with  a  lancet  or  very 
sharp  penknife,  the  mode  in  which  the  young-ones  come  to  life  may 
at  any  time  be  observed.  Several  oval  bodies  will  be  seen  to  issue 
from  the  wound.  These  are  the  offspring,  in  different  stages  of 
maturity,  each  coiled  up  and  enclosed  in  its  proper  membrane.  The 
largest  and  most  forward  of  the  group  break  through  this  delicate  in- 
tegument, unfold  themselves,  and  wriggle  nimbly  about  in  the  water. 
Others  escape  from  their  confinement,  uncoil  themselves,  and  move 
more  slowly ;  and  those  which  are  least  mature,  continue  entirely  with- 
out motion  ;  more  than  a  hundred  have  thus  been  observed  to  issue 
from  a  single  individual.  This  circumstance  will  readily  account  for 
their  very  sudden  and  prodigous  increase. 

It  is  an  extremely  singular  circumstance,  that  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year,  and  during  winter,  these  Eels  are  oviparous,  whilst  at  other 
seasons  they  produce  living  offspring. 

The  Eels  of  blighted  Wheat  are  found  in  those  ears,  the  grains  of 
which  appear  blackish,  as  if  scorched,  and  the  inside  of  which  con- 
tains a  soft,  white  substance.  If  these  grains  be  soaked  in  water  for 
a  few  hours,  a  great  number  of  the  animalculae  will  be  found,  some 
of  them  sufficiently  large  to  be  visible  without  the  aid  of  magnifying 
powers. 

They  are  oviparous ;  and  the  eggs,  when  at  full  growth,  are  nearly 
of  a  cylindrical  shape,  with  both  the  ends  rounded.  These  issue  from 


THE   PROTEAN   VIBRIO — GLOBULAR   VOLVOX.  1041 

two  little  protuberances  at  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  body.  In 
the  microscope,  two  generations  may  often  be  seen  at  the  same  time  in 
the  same  animal,  some  of  them  almost  in  a  state  of  maturity,  and 
others  small. 

In  blighted  grains  of  wheat,  which  have  been  kept  dry  even  for 
years,  these  animalcula?,  have  been  found  after  a  soaking  for  ten  or 
twelve  hours  in  water. 


THE   PROTEAN   VIBRIO. 

This  is  a  species  which  has  derived  its  name  from  its  very  singular 
power  of  assuming  different  shapes,  so  as  sometimes  with  difficulty  to 
be  distinguished  for  the  same  animal.  When  water,  in  which  any 
vegetable  has  been  infused,  or  in  which  any  animal  substance  is  pre- 
served, has  stood  undisturbed  for  some  days,  a  slimy  substance  will  be 
found  on  the  sides  of  the  vessel,  some  of  which,  if  viewed  in  a  micro- 
scope, will  be  found  to  contain,  among  several  other  animalcules,  the 
1  Proteus.  It  is  pellucid  and  gelatinous ;  and  generally  swims  about, 
with  a  long  neck  and  bulbous  body,  and  with  great  vivacity.  Some- 
times it  stops  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  stretches  itself  out,  apparently 
in  search  of  prey.  When  alarmed,  it  immediately  draws  in  its  neck, 
becomes  more  opake,  and  moves  sluggishly.  It  will  then  perhaps, 
instead  of  its  former  long  neck,  push  out  a  kind  of  wheel  machinery, 
the  motions  of  which  draw  a  current  of  water,  and,  along  with  this, 
probably  its  prey.  Withdrawing  the  wheel,  it  will,  sometimes,  for 
several  seconds,  remain  nearly  motionless,  as  if  weary  ;  then,  protrud- 
ing its  long  neck,  it  will  resume  its  former  agility ;  or,  instead,  adopt 
in  succession  a  multitude  of  different  appearances. 


OF  THE  YOLYOX  TKIBE. 

NEARLY  all  the  species  of  Yolvox  are  invisible  to  the  naked  eye. 
They  are  simple,  pellucid,  and  of  spherical  shape.  One  of  the  kinds 
is  found  in  pure  water,  one  in  vegetable  infusions,  and  others  in  water 
which  has  been  kept  in  glass.  The  species  hitherto  ascertained,  are 
only  nine  in  number. 

THE  GLOBULAR  VOLVOX. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  months,  these  animalculse  are  every 
where  to  be  found  in  stagnant  water ;  and  in  winter,  they  may  be  pro- 
duced in  water  by  an  infusion  of  hempseed  or  hay.  Sometimes  they 
are  sufficiently  large  to  be  visible  by  the  naked  eye.  They  move 
round,  rolling  over  and  over  like  a  bowl,  spinning  like  a  top,  or  glid- 
ing along  smoothly  without  turning  at  all.  Sometimes  their  motions 
are  very  slow,  and  at  other  times  quick  and  active.  Occasionally 
they  may  be  seen  to  turn  rapidly  round,  as  if  upon  an  axis,  without 
moving  out  of  their  places. 

Under  the  microscope,  their  bodies  seem  to  be  covered  with  numer 


1042  BUBBLE   VOLVOX. 

ous  globulets  of  different  sizes.  These  appear  to  contain  the  young- 
ones,  for,  when  they  are  in  a  proper  state  of  maturity,  the  exterior 
membrane  bursts  open,  and  the  young-ones  pass  through  the  fissure  : 
shortly  after  this  the  parent  animalculae  die  and  melt  away. 

The  globulets,  while  in  the  body  of  the  parent,  contain  other  glob- 
ulets, and  these  again  others;  so  that  it  may,  with  propriety,  be  said, 
that  these  animalcule  bear  children,  grand-children,  and  great  grand- 
children all  at  the  same  time. 

THE   BUBBLE   VOLVOX. 

I  shall  conclude  this  work,  with  La  Martiniere's  description  of 
Volvox  Bulla,  a  species  of  animals  nearly  the  most  simple  of  any  that 
have  yet  come  to  our  knowledge.  "  They  consist  (he  says)  only  of 
oval  bodies,  similar  in  shape  to  soap-bubbles,  arranged  in  parties  of 
three,  five,  six,  and  nine ;  among  them  are  also  some  solitary  ones. 
These  collections  of  globules,  being  put  into  a  glass  filled  with  sea- 
water,  described  a  rapid  circle  round  the  glass  by  a  common  movement, 
to  which  each  individual  contributed  by  the  simple  compression  of 
the  sides  of  its  body,  probably  the  effect  of  the  reaction  of  the  air  with 
which  they  were  filled.  It  is  not,  however,  easy  to  conceive  how  these 
distinct  animals  (for  they  may  be  readily  separated  without  deranging 
their  economy)  are  capable  of  concurring  in  a  common  motion.  These 
considerations,  together  with  the  form  of  the  animal,  recalled  to  my 
mind,  with  much  satisfaction,  the  ingenious  system  of  M.  de  Buffon  ; 
and  I  endeavored  to  persuade  myself,  that  I  was  about  to  witness 
one  of  the  most  wonderful  phenomena  of  nature,  supposing  that  these 
molecules,  which  were  now  employed  in  increasing  or  diminishing 
their  number,  or  performing  their  revolutions  in  the  glass,  would  soon 
assume  the  form  of  a  new  animal,  of  which  they  were  the  living  ma- 
terials. My  impatience  led  me  to  detach  two  from  the  most  numerous 
group,  imagining  that  this  number  might  perhaps  be  more  favorable 
to  the  expected  metamorphosis.  I  was  however  mistaken.  These  I 
examined  with  more  attention  than  the  rest,  and  the  following  account 
is  of  their  proceedings  alone.  Like  two  strong  and  active  wrestlers, 
they  immediately  rushed  together,  and  attacked  each  other  on  every 
side  ;  sometimes  one  would  dive,  leaving  its  adversary  at  the  surface 
of  the  water ;  one  would  describe  a  circular  movement,  while  the  other 
remained  at  rest  in  the  centre :  their  motions  at  length  became  so 
rapid,  as  no  longer  to  allow  me  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the  other. 
Having  quitted  them  for  a  short  time,  on  my  return  I  found  them  re- 
united as  before,  and  amicably  moving  round  the  edge  of  the  glass 
by  their  common  exertions." 

Were  ev'ry  falt'ring  tongue  of  man, 

Almighty  Father  !  silent  in  Thy  praise, 

Thy  works  themselves  would  raise  a  general  voice  ; 

Even  in  the  depth  of  solitary  woods, 

By  human  foot  untrod,  proclaim  Thy  power. 

FINIS. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  ^ORJlpWED 


This  book  is  d 


JU5421196 
JON  1  4  19fi7  I  4 


JUN 
SEMTONILL 

6  1997 


LD  21-40m-4,'64 
(E4555slO)476 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


